Radio-frequency identification (RFID) apparatus and methodology enable a
plurality of or all of the RFID tags in a stack of items such as cartons
and boxes--including items that do not have a line of sight to a
reader--to be read. An RFID system includes RFID tags and a transmission
line. The RFID tags are mountable to items to be read and include an RFID
circuit that generates tag energy when activated by activation energy
from a reader. The transmission line carries activation energy from the
reader and tag energy from the tags. The transmission line is
positionable in operative or coupling proximately to a plurality of the
tags when the plurality of the tags are mounted to items and when the
items are stacked. Accordingly, when carrying activation energy from the
reader, the transmission line couples with and thereby enables activation
of the plurality of the tags. Further, when the plurality of the tags are
activated and generating tag energy, the transmission line couples with
and carries the tag energy from the plurality of the tags. The
transmission line can be configured as an elongated adhesive tape-like
structure that can be adhered across a plurality of RFID tags mounted to
a plurality of items. The transmission line can also be disposed on an
inter-item reading device that can be positioned between adjacent rows of
stacked items.