A radio frequency identification tag system (10) utilizes a radio frequency
identification tag (16) that includes stored tag information. The tag
includes an antenna element (30) and a common electrode (28). The antenna
element electrostatically receives an exciter signal (34) from a
proximately-located electrostatic exciter (12). Upon receiving the exciter
signal, the tag becomes energized, thereby causing it to generate a read
signal (36) based on the stored tag information. The antenna element then
electrostatically sends the read signal to a proximately-located reader
(14), which detects the stored tag information. In addition, exactly one
of the tag common electrode and the tag antenna element is arranged to
magnetically store tag state information. The tag state information
represents exactly one state of two possible states and is read by a
proximately-located magnetic reader (18).
