Techniques for radio frequency identification and electronic article surveillance receivers

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an antenna system having multiple antennas;

a first switch to connect to said antenna system;

a receiver to connect to said switch;

a processor to connect to said first switch, said processor to switch said first switch to a first state to connect said receiver to a first antenna in order to detect a first type of security tag in a first operating mode, and said processor to switch said first switch to a second state to connect said receiver to a second antenna to detect a second type of security tag in a second operating mode; and

an amplifying module to connect to said receiver, said amplifying module to comprise a second switch, a third switch, and an amplifier, said processor to switch said second switch and said third switch to a first state to connect said second switch to said third switch through said amplifier, and switch said second switch and said third switch to a second state to connect said second switch to said third switch without said amplifier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first type of security tag is a radio frequency identification security tag.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said second type of security tag is an electronic article surveillance security tag.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first antenna is a radio frequency identification antenna.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said second antenna is an electronic article surveillance antenna.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a generator to connect to a third antenna, said processor to control when said generator transmits an electric field using said third antenna to reduce interference with said receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter to couple to said first switch, said transmitter to transmit a first interrogation signal for said first type of security tag when said first switch is in said first state, and said transmitter to transmit a second interrogation signal for said second type of security tag when said first switch is in said second state.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an antenna system having multiple antennas;

a first switch to connect to said antenna system;

a receiver to connect to said switch;

a processor to connect to said first switch, said processor to switch said first switch to a first state to connect said receiver to a first antenna in order to detect a first type of security tag in a first operating mode, and said processor to switch said first switch to a second state to connect said receiver to a second antenna to detect a second type of security tag in a second operating mode, said second antenna comprising an electronic article surveillance receive antenna; and

an amplifying module to connect to said receiver, said amplifying module to comprise a second switch, a third switch, and an amplifier, said processor to switch said second switch and said third switch to a first state to connect said second switch to said third switch through said amplifier, and switch said second switch and said third switch to a second state to connect said second switch to said third switch without said amplifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said processor is a digital signal processor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said first type of security tag is a radio frequency identification security tag.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said second type of security tag is an electronic article surveillance security tag.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said first antenna is a radio frequency identification antenna.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said second antenna is to connect to said first switch through said amplifier.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a fourth switch to connect to said antenna system;

a transmitter to connect to said fourth switch; and

wherein said processor is to connect to said fourth switch, said processor to switch said fourth switch to a first state to connect said transmitter to said first antenna in order to transmit a first interrogation signal for said first type of security tag, and said processor to switch said fourth switch to a second state to connect to a third antenna to transmit a second interrogation signal for said second type of security tag.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said third antenna comprises an electronic article surveillance transmit antenna.

17. A method, comprising:

sending a first selection signal to switch a first switch to a first state to connect a receiver to a first antenna in order to detect a first type of security tag in a first operating mode;

sending a second selection signal to switch said first switch to a second state to connect said receiver to a second antenna to detect a second type of security tag in a second operating mode; and

sending a third and fourth selection signals to switch second and third switches to a first state to connect said second switch to said third switch through an amplifier, and switch said second switch and said third switch to a second state to connect said second switch to said third switch without said amplifier.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising amplifying a received signal from said first antenna when in said first operating mode.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

transmitting a first interrogation signal for said first type of security tag when said first switch is in said first state; and

transmitting a second interrogation signal for said second type of security tag when said first switch is in said second state.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein said first selection signal switches a fourth switch to a first state to connect a transmitter to said first antenna in order transmit a first interrogation signal for said first type of security tag, and said second selection signal switches said fourth switch to a second state to connect said transmitter to a third antenna to transmit a second interrogation signal for said second type of security tag.