RFID smart garment

1. A system comprising, an RFID antenna array, an RFID tag reader, and a power supply, the foregoing components being adapted to be worn or otherwise borne by a person and be operatively connected so that the power supply powers the reader and the reader energizes the antenna array and receives RFID tag signals through the antenna array while the person passes through an area as the person's hands and arms are unencumbered by said components, the antenna array being a twin feed unit of serpentine conductors with multiple dipole radiators extending generally perpendicularly to the conductors, a reflective material being spaced at least ¾ inch from the dipole radiators, the antenna array being arranged to simultaneously radiate a near zone in front of the person from floor level to above the person's head.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the antenna array includes two separate twin feed antennas.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the antennas are arranged to be situated one on the left and one on the right of a torso of the person.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the antennas are twin feed units having dipole radiators distributed along their length, a dipole radiator being positionable on or behind a respective shoulder of the person such that it can radiate upwardly to a level above the head of the person.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said twin feed antennas have serpentine conductors mounted on an elongated flexible dielectric sheet, the sheets being adapted to overlie a left or right shoulder of the person.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the antennas are each disposed in an elongated fabric padded pouch.

7. A method of reading RFID tags in a space by using an RFID antenna array mounted on a torso of a person capable of passing through the space, the antenna array being situated on the torso and being in the form of twin feed serpentine conductors and multiple dipole radiators generally perpendicular to the conductors distributed over the person's torso with a reflective material spaced at least ¾ inch from the dipole radiators in a manner that leaves the person's hands and arms free to accomplish tasks other than supporting the antenna array while the antenna array scans a near zone from floor level to an overhead level and conveys RFID tag data to an RFID reader borne by the person.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said antenna array is provided as two elongated flexible multi-radiator antennas, each of the antennas being draped over a respective shoulder of the person.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 , wherein a radiation site of each antenna is located on or behind a respective shoulder.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein each antenna is formed by twin feed lines mounted on a flexible dielectric sheet, each sheet being removably attached to a vest worn by the person.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the antennas are each contained in a respective elongated fabric padded pouch, each pouch being removably attached to the interior of the vest.

12. A method as set forth in claim 7 , wherein RFID tags are permanently located at known locations at the space where the system is used.