Abstract: In a near field communication partner device (1) intended for the contactless transmission of digital data to be transmitted having a transmission circuit (2), the transmission circuit (2) comprises a modulation circuit (17) for the amplitude modulation of a carrier signal (CS), which modulation circuit (17) comprises a circuit stage (20, 20?) for producing a plurality of different resistance values (RW1, RW1?) that act on a signal output (TX1, TX2), which resistance values (RW1, RW1?) can be transformed, by means of a signal processing circuit (3) arranged to transform resistance values that belongs to the communication partner device (1), into transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2?), which transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2?) are responsible for damping a transmission coil (7) of the communication partner device (1) when modulated low-level carrier signal sections are generated in a modulated carrier signal.

Abstract: The electric device (1, 100) has a body (2, 101) with a resistor (7, 250) comprising a phase change material being changeable between a first phase and a second phase. The resistor (7, 250) has an electric resistance which depends on whether the phase change material is in the first phase or the second phase. The resistor (7, 250) is able to conduct a current for enabling a transition from the first phase to the second phase. The phase change material is a fast growth material which may be a composition of formula Sb1?cMc with c satisfying 0.05?c?0.61, and M being one or more elements selected from the group of Ge, In, Ag, Ga, Te, Zn and Sn, or a composition of formula SbaTebX100?(a+b) with a, b and 100?(a+b) denoting atomic percentages satisfying 1?a/b?8 and 4?100?(a+b)?22, and X being one or more elements selected from Ge, In, Ag, Ga and Zn.

Abstract: A symbol clock recovery circuit is provided for a data communication system using coherent demodulation. The symbol clock recovery circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter comprising a first input for receiving a coherent-detected baseband analog signal derived from a carrier signal, a second input for receiving an adapted symbol clock signal, and an output for outputting a digital signal comprising a frame having a preamble with at least two symbols. The symbol clock recovery circuit comprises further a phase shifting unit comprising a first input for receiving a symbol clock signal derived from the carrier signal, and a timing detector, comprising a first input for receiving the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter and an output for providing a signal comprising information about an optimum sample phase to the phase shifting unit.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a set of applications stored on a mobile terminal, comprising an access to said set of applications enabling at least one specific function to be accessed by at least one application using an application manager.

Abstract: A smartcard having a microcontroller kernel and a non-secure memory capable of storing a Random-ID code, where the non-secure memory is electrically coupled to the microcontroller kernel. A random number generator is for generating a new Random-ID code and the random number generator is electrically coupled to the microcontroller kernel. A user interface is electrically coupled to the random number generator so that the user may initiate generation of the new Random-ID code by the random number generator for storage in the non-secure memory.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing an analyte includes capacitive elements, each having a pair of electrodes separated by a dielectric wherein the dielectric constant of the dielectric of at least one of the capacitive elements is sensitive to the analyte, the sensor further including a comparator adapted to compare a selected set of capacitive elements against a reference signal and to generate a comparison result signal, and a controller for iteratively selecting the set in response to the comparison result signal, wherein the sensor is arranged to produce a digitized output signal indicative of the sensed level of the analyte of interest. An IC comprising such a sensor, an electronic device comprising such an IC and a method of determining a level of an analyte of interest using such a sensor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of digitally processing an audio signal by sequentially performing a plurality of operations on an input audio signal by a plurality of algorithms to provide an output audio signal is provided. The method comprises automatically performing the following steps: sequentially performing the plurality of operations (a, b, c, . . . ) on an input audio signal (20) in a first sequence of operations and independently in at least one different sequence of operations; evaluating the quality of respective output audio signals (output . . . 1, output . . . 2 . . . , output . . . n!) achieved with the first sequence and the at least one different sequence; and selecting the sequence of operations providing the highest quality output audio signal for further processing of input audio signals.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a substrate (10) including a plurality of circuit elements and a metallization stack (20) covering said substrate for providing interconnections between the circuit elements, wherein the top metallization layer of said stack carries a plurality of metal portions (30) embedded in an exposed porous material (40) for retaining a liquid, said porous material laterally separating said plurality of metal portions. An electronic device comprising such an IC and a method of manufacturing such an IC are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless charging apparatus and method utilizing a secure element is disclosed. Illustratively, a receiver containing a secure element securely communicates with a charging pad also equipped with a secure element. The communication can be used to establish the identity of the receiver and facilitate billing for the wireless charging. The charging pad may further communicate in a secure manner with a server to authenticate the identity and other information about the receiver before providing wireless charging. Direct communication between the receiver and server is also contemplated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a first circuit configured and arranged to provide a modulated carrier signal in response to a signal provided from the antenna. The modulated carrier signal conveys data using peaks or amplitudes of the carrier signal. A second circuit is configured to rectify the modulated carrier signal and integrate the rectified signal in response to a first clock signal. A third circuit is coupled to an output of the second circuit and is configured to sample the integrated signal values and provide therefrom a sample-based approximation of the modulated carrier signal.

Abstract: A wireless charger is disclosed. The charger contains a coil with a plurality of taps, thereby facilitating charging according to different frequencies and standards. Detection of the standard appropriate to a particular receiver may be accomplished by modulation of the power carrier or via low power modalities, including NFC or Bluetooth.

Abstract: A phase-frequency detector (PFD) circuit is disclosed. The PFD circuit includes a PFD portion adapted to detect frequency and phase difference of two input signals and to generate control signals according to the detected frequency and phase difference and a delay and reset portion adapted to delay the generated control signals, to generate reset signals for resetting the PFD portion based on a combination of the control signals and the delayed control signals, and to provide the generated reset signals to the PFD portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for processing a baseband signal in a Direct Current (DC)-suppressed system, a system for processing a baseband signal in a DC-suppressed system, and a smart card are described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a baseband signal in a DC-suppressed system involves processing the baseband signal in the analog domain with a first high pass filter (HPF), converting the processed baseband signal to a digital signal, and processing the digital signal in the digital domain with a second HPF to provide a discrete-time differentiation of the baseband signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention a teleconferencing system is conceived, which teleconferencing system comprises a master communication device and a plurality of satellite communication devices, wherein the master communication device is arranged to communicate with a far-end communication device through a global communication channel and to communicate with the plurality of satellite communication devices through a plurality of local communication channels, wherein the master communication device is further arranged to act as a portal between the far-end communication device and the satellite communication devices by forwarding voice communications received from the far-end communication device to the satellite communication devices through the local communication channels, and by mixing voice communications received from the satellite communication devices into a unified voice signal and sending said unified voice signal to the far-end communication device through the global communication channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate (10); and an optical CO2 sensor comprising: first and second light sensors (12, 12?) on said substrate, said second light sensor being spatially separated from the first light sensor; and a layer portion (14) including an organic compound comprising at least one amine or amidine functional group over the first light sensor; wherein said integrated circuit further comprises a signal processor (16) coupled to the first and second light sensor for determining a difference in the respective outputs of the first and second light sensor. An electronic device comprising such a sensor and a method of manufacturing such an IC are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for a receiver (1) having a signal path (3) incorporating a tuner (4), a frequency demodulator circuit (5) for supplying an analog stereo multiplex signal comprising a baseband stereo sum signal, a 19 kHz stereo pilot and a stereo difference signal, which is double sideband amplitude-modulated on a suppressed 38 kHz subcarrier, a sampler (6) for converting the analog stereo multiplex signal into a time discrete digital stereo multiplex signal and a stereo decoder (7) for decoding the time discrete digital stereo multiplex signal into a time-discrete digital stereo sum and a time discrete digital stereo difference signal. According to the invention the analog stereo multiplex signal is converted into a time discrete digital stereo multiplex signal and then the time discrete digital stereo multiplex signal is shifted over a frequency of 19 kHz to extract the pilot tone.

Abstract: A method of providing a dielectric material (18) having regions (18?, 18?) with a varying thickness in an IC manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises forming a plurality of patterns in respective regions (20?, 20?) of the dielectric material (18), each pattern increasing the susceptibility of the dielectric material (18) to a dielectric material removal step by a predefined amount and exposing the dielectric material (18) to the dielectric material removal step.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of reducing power consumption in a wireless network device, comprising determining a duration prior to a beacon being received by the device; comparing the duration against a predetermined value; and adjusting a duration of a sleep period in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A high voltage electrical switch including: a plurality of series connected semiconductor switches; a plurality of rectifiers wherein each rectifier is connected to a semiconductor switch control input of one of the semiconductor switches; a radio frequency signal generator; and a plurality of galvanic isolators, wherein each galvanic isolator connects the radio frequency signal generator to one of the plurality of rectifiers, wherein the plurality of semiconductor switches are isolated from one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control circuit (250) for a power supply unit (200) that has an input (207, 209) for receiving a mains supply (208), the control circuit (250) configured to: sample the input (207, 209) in order to obtain a first sample value; sample the input (207, 209) in order to obtain a second sample value subsequent to obtaining the first sample value; compare the first and second sample values to provide an outcome; set a delay interval in accordance with the outcome of the comparison of the first and second sample values; and sample the input (207, 209) in order to obtain a third sample value after the delay interval has elapsed.