Abstract: A smartcard circuit for control of a near field RF communications chip (500) of a smartcard (2000) is described. The circuit comprises a primary inductive coupler (1003) for connection to a near field antenna (2002) of a smart card for obtaining an RF electrical signal from the antenna, and a secondary inductive coupler (1005) arranged for inductive coupling with the primary inductive coupler and connected to the chip for provision of the RF electrical signal from the primary inductive coupler to enable the chip to perform near field RF communications for the smartcard. The disclosure also provides switching circuitry (528) coupled to the secondary inductive coupler and comprising an RF conduction path selectively operable to disable said provision of the RF electrical signal thereby to inhibit the chip from performing near field RF communications.

Abstract: A smart card comprising rectification circuitry arranged to receive an alternating electrical signal from a near field RF communications antenna of the smart card, and convert it into DC electrical energy for powering an auxiliary circuit. The rectification circuitry comprises a first inductor arranged so that the alternating electrical signal flows through the first inductor and a second inductor arranged for inductive coupling with the first inductor to provide the alternating electrical signal to a near field RF communicator.

Abstract: A mounting system for a near field radio frequency (RF) communicator, the system comprising: a splitter, for splitting an alternating electrical signal received from an antenna of the smart card and having: a first output for providing a first part of the alternating electrical signal to an RF input of said chip, and a second output for providing a second part of the alternating electrical signal for powering an auxiliary circuit; a matching network, at the first output of the splitter, and arranged to provide: an input impedance selected based on the impedance of the first output of the splitter, and an output impedance selected based on the impedance of the RF input of said chip; wherein the network comprises a first inductor for electrical connection to said chip and a second inductor, and the second inductor is arranged for inductive coupling to the first inductor thereby to provide RF coupling, with DC isolation and/or common mode isolation, to the RF input of said chip.

Abstract: A near field RF communications enabled device comprising: a coupler for connecting to a near field RF communications antenna for inductive coupling with an H-field provided from another near field RF communications enabled device in near field range, an adaptive energy storage comprising a plurality of energy stores and a controller configured to control charging of the adaptive energy storage so that the plurality of energy stores are charged sequentially from energy obtained via the coupler; wherein the controller is configured to provide, at the coupler, a signal configured to cause the another near field RF communications enabled device to increase or to maintain the H-field.

Abstract: A power splitter for a smart card having near field RF communications capability, the power splitter comprising a substrate for integration into said smart card; a first port for connection to a near field RF communications antenna for receiving an alternating electrical signal; a second port for connection to an auxiliary rectifier; and a third port for connection to a near field RF communicator; wherein the splitter comprises a impedance network, connected between the three ports, and being arranged to divide the alternating electrical signal between the second port and the third port to split the alternating electrical signal, wherein the impedance network comprises a printed coil inductor, and a zone of the substrate surrounding the printed coil inductor is free from any ground plane.

Abstract: A smartcard circuit for control of a near field RF communications chip (500) of a smartcard (2000) is described. The circuit comprises a primary inductive coupler (1003) for connection to a near field antenna (2002) of a smart card for obtaining an RF electrical signal from the antenna, and a secondary inductive coupler (1005) arranged for inductive coupling with the primary inductive coupler and connected to the chip for provision of the RF electrical signal from the primary inductive coupler to enable the chip to perform near field RF communications for the smartcard. The disclosure also provides switching circuitry (528) coupled to the secondary inductive coupler and comprising an RF conduction path selectively operable to disable said provision of the RF electrical signal thereby to inhibit the chip from performing near field RF communications.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a controller for a device having near field RF communications capabilities. The controller is configured to: tune the impedance of at least one component of an impedance matching circuit to vary an impedance transformation provided by the impedance matching circuit; determine at least one indication of power output from the circuit, each at least one indication corresponding to an impedance transformation; and identify one of a plurality of modes of the circuit as an operating mode, based on the at least one indication, wherein the impedance matching circuit provides a different impedance transformation in each mode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mounting system for a near field RF communications chip. The system comprises: (i) a substrate for carrying electronic components, and for providing electrical interconnections therebetween; (ii) a chip coupling carried by the substrate for connecting a near field RF communications chip (1001) to the mounting system; (iii) an auxiliary power provider (1003), separate from said near field RF communications chip, and adapted for providing electrical power output based on a received alternating electrical signal; (iv) an antenna coupling for connecting a near field RF communications antenna (1006) to said mounting system; and (v) a splitter (1005), for splitting alternating electrical signals.

Abstract: A mounting system for a near field radio frequency (RF) communicator, the system comprising: a splitter, for splitting an alternating electrical signal received from an antenna of the smart card and having: a first output for providing a first part of the alternating electrical signal to an RF input of said chip, and a second output for providing a second part of the alternating electrical signal for powering an auxiliary circuit; a matching network, at the first output of the splitter, and arranged to provide: an input impedance selected based on the impedance of the first output of the splitter, and an output impedance selected based on the impedance of the RF input of said chip; wherein the network comprises a first inductor for electrical connection to said chip and a second inductor, and the second inductor is arranged for inductive coupling to the first inductor thereby to provide RF coupling, with DC isolation and/or common mode isolation, to the RF input of said chip.

Abstract: A smart card comprising rectification circuitry arranged to receive an alternating electrical signal from a near field RF communications antenna of the smart card, and convert it into DC electrical energy for powering an auxiliary circuit. The rectification circuitry comprises a first inductor arranged so that the alternating electrical signal flows through the first inductor and a second inductor arranged for inductive coupling with the first inductor to provide the alternating electrical signal to a near field RF communicator.

Abstract: A power splitter for a smart card having near field RF communications capability, the power splitter comprising a substrate for integration into said smart card; a first port for connection to a near field RF communications antenna for receiving an alternating electrical signal; a second port for connection to an auxiliary rectifier; and a third port for connection to a near field RF communicator; wherein the splitter comprises a impedance network, connected between the three ports, and being arranged to divide the alternating electrical signal between the second port and the third port to split the alternating electrical signal, wherein the impedance network comprises a printed coil inductor, and a zone of the substrate surrounding the printed coil inductor is free from any ground plane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mounting system for a near field RF communications chip. The system comprises: (i) a substrate for carrying electronic components, and for providing electrical interconnections therebetween; (ii) a chip coupling carried by the substrate for connecting a near field RF communications chip (1001) to the mounting system; (iii) an auxiliary power provider (1003), separate from said near field RF communications chip, and adapted for providing electrical power output based on a received alternating electrical signal; (iv) an antenna coupling for connecting a near field RF communications antenna (1006) to said mounting system; and (v) a splitter (1005), for splitting alternating electrical signals.