Abstract: There is described an RFID tag IC, comprising: i) an NFC interface configured to initiate a power-up, when coupled with an HF field, and receive a read command from an RFID device; ii) a non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to store a counter value; and iii) a processing unit configured to increment the counter value when coupled with the HF field, set an increment flag, when the increment is successful, and thereby block a further increment of the counter value, in particular when fulfilling the read command, and reset the increment flag after fulfilling the read command. Further, a communication system and a method of operating are described.

Abstract: There is described an RFID IC, comprising: i) an RFID interface configured to receive a digitally modulated signal, wherein the digitally modulated signal comprises: a first slot with a first pulse, and a second slot with a second pulse; and ii) a processing unit configured to a) determine a first position of the first pulse in the first slot, b) filter a region that follows the determined first position of the first pulse, c) determine a second position of the second pulse in the second slot, and, if the second position of the second pulse cannot be determined in the second slot, assume that the second position of the second pulse in the second slot is at the filtered region.

Abstract: There is described an RFID IC, comprising: i) an RFID interface configured to receive a digitally modulated signal, wherein the digitally modulated signal comprises: a first slot with a first pulse, and a second slot with a second pulse; and ii) a processing unit configured to a) determine a first position of the first pulse in the first slot, b) filter a region that follows the determined first position of the first pulse, c) determine a second position of the second pulse in the second slot, and, if the second position of the second pulse cannot be determined in the second slot, assume that the second position of the second pulse in the second slot is at the filtered region.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The RFID tag includes an antenna to receive an input AC signal and a tuning system coupled with the antenna to optimize signal strength of the input AC signal. The tuning system includes a charge pump rectifier. A diode rectifier is included and is coupled with the antenna to receive the input AC signal after the tuning system optimizes the signal strength by tuning input impedance of the antenna.

Abstract: There is described an RFID tag IC, comprising: i) an NFC interface configured to initiate a power-up, when coupled with an HF field, and receive a read command from an RFID device; ii) a non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to store a counter value; and iii) a processing unit configured to increment the counter value when coupled with the HF field, set an increment flag, when the increment is successful, and thereby block a further increment of the counter value, in particular when fulfilling the read command, and reset the increment flag after fulfilling the read command. Further, a communication system and a method of operating are described.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The RFID tag includes an antenna to receive an input AC signal and a tuning system coupled with the antenna to optimize signal strength of the input AC signal. The tuning system includes a charge pump rectifier. A diode rectifier is included and is coupled with the antenna to receive the input AC signal after the tuning system optimizes the signal strength by tuning input impedance of the antenna.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator and a modulator controller, wherein the modulator is configured to generate a modulated signal to be transmitted to an external RFID reader, and wherein the modulator controller is configured to control a duty cycle of the modulator in dependence on an available amount of power. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived, comprising: generating, by a modulator of the RFID transponder, a modulated signal to be transmitted to an external RFID reader; controlling, by a modulator controller of the RFID transponder, a duty cycle of the modulator in dependence on an available amount of power.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator and a modulator controller, wherein the modulator is configured to generate a modulated signal to be transmitted to an external RFID reader, and wherein the modulator controller is configured to control a duty cycle of the modulator in dependence on an available amount of power. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived, comprising: generating, by a modulator of the RFID transponder, a modulated signal to be transmitted to an external RFID reader; controlling, by a modulator controller of the RFID transponder, a duty cycle of the modulator in dependence on an available amount of power.

Abstract: A method for operating a first near field communication, NFC, device, wherein the NFC device comprises an NFC interface and a memory, the method comprising: i) receiving a request for a service from a second NFC device at the NFC interface, ii) allocating a first information from a first memory unit of the memory that is configured to take part in providing the service, iii) allocating a second information from a second memory unit that is not configured to take part in providing the service, and transferring the second information from the second memory unit to the first memory unit, hereby iv) transferring at least a part of the first information and/or at least a part of the second information virtually beyond the first memory unit, v) combining the first information and the second information into a message, and vi) providing the message to the second NFC device as a response to the request.

Abstract: A method for operating a first near field communication, NFC, device, wherein the NFC device comprises an NFC interface and a memory, the method comprising: i) receiving a request for a service from a second NFC device at the NFC interface, ii) allocating a first information from a first memory unit of the memory that is configured to take part in providing the service, iii) allocating a second information from a second memory unit that is not configured to take part in providing the service, and transferring the second information from the second memory unit to the first memory unit, hereby iv) transferring at least a part of the first information and/or at least a part of the second information virtually beyond the first memory unit, v) combining the first information and the second information into a message, and vi) providing the message to the second NFC device as a response to the request.

Abstract: The invention relates to radiofrequency transponder circuits, and in particular to such transponder circuits having a unique identifier. Embodiments disclosed include a radiofrequency transponder circuit (100) comprising an antenna module (101), a control circuit (103) and a memory (104), the transponder circuit (100) being configured to respond to a read command received via the antenna module (101) by the control circuit (103) reading and transmitting an identifier stored in the memory (104) via the antenna module (101), wherein the control circuit (103) is configured to perform an integrity check on data stored in the memory (104) upon being powered up by a reader field a first time via the antenna module (101) and to not perform the integrity check for a predetermined time period upon being powered up by a reader field subsequent times via the antenna module (101).

Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward an apparatus in which a first circuit communicates with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders using radio frequency signals. A second circuit detects and communicates with the plurality of different types of RFID transponders via the first circuit, respectively using a command set for the type of RFID transponder that the first circuit is communicating with. The second circuit, in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, accesses and uses the configuration data for the new command set to update a configuration of the second circuit to enable communication with the new type of RFID transponder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an RFID apparatus is provided, which includes an input circuit that has an input impedance used for receiving RF signals. An RF-signal converter provides an apparatus-operating power signal in response to receiving the RF signals. An impedance circuit provides and selects impedance values in response to at least one select signal provided by a state-machine logic circuit. The state-machine logic circuit provides the select signal(s) in response to the apparatus-operating power signal for selecting the impedance values and therein permit the input impedance to be changed for tuning the RFID apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to radiofrequency transponder circuits, and in particular to such transponder circuits having a unique identifier. Embodiments disclosed include a radiofrequency transponder circuit (100) comprising an antenna module (101), a control circuit (103) and a memory (104), the transponder circuit (100) being configured to respond to a read command received via the antenna module (101) by the control circuit (103) reading and transmitting an identifier stored in the memory (104) via the antenna module (101), wherein the control circuit (103) is configured to perform an integrity check on data stored in the memory (104) upon being powered up by a reader field a first time via the antenna module (101) and to not perform the integrity check for a predetermined time period upon being powered up by a reader field subsequent times via the antenna module (101).

Abstract: The invention relates to an RFID transponder device configured for responding to a request of an RFID reader device, by sending a response (UID) comprising information for encoding a feature set of the RFID transponder device. The invention further relates to an RFID reader device and to an RFID system comprising such RFID transponder device and such RFID reader device. The invention also relates to various methods. The invention provides an RFID system, which is more flexible towards introducing new RFID transponder devices that are newly introduced to the market. The invention enables the introduction of such new devices using a sub-set of a prior defined feature set without requiring updating of the look-up tables of the RFID reader devices that are already on the market. This is achieved by directly encoding the feature set of the RFID transponder device in the response, such as in a unique identifier of the device.

Abstract: Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward an apparatus in which a first circuit communicates with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders using radio frequency signals. A second circuit detects and communicates with the plurality of different types of RFID transponders via the first circuit, respectively using a command set for the type of RFID transponder that the first circuit is communicating with. The second circuit, in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, accesses and uses the configuration data for the new command set to update a configuration of the second circuit to enable communication with the new type of RFID transponder.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an RFID apparatus is provided, which includes an input circuit that has an input impedance used for receiving RF signals. An RF-signal converter provides an apparatus-operating power signal in response to receiving the RF signals. An impedance circuit provides and selects impedance values in response to at least one select signal provided by a state-machine logic circuit. The state-machine logic circuit provides the select signal(s) in response to the apparatus-operating power signal for selecting the impedance values and therein permit the input impedance to be changed for tuning the RFID apparatus.

Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader circuit includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a plurality of different types of RFID transponders using radio frequency signals. The RFID reader circuit includes a processor circuit that is configured to detect and communicate with the plurality of different types of RFID transponders via the transceiver, respectively using a command set for the type of RFID transponder that the processor circuit is communicating with. The processor circuit is further configured to, in response to detecting an RFID transponder having configuration data for a new command set, access and use the configuration data for the new command set to update a configuration of the RFID reader circuit to enable communication with a new type of RFID transponder.