Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a battery system is provided for use in a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of battery modules; a controller operatively coupled to the battery modules; a plurality of secure elements, wherein each of said battery modules contains at least one of said secure elements and wherein the controller contains at least one of said secure elements, and wherein said secure elements are configured to perform one or more authentication operations by executing a cryptographic algorithm. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of configuring a battery system is conceived.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for managing a secure element for an automotive application. The method includes receiving a control signal via a first data transmission path. The control signal includes instructions for controlling the automotive application. The method includes determining whether the received control signal is authorized or not. If the control signal is authorized, the method includes increasing an attack counter, and locking the secure element, if the attack counter is equal or higher than a predefined locking value. The method includes unlocking the secure element in response to successful performing of a secure function. Further, a control system for an automotive application and a computer program product is disclosed.

Abstract: An architecture is arranged to (re-)configure a software defined vehicle (SDV) that includes electronic control unit (ECU) including a host processor; and a single secure element (SE) operably coupled to the host processor. The SE may include a main credential applet operably coupled to at least one application applet and the main credential applet is arranged to program the at least one application applet.

Abstract: A communication antenna comprising an inner antenna loop extending within a plane, configured to allow a current to flow along a first inner wire and a second inner wire. The communication antenna also comprises, an outer antenna loop extending around the inner antenna loop within the plane, configured to allow a current to flow along an outer wire. The communication antenna further comprises, a plurality of transistors configured to be controlled by a first control voltage and a second control voltage selectively to switch between, a first state which produces current flow in the first inner wire that is in phase with the current in the outer wire; and a second state which produces current flow in the second inner wire that is out of phase with the current in the outer wire. The plurality of transistors is coupled between the outer antenna loop and the inner antenna loop.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a near field communication (NFC) device is provided, comprising: an NFC circuit; a matching circuit operatively coupled to the NFC circuit; a first antenna and a second antenna; a first switch operable in a first state and in a second state, said first switch being configured to connect a first end of the first antenna to a first end of the second antenna when operated in the first state, and to connect said first end of the first antenna to the matching circuit when operated in the second state. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of implementing a near field communication (NFC) device is conceived.

Abstract: A secure element includes a sensing unit configured to sense one or more signal characteristics. The signal characteristics include characteristics of signals transmitted to and from components of a vehicle access system. The secure element also includes a processing unit configured to conclude, in dependence on an output of the sensing unit, that one or more attacks are carried out on the vehicle access system. A corresponding method of operating a secure element is conceived, and a computer program for carrying out said method is provided.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a near field communication (NFC) device is provided, comprising: an antenna configured to enable wireless communication with an external device; a charging unit configured to charge the external device by transferring power to said external device through said antenna; a detection unit configured to detect whether the external device is a passive NFC device; a controller configured to control the charging unit in dependence on an output of the detection unit, wherein said output indicates whether the external device is a passive NFC device. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a near field communication (NFC) device is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, comprising: a plurality of communication nodes which are operatively coupled to each other, wherein each of said communication nodes comprises a first radio frequency (RF) communication unit configured to perform ranging sessions with an external communication device; a controller configured to create a logical subset of said communication nodes based on an indication of a channel quality between the communication nodes and the external communication device, wherein said indication of the channel quality has been obtained using a second RF communication unit comprised in each of said communication nodes; the controller further being configured to cause that only the communication nodes included in said logical subset perform said ranging sessions with the external communication device.

Abstract: A near field communication (NFC) device includes two concentric NFC antennae. The first NFC antenna forms a first loop the second NFC antenna forms a second loop of the antenna. The overall electric and magnetic field patterns of the antenna can be controlled by changing the phase of signals used to drive the two antennae. In one configuration, the magnetic field strength may be concentrated toward a central area between the two antennae in a configuration suitable for transmitting conventional NFC signals. In another configuration the two antennae are driven with signals that are out of phase, resulting in a magnetic field pattern which extends over a wider area that is suitable for wireless device charging.

Abstract: A battery module includes one or more battery cells and a battery module controller operatively coupled to the battery cells. The battery module controller is configured to determine a state of the battery cells. A secure element is operatively coupled to the battery module controller and is configured to store data indicative of the state of the battery cells as determined by the battery module controller. An interface unit operatively coupled to the secure element is configured to receive a request for evaluating the state of the battery from an external user device.

Abstract: A first wireless charging device includes: an antenna and a power transmitter configured to charge an external device by transferring power to the external device through the antenna. The first wireless device also includes a near field communication (NFC) unit configured to detect whether the external device is a passive NFC device. The first wireless device includes a controller configured to control the power transmitter in response to an antenna load value determined by the NFC unit that indicates whether the external device is a passive NFC device and the charging device prevents charging of the external device if the external device is a passive device.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit configured to carry out UWB communication with an external communication device; a plurality of antennas operatively coupled to said UWB communication unit, at least one inertial sensor; an antenna selection unit configured to select, based on an output of the inertial sensor, a specific antenna of said plurality of antennas for carrying out the UWB communication. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A first radiofrequency (RF) communication device is configured to detect whether an external device is an active RF communication device or a passive RF communication. The first device triggers transmission of a first RF signal and a second RF signal. The first device detects that the external device is an active device based on the first RF signal and/or that the external device is a passive device based on the second RF signal.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a key fob is provided, comprising: a wireless interface for establishing a wireless connection to a controller integrated in a vehicle, wherein the wireless connection enables the key fob to provide access credentials to said controller; a wired interface for connecting the key fob to a console integrated in the vehicle, such that the key fob is usable for carrying out wireless charging of an external mobile device and/or for acting as an anchor device for performing ranging operations with said external mobile device. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of configuring a key fob is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, an access system is provided for gaining access to a vehicle, comprising: a communication unit configured to establish a communication channel with an external device and to receive at least one credential from the external device through said communication channel; a secure element configured to perform a verification of said credential and to grant or deny access to the vehicle in dependence on a result of the verification of the credential. In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating an access system for gaining access to a vehicle is conceived, as well as a computer program for carrying out said method.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless charging device is provided, comprising: a charging unit configured to charge an external device by wirelessly transferring power to said external device; a detection unit configured to detect whether the external device is a passive near field communication (NFC) device or an active NFC device by analyzing a modulation characteristic of an NFC signal received by the external device; a controller configured to control the charging unit in dependence on an output of the detection unit, wherein said output indicates whether the external device is a passive NFC device or an active NFC device. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a wireless charging device is conceived.

Abstract: A battery management system includes battery management circuitry configured to be coupled to one or more battery modules. The battery management circuitry includes a secure element storing cryptographic information that enables the battery management circuitry to communicate securely with an external server as part of installation of a new battery module coupled to the battery management or removal of a battery module already coupled to the battery management circuitry.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a battery system is provided for use in a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of battery modules; a controller operatively coupled to the battery modules; a plurality of secure elements, wherein each of said battery modules contains at least one of said secure elements and wherein the controller contains at least one of said secure elements, and wherein said secure elements are configured to perform one or more authentication operations by executing a cryptographic algorithm. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of configuring a battery system is conceived.

Abstract: An infrastructure-controller (206) for an infrastructure (202), wherein the infrastructure has a plurality of Bluetooth Low Energy, “BLE”, nodes (208, 210, 212) associated with it. The infrastructure-controller (206) is configured to: identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a current-BLE-node (212), and activate the current-BLE-node (212) for communication with a key (204) using BLE signals; determine a communication-quality-indicator for each of the plurality of BLE nodes (208, 210, 212), that represents the quality of communication with the key (204); based on the communication-quality-indicators, identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a next-BLE-node (210); and provide connection-information to the next-BLE-node (210) using out-of-band signalling (214). The infrastructure-controller (206) can then deactivate the current-BLE-node (212); and activate the next-BLE-node (212) for continued communication with the key (204) using BLE signals.

Abstract: There is described a method of operating an RF access system, the system comprising an anchor arranged at a predetermined location and configured to communicate with one or more key devices. The method comprises: operating the anchor in a first mode, the first mode comprising first RF ranging operations for determining a first ranging result for the anchor relative to a key device; determining whether the first ranging result fulfils a predetermined condition; if the first ranging result fulfils the predetermined condition, operating the anchor in a second mode, the second mode comprising second RF ranging operations for determining a second ranging result for the anchor relative to the key device, and RF radar operations for determining a radar result for the anchor relative to a holder of the key device; and determining position information associated with the key device based on the second ranging result and the radar result.