Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, an integrated circuit is provided, comprising a current source and a reference capacitor, the integrated circuit being configured to: inject, using said current source, a first current in an external measurement capacitor and determine a first amount of time within which a resulting voltage on the measurement capacitor reaches a voltage threshold; inject, using said current source, a second current in the reference capacitor and determine a second amount of time within which a resulting voltage on the reference capacitor reaches said voltage threshold; detect a change of the capacitance on the measurement capacitor using a difference between the first amount of time and the second amount of time. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding measurement method is conceived.

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: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) device is provided, comprising a first power domain, a second power domain, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit, wherein the first processing unit is configured to execute one or more first operations and the second processing unit is configured to execute one or more second operations, wherein the first operations output intermediate data which are used as input for the second operations, and wherein the first processing unit is configured to operate in the first power domain and the second processing unit is configured to operate in the second power domain, said first power domain having a larger amount of available power than the second power domain. In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) device is conceived, and a corresponding computer program is provided.

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) device is provided, comprising a first power domain, a second power domain, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit, wherein the first processing unit is configured to execute one or more first operations and the second processing unit is configured to execute one or more second operations, wherein the first operations output intermediate data which are used as input for the second operations, and wherein the first processing unit is configured to operate in the first power domain and the second processing unit is configured to operate in the second power domain, said first power domain having a larger amount of available power than the second power domain. In accordance with further aspects of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) device is conceived, and a corresponding computer program is provided.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic identification device is provided, comprising an ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication unit, wherein said UHF communication unit is configured to be activated restrictedly. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating an electronic identification device is conceived, said electronic identification device comprising an ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication unit, the method comprising restrictedly activating said UHF communication unit. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory machine-readable medium is provided, comprising instructions that, when executed, carry out a method of the kind set forth.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, an integrated circuit is provided, comprising a current source and a reference capacitor, the integrated circuit being configured to: inject, using said current source, a first current in an external measurement capacitor and determine a first amount of time within which a resulting voltage on the measurement capacitor reaches a voltage threshold; inject, using said current source, a second current in the reference capacitor and determine a second amount of time within which a resulting voltage on the reference capacitor reaches said voltage threshold; detect a change of the capacitance on the measurement capacitor using a difference between the first amount of time and the second amount of time. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding measurement method is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic identification device is provided, comprising an ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication unit, wherein said UHF communication unit is configured to be activated restrictedly. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating an electronic identification device is conceived, said electronic identification device comprising an ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication unit, the method comprising restrictedly activating said UHF communication unit. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory machine-readable medium is provided, comprising instructions that, when executed, carry out a method of the kind set forth.

Abstract: An object is disclosed, the object (100) comprising a body comprising an antenna; and an integrated circuit embedded in the body and electrically connected to the antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. The integrated circuit receives wireless signals at first and second different frequencies, waits until a command is received at the first frequency from a first reader device before transmitting a first signal and, upon detection of a signal at a second frequency different to the first frequency from a second reader device (201), transmits a second signal without waiting until a command is received.

Abstract: A RFID transponder includes an active load modulation unit and an energy harvesting unit coupled to the active load modulation unit. The active load modulation unit performs active load modulation on transmitted signals. The energy harvesting unit harvests RF energy from the ambient environment, converts the RF energy to DC energy, stores the DC energy, and supplies the DC energy to the active load modulation unit.

Abstract: A RFID transponder includes an active load modulation unit and an energy harvesting unit coupled to the active load modulation unit. The active load modulation unit performs active load modulation on transmitted signals. The energy harvesting unit harvests RF energy from the ambient environment, converts the RF energy to DC energy, stores the DC energy, and supplies the DC energy to the active load modulation unit.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by an RFID tag, the method including: receiving a request for a EPC serial number; determining whether the EPC serial number has a preset value; when the EPC serial number has the preset value, mapping a transponder ID to the EPC serial number; and providing the EPC serial number in response to the RFID read request.

Abstract: An object is disclosed, the object (100) comprising a body comprising an antenna; and an integrated circuit embedded in the body and electrically connected to the antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. The integrated circuit receives wireless signals at first and second different frequencies, waits until a command is received at the first frequency from a first reader device before transmitting a first signal and, upon detection of a signal at a second frequency different to the first frequency from a second reader device (201), transmits a second signal without waiting until a command is received.

Abstract: An electronic counter is provided having a sequence of memory cells and increment logic. Each memory cell of the sequence is non-volatile and supports a one state and a zero state. The one state can also be referred to as a ‘programmed state’, the zero state as an ‘erased state’. The counter is configured to represent at least part of a current counting-state of the counter as a pattern of one and zero states in the memory cells of the sequence of memory cells, and increment logic configured to advance the pattern of one and zero states to a next pattern to represent an increment of the counter.

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: A data carrier device is disclosed. The data carrier device includes a demodulation device configured to demodulate a received modulated carrier signal and output the included encoded data signal and a decoding device configured to decode the encoded data signal and output data. The decoding device includes a first decoding stage and a second decoding stage, wherein the first decoding stage is configured to decode said data signal in conformity with a first method and the second decoding stage is configured to decode said data signal in conformity with a second method, wherein the first method is Manchester and the second method is Miller.

Abstract: In a data carrier (1) which includes receiving means (5) for receiving a modulated carrier signal (MTS) which contains a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with an encoding method (MA, PW, MI, RTZ, FSK, PSK), demodulation means (9) for demodulating the received modulated carrier signal (MTS) and for outputting the encoded data signal (DS1) contained therein, decoding means (10, 20) for decoding the encoded data signal (DS1) and for outputting data (D1, D2), and data processing means (11) for processing the data (D1, D2) output by the decoding means (10, 20), the decoding means (10, 20) are provided with at least a first decoding stage (12) and a second decoding stage (13), the first decoding stage (12) being arranged to decode a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with a first method (RTZ) whereas the second decoding stage (13) is arranged to decode a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with a second method (MI).

Abstract: In a data carrier (1) which includes receiving means (5) for receiving a modulated carrier signal (MTS) which contains a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with an encoding method (MA, PW, MI, RTZ, FSK, PSK), demodulation means (9) for demodulating the received modulated carrier signal (MTS) and for outputting the encoded data signal (DS1) contained therein, decoding means (10, 20) for decoding the encoded data signal (DS1) and for outputting data (D1, D2), and data processing means (11) for processing the data (D1, D2) output by the decoding means (10, 20), the decoding means (10, 20) are provided with at least a first decoding stage (12) and a second decoding stage (13), the first decoding stage (12) being arranged to decode a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with a first method (RTZ) whereas the second decoding stage (13) is arranged to decode a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with a second method (MI).

Abstract: A device for use in electronic article surveillance EAS is disclosed which comprises a resonant circuit, typically designed for 8.2 MHz operation, in addition to a transponder, such as RFID, for non-contact communication with a communication station. The RFID transponder can provide a signal to detune the resonant circuit to disable the EAS and optionally another signal to tune or retune the resonant circuit to enable or re-enable the EAS. The detuning and tuning or retuning may preferably be achieved using phase change memory material, configured as a programmable switch having two states with different resistances.