Abstract: An electronic counter comprising a sequence of memory cells, each memory cell being non-volatile and supporting a one state and a zero state, the counter being 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, the increment logic comprising programming increment logic and erasing increment logic, the increment logic being configured to alternate between a programming phase in which the programming increment logic advances the pattern, and an erasing phase in which the erasing increment logic advances the pattern, wherein the programming increment logic is configured to program a next cell of the sequence of non-volatile memory cells from a zero state to a one state, the program phase terminating when all memory cells of the sequence of memory cells are i

Abstract: Radio frequency communications are effected. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a radio frequency communication circuit includes an antenna having a conductor and a semiconductor chip having a lower substrate surface coupled with the conductor to pass data carried by radio frequency signals to a radio frequency communication circuit in an active layer on an upper surface of the substrate. Accordingly, communications are facilitated via the substrate and can alleviate the need to use through-substrate connectors and further facilitate placement of the chip on the antenna.

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: Radio frequency communications are effected. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a radio frequency communication circuit includes an antenna having a conductor and a semiconductor chip having a lower substrate surface coupled with the conductor to pass data carried by radio frequency signals to a radio frequency communication circuit in an active layer on an upper surface of the substrate. Accordingly, communications are facilitated via the substrate and can alleviate the need to use through-substrate connectors and further facilitate placement of the chip on the antenna.

Abstract: A contactless tag reader device comprises upper and lower electrodes which together define a tag location zone between them in which multiple tags can be placed. The lower electrode and the upper electrode are offset from each other such that they substantially do not overlap. This structure is used to sandwich tags vertically between two horizontally (laterally) offset reader electrodes. This enables power coupling and data transfer using capacitive coupling.

Abstract: An electric circuit for a transponder (110) for communication with a base station (120), the electric circuit comprising a memory unit (111) adapted for storing communication related information, and a processor unit (112) adapted for altering an authentification code necessary for the base station (120) to get access to the memory (111) in accordance with a pseudo-random authentification code altering scheme.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing an input signal (102), the device (100) comprising a delay unit (104) adapted for delaying the input signal (102) by a predefined delay time, at least one phase shifting unit (106) each adapted for phase shifting the delayed input signal (108) by an assigned phase value, a plurality of mixer units (110) each adapted for mixing the input signal (102) with the delayed input signal (108) or with one of the at least one phase shifted signal (112), and an extraction unit (114) adapted for extracting information from each of the mixed signals (116).

Abstract: A method of reading data (DAT1 . . . DAT4) from transponders (T1 . . . T4) by means of a reader device (RD) during a number (N) of time slots (TS) is disclosed, wherein the seizure of said time slots (TS) by the transponders (T1 . . . T4) is observed in both the reader device (RD) and the transponders (T1 . . . T4). A reorganization (REORG) is performed in dependence on said seizure, wherein both the reader device (RD) and the transponders (T1 . . . T4) choose a new number (N) of time slots (TS). In addition, the transponders (T1 . . . T4) select one of the new time slots (TS) in which to send data (DAT1 . . . DAT4) back to the reader device (RD) so as to adapt the system's capacity to the real demands. Preferably, said reorganization (REORG) takes place without communication between the reader device (RD) and the transponders (T1 . . . T4). The invention further relates to a transponder (T1 . . . T4) and to a reader device (RD) for implementing the inventive method.

Abstract: In an RFID system a method for communication between a reader (1) and a tag (2) comprises: at the reader (1), switching on an electromagnetic signal (SS) for energizing the RFID tag (2) and/or transmitting an instruction (INST, RNREQ) or first data (D1) to the tag (2); at the tag (2), generating a random number (RN), converting said random number (RN) into a random time period (tx) and transmitting a response to the reader (1) after a delay time that corresponds to the random time period (tx); at the reader (1), measuring the random time period between transmitting the instruction (INST, RNREQ) or first data (D1) to the tag (2), receiving the response (RESP) from the tag (2), reconverting the measured random time period (tx) into the random number (RN), encrypting second data (D2) with the random number (RN) and transmitting said encrypted data (ED) to the tag (2); at the tag (2), decrypting the encrypted data (ED) by the use of the random number (RN).

Abstract: A contactless tag reader device comprises upper and lower electrodes which together define a tag location zone between them in which multiple tags can be placed. The lower electrode and the upper electrode are offset from each other such that they substantially do not overlap. This structure is used to sandwich tags vertically between two horizontally (laterally) offset reader electrodes. This enables power coupling and data transfer using capacitive coupling.

Abstract: In a method of inventorizing a plurality of data carriers (2) with the aid of a communication station (1) communicating in a contact-free way with the data carriers (2), a set (TS(1), TS(2), . . . TS(N), TS(N+1), . . . (TS(K)) of transmission parameters, preferably of time slots (TS) is available, which set comprises a first subset (TS(1) . . . TS(N)) and a second subset (TS(N+1) . . . (TS(K)) wherein inventorizing procedures (MP1, MP2, MP3, . . . ) are performed consecutively and wherein uninventorized data carriers (2) transmit their identification data (ID) to the communication station (1) for the purpose of inventorization only using transmission parameters contained in the first subset and wherein already inventorized data carriers (2) transmit their identification data (ID) to the communication station (1) only using transmission parameters contained in the second subset.

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.

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 device (100) for processing an input signal (102), the device (100) comprising a delay unit (104) adapted for delaying the input signal (102) by a predefined delay time, at least one phase shifting unit (106) each adapted for phase shifting the delayed input signal (108) by an assigned phase value, a plurality of mixer units (110) each adapted for mixing the input signal (102) with the delayed input signal (108) or with one of the at least one phase shifted signal (112), and an extraction unit (114) adapted for extracting information from each of the mixed signals (116).

Abstract: In a data carrier (1), there are provided modification means (19) for modifying, as a function of the distance between the data carrier (1) and the base station (4), the ratio of the duration of a load period (TB) to the duration of an off-load period (TE), at which ratio the data carrier (1) load-modulates the electromagnetic field (HF) generated by a base station (4).

Abstract: In a receiving method for the contactless reception of identification information (I1,12), which is stored in a data carrier (3, 3?) and which can be received from the data carrier (3, 3) in a contactless manner in the form of information units (IU, IU?) with a communication device (2), it is envisaged that firstly an information unit (R.IU) is received and that secondly it is detected that the received information unit (R.IU) represents a collision of two different information units (IU, IU?) occurring essentially simultaneously, of which two different information units (IU, IU?) the one information unit (IU) originates from a first data carrier (3) and the other information unit (IU?) originates from a second data carrier (3?), and that thirdly a received information unit (R.IU) that represents a collision is replaced with a first replacement information unit (R.IU1) established by the communication device (2), which is used instead of the information unit (R.

Abstract: In a method of inventorying a plurality of transponders (2) by means of a communication station (1) communicating with the transponders (2) in contactless manner, the communication station (1) emits an unmodulated carrier signal (NMCS) in a communications range of the communication station (1) and each transponder (2) on entering the communications range then emits a presence-signaling signal (PRES) and the communication station (1) on receiving a presence-signaling signal (PRES) then emits an inventorying command signal (INVS) and each transponder (2) on receiving the inventorying command signal (INVS) then emits a response signal (RESPS) permitting inventorying of the transponder (2) and the communication station (1) on correctly receiving a response signal (RESPS) then undertakes inventorying of the relevant transponder (2).

Abstract: Circuit for a data carrier, which circuit is capable of supplying identification information to a communications arrangement.

Abstract: A communication station (1) and a transponder (2) are designed in such a way that an inventorizing operation can be performed using various memory areas (36, 37, 38, 39, 40), which are provided in an addressable memory (35) of the transponder (2), and in which different identification data (UIDDATA, USERDATA) is stored.

Abstract: A method recognizes whether a transponder designed for communicating with a communication station belongs to one of at least two groups of transponders. First, for each group of transponders, a check data block that is significant for the group of transponders is generated. Then, the data from the check data block that is significant for the group of transponders is evaluated for the recognition of whether the transponder belongs to the group of transponders.