Abstract: A calibration system comprises an actuator circuit comprising a first delay circuit that receives a plurality of data pulses and a second delay circuit that receives the pulses, wherein one of the first and second delay circuits delays the data pulses independently of the other of the first and second delay circuits; a data switch that receives an output of the actuator circuit including delay data signals of the data pulses from the first and second delay circuits and switches and outputs a plurality of local oscillator (LO) signals for output as a controlled LO signal according to control signals of the delay data signals and applied to the data switch. At least one calibration switch receives the output of the actuator circuit and the plurality of LO+ and LO? signals, and outputs a second controlled LO signal output to a sense circuit.

Abstract: A calibration system comprises an actuator circuit comprising a first delay circuit that receives a plurality of data pulses and a second delay circuit that receives the pulses, wherein one of the first and second delay circuits delays the data pulses independently of the other of the first and second delay circuits; a data switch that receives an output of the actuator circuit including delay data signals of the data pulses from the first and second delay circuits and switches and outputs a plurality of local oscillator (LO) signals for output as a controlled LO signal according to control signals of the delay data signals and applied to the data switch. At least one calibration switch receives the output of the actuator circuit and the plurality of LO+ and LO? signals, and outputs a second controlled LO signal output to a sense circuit.

Abstract: A duty cycle correction (DCC) circuit for use in relation to differential signal communications, a method of providing duty cycle correction, and communications systems and methods employing same, are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, the circuit includes a differential signal inverter circuit including first and second inverter circuits, each of which has a respective inverter and respective first and second transistor devices respectively coupled between the respective inverter and first and second voltages, respectively. The circuit also includes a feedback circuit coupled to respective output ports of the respective first and second inverter circuits and also to respective feedback input ports of the respective transistor devices. The feedback circuit operates to provide one or more feedback signals causing one or more of the transistor devices to perform current limiting. Respective duty cycles of output signals respectively are equal or substantially equal based on the current limiting.

Abstract: A duty cycle correction (DCC) circuit for use in relation to differential signal communications, a method of providing duty cycle correction, and communications systems and methods employing same, are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, the circuit includes a differential signal inverter circuit including first and second inverter circuits, each of which has a respective inverter and respective first and second transistor devices respectively coupled between the respective inverter and first and second voltages, respectively. The circuit also includes a feedback circuit coupled to respective output ports of the respective first and second inverter circuits and also to respective feedback input ports of the respective transistor devices. The feedback circuit operates to provide one or more feedback signals causing one or more of the transistor devices to perform current limiting. Respective duty cycles of output signals respectively are equal or substantially equal based on the current limiting.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for gain control in a communications device are described. In an embodiment, a method for gain control in a communications device involves detecting a change in an amplification gain that is applied to an analog signal in the communications device and compensating for the change in the amplification gain by manipulating an amplitude of a digital signal that is converted from the analog signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for gain control in a communications device are described. In an embodiment, a method for gain control in a communications device involves detecting a change in an amplification gain that is applied to an analog signal in the communications device and compensating for the change in the amplification gain by manipulating an amplitude of a digital signal that is converted from the analog signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: There is described a contactless communication device. The device comprises (a) a receiver unit (110, 610) having an antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) for connecting to an antenna, the receiver unit (110, 610) being adapted to couple with a transmitting device and to receive an RF signal transmitted by the transmitting device, the receiver unit (110, 610) being further adapted to determine a point of time relating to a position of data within the RF signal, (b) a comparator (120) adapted to generate a comparator output signal (agc_comp) which is indicative of a relation between a voltage at the antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) of the receiver unit (110, 610) and a reference voltage (Vref), and (c) a voltage regulation circuit coupled to the comparator (120) and to the antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) of the receiver unit (110, 610), the voltage regulation circuit being adapted to repetitively regulate the voltage at the antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) based on the comparator output signal (agc_comp).

Abstract: Embodiments of a mixer of a Near field communication (NFC) receiver device and a method for operating a mixer of an NFC receiver device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a mixer of an NFC receiver device includes an input unit from which an input signal is received, a sample and hold circuit configured to sample the input signal and to store electrical charge based on the sampled input signal in order to generate a differential output signal, a control unit configured to switch the sample and hold circuit between different operational modes based on whether the input signal is a single-ended input signal or a differential input signal, and a differential output unit from which the differential output signal is output. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of a mixer of a Near field communication (NFC) receiver device and a method for operating a mixer of an NFC receiver device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a mixer of an NFC receiver device includes an input unit from which an input signal is received, a sample and hold circuit configured to sample the input signal and to store electrical charge based on the sampled input signal in order to generate a differential output signal, a control unit configured to switch the sample and hold circuit between different operational modes based on whether the input signal is a single-ended input signal or a differential input signal, and a differential output unit from which the differential output signal is output. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and a system for generating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value that corresponds to a radio frequency (RF) signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for generating an RSSI value that corresponds to an RF signal involves obtaining an attenuation factor code in response to applying an automatic gain control (AGC) operation to the RF signal, obtaining an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) code in response to applying an ADC operation to a signal that results from the AGC operation, and combining the attenuation factor code and the ADC code to generate an RSSI value. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and a system for generating a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value that corresponds to a radio frequency (RF) signal are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for generating an RSSI value that corresponds to an RF signal involves obtaining an attenuation factor code in response to applying an automatic gain control (AGC) operation to the RF signal, obtaining an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) code in response to applying an ADC operation to a signal that results from the AGC operation, and combining the attenuation factor code and the ADC code to generate an RSSI value. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: There is described a contactless communication device. The device comprises (a) a receiver unit (110, 610) having an antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) for connecting to an antenna, the receiver unit (110, 610) being adapted to couple with a transmitting device and to receive an RF signal transmitted by the transmitting device, the receiver unit (110, 610) being further adapted to determine a point of time relating to a position of data within the RF signal, (b) a comparator (120) adapted to generate a comparator output signal (agc_comp) which is indicative of a relation between a voltage at the antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) of the receiver unit (110, 610) and a reference voltage (Vref), and (c) a voltage regulation circuit coupled to the comparator (120) and to the antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) of the receiver unit (110, 610), the voltage regulation circuit being adapted to repetitively regulate the voltage at the antenna input (RXn, Vmid, RXp) based on the comparator output signal (agc_comp).

Abstract: In a data carrier (1) for contactless communication with a base station (2) across an electromagnetic field (HF) generated by the base station (2), coil voltage control means (16) are arranged for controlling the unmodulated coil voltage (US) of the received signal (ES), the coil voltage control means (16) being arranged for control in response to an essentially decreasing coil voltage (US) when the field strength of the electromagnetic field (HF) increases.

Abstract: Conventional modulation envelope demodulators for amplitude modulated signals (e.g. ASK coded signals RX) contain rectifier elements which extract a baseband signal BB. Disadvantageously, due to a non-linear characteristic of the rectifier elements, an amplitude of the baseband signal BB depends on an amplitude of the high-frequent carrier signal. The present invention discloses an improved demodulation circuit for demodulating of ASK coded or amplitude modulated signals. This is achieved by using a sampling mixer 4 and a phase adjusting regulation loop (5) by means of which the sampling of the ASK coded signal RX at its maxima is performed with high accuracy. Due to the absence of any rectifying elements, the baseband signal BB can be fully extracted from the ASK coded signals RX.

Abstract: A demodulator circuit (DMOD) for amplitude-modulated signals is defined which comprises a threshold switch module (SWS), wherein a signal output (SA) of the threshold switch module (SWS) is connected to the output (DA) of the demodulator circuit (DMOD) and a signal input (SE) of the threshold switch module (SWS) is connected via a first capacitor (C1) to the input (E) of the demodulator circuit (DMOD). In addition, the signal input (SE) can be connected via a coupling element (KO) to a first or alternatively a second.

Abstract: Conventional modulation envelope demodulators for amplitude modulated signals (e.g. ASK coded signals RX) contain rectifier elements which extract a baseband signal BB. Disadvantageously, due to a non-linear characteristic of the rectifier elements, an amplitude of the baseband signal BB depends on an amplitude of the high-frequent carrier signal. The present invention discloses an improved demodulation circuit for demodulating of ASK coded or amplitude modulated signals. This is achieved by using a sampling mixer 4 and a phase adjusting regulation loop (5) by means of which the sampling of the ASK coded signal RX at its maxima is performed with high accuracy. Due to the absence of any rectifying elements, the baseband signal BB can be fully extracted from the ASK coded signals RX.

Abstract: A demodulator circuit (DMOD) for amplitude-modulated signals is defined which comprises a threshold switch module (SWS), wherein a signal output (SA) of the threshold switch module (SWS) is connected to the output (DA) of the demodulator circuit (DMOD) and a signal input (SE) of the threshold switch module (SWS) is connected via a first capacitor (C1) to the input (E) of the demodulator circuit (DMOD).

Abstract: In a data carrier (1) for contactless communication with a base station (2) across an electromagnetic field (HF) generated by the base station (2), coil voltage control means (16) are arranged for controlling the unmodulated coil voltage (US) of the received signal (ES), the coil voltage control means (16) being arranged for control in response to an essentially decreasing coil voltage (US) when the field strength of the electromagnetic field (HF) increases.