Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The RFID tag includes an antenna port to receive an input AC signal and a self-tuning circuit coupled with the antenna port to optimize signal strength of the input AC signal during a self-tuning phase. The RFID tag further includes an AC limiter configured to limit the voltage of the input AC signal to a preconfigured limit and a limiter controller configured to disable the AC limiter during the self-tuning phase and re-enable the AC limiter after the self-tuning phase. The self-tuning phase occurs prior to the data communication period in which the data stored in the RFID tag is transmitted back to a reader.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising: at least one functional component configured to perform a function of the RFID transponder; a charge pump configured to supply an output voltage to said functional component, wherein said charge pump comprises a plurality of charge pump stages; a charge pump controller configured to control a number of charge pump stages which contribute to the output voltage. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating an RFID transponder is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a command from an external RFID reader, wherein the command is a first command transmitted by the RFID reader during a communication session and wherein said command comprises a at least one parameter indicative of one or more modifiable settings of the RFID transponder; and a controller configured to modify the settings of the RFID transponder in accordance with a value of said parameter. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator, a current sensor and a clock recovery circuit, wherein: the modulator is configured to modulate an unmodulated carrier signal received from an external RFID reader; the current sensor is configured to sense a current that flows through one or more transistors comprised in the modulator; and the clock recovery circuit is configured to recover a clock signal using the current sensed by the current sensor. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a charge pump and at least one functional component, wherein: the charge pump is configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage and to supply the output voltage to the functional component; the functional component is configured to perform a function of the RFID transponder using the output voltage of the charge pump; wherein the charge pump comprises a diode or switch transistor and at least one capacitor coupled to said diode or switch transistor, and wherein the capacitor is configured to compensate for a change of an impedance of said diode or switch transistor. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating an RFID transponder is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator and a controller, wherein: the modulator is configured to generate a modulated signal to be transmitted to an external RFID reader; the controller is configured to regulate an input voltage for the modulator, resulting in a regulated input voltage, and to feed said regulated input voltage to the modulator. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder includes a current control module for controlling a current consumption of a memory based on an amount of available power, and a control logic for controlling a memory operation in response to the control of the current consumption by the current control module. The RFID transponder further includes a power detector that is configured to continuously monitor and detect the amount of available power and output a power-dependent control signal. The power-dependent control signal is used by the RFID transponder to control the current consumption of the memory in dependence on the available 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: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator and a controller, wherein: the modulator is configured to generate a modulated signal to be transmitted to an external RFID reader; the controller is configured to regulate an input voltage for the modulator, resulting in a regulated input voltage, and to feed said regulated input voltage to the modulator. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator, a current sensor and a clock recovery circuit, wherein: the modulator is configured to modulate an unmodulated carrier signal received from an external RFID reader; the current sensor is configured to sense a current that flows through one or more transistors comprised in the modulator; and the clock recovery circuit is configured to recover a clock signal using the current sensed by the current sensor. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising: at least one functional component configured to perform a function of the RFID transponder; a charge pump configured to supply an output voltage to said functional component, wherein said charge pump comprises a plurality of charge pump stages; a charge pump controller configured to control a number of charge pump stages which contribute to the output voltage. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating an RFID transponder is conceived.

Abstract: A system for detecting tampering with a product includes a capacitor in or attached to the product, an integrated circuit configured to inject a current the capacitor and to detect a corresponding voltage slope on the capacitor. The integrated circuit is further configured to divide the voltage slope into a plurality of slope segments, discard a first set of slope segments, whose slope value falls outside a predefined range of slope values, and use a second set of slope segments, whose slope value falls within said predefined range, for determining a capacitance on the capacitor. A corresponding method for detecting tampering with a product is conceived, and a corresponding computer program is provided.

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 system for detecting tampering with a product includes a capacitor in or attached to the product, an integrated circuit configured to inject a current the capacitor and to detect a corresponding voltage slope on the capacitor. The integrated circuit is further configured to divide the voltage slope into a plurality of slope segments, discard a first set of slope segments, whose slope value falls outside a predefined range of slope values, and use a second set of slope segments, whose slope value falls within said predefined range, for determining a capacitance on the capacitor. A corresponding method for detecting tampering with a product is conceived, and a corresponding computer program is provided.

Abstract: A reference voltage generator circuit (100) is disclosed, comprising a first transistor (101) having a first channel type and a second transistor (102) having a second channel type. A current source (104) is connected to a source terminal of the first transistor (101). A drain terminal of the second transistor (102) is connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor (101). The reference voltage generator circuit (100) further comprises a third transistor (103) having the second channel type, wherein a drain terminal of the third transistor (103) is connected to a source terminal of the second transistor (102). A node between the source terminal of the second transistor (102) and the drain terminal of the third transistor (103) is connected to a gate terminal of the first transistor (101). A connection for a reference voltage (Vrc) is provided between the current source (104) and the source terminal of the first transistor (101).

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic tamper detection device is provided, comprising a radio frequency antenna, a tamper loop, a power level determination unit and a tamper measurement unit, wherein: the power level determination unit is configured to determine a power level of the tamper detection device; the tamper measurement unit is configured to generate a measurement signal and to transmit said measurement signal through the tamper loop; the tamper measurement unit is further configured to adapt the measurement signal in dependence on the power level. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding tamper detection method is conceived. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions is provided.

Abstract: A regulated charge pump circuit and method of operation are described. A charge pump is configured to supply an output voltage to a load, and includes at least one charge pump stage, a charge pump driver arranged to drive the charge pump stages and a controllable current source connected between a supply voltage and the charge pump driver. An analog regulation loop includes a measurement circuit arranged to output an analog regulation signal indicative of a difference between a current value of the output voltage and a target value of the output voltage. A signal path is connected to the charge pump to supply the analog regulation signal to the controllable current source to operate the controllable current source to modulate the supply voltage that can be provided to the charge pump driver to regulate the output voltage.

Abstract: A reference voltage generator circuit (100) is disclosed, comprising a first transistor (101) having a first channel type and a second transistor (102) having a second channel type. A current source (104) is connected to a source terminal of the first transistor (101). A drain terminal of the second transistor (102) is connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor (101). The reference voltage generator circuit (100) further comprises a third transistor (103) having the second channel type, wherein a drain terminal of the third transistor (103) is connected to a source terminal of the second transistor (102). A node between the source terminal of the second transistor (102) and the drain terminal of the third transistor (103) is connected to a gate terminal of the first transistor (101). A connection for a reference voltage (Vrc) is provided between the current source (104) and the source terminal of the first transistor (101).

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic tamper detection device is provided, comprising a radio frequency antenna, a tamper loop, a power level determination unit and a tamper measurement unit, wherein: the power level determination unit is configured to determine a power level of the tamper detection device; the tamper measurement unit is configured to generate a measurement signal and to transmit said measurement signal through the tamper loop; the tamper measurement unit is further configured to adapt the measurement signal in dependence on the power level. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding tamper detection method is conceived. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions is provided.

Abstract: A regulated charge pump circuit and method of operation are described. A charge pump is configured to supply an output voltage to a load, and includes at least one charge pump stage, a charge pump driver arranged to drive the charge pump stages and a controllable current source connected between a supply voltage and the charge pump driver. An analog regulation loop includes a measurement circuit arranged to output an analog regulation signal indicative of a difference between a current value of the output voltage and a target value of the output voltage. A signal path is connected to the charge pump to supply the analog regulation signal to the controllable current source to operate the controllable current source to modulate the supply voltage that can be provided to the charge pump driver to regulate the output voltage.