Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for monitoring the state of health of an electronic data carrier involves using a reader device to determine the state of health of the electronic data carrier by reading a parameter value indicative of a state of health from the electronic data carrier. In an embodiment, a system for monitoring a state of health of an electronic data carrier comprising a reader device operable to read data from the electronic data carrier. The reader device is arranged to determine the state of health of the electronic data carrier by reading a parameter value indicative of the state of health from the electronic data carrier.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises: a first processing stage comprising processing logic for performing a processing operation on an input signal to generate an output signal, wherein the input signal corresponds to an output signal of a previous processing stage; a first sampling element adapted to sample a first value of said output signal synchronously with a clock signal; a second sampling element adapted to sample a second value of said output signal synchronously with a first delayed clock signal; and a first delayed clock signal generator, adapted to selectively generate said first delayed clock signal in response to a control signal generated in said previous processing stage.

Abstract: An environmental sensor is disclosed. The environmental sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a light sensor, a surface through which ambient light can pass to reach a light sensor and a light source operable to illuminate the surface, whereby at least some of the light from the light source is reflected by the surface onto the light sensor. The environmental sensor is operable to determine the presence of a fouling layer on the surface by comparing measurements of ambient light and reflected light by the at least one light sensor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises: a first processing stage comprising processing logic for performing a processing operation on an input signal to generate an output signal wherein the input signal corresponds to an output signal of a previous processing stage; a first sampling element adapted to sample a first value of said output signal synchronously with a clock signal; a second sampling element adapted to sample a second value of said output signal synchronously with a first delayed clock signal; and a first delayed clock signal generator, adapted to selectively generate said first delayed clock signal in response to a control signal generated in said previous processing stage.

Abstract: A processor for a radio circuit is disclosed. The processor includes a full spectrum receiver and a white space classifier. The full spectrum receiver is configured to receive an analogue radio signal comprising multiple channels within a frequency band and transform the analogue radio signal to a digital radio signal. The full spectrum receiver is also configured to transform the digital radio signal from a time domain signal to a frequency domain signal. The white space classifier is configured to identify an unused channel within the frequency band using the frequency domain signal derived from the analogue radio signal.

Abstract: An environmental sensor is disclosed. The environmental sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a light sensor, a surface through which ambient light can pass to reach a light sensor and a light source operable to illuminate the surface, whereby at least some of the light from the light source is reflected by the surface onto the light sensor. The environmental sensor is operable to determine the presence of a fouling layer on the surface by comparing measurements of ambient light and reflected light by the at least one light sensor.

Abstract: A processor for a radio circuit is disclosed. The processor includes a full spectrum receiver and a white space classifier. The full spectrum receiver is configured to receive an analogue radio signal comprising multiple channels within a frequency band and transform the analogue radio signal to a digital radio signal. The full spectrum receiver is also configured to transform the digital radio signal from a time domain signal to a frequency domain signal. The white space classifier is configured to identify an unused channel within the frequency band using the frequency domain signal derived from the analogue radio signal.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring the state of health of an electronic data carrier is conceived, wherein a reader device operable to read data from said electronic data carrier determines the state of health of the electronic data carrier by reading a parameter value indicative of said state of health from the electronic data carrier. According to a further aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring the state of health of an electronic data carrier is provided, the system comprising a reader device operable to read data from said electronic data carrier, wherein said reader device is arranged to determine the state of health of the electronic data carrier by reading a parameter value indicative of said state of health from the electronic data carrier.