Abstract: One example discloses a security device, including: a bulk security capacitance, including a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and having, a first layer including a first set of conductive elements, the first endpoint, and the second endpoint; and a second layer including a second set of conductive elements; wherein the first set of conductive elements and the second set of conductive elements together form at least two bulk capacitors in series; wherein the first and second layers are separated by a distance; and wherein the first and second endpoints are configured to be coupled to a tamper detection circuit configured to detect a change in the bulk security capacitance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes an input/output (I/O) circuitry with a first circuitry section including I/O pins and a second circuitry section including I/O pins. The first and second circuitry sections are mutually exclusive sections of the I/O ring. The first circuitry section includes a first I/O pin configured to receive an input voltage from a first energy source and a second I/O pin connectable to an external startup capacitor. A startup circuit is coupled to the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin. Upon receiving the input voltage from the first energy source, the startup circuit enters a during the startup phase and isolates the first circuitry section from the second circuitry section, and provides charge to the external startup capacitor. In response to achieving a predetermined minimum charge on the external startup capacitor, the first circuitry section is connected to the second circuitry section, and the startup phase ends and the IC transitions to a functional mode of operation.

Abstract: A controller for a DC-DC converter that includes an inductor. The DC-DC converter has three phases of operation: a first phase, in which an input voltage charges the inductor; a second phase, in which the inductor discharges to a load; and a third phase, in which the inductor is disconnected from the load and in which the input voltage does not charge the inductor. The controller is configured to set a control-factor based on the input voltage of the DC-DC converter, and set the duration of the third phase based on the control-factor and the sum of the duration of the first phase and the second phase.

Abstract: One example discloses an organic matter powered device, comprising: a set of electrodes configured to be coupled to a set of biologically active organic matter; a power generation circuit coupled to the electrodes; wherein the power generation circuit is configured to receive a first voltage and current from the organic matter, and output a second voltage and current generated by the first voltage and current; a monitoring circuit coupled to the electrodes and coupled to monitor the first voltage and current, and to be powered by the second voltage and current; wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to translate variations in the first voltage and current into an environmental attribute.

Abstract: A tamper detection device includes a detection circuit, configured to be powered by a near-field-communication (NFC) signal and store a status of a detection element; wherein the detection circuit is configured to set the status to undisturbed in response to an undisturbed state of the detection element; wherein the detection circuit is configured to set the status to disturbed in response to a disturbed state of the detection element; and wherein the detection circuit is configured to electrically report the detection element status in response to a wireless query signal.

Abstract: One example discloses an organic matter powered device, comprising: a set of electrodes configured to be coupled to a set of biologically active organic matter; a power generation circuit coupled to the electrodes; wherein the power generation circuit is configured to receive a first voltage and current from the organic matter, and output a second voltage and current generated by the first voltage and current; a monitoring circuit coupled to the electrodes and coupled to monitor the first voltage and current, and to be powered by the second voltage and current; wherein the monitoring circuit is configured to translate variations in the first voltage and current into an environmental attribute.

Abstract: Wireless power is provided to a WPP-compliant wireless device by generating a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first frequency. The transmitter circuit is inductively coupled to the compliant wireless device using the first RF signal. A second RF signal is generated at a second frequency. The presence of a WPP-noncompliant wireless device is detected by detecting a third RF signal at a third frequency that is a harmonic of the second frequency. The non-compliant wireless device is protected by reducing, in response to detecting the third RF signal, a signal strength for the first RF signal.

Abstract: One example discloses a tamper detection device, comprising: a detection circuit, configured to be powered by a near-field-communication (NFC) signal and store a status of a detection element; wherein the detection circuit is configured to set the status to undisturbed in response to an undisturbed state of the detection element; wherein the detection circuit is configured to set the status to disturbed in response to a disturbed state of the detection element; and wherein the detection circuit is configured to electrically report the detection element status in response to a wireless query signal.

Abstract: A power supply circuit can be configured to generate a supply voltage that provides power to the apparatus. A signal generation circuit can be configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) charging signal. An amplification circuit can be configured to amplify the RF charging signal using the supply voltage and to present the amplified charging signal to a power transmitting coil for transmission of wireless power to a remote device. A communication circuit can be configured to detect amplitude variations in the RF charging signal; detect variations in a voltage level of the supply voltage; adjust the detected amplitude variations in the RF charging signal to compensate for detected variations in a voltage level; and decode data represented by the amplitude variations in the RF charging signal based upon the adjusted amplitude variations.

Abstract: Wireless power is provided to a WPP-compliant wireless device by generating a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first frequency. The transmitter circuit is inductively coupled to the compliant wireless device using the first RF signal. A second RF signal is generated at a second frequency. The presence of a WPP-noncompliant wireless device is detected by detecting a third RF signal at a third frequency that is a harmonic of the second frequency. The non-compliant wireless device is protected by reducing, in response to detecting the third RF signal, a signal strength for the first RF signal.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention a system for commissioning devices is provided, which system comprises: a first device and a second device; an RFID tag comprised in the first device; a host processor comprised in the first device; wherein the second device is arranged to generate an electromagnetic field; wherein the RFID tag is arranged to detect the electromagnetic field and to wake up the host processor upon detecting said electromagnetic field in order for the second device to communicate with the host processor. Furthermore, a corresponding method for commissioning devices is provided. Since the RFID tag comprised in the first device is arranged to wake up the host processor, an end-user does not have to switch on the first device manually. Therefore, the user interaction is simplified. Furthermore, there is no need for a separate power button on the first device. The latter reduces cost and simplifies the design of the first device.

Abstract: There is described a device (100) for communicating with RFID-tags, the device (100) comprising (a) an antenna unit comprising a first antenna (110; 200) and a second antenna (120; 200), and (b) a controller (130) connected to the antenna unit. The controller (130) is adapted to sequentially feed different polling signals to the antenna unit such that corresponding signals are individually and simultaneously radiated by each of the first antenna (110; 200) and second antenna (120; 200). There is also described a home appliance comprising the aforementioned device (100). Furthermore, there is described a method for communicating with RFID-tags by an antenna unit comprising a first antenna (110; 200) and a second antenna (120; 200). The described method comprises sequentially feeding different polling signals to the antenna unit such that corresponding signals are individually radiated by each of the first antenna (110; 200) and second antenna (120; 200).

Abstract: A power supply circuit can be configured to generate a supply voltage that provides power to the apparatus. A signal generation circuit can be configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) charging signal. An amplification circuit can be configured to amplify the RF charging signal using the supply voltage and to present the amplified charging signal to a power transmitting coil for transmission of wireless power to a remote device. A communication circuit can be configured to detect amplitude variations in the RF charging signal; detect variations in a voltage level of the supply voltage; adjust the detected amplitude variations in the RF charging signal to compensate for detected variations in a voltage level; and decode data represented by the amplitude variations in the RF charging signal based upon the adjusted amplitude variations.

Abstract: A method for performing foreign object detection in an inductive wireless power transfer system is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves obtaining measurements from a base station of a wireless power transfer system during charging and determining transmitter energy loss in a power transmitter, Ptxloss, using the obtained measurements, wherein the transmitter energy loss, Ptxloss, is a function of at least Vcap and PTx, wherein Vcap is proportional to the voltage amplitude across the capacitor of an LC tank circuit in a power transmitter and PTx is the total power supplied to the power transmitter. The method also involves detecting the presence of a foreign object in response to the estimated transmitter energy loss.

Abstract: A method for performing foreign object detection in an inductive wireless power transfer system is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves obtaining measurements from a base station of a wireless power transfer system during charging and determining transmitter energy loss in a power transmitter, Ptxloss, using the obtained measurements, wherein the transmitter energy loss, Ptxloss, is a function of at least Vcap and PTx, wherein Vcap is proportional to the voltage amplitude across the capacitor of an LC tank circuit in a power transmitter and PTx is the total power supplied to the power transmitter. The method also involves detecting the presence of a foreign object in response to the estimated transmitter energy loss.

Abstract: A switch module is designed to facilitate user definition of a group of switch modules that control the same lamp. A lamp unit (12) containing the lamp responds selectively to messages from the switch modules (10, 10?) when the messages comprise ID information matching with ID information stored in the lamp unit (12). A group is formed by detecting user control operation of sensors (100) in the switch modules (10, 10?), transmitting messages from the switch modules (10, 10?) in response and determining from the messages whether the switch modules (10?) have both been operated within a time interval with a duration of less than a predetermined threshold. If so, the ID information value in memories (104) of the switch module (10) and/or the further switch module (10?) are set to matching ID values, for use in the messages to control the lamp unit.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an NFC device for communicating with an NFC reader is conceived, the NFC device comprising an NFC integrated circuit, an antenna unit connected to said NFC integrated circuit, and a detuning circuit, wherein the detuning circuit is arranged to cause a periodic detuning of the antenna unit to a detuned state, such that data transmission between the NFC device and the NFC reader may take place periodically while the NFC device and the NFC reader remain within communication range of each other.

Abstract: A lamp is provided that is controlled by messages transmitted via a network. The lamp has an internal memory that stores an address and an internal control circuit that responds to received messages that refer to this address. The address is updated when the lamp is installation in a power supply socket, using for example an address from the first message that is transmitted after installation. The lamp contains a detector that detects disconnection of the lamp from the power supply socket, for example by monitoring a resistance value between two parts of one of the power supply terminals of the lamp. In response to this detection the control circuit of the lamp sets information that enables an update of the address in the memory. When it is detected that the lamp is again connected to a power supply socket the address is updated on condition that the update is enabled.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, an NFC device for communicating with an NFC reader is conceived, the NFC device comprising an NFC integrated circuit, an antenna unit connected to said NFC integrated circuit, and a detuning circuit, wherein the detuning circuit is arranged to cause a periodic detuning of the antenna unit to a detuned state, such that data transmission between the NFC device and the NFC reader may take place periodically while the NFC device and the NFC reader remain within communication range of each other.

Abstract: There is described a device (100) for communicating with RFID-tags, the device (100) comprising (a) an antenna unit comprising a first antenna (110; 200) and a second antenna (120; 200), and (b) a controller (130) connected to the antenna unit. The controller (130) is adapted to sequentially feed different polling signals to the antenna unit such that corresponding signals are individually and simultaneously radiated by each of the first antenna (110; 200) and second antenna (120; 200). There is also described a home appliance comprising the aforementioned device (100). Furthermore, there is described a method for communicating with RFID-tags by an antenna unit comprising a first antenna (110; 200) and a second antenna (120; 200). The described method comprises sequentially feeding different polling signals to the antenna unit such that corresponding signals are individually radiated by each of the first antenna (110; 200) and second antenna (120; 200).