Abstract: A mounting system for a near field radio frequency (RF) communicator, the system comprising: a splitter, for splitting an alternating electrical signal received from an antenna of the smart card and having: a first output for providing a first part of the alternating electrical signal to an RF input of said chip, and a second output for providing a second part of the alternating electrical signal for powering an auxiliary circuit; a matching network, at the first output of the splitter, and arranged to provide: an input impedance selected based on the impedance of the first output of the splitter, and an output impedance selected based on the impedance of the RF input of said chip; wherein the network comprises a first inductor for electrical connection to said chip and a second inductor, and the second inductor is arranged for inductive coupling to the first inductor thereby to provide RF coupling, with DC isolation and/or common mode isolation, to the RF input of said chip.

Abstract: A power splitter for a smart card having near field RF communications capability, the power splitter comprising a substrate for integration into said smart card; a first port for connection to a near field RF communications antenna for receiving an alternating electrical signal; a second port for connection to an auxiliary rectifier; and a third port for connection to a near field RF communicator; wherein the splitter comprises a impedance network, connected between the three ports, and being arranged to divide the alternating electrical signal between the second port and the third port to split the alternating electrical signal, wherein the impedance network comprises a printed coil inductor, and a zone of the substrate surrounding the printed coil inductor is free from any ground plane.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a controller for a device having near field RF communications capabilities. The controller is configured to: tune the impedance of at least one component of an impedance matching circuit to vary an impedance transformation provided by the impedance matching circuit; determine at least one indication of power output from the circuit, each at least one indication corresponding to an impedance transformation; and identify one of a plurality of modes of the circuit as an operating mode, based on the at least one indication, wherein the impedance matching circuit provides a different impedance transformation in each mode.

Abstract: A mounting system for a near field radio frequency (RF) communicator, the system comprising: a splitter, for splitting an alternating electrical signal received from an antenna of the smart card and having: a first output for providing a first part of the alternating electrical signal to an RF input of said chip, and a second output for providing a second part of the alternating electrical signal for powering an auxiliary circuit; a matching network, at the first output of the splitter, and arranged to provide: an input impedance selected based on the impedance of the first output of the splitter, and an output impedance selected based on the impedance of the RF input of said chip; wherein the network comprises a first inductor for electrical connection to said chip and a second inductor, and the second inductor is arranged for inductive coupling to the first inductor thereby to provide RF coupling, with DC isolation and/or common mode isolation, to the RF input of said chip.

Abstract: A power splitter for a smart card having near field RF communications capability, the power splitter comprising a substrate for integration into said smart card; a first port for connection to a near field RF communications antenna for receiving an alternating electrical signal; a second port for connection to an auxiliary rectifier; and a third port for connection to a near field RF communicator; wherein the splitter comprises a impedance network, connected between the three ports, and being arranged to divide the alternating electrical signal between the second port and the third port to split the alternating electrical signal, wherein the impedance network comprises a printed coil inductor, and a zone of the substrate surrounding the printed coil inductor is free from any ground plane.