Patents by Inventor Ulrich Neffe

Ulrich Neffe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240113564
    Abstract: A wireless charging (WLC) poller device and WLC listener device are provided. A method for performing a presence check of the WLC listener device includes providing a radio frequency (RF) presence check signal. An input signal from the antenna by the poller device is received concurrently with the transmission of the RF presence check signal. A rate of change of a magnitude of the input signal is measured during the transmission of the presence check signal. A difference between the input signal and an expected input signal is determined. A presence of the listener device is detected if an absolute value of the measured rate of change of the input signal is above a threshold rate of change, and the difference between the input signal and the expected input signal is within a predetermined distance. Prior to the presence check, a capacitor of the WLC listener device may be discharged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Markus Wobak, Erich Merlin, Ulrich Neffe
  • Patent number: 11784681
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a first antenna configured to receive and transmit a first set of near field communication (NFC) signals, wherein said first set of NFC signals relates to NFC transactions; a second antenna configured to receive and transmit a second set of NFC signals, wherein said second set of NFC signals relates to wireless charging operations; a controller; a first interface between the controller and the first and second antenna, the first interface comprising an antenna selection unit configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna in response to a selection signal received from said controller; a second interface between the controller and the first antenna; wherein the controller is configured to detect whether an external communication device is within communication range of the first antenna using the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Markus Wobak, Ulrich Neffe
  • Patent number: 11411611
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a first antenna configured to receive and transmit a first set of NFC signals, wherein said first set of NFC signals relates to NFC transactions; a second antenna configured to receive and transmit a second set of NFC signals, wherein said second set of NFC signals relates to wireless charging operations; a controller; and an antenna selection unit configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna in response to a selection signal received from said controller. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method for operating a communication device is conceived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Markus Wobak, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20210314028
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a first antenna configured to receive and transmit a first set of near field communication (NFC) signals, wherein said first set of NFC signals relates to NFC transactions; a second antenna configured to receive and transmit a second set of NFC signals, wherein said second set of NFC signals relates to wireless charging operations; a controller; a first interface between the controller and the first and second antenna, the first interface comprising an antenna selection unit configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna in response to a selection signal received from said controller; a second interface between the controller and the first antenna; wherein the controller is configured to detect whether an external communication device is within communication range of the first antenna using the second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Markus WOBAK, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20210250064
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a first antenna configured to receive and transmit a first set of NFC signals, wherein said first set of NFC signals relates to NFC transactions; a second antenna configured to receive and transmit a second set of NFC signals, wherein said second set of NFC signals relates to wireless charging operations; a controller; and an antenna selection unit configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna in response to a selection signal received from said controller. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method for operating a communication device is conceived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Wobak, Ulrich Neffe
  • Patent number: 11057010
    Abstract: Embodiments of a power amplifier and method of operating a power amplifier are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power amplifier includes a pulse wave modulation (PWM) controller, a first power control stage configured to drive a first output between VDD and VSS in response to a control signal from the PWM controller, a second power control stage configured to drive a second output between VDD and VSS in response to a control signal from the PWM controller, and a mid-voltage control circuit configured to hold the voltage of the first output at a mid-voltage that is between VDD and VSS during an interval between when the first output is driven between VDD and VSS and hold the voltage of the second output at the mid-voltage during an interval between when the first output is driven between VDD and VSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Erich Merlin, Ulrich Neffe, Ludovic Oddoart
  • Patent number: 10945210
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a control system for a radio frequency (RF) communication device is provided, the system comprising: a communication controller configured to control an RF communication of the RF communication device; a detector configured to detect the presence of an external communication device and to initiate a wake-up of the communication controller in dependence on said presence; wherein the detector is configured to detect said presence by detecting a first load on an RF interface of the RF communication device, said first load resulting from a first transmitted RF pulse; and wherein the detector is configured to initiate said wake-up if a difference between the first load and a reference load is above a high threshold, and to perform a presence verification if the difference between the first load and the reference load is between a low threshold and the high threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Markus Wobak, Marc Lambert, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20200229091
    Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a control system for a radio frequency (RF) communication device is provided, the system comprising: a communication controller configured to control an RF communication of the RF communication device; a detector configured to detect the presence of an external communication device and to initiate a wake-up of the communication controller in dependence on said presence; wherein the detector is configured to detect said presence by detecting a first load on an RF interface of the RF communication device, said first load resulting from a first transmitted RF pulse; and wherein the detector is configured to initiate said wake-up if a difference between the first load and a reference load is above a high threshold, and to perform a presence verification if the difference between the first load and the reference load is between a low threshold and the high threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Markus Wobak, Marc Lambert, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20200204123
    Abstract: Embodiments of a power amplifier and method of operating a power amplifier are disclosed. In one embodiment, a power amplifier includes a pulse wave modulation (PWM) controller, a first power control stage configured to drive a first output between VDD and VSS in response to a control signal from the PWM controller, a second power control stage configured to drive a second output between VDD and VSS in response to a control signal from the PWM controller, and a mid-voltage control circuit configured to hold the voltage of the first output at a mid-voltage that is between VDD and VSS during an interval between when the first output is driven between VDD and VSS and hold the voltage of the second output at the mid-voltage during an interval between when the first output is driven between VDD and VSS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Erich Merlin, Ulrich Neffe, Ludovic Oddoart
  • Patent number: 10438029
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile device for facilitating a transaction is provided, comprising: a secure element configured to contain transaction-related data; an ultra-wideband radio unit operatively coupled to the secure element and configured to carry out ultra-wideband radio communication with an external reader; wherein the ultra-wideband radio unit is configured to operate as an interface between the secure element and said external reader. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a reader for facilitating a transaction is provided, comprising: an ultra-wideband communication and tracking unit configured to communicate with at least one external mobile device having an ultra-wideband radio unit and to track said mobile device; a processing unit operatively coupled to the ultra-wideband communication and tracking unit, said processing unit being configured to process at least one transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Ulrich Neffe, Peter Raggam
  • Patent number: 10367667
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method for classifying received radio frequency signals, including: receiving an input signal; matched filtering the input signal to produce a correlation result signal; sampling the correlation result signal at a plurality of half-bit-grids and a plurality of bit-grids to produce a set of modulated phase correlation result samples and a set of non-modulated phase correlation result samples; calculating a minimum of the set of modulated phase correlation result samples; calculating a maximum of the set of non-modulated phase correlation result samples; and classifying the input signal as valid data or collision data based on the minimum and the maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Andreas Muehlmann, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20190104003
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method for classifying received radio frequency signals, including: receiving an input signal; matched filtering the input signal to produce a correlation result signal; sampling the correlation result signal at a plurality of half-bit-grids and a plurality of bit-grids to produce a set of modulated phase correlation result samples and a set of non-modulated phase correlation result samples; calculating a minimum of the set of modulated phase correlation result samples; calculating a maximum of the set of non-modulated phase correlation result samples; and classifying the input signal as valid data or collision data based on the minimum and the maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Ulrich Andreas Muehlmann, Ulrich NEFFE
  • Patent number: 10192081
    Abstract: Embodiments of an interface system for interfacing between an NFC controller and a secure element are disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface system includes an interface memory, an interface controller, an NFC controller interface configured to exchange data between the interface system and an NFC controller, and a secure element interface configured to exchange data between the interface system and a secure element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Gernot Hueber, Ian Thomas Macnamara, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20190005284
    Abstract: Embodiments of an interface system for interfacing between an NFC controller and a secure element are disclosed. In one embodiment, an interface system includes an interface memory, an interface controller, an NFC controller interface configured to exchange data between the interface system and an NFC controller, and a secure element interface configured to exchange data between the interface system and a secure element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Gernot Hueber, Ian Thomas Macnamara, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20180359629
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a plurality of processing modules arranged to process data and to store one or more profiles, and a profile management unit arranged to manage one or more profiles stored on said processing modules. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method is conceived of managing profiles on a communication device, said communication device comprising a plurality of processing modules arranged to process data and to store one or more profiles, wherein a profile management unit of said communication device manages one or more profiles stored on said processing modules. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding computer program is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Veerababu Manam, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20180349653
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile device for facilitating a transaction is provided, comprising: a secure element configured to contain transaction-related data; an ultra-wideband radio unit operatively coupled to the secure element and configured to carry out ultra-wideband radio communication with an external reader; wherein the ultra-wideband radio unit is configured to operate as an interface between the secure element and said external reader. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a reader for facilitating a transaction is provided, comprising: an ultra-wideband communication and tracking unit configured to communicate with at least one external mobile device having an ultra-wideband radio unit and to track said mobile device; a processing unit operatively coupled to the ultra-wideband communication and tracking unit, said processing unit being configured to process at least one transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Ulrich Neffe, Peter Raggam
  • Patent number: 10019608
    Abstract: A method for operating an RFID device is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves establishing a radio-frequency link, receiving signal samples of the radio-frequency link, determining the offset of an initial phase of the link by filtering noise from the signal samples, windowing the filtered signal samples, and calculating an offset value from phase differences between the windows of signal samples, and modifying a configuration profile based on the offset value. During data transmission the configuration profile can be used to configure the transmitter in order to maintain the constant phase during transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Neffe, Hubert Watzinger, Michael Stark, Johannes Bruckbauer, Thomas Noisternig
  • Patent number: 9786108
    Abstract: A device is disclosed. The device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and having programming instructions to operate a vehicle via Near Field Communication (NFC). The device also includes a NFC controller coupled to a short range antenna, a passive NFC tag and a secure memory coupled to the NFC controller for storing a security code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Spiess, Ulrich Neffe
  • Publication number: 20170169258
    Abstract: A method for operating an RFID device is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves establishing a radio-frequency link, receiving signal samples of the radio-frequency link, determining the offset of an initial phase of the link by filtering noise from the signal samples, windowing the filtered signal samples, and calculating an offset value from phase differences between the windows of signal samples, and modifying a configuration profile based on the offset value. During data transmission the configuration profile can be used to configure the transmitter in order to maintain the constant phase during transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ulrich Neffe, Hubert Watzinger, Michael Stark, Johannes Bruckbauer, Thomas Noisternig
  • Publication number: 20160358396
    Abstract: A device is disclosed. The device includes a processor and a memory. The memory is coupled to the processor and having programming instructions to operate a vehicle via Near Field Communication (NFC). The device also includes a NFC controller coupled to a short range antenna, a passive NFC tag and a secure memory coupled to the NFC controller for storing a security code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Bernhard Spiess, Ulrich Neffe