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).
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Publication number: 20240113564Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Markus Wobak, Erich Merlin, Ulrich Neffe
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Patent number: 11784681Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Markus Wobak, Ulrich Neffe
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Patent number: 11411611Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Markus Wobak, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20210314028Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Markus WOBAK, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20210250064Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Markus Wobak, Ulrich Neffe
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Patent number: 11057010Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Erich Merlin, Ulrich Neffe, Ludovic Oddoart
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Patent number: 10945210Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2020Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Markus Wobak, Marc Lambert, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20200229091Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Markus Wobak, Marc Lambert, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20200204123Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Erich Merlin, Ulrich Neffe, Ludovic Oddoart
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Patent number: 10438029Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Ulrich Neffe, Peter Raggam
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Patent number: 10367667Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Ulrich Andreas Muehlmann, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20190104003Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Ulrich Andreas Muehlmann, Ulrich NEFFE
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Patent number: 10192081Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Gernot Hueber, Ian Thomas Macnamara, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20190005284Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: NXP B.V.Inventors: Gernot Hueber, Ian Thomas Macnamara, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20180359629Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Veerababu Manam, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20180349653Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Ghiath Al-kadi, Ulrich Neffe, Peter Raggam
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Patent number: 10019608Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Ulrich Neffe, Hubert Watzinger, Michael Stark, Johannes Bruckbauer, Thomas Noisternig
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Patent number: 9786108Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventors: Bernhard Spiess, Ulrich Neffe
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Publication number: 20170169258Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Applicant: NXP B.V.Inventors: Ulrich Neffe, Hubert Watzinger, Michael Stark, Johannes Bruckbauer, Thomas Noisternig
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Publication number: 20160358396Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Bernhard Spiess, Ulrich Neffe