Abstract: It is disclosed an anti-tampering assembly for the transportation and storage of a package, the anti-tampering assembly being configured to be associated with the package. the anti-tampering assembly comprises: a tampering detection unit comprising a RFID passive tag and a tampering track of a conductive material configured to be connected to said RFID tag upon dispatching the package so as to inhibit the operation of the RFID tag, wherein the tampering track is configured to be interrupted in case of tampering of the package; an actuating unit configured to detect the interruption of the tampering track in case of tampering of the package and, upon detection, actuate an alarm unit; and the alarm unit comprising a radio module configured to, upon actuation, transmit an alarm message over a long range wireless communication network.

Abstract: A meter apparatus is provided for determining parameters of an AC electric signal in first and second wires, the AC signal including an AC electric current and an AC electric voltage, the apparatus including a measurement section to provide first and second measure signals each one indicative of the AC voltage based on a first capacitive coupling with the first wire and on a second capacitive coupling with the second wire, the first and second measure signals depending on capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings, and a control unit to determine said capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings according to the first and second measure signals, and determining the amplitude of the AC voltage according to the first or second measure signal, and to the capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings.

Abstract: It is disclosed a theft-detection assembly for detecting the theft of an item, the theft-detection assembly comprising: a wireless power transmitter configured to broadcast electromagnetic waves within a given area; a locator device configured to be associated with the item and comprising a wireless power receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic waves. The locator device further comprises an actuating unit and an alarm unit, wherein: the actuating unit is connected to the wireless power receiver and is configured to, in the absence of the electromagnetic waves, actuate the alarm unit; and the alarm unit comprises a radio module configured to, upon actuation, transmit an alarm message over a wireless communication network.

Abstract: It is disclosed an anti-tampering assembly for the transportation and storage of a package, the anti-tampering assembly being configured to be associated with the package. the anti-tampering assembly comprises: a tampering detection unit comprising a RFID passive tag and a tampering track of a conductive material configured to be connected to said RFID tag upon dispatching the package so as to inhibit the operation of the RFID tag, wherein the tampering track is configured to be interrupted in case of tampering of the package; an actuating unit configured to detect the interruption of the tampering track in case of tampering of the package and, upon detection, actuate an alarm unit; and the alarm unit comprising a radio module configured to, upon actuation, transmit an alarm message over a long range wireless communication network.

Abstract: A meter apparatus is provided for determining parameters of an AC electric signal in first and second wires, the AC signal including an AC electric current and an AC electric voltage, the apparatus including a measurement section to provide first and second measure signals each one indicative of the AC voltage based on a first capacitive coupling with the first wire and on a second capacitive coupling with the second wire, the first and second measure signals depending on capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings, and a control unit to determine said capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings according to the first and second measure signals, and determining the amplitude of the AC voltage according to the first or second measure signal, and to the capacitance values of the first and second capacitive couplings.

Abstract: It is disclosed a theft-detection assembly for detecting the theft of an item, the theft-detection assembly comprising: a wireless power transmitter configured to broadcast electromagnetic waves within a given area; a locator device configured to be associated with the item and comprising a wireless power receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic waves. The locator device further comprises an actuating unit and an alarm unit, wherein: the actuating unit is connected to the wireless power receiver and is configured to, in the absence of the electromagnetic waves, actuate the alarm unit; and the alarm unit comprises a radio module configured to, upon actuation, transmit an alarm message over a wireless communication network.

Abstract: A wireless energy transfer system and an associated method for feeding an electric load are provided. The system includes a transmitter which includes a generator adapted to generate a radiofrequency signal at a first frequency and a first resonant circuit adapted to transmit the radiofrequency signal; and a receiver adapted to receive the radiofrequency signal and comprising a second resonant circuit. The second resonant circuit is adapted to be located in the non-radiative near field generated by the first resonant circuit, and the transmitter includes frequency sweeping functionality, which imposes on the radiofrequency signal generator a cyclic excursion of the first frequency in the neighborhood of a nominal frequency of the generator so that, when the first frequency matches the resonant frequency of the second resonant circuit, a non-radiative energy transfer occurs.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card for a mobile terminal incorporates a radio transceiver module intended for communications that do not pass through the mobile network. To allow using, for the chip of the IC card and the radio transceiver module, the same chips as would be used for conventional IC cards and transceivers not integrated together, the IC card further includes a finite state machine chip interconnecting the IC card chip and the chip(s) of the transceiver module so that they have access to the card contacts establishing connection between the card and the terminal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for transferring energy wirelessly by an evanescent electromagnetic field. The system includes a housing including electrically conducting walls defining a space and an injector configured to inject electromagnetic waves into the space. A wall of the housing is configured to be placed adjacent to an electromagnetic energy reception device and includes one or more apertures. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves is lower than the cutoff frequency of the housing, and the one or more apertures have a size smaller than the waves wavelength so that an evanescent electromagnetic field is emitted from the one or more apertures of the wall and may reach the energy reception device.

Abstract: A radio coverage extender is provided for extending the radio range of a wireless network node embedded in a user terminal, for example a ZigBee node integrated on the SIM card of a mobile phone. The radio coverage extender may include: a radio signal repeater operable to receive radio signals from the wireless network node and to retransmit the received signals externally to the user terminal, and a power supply module operable to scavenge electrical energy from electromagnetic fields in which it happens to be immersed and to store the scavenged electrical energy for supplying the stored power to the radio signal repeater. The radio coverage extender is adapted to be included in a user terminal, for example it can be a flexible, pliable film attachable to a user terminal battery.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of networked nodes spatially distributed within a monitored area and adapted to interact with a mobile entity entering and moving through the area, the plurality of nodes including at least one area entrance node adapted to detect the mobile entity upon entering the monitored area, and a transaction node for accomplishing a transaction with the mobile entity; a transaction processing center in communication relationship with the nodes for processing data required for the transaction and for providing the data to the transaction node. A node selection unit is adapted to dynamically select the transaction node among the plurality of nodes based on an estimation of the speed of movement of the mobile entity.

Abstract: A wireless energy transfer system and an associated method for feeding an electric load are provided. The system includes a transmitter which includes a generator adapted to generate a radiofrequency signal at a first frequency and a first resonant circuit adapted to transmit the radiofrequency signal; and a receiver adapted to receive the radiofrequency signal and comprising a second resonant circuit. The second resonant circuit is adapted to be located in the non-radiative near field generated by the first resonant circuit, and the transmitter includes frequency sweeping functionality, which imposes on the radiofrequency signal generator a cyclic excursion of the first frequency in the neighborhood of a nominal frequency of the generator so that, when the first frequency matches the resonant frequency of the second resonant circuit, a non-radiative energy transfer occurs.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for transferring energy wirelessly by an evanescent electromagnetic field. The system includes a housing including electrically conducting walls defining a space and an injector configured to inject electromagnetic waves into the space. A wall of the housing is configured to be placed adjacent to an electromagnetic energy reception device and includes one or more apertures. The frequency of the electromagnetic waves is lower than the cutoff frequency of the housing, and the one or more apertures have a size smaller than the waves wavelength so that an evanescent electromagnetic field is emitted from the one or more apertures of the wall and may reach the energy reception device.

Abstract: A radio coverage extender is provided for extending the radio range of a wireless network node embedded in a user terminal, for example a ZigBee node integrated on the SIM card of a mobile phone. The radio coverage extender may include: a radio signal repeater operable to receive radio signals from the wireless network node and to retransmit the received signals externally to the user terminal, and a power supply module operable to scavenge electrical energy from electromagnetic fields in which it happens to be immersed and to store the scavenged electrical energy for supplying the stored power to the radio signal repeater. The radio coverage extender is adapted to be included in a user terminal, for example it can be a flexible, pliable film attachable to a user terminal battery.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of networked nodes spatially distributed within a monitored area and adapted to interact with a mobile entity entering and moving through the area, the plurality of nodes including at least one area entrance node adapted to detect the mobile entity upon entering the monitored area, and a transaction node for accomplishing a transaction with the mobile entity; a transaction processing center in communication relationship with the nodes for processing data required for the transaction and for providing the data to the transaction node. A node selection unit is adapted to dynamically select the transaction node among the plurality of nodes based on an estimation of the speed of movement of the mobile entity.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card for a mobile terminal incorporates a radio transceiver module intended for communications that do not pass through the mobile network. To allow using, for the chip of the IC card and the radio transceiver module, the same chips as would be used for conventional IC cards and transceivers not integrated together, the IC card further includes a finite state machine chip interconnecting the IC card chip and the chip(s) of the transceiver module so that they have access to the card contacts establishing connection between the card and the terminal.

Abstract: A subscriber identification card performing radio transceiver functionality for long-range applications incorporates a radio transceiver including an antenna formed on a card surface, an RF module and a base-band module. The antenna and the transceiver operate in the microwave/millimetre waves frequency range. This allows meeting the dimensional constraints imposed by the plug-in size and attaining a long-range operation. At least the base-band module might be integrated within the same chip executing standard security related functions for the terminal.

Abstract: A high speed digital signal transceiver in CMOS technology, in which the receiver has a clock signal extraction circuit, which is capable of self-aligning on incoming data with no spurious locks. Utilizing the PLL technique, the circuit generates a clock signal locked to the incoming signal utilizing a local oscillator, voltage-controlled by two feedback loops, a main one for frequency and phase corrections and a secondary one for phase correction. Moreover, original circuit solutions for the phase detectors and the low-pass filters are also envisaged.

Abstract: The circuit in CMOS technology allows high speed driving of optical sources, in particular laser diodes, operating efficiently at speeds that meet the requirements imposed by optical fiber communication systems and avoiding interference between driving currents and biasing current in the optical source. The circuit utilizes a bias current generator, a modulation current generator and a cascade of CMOS inverter stages that supplies a driving voltage to the modulation current generator and receives digital signals at its input. It is possible to independently adjust the bias current, so as to allow driving sources with different threshold currents, and to adjust the modulation current.

Abstract: An automatic system for adjusting the output impedance of fast CMOS drivers, wherein the output impedance of a plurality of slaved drives is adjusted by a circuit for measuring and correcting mismatch between the output impedance of one of the drivers, taken as reference and dedicated for this purpose, and the impedance at the input of a reference transmission line, equal to the lines connected to the other drivers. The measuring of the output impedance of the reference drive is indirectly effected by inserting at the reference drive input a clock signal and by periodically measuring the output on the reference transmission line in correspondence with the positive half-period center.