The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for loading program data on to an unpowered electronic device, such as an RFID tag that includes volatile memory. Initially, the tag is unpowered. Thus, the volatile memory in the tag will not have any stored data. In order to load data into the memory of the tag, a reader can power the tag wirelessly. The reader includes an antenna configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation and receive backscatter electromagnetic radiation. The reader also includes a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to analyze the backscatter electromagnetic radiation. The processing unit may analyze the backscatter radiation to determine a supply voltage induced in the tag. In response to the induced voltage being greater than a threshold, the processing unit may alter the transmitted electromagnetic radiation to communicate tag data.

Methods and apparatus relating to processing a low-energy data packet are provided. A method includes receiving, using a receiver in a portable wireless device, a low-energy data packet from a low-energy tag. The portable wireless device is stationary. The low-energy data packet includes data identifying the low-energy tag. The method can also include determining at least an approximate distance between the low-energy tag and the portable wireless device. The method can also include transmitting, via an intermediate wireless device and to a central device, the data identifying the low-energy tag, the data identifying the at least approximate distance, or both.

Method for operating a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device includes a main circuit, which serves in a first operating mode for evaluation and for output of process data, which preferably come from a measuring transducer, wherein the field device includes a first interface, which serves in the first operating mode to supply the field device, especially the main circuit, with electrical energy, wherein the field device includes a second, preferably wireless, interface, which serves for transmission of data and/or electrical energy to the field device, wherein the field device, preferably the main circuit, is supplied in a second operating mode with electrical energy, preferably exclusively with electrical energy, obtained via the second interface.

A wearable RFID device may include one or more manually activated RFID tags configured to transmit unique RFID signals in response to a manual activation thereof. Such wearable RFID devices may be worn about any aspect of a user's body, such as a hand, a wrist or an arm of the user, who may contact the manually activated RFID tag and transmit an RFID signal that is consistent with a particular action or instruction associated with a task. The action or the instruction may be executed based on the RFID signal, or upon receiving a confluence or sequence of RFID signals. Additionally, a wearable RFID device may be recognized by one or more discrete systems and configured to operate such systems accordingly.

Devices, systems, and methods facilitate enrollment of authenticating biometric data for authenticating an authorized user via a biometric sensor. A data input device and a power source are operatively coupled to a smart card including a fingerprint sensor. An activation code input by the user interacting with the data input device is compared with a predefined activation code, and if the detected activation code matches the predefined activation code, a fingerprint template is enrolled from fingerprint data received from the fingerprint sensor, all without transmitting data from either the power source or the data input device to any device other than the smart card.

A sensor and system provide for radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled information collection. The sensor includes a ring-shaped element and an antenna. The ring-shaped element includes a conductive ring and an RFID integrated circuit. The antenna is spaced apart from the ring-shaped element and defines an electrically-conductive path commensurate in size and shape to at least a portion of the conductive ring. The system may include an interrogator for energizing the ring-shaped element and receiving a data transmission from the RFID integrated circuit that has been energized for further processing by a processor.

Configurations are provided for measuring electrical current flow through an AC power cable to a host device. An enclosure is provided that includes various components, such as components of an active RFID tag. A cable clamp is provided that is configured to attach the enclosure to the AC power cable. The cable clamp includes magnetic sensors that are responsive to electrical current flowing through the AC cable to generate signals indicative of the current flowing through the AC cable.

A wireless hand hygiene compliance tracking system and related techniques are disclosed. The system may include one or more micro-zone (mZone) transmitters configured to be deployed at designated locations where hand hygiene compliance is desired. A given mZone transmitter may transmit an mZone signal including data pertaining to its type and identity, from which its purpose and location may be derived. A monitored individual may host a beacon tag configured to receive the mZone signal and pull mZone type and identification data therefrom, relaying that data in its own beacon signal, along with current hand hygiene compliance or non-compliance status data. The beacon tag may be programmed with one or more hand hygiene compliance modes selectable based on the desired monitoring context. The beacon signal may be received by any gateway or reader device within transmission range. In this manner, compliant and non-compliant events may be tracked.

A mobile device includes a body configured to be worn by a user; a lock switchable between an open state and a closed state, where, when the lock is in the closed state, the mobile device is prevented from being removed from the user; and a wireless data system, where the wireless data system and the lock are jointly configured such that, when the lock is open, the wireless data system is at least partially disabled.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is provided, comprising a modulator, a current sensor and a clock recovery circuit, wherein: the modulator is configured to modulate an unmodulated carrier signal received from an external RFID reader; the current sensor is configured to sense a current that flows through one or more transistors comprised in the modulator; and the clock recovery circuit is configured to recover a clock signal using the current sensed by the current sensor. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder is conceived.