A basic insulating plug and an electric system. The basic insulating plug includes an insulating housing, a first conductor, a first RFID tag and insulating filler. The first conductor includes a first end arranged in the insulating housing. The first RFID tag is located at an end surface of the first end or on a lateral side of the first conductor. The first RFID includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the first conductor, an integrated circuit coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to receive a signal indicative of the temperature from the temperature sensor, and an antenna coupled to the IC and configured to transmit temperature data based on the signal and receive electric power for powering the RFID tag. The insulating filler is adapted to fix the first RFID to the first conductor by filling a void between the first conductor and an internal surface of the insulating housing.

Apparatus providing a regulated power supply to an oscillator comprises a reference voltage generator supplying a voltage reference, a regulator producing, based on a voltage received thereat, a regulated supply used by the oscillator which bases its frequency thereon, a capacitor having a terminal coupled to the regulator at a point, and a switch that is coupled to the reference voltage generator and to the point, wherein the closed switch couples the reference voltage generator to the point and wherein the open switch disconnects the point from the reference voltage generator, the switch being closed for a first time period during which a voltage based on the voltage reference from the reference voltage generator is supplied to the regulator and capacitor, and for a second, subsequent, time period the switch is opened and voltage stored on the capacitor is supplied to the regulator.

A method for wirelessly receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation and to an electronic device thereof, the method including: wirelessly receiving a first electromagnetic radiation; storing energy of the received first electromagnetic radiation in an energy storage; determining, from the amount of energy stored, whether energy stored in the energy storage should be provided to a demodulator and a comparator and/or to a modulator and a transmitter such that they are switched; wirelessly receiving a second electromagnetic radiation; demodulating the second electromagnetic radiation so that a first signal is generated, comparing the first signal with a set of signals; wirelessly receiving a third electromagnetic radiation; modulating the third electromagnetic radiation into a fourth electromagnetic radiation by using two different modulations, thereby modifying data contained in the third electromagnetic radiation; and wirelessly transmitting the fourth electromagnetic radiation.

Signal power management circuits and smart cards including the same are provided. For example, a signal power management circuit comprises a rectifier that is configured to rectify a received radio frequency signal and output a first rectified voltage, a first regulator that is configured to maintain the first rectified voltage at a predetermined first voltage level, and a second regulator that is configured to receive an output of the first regulator and maintain a second rectified voltage different from the first rectified voltage at a predetermined second voltage level. A signal detector of the signal power management circuit is configured to receive the first rectified voltage and the second rectified voltage and detect a signal component of the received radio frequency signal on the basis of a difference between the first voltage level of the first rectified voltage and the second voltage level of the second rectified voltage.

A device for contactless communication with a terminal, the device comprising: an antenna for receiving a wireless signal emitted by the terminal; an embedded chip configured to generate data for communication to the terminal to perform a first function associated with the device; and a module separate from the chip configured to perform processes as part of a second function associated with the device, the module being connected to the antenna and comprising a power-harvesting unit configured to harvest power from the received wireless signal to power at least the module.

A method of a fingerprint sensing system arranged in a smartcard configured to acquire fingerprint data of a user with a fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, and a fingerprint sensing system performing the method. The method comprises detecting a finger of the user contacting a sensing area of the fingerprint sensor, initializing the fingerprint sensor with a predetermined sensor setting, acquiring a calibration sub-image which is confined in size to a subarea of the sensing area, determining whether or not a quality criterion is met for the acquired calibration sub-image, and if so acquiring one or more further sub-images confined in size to a subarea of the sensing area during a time period when the smartcard is not engaged in waiting time extension request signalling with a card reader, and combining a plurality of the acquired further sub-images into a representation of a fingerprint of the user.

Exemplary embodiments relate to updatable displays for transaction cards, such as credit cards or event passes. The displays may be, for instance, an electrophoretic or memory liquid crystal diode display. The transaction card may include a contact pad capable of engaging in wireless communication. Information may be exchanged between the transaction card and a mobile device or terminal, where a processor on the mobile device processes the received information to generate displayable information. The processor updates the display with the displayable information. The contact pad may be electrically connected to the display, and the display may derive electrical power to perform the updating from the wireless communication. For example, where the wireless communication is a near field communication (NFC), a radio frequency field may be generated that supplies enough power to run the processor and at least partially update the display.

An energy harvester and a method for tuning an antenna frequency of the energy harvester is provided. The energy harvester includes: a tuner circuit coupled to at least one antenna, wherein the tuner circuit includes at least one adjustable capacitor, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to harvest an electromagnetic ambient energy; a controller connected to the tuner circuit, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage level within the energy harvester, wherein the controller is configured to iteratively set the at least one adjustable capacitor to tuning states until a best tuning state is set, wherein the best tuning state of the at least one adjustable capacitor substantially matches an antenna frequency and a frequency of the electromagnetic ambient energy; and a rectifier to convert the electromagnetic ambient energy to a direct current.

A communication card comprises an antenna, a memory, a signal evaluation circuit, an energy supply circuit, a data interface, a signal processing circuit and a supply voltage terminal. The supply voltage terminal is coupled to the signal processing circuit and the memory. In a commissioning phase, the energy supply circuit is configured to receive electrical power via the antenna and provide electrical power to the signal evaluation circuit and the memory, and the signal evaluation circuit is configured to receive configuration data via the antenna and to store the configuration data in the memory. In an operating phase, the communication card is configured to receive electrical power by the supply voltage terminal, and the signal processing circuit is configured to read the configuration data stored in the memory.

A wearable payment device, such as a finger ring worn by a user, communicates payment data to a payment reader that uses the payment data in order to request a payment transaction. Such wearable payment device may be conveniently carried by and accessible to the user such that utilization of the payment device for the payment transaction is less burdensome for the user, thereby encouraging use of the payment device for payments. Indeed, in some cases, such as when the payment device is implemented as a finger ring or other type of jewelry, the user may be encouraged to carry the payment device in an exposed manner such that it is readily available for the payment transaction without the user having to search in a wallet, pocket, or purse.