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 fingerprint recognition card is provided to perform authentication and security functions by recognizing a fingerprint of a user and includes a fingerprint recognition unit configured to detect a fingerprint of a user, a control unit configured to perform registration authentication for the detected fingerprint of the user, a communication unit configured to perform tagging to an external reader depending on the registration authentication of the control unit, and an inductive current generator configured to generate an inductive current in response to approaching the external reader. The inductive current generator generates the inductive current when a distance to the external reader is within a predetermined distance, converts the generated inductive current to a direct current (DC), and supplies the output voltage, which is generated by reducing the input voltage of the converted DC, to the fingerprint recognition unit, the control unit, and the communication unit.

Disclosed are methods, systems and devices for varying operations of a transponder device based, at least in part, on an availability of energy and/or power that may be harvested and/or collected. In one particular implementation, operations to generate one or more signals from sensor circuitry and/or to perform computations may be varied based, at least in part, on an availability of harvestable and/or collectable energy and/or power.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an intelligent tracking system is disclosed. The intelligent tracking system includes one or more passive tracking devices, an exciter, and a tracker. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an electromagnetic frequency. In response to being energized each passive tracking device transmits a short message. The exciter emits the electromagnetic frequency. The tracker receives short messages from the one or more passive tracking devices and confirms the presence of the one or more passive tracking devices in a vicinity of the tracker based on the received messages.

Transaction cards, systems and methods involving an on-card display and an associated mobile computing device utilized for authenticating transactions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary transaction card may comprise transaction circuitry configured to conduct purchase transactions involving a mobile computing device coupled to or associated with the transaction card, communication circuitry configured to communicate with a provider of the transaction card, an e-ink display configured to display a QR code on the transaction card for use in authentication, data storage configured to store the QR code, and computer readable media having instructions for initiating a second-factor authentication process and displaying the QR code on the e-ink display to be captured by the mobile computing device and transmitted to a system or server for validating the second-factor authentication process.

An RFID module is disposed at a position where the RFID module is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor. An RFIC receives power induced by receiving an electromagnetic wave for power reception to output a transmission signal. A power reception coupling unit is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor to receive power. A transmission coupling unit is electromagnetically coupled to the conductor to output a transmission signal to the conductor.

Disclosed herein is a mounting system for a near field RF communications chip. The system comprises: (i) a substrate for carrying electronic components, and for providing electrical interconnections therebetween; (ii) a chip coupling carried by the substrate for connecting a near field RF communications chip (1001) to the mounting system; (iii) an auxiliary power provider (1003), separate from said near field RF communications chip, and adapted for providing electrical power output based on a received alternating electrical signal; (iv) an antenna coupling for connecting a near field RF communications antenna (1006) to said mounting system; and (v) a splitter (1005), for splitting alternating electrical signals.

The present invention relates to a transponder tag (10) that is operable by a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone for operating such a transponder tag (10), a method of operating the transponder tag (10), and a method for detecting the presence of a portable object. The transponder tag comprises a receiving unit (20) for receiving a wireless input signal. The transponder tag (10) is configured to obtain energy (EG) from the received input signal and to use the energy (EG) obtained from the input signal for transmitting by way of a wireless short-range connection a wireless output signal (SSR) that corresponds to a tag information (ITG) of the transponder tag (10). The receiving unit (20) is configured to receive a wireless input signal (STUP) at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network. In this way, radiation energy of the mobile phone is used to achieve an energy-efficient and reliable operation of the transponder tag as long as the latter is located within a short distance of the mobile phone. This is useful for numerous applications. For example a person may use his/her mobile telephone to obtain a quick overview and/or a reliable confirmation that all his/her personnel belongings, e.g. keys or medical box, are “on board” at the moment the person leaves home.

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.

In an embodiment an apparatus includes a contactless transponder including a contactless interface and a wired interface, wherein the contactless transponder is configured to communicate with a contactless reader according to a contactless protocol through the contactless interface, a wired communication bus connected to the wired interface and at least one module connected to the bus, wherein the transponder is configured so that the reader is a master on the bus when the reader and the transponder communicate.