A method for providing data to a group of devices on a pallet includes: positioning a set of NFC antennas at different locations around a perimeter of the pallet, each antenna of the set of NFC antennas being configured to surround the pallet; broadcasting, by an NFC reader/writer utilizing the set of NFC antennas, an identification command simultaneously to the group of devices on the pallet, each device of the group of devices including an NFC tag storing a unique ID indicator; receiving, by the NFC reader/writer, unique ID indicators from each device of the group of devices that receives the identification command, transmitting, by the NFC reader/writer, individual commands to each device of the group of devices to enable energy harvesting by the NFC tag. The energy harvested by each device provides power to operate a processor and a nonvolatile memory of the device in a low power mode.

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.

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a processor configured to: acquire communication data from at least one communication apparatus that perform wireless communication with a plurality of the communication devices; acquire information related to a wireless power supply performed by a wireless power supply apparatus to the at least one communication apparatus; and generate a control signal indicating an instruction of at least one of the wireless power supply or the wireless communication based on the communication data and the information related to the wireless power supply.

An example apparatus includes a first sensor tag to retrieve operational data, via a modem and a data bus, from a process control field device, wherein the first sensor tag includes a memory to store the operational data; a first antenna arranged to communicate with the first sensor tag when the first sensor tag receives operational data, the first antenna to communicate with the first sensor tag via a first frequency band; and a first identification device to retrieve the operational data from the first sensor tag, via the first antenna and the first frequency band, while the process control field device is unpowered.

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.

A dual frequency HF-UHF RFID integrated circuit including a power supply. The power supply includes: an HF branch including an HF rectifier and a linear voltage regulator, wherein the HF rectifier is configured to be connected to a resonance circuit formed by a HF antenna-coil and a resonance capacitor and wherein the HF rectifier is connected to the linear voltage regulator; a UHF branch including a UHF rectifier and a shunt voltage regulator, wherein the UHF rectifier has a charge pump and is configured to be connected to a UHF antenna and wherein the UHF rectifier is connected to the shunt voltage regulator; and a supply line, wherein the linear voltage regulator and the shunt voltage regulator are both connected to the supply line of the power supply.

A contactless communication device includes an electronic integrated circuit chip and an antenna coupled to the electronic integrated circuit chip to supply an electric signal for powering the electronic integrated circuit chip. An ambient luminosity detection element is coupled to the electronic integrated circuit chip. An ambient luminosity level measured by the ambient luminosity detection element is supplied to the electronic integrated circuit chip for comparison to a darkness threshold. A contactless communication is authorized only when the measured ambient luminosity level is greater than the darkness threshold.

A communication system includes a master device and a slave device. The master device can transmit a signal to a slave device. The slave device includes an antenna, a sensor unit, an RFID unit, a changeover switch that connects the antenna to one of the sensor unit and the RFID unit, and a switching circuit that switches the changeover switch based on a switching signal transmitted from the master device. When the antenna in the slave device receives the switching signal from the master device, the switching circuit switches the changeover switch in the slave device from a state in which the antenna and the sensor unit are connected to a state in which the antenna and the RFID unit are connected, in accordance with the switching signal.

Disclosed is a method of gathering data from a hybrid RFID chip to determine usage of an item or article of clothing using a mobile device like a phone, laptop, or tablet. The hybrid RFID chip consists of a processor, a memory, a radio transceiver, a power harvesting antenna, and an impedance circuit that converts ambient radio frequency (RF) energy to electrical energy. The RFID chip receives a first power level from ambient RF energy and periodically broadcasts an identity. The mobile device can receive the broadcast identity, store the identity, transmit the identity and location to a remote server, and receive a notification message from the remote server. The remote serve can determine usage of the item or article of clothing by comparing current records to previous records of RFID chip identity, location, and mobile device application identity.

A wearable payment device, such as a finger ring worn by a user, communicates payment data via an antenna to a payment reader that uses the payment data in order to request a payment transaction. The wearable payment device can tune the antenna to enhance performance of the antenna. The wearable payment device can measure a characteristic of the antenna and perform an assessment of the performance of the antenna based on the measured characteristic. The antenna can be tuned, such as by changing the impedance of the antenna, based on the assessed performance of the antenna.