Systems, devices, and methods for proportionally balancing power during wireless communication are provided. The disclosures provide for an integrated radio in which the functionality of an active radio and a passive radio are integrated into a single radio, with the active and passive radios each being configured to operate in three different modes: active, passive, and backscatter. Based on power and communication link information, the integrated rode is able to balance the modes at which the two radios are operated, thereby optimizing power consumption of the device into which the integrated radio is incorporated. The resulting systems, devices, and methods lead to ultra-low power consumption that enables these communication techniques to enhance computing devices from smartwatches to laptops. Devices incorporating the integrated radios, and methods for power-proportionally exchanging data, among other systems, devices, and methods, are also provided.

RFID devices comprising (i) a transponder chip module (TCM, 1410) having an RFIC chip (IC) and a module antenna (MA), and (ii) a coupling frame (CF) having an electrical discontinuity comprising a slit (S) or non-conductive stripe (NCS). The coupling frame may be disposed closely adjacent the transponder chip module so that the slit overlaps the module antenna. The RFID device may be a payment object such as a jewelry item having a metal component modified with a slit (S) to function as a coupling frame. The coupling frame may be moved (such as rotated) to position the slit to selectively overlap the module antennas (MA) of one or more transponder chip modules (TCM-1, TCM-2) disposed in the payment object, thereby selectively enhancing (including enabling) contactless communication between a given transponder chip module in the payment object and another RFID device such as an external contactless reader. The coupling frame may be tubular. A card body construction for a metal smart card is disclosed.

A combined EAS and RFID circuit includes an HF coil antenna, a UHF tuning loop, and an RFID chip coupled to a strap that includes a first coupling area and a second coupling area. The coil ends of the HF coil antenna are configured to capacitively and/or conductively couple to one or both of the first coupling area or second coupling area of the strap. The HF coil antenna can include a gap between turns for non-interfering placement of the UHF tuning loop. The EAS circuit can be deactivating upon application of a field at the resonant frequency of sufficient intensity to cause the breakdown voltage to be exceeded between a coil end and coupling area. The threshold breakdown voltage between a coil end and a coupling area can be reduced by laser ablation treatment of a conductive surface of one or both of the coil end or coupling area.

Markers and related systems and methods are provided for localizing lesions within a patient's body, e.g., within a breast. The marker includes one or more photosensitive diodes for transforming light pulses striking the marker into electrical energy, one or more antennas, and a switch coupled to the photodiodes and antennas such that the light pulses cause the switch to open and close and modulate radar signals reflected by the marker back to a source of the signals. The antenna(s) may include one or more wire elements extending from a housing, one or more antenna elements printed on a substrate, or one or more chip antennas. Optionally, the marker may include a processor coupled to the photodiodes for identifying signals in the light pulses or one or more coatings or filters to allow selective activation of the marker.

Improved RFID devices and manufacturing methods that utilize more efficient RFID designs, result in less manufacturing material waste and increased recycling opportunities, all without sacrificing RFID device performance, are disclosed herein. Some exemplary embodiments of the improved RFID device may make use of a thinner foil, a hollowed-out foil, a “no-strip” design, or a tessellated design that may reduce material usage. Other exemplary embodiments may use a lower-impact and/or biodegradable adhesive so as to improve aluminum recycling and lessen risks to the environment.

A dual security tag including an RFID component and an electronic article surveillance (EAS) component, respectively disposed on opposite sides of a PET carrier substrate, is provided. The RFID component may include one or more ultra-high frequency antennae, such as a near field loop antenna and a far field dipole antenna, and an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The EAS component may be provided as an RF device, an acoustic-magnetic (AM) device, a low power Bluetooth (BLE) device, or other suitable device. The security tag may also include a facesheet affixed to the RFID component, a release liner layer affixed to the EAS device, and one or more intermediary films or protective layers. A method for manufacturing a dual security tag is also described.

The present disclosure relates to a magnetic multilayer composite that may include a core substrate layer, an outer magnetic layer overlying a first surface of the core substrate layer, and an inner magnetic layer underlying a second surface of the core substrate layer. The composite may include a magnetic volume ratio V.sub.M/V.sub.S of at least about 0.005, where V.sub.M is equal to the total volume of magnetic material in the composite and V.sub.S is the total volume of substrate. The composite may further include a permeability rating (X, Y), where the permeability rating (X, Y) is equal to a peak point (X, Y) along a plot of the imaginary part of magnetic permeability (μ″) of the composite plotted as a function of frequency, where X is within the range of 10 MHz to 10 GHz, and Y is greater than 100.

A chip packaging structure includes a miniature antenna, an radio frequency identification chip, and a packaging member, wherein the radio frequency identification chip is electrically connected to the miniature antenna, and the packaging member is adapted to encapsulate the miniature antenna and the radio frequency identification chip, and has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, wherein the top surface, the bottom surface, and the side surfaces substantially form a hexahedron.

Smartcards with metal layers manufactured according to various techniques disclosed herein. One or more metal layers of a smartcard stackup may be provided with slits overlapping at least a portion of a module antenna in an associated transponder chip module disposed in the smartcard so that the metal layer functions as a coupling frame. One or more metal layers may be pre-laminated with plastic layers to form a metal core or clad subassembly for a smartcard, and outer printed and/or overlay plastic layers may be laminated to the front and/or back of the metal core. Front and back overlays may be provided. Various constructions of and manufacturing techniques (including temperature, time, and pressure regimes for laminating) for smartcards are disclosed herein.

A system is provided for wireless transmission of data and/or power using an on-body antenna apparatus (40) and an implant device inside the body. The system comprises the implant device and the on-body antenna apparatus (40) as well as an antenna control system. The implant device, is for use within the body and comprises an implant antenna (16) arranged to receive wirelessly transmitted power and/or to wirelessly transmit data. The on-body antenna apparatus (40) is arranged to transmit power and/or data acting as a radiative antenna, wherein the on-body antenna apparatus (40) comprises a pair of patch antennas (42) arranged to be placed on the surface of the body (44) spaced apart from one another to form an antenna circuit that is coupled by the body tissue around and between the patch antennas (42). The antenna control system is for providing power to the on-body antenna apparatus (40) and/or for handling communications between the on-body antenna apparatus (40) and the implant antenna (16), wherein the antenna control system is arranged to drive the on-body antenna apparatus (40).