The present invention provides for a system that makes use of a system power supply enable switch controlled by a near field communications (NFC) frontend with energy harvesting. In one embodiment, RF power in the 13.56 MHz band generated by a NFC counterpart (such as a mobile phone) is detected by the energy harvesting unit being part of the battery-unpowered NFC communication device. After activation, the system can perform actions required to communicate to the presented device (i.e., the NFC counterpart). Later, the system can switch itself into the unpowered state again. In another embodiment, this feature can also be used to control an NFC protection circuitry very quickly after the NFC device is exposed to an external HF (high frequency) field.

In some embodiments an apparatus includes a display module and a bi-stable display. The bi-stable display is operatively coupled to the display module and is configured to display a first image at a first time. The display module is configured to be operatively coupled to a wireless module and configured to be wirelessly powered by an external wireless power supply. The display module is configured to receive, at a second time after the first time and in response to a wireless interaction with a wireless device, (1) power from the external wireless power supply and (2) a signal from the wireless module indicative of a second image different from the first image. The bi-stable display is configured to display, in response to a signal indicative of an instruction from the display module, the second image at a third time after the second time.

Disclosed examples include multichannel RF transponder circuits with multiple transponder channel circuits individually connected to a corresponding antenna circuit, a configurable shared modulation capacitor, a channel switching circuit to selectively connect the modulation capacitor to a selected transponder channel circuit, and a modulation circuit to selectively change the capacitance value of the modulation capacitor between two or more values according to a modulation control signal to transmit uplink data using the selected transponder channel circuit.

A structure for wireless communication having a plurality of conductor layers, an insulator layer separating each of the conductor layers, and at least one connector connecting two of the conductor layers wherein an electrical resistance is reduced when an electrical signal is induced in the resonator at a predetermined frequency. The structure is capable of transmitting or receiving electrical energy and/or data at various near and far field magnetic coupling frequencies.

An RFID transponder includes a coding and modulation unit that generates a transmission signal by modulating an oscillator signal with an encoded bit signal. During a first and a second time segment, the encoded bit signal assumes a first and a second logic level, respectively. The transmission signal includes a first signal pulse having a first phase within the first time segment and a second signal pulse having a second phase that is shifted with respect to the first phase by a predefined phase difference within the second time segment. The transmission signal is paused for a pause period between the first and the second signal pulse. The pause period is shorter than a mean value of a period of the first time segment and a period of the second time segment.

A portable apparatus is provided for configuring and/or programming lighting drivers without mains power application. An apparatus housing comprises first and second connectors and an antenna. During a first mode wherein the first connector is coupled to an external computing device, a battery receives and stores power therefrom, and a first controller receives and stores at least driver configuration settings therefrom. When the external device is disconnected the battery powers the apparatus, which polls a transceiver circuit to detect a driver antenna proximate to the apparatus antenna. The apparatus housing is configured to mount to a luminaire comprising the detected driver, wherein the second connector is coupled to the driver and the battery provides power to a driver controller. The first controller also during this second mode transfers the stored at least driver configuration settings to the driver controller via the operably proximate antennae, for example via bidirectional negotiations therewith.

One example discloses a first near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) device, including: a controller configured to be coupled to an NFEMI antenna and to a structure; wherein the NFEMI antenna includes electric (E) near-field and magnetic (H) near-field generating and/or receiving portions; wherein the controller is configured to modulate a ratio of energy sent to and/or received from the electric and magnetic portions; wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal corresponding to whether the structure is between the first NFEMI device and a second NFEMI device; and wherein the controller is configured to decrease the ratio of energy sent to and/or received from the electric (E) portion as compared to energy sent to and/or received from the magnetic (H) portion if the structure is between the first and second NFEMI devices.

The invention relates to an IDRF label for use in aggressive environments. The IDRF label (1) according to the invention comprises a UIF-SIF (2) antenna made of an electrically conductive textile, electrically insulated, embroidered on a textile backing, an IDRF transponder (3) and a textile substrate (4) and the UIF-SIF antenna (2), the whole assembly being sealed by hot-dipping a second textile substrate, wherein the UIF-SIF (2) antenna has a central loop formed by a loop (5) by which it inductively couples with the encapsulated IDRF transponder 3.

A near-field communication device includes an oscillating circuit, a rectifying bridge configured to rectify a voltage across the oscillating circuit, and a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to supply a reference frequency. The voltage-controlled oscillator is powered and controlled by a voltage that is a function of an output voltage of the rectifying bridge.

A peripheral device (701) is knocked against a control unit (704), whereafter the peripheral device is attached to an item of clothing, such as a jacket. The control unit is connected to a wiring loom in the jacket, to operate attached light-emitting devices. The control unit is located within the jacket to receive environmental data during an operation shift. In response to the knocking step, the control unit energizes a passive transponder attached to the peripheral device and the passive transponder transmits held signature data in response to being energized. The control unit stores the transmitted signature data and the control unit only records environment data that includes stored signature data.