Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: an inductive coupler for coupling inductively with a radio frequency, RF, H-field to provide an alternating RF voltage; a near field, RF, communicator connected to the inductive coupler for performing near field RF communication; an auxiliary circuit connected to the inductive coupler by a rectifier for obtaining DC electrical energy from the alternating RF voltage wherein the auxiliary circuit is arranged to communicate data with the near field RF communicator; wherein the rectifier comprises: a first rectifier input and a second rectifier input for receiving the alternating RF voltage, a first rectifier output and a second rectifier output for providing the DC electrical energy to the auxiliary circuit; a rectifying element connected between the first rectifier input and the second rectifier input wherein the first rectifier output is coupled to an output of the rectifying element and to the first rectifier input by a first inductor.

Claims

1. A power harvesting apparatus comprising: an inductive coupler for coupling inductively with a radio frequency, RF, H-field to provide an alternating RF voltage; a near field, RF, communicator connected to the inductive coupler for performing near field RF communication; an auxiliary circuit arranged to communicate data with the near field RF communicator; wherein the auxiliary circuit is connected to the inductive coupler by a buck rectifier for obtaining DC electrical energy from the alternating RF voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the buck rectifier comprises a rectifying element having an output connected to a first output of the buck rectifier by a first inductor, and to a first input of the buck rectifier by a first capacitor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a second input of the buck rectifier is connected to a ground or reference voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the output of the rectifying element is connected to the second input of the buck rectifier by a filter capacitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an output storage capacitor is connected between the first output of the buck rectifier and a second output of the buck rectifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an input of the rectifying element is connected to a second output of the buck rectifier by a second inductor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the buck rectifier is single ended.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary circuit comprises at least one of: a biometric sensor; a camera; a display; a location determiner; and data processing circuitry for processing biometric data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to tokenise said biometric data.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to compare said biometric data with a biometric template for authentication.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the buck rectifier comprises: a first rectifier input and a second rectifier input for receiving the alternating RF voltage, a first rectifier output and a second rectifier output for providing the DC electrical energy to the auxiliary circuit; a rectifying element connected between the first rectifier input and the second rectifier input wherein the first rectifier output is coupled to an output of the rectifying element and to the first rectifier input by a first inductor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the buck rectifier comprises a first capacitor connected to the first rectifier output by the first inductor, and connected between the first rectifier input and the output of the rectifying element.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the buck rectifier is connected to the inductive coupler in parallel with a rectifier of the near field RF communicator.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rectifying element comprises a diode.

15. A smart card comprising the apparatus of claim 1.

16. A power harvesting method comprising: coupling inductively with a radio frequency, RF, H-field using an inductive coupler to provide an alternating RF voltage; performing near field RF communication using a near field, RF, communicator connected to the inductive coupler; obtaining DC electrical energy from the alternating RF voltage using a buck rectifier to power an auxiliary circuit connected to the inductive coupler by a rectifier; and communicating data between the auxiliary circuit and the near field RF communicator.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the buck rectifier decreases output voltage and increases output current to improve efficiency of power harvesting.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the auxiliary circuit comprises data processing circuitry for processing biometric data, and the method comprises using the data processing circuitry to process said biometric data.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the auxiliary circuit comprises data processing circuitry for processing biometric data, and the method comprises using the data processing circuitry to compare said biometric data with a biometric template for authentication.

20. The method of claim 16 comprising using data communicated between the auxiliary circuit and the near field RF communicator to authenticate a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an apparatus comprising a near field communications enabled device with auxiliary functionality;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a rectifier for powering auxiliary functionality of a near field communications enabled device;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of another rectifier such as that shown in FIG. 2 in which optional details of matching networks have been proposed;

(5) FIG. 4A shows a plots of simulated efficiency data for a rectifier and matching networks as illustrated in FIG. 3; and,

(6) FIG. 4B shows a measured efficiency data for a rectifier and matching networks as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(7) In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an apparatus 10 comprising an inductive coupler 12, a near field RF communicator 14, a rectifier 16, and an auxiliary circuit 18.

(9) The inductive coupler 12 is connected to the rectifier 16 and to the near field RF communicator. The rectifier 16 is connected to the auxiliary circuit 18, and the auxiliary circuit 18 may be connected for communicating data to and/or from the near field RF communicator. This may enable the auxiliary circuits to process data received by the near field RF communicator via near field communication. It may also enable the auxiliary circuits to provide data to the near field RF communicator for communication to another device via near field communication.

(10) The near field RF communicator 14 comprises a front end 13, which may include things such as a voltage regulator, a dedicated rectifier for the near field RF communicator, or other circuitry for connecting the near field RF communicator 14 to the inductive coupler 12. It also comprises a controller 15 for performing simple data operations such as modulating and demodulating data from signals received via the inductive coupler 12.

(11) The inductive coupler 12 is arranged for coupling inductively with a radio frequency, RF, H-field—typically in a frequency band centred on 13.5 MHz, but other frequency bands may be used. The inductive coupler 12 may comprise an arrangement of conductors, such as a loop antenna or a coil antenna having a degree of inductive and/or capacitive impedance.

(12) The auxiliary circuit 18 is connected to the inductive coupler 12 by a rectifier 16. The auxiliary circuit 18 may comprise any one or more of the following: A biometric sensor such as a fingerprint, scanner; A camera; A display such as an e-ink display; A location determiner such as a GPS receiver; and Digital signal processing circuitry for processing biometric data to tokenise that biometric data and/or to compare it with a biometric template associated with the user.

(13) The rectifier comprises a first rectifier input 20, and a second rectifier input 22. It also comprises a first rectifier output 24, and a second rectifier output 26. The first rectifier input 20 can be connected to a first output of the inductive coupler.

(14) In the differential configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the rectifier 16 also comprises a second rectifier input 22, which can be connected to a second output of the inductive coupler. The rectifier 16 can thus be arranged to obtain, across the first rectifier input 20 and the second rectifier input 22, an alternating RF voltage from the inductive coupler. It is configured to convert that RF voltage into DC electrical energy. That DC electrical energy may be provided as a voltage across the first rectifier output 24 and the second rectifier output 26. These outputs 24, 26 can be connected to the auxiliary circuit 18 for providing DC electrical energy to the auxiliary circuit 18.

(15) The rectifier 16 comprises a rectifying element 17 configured to provide a one way conduction path for current (e.g. from its input to its output) and it may be provided by a diode. The one way conduction path provided by the rectifying element 17 couples both the first rectifier input 20 and the first rectifier output 24 to both the second rectifier input 22 and to the second rectifier output 26. In other words, the rectifying element 17 is connected in shunt, thereby to provide a one-directional current flow path between the inputs of the rectifier 16. A first inductor 19 may connect the output of the rectifying element 17 to the second rectifier output 26. The rectifier 16 illustrated in FIG. 1 is thus arranged to provide a DC voltage between the first rectifier output 24 and the second rectifier output 26.

(16) A key function that this type of rectifier may provide is that the shunt rectifying element (e.g. shunt diode) provides a reduction of the output impedance, therefore reducing the output voltage whilst the series inductor may help to keep the current high. Without the series inductor, the current may decrease undesirably when the diode is off. Keeping the current high, for a constant output power level, may contribute to providing a lower output voltage. This may enhance matching with a low voltage DC load. It will be appreciated in the context of the present disclosure that this functionality may be provided in a number of different ways.

(17) FIG. 2 shows one example of such a rectifier. This rectifier may be suitable for use in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

(18) The rectifier 16 illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a first matching network 30, a rectifying network 33, and a second matching network 32. It also comprises a first rectifier input 20 and a second rectifier input 22, a first rectifier output 24 and a second rectifier output 26.

(19) The first matching network 30 is configured to provide a higher output impedance than the inductive coupler, and a lower input impedance than the rectifying network 33. The second matching network 32 may be configured to provide an RF trap to reflect harmonics of the alternating RF signal which may pass through the rectifying network 33 back across the rectifying network 33.

(20) The first rectifier input 20 and the second rectifier input 22 are connected to the rectifying network 33 by the first matching network. The rectifying network 33 is connected to the first rectifier output 24 and the second rectifier output 26 by the second matching network 32.

(21) The first matching network 30 comprises an arrangement of capacitive and inductive impedances configured to present an input impedance to an inductive coupler (such as the inductive coupler 12 of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1) which matches the output impedance of that inductive coupler. The arrangement of capacitive and inductive impedances is also configured to present an output impedance to the rectifying network 33 which matches the input impedance of the rectifying network 33. The second matching network 32 may be similarly constructed, and arranged to provide the same matching function—providing an input impedance which matches the output impedance of the rectifier 16, and providing an output impedance which matches that of the load to be powered. A variety of such configurations may be used in both of these networks. In an embodiment at lower frequencies, such as 13 MHz, a differential or single end design is quite similar. The matching network in FIG. 3 is quite general, and may be applied for higher frequencies. Typically passive electronic components such as inductors and capacitors may be connected together to provide a network which provides this function. A variety of configurations may be selected. One such configuration is illustrated in FIG. 3, and described below.

(22) The rectifying network 33 comprises a first capacitor 34, a second capacitor 36, a first inductor 19, a second inductor 38, and a rectifying element 17. The rectifying element 17 is configured to provide a one way conduction path for electrical current to flow from the input of the rectifying element 17 to the output of the rectifying element 17. The rectifying element 17 may comprise a diode.

(23) A first plate of the first capacitor 34 is connected to a first output of the first matching network 30. A second plate of the first capacitor 34 is connected to the output of the rectifying element 17, and to the first inductor 19. The first inductor 19 connects the second plate of the first capacitor 34 and the output of the rectifying element 17 to a first input of the second matching network 32.

(24) A first plate of the second capacitor 36 is connected to a second output of the first matching network 30. A second plate of the second capacitor 36 is connected to the input of the rectifying element 17, and to the second inductor 38. The second inductor 38 connects the second plate of the capacitor and the input of the rectifying element 17 to a second input of the second matching network 32.

(25) The rectifying element 17 can provide, based on the alternating input voltage, a DC voltage difference between the input of the rectifying element 17 and the output of the rectifying element 17. This DC voltage can charge the first capacitor 34 so that electrical energy is stored on the first capacitor 34. The first inductor 19 helps to keep the current high in both halves of each RF cycle. It will be appreciated in the context of the present disclosure that the second capacitor 36 and the second inductor 38 provide corresponding functions.

(26) In addition, the inductor 38 is optional, and may be removed. This is particularly the case in single ended embodiments. In these embodiments, an output storage capacitor may be connected to the input of the rectifying element 17, and to the output of the rectifying element 17 by the first inductor 19. In this position, such a capacitor may perform the function of storing DC output energy (hence its name).

(27) The second capacitor 36 shown in FIG. 3 is also optional, and may be removed. Again, this is of particular relevance in single ended embodiments. In these embodiments, a filter capacitor may be connected between the input of the rectifying element 17, and the output of the rectifying element 17. In particular, a first plate of this filter capacitor may be connected to the input of the rectifying network 33, and to the input of the rectifying element 17 whilst a second plate of this filter capacitor is connected to the output of the rectifying element 17. It will of course be appreciated that in these and other embodiments the rectifying element 17 may be provided by a plurality of rectifying elements arranged in parallel with each other.

(28) FIG. 3 is a diagram of a rectifier, such as that illustrated in FIG. 2, having a particular arrangement of the first matching network 30, and the second matching network 32. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements.

(29) The first matching network 30 may comprise a first matching capacitor 40, a first matching inductor 48, a second matching capacitor 42 and a second matching inductor 50. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 3, the first rectifier input 20 is connected to a first plate of the first matching capacitor 40 and to the first matching inductor 48. The first matching inductor 48 connects the first rectifier input 20 to the first plate of the first capacitor 34 of the rectifying network 33, and to a first plate of the second matching capacitor 42. The second rectifier input 22 is connected to a second plate of the first matching capacitor 40 and to the second matching inductor 50. The second matching inductor 50 connects the second rectifier input 22 to the first plate of the second capacitor 36 of the rectifying network 33, and to a second plate of the second matching capacitor 42.

(30) The second matching network 32 may comprise a third matching capacitor 44, a third matching inductor 52, a fourth matching capacitor and a fourth matching inductor. A first plate of the third matching capacitor 44 is connected by the first inductor 19 to the output of the rectifying element 17. The first plate of the third matching capacitor 44 is also connected by the third matching inductor to the first rectifier output 24. The first rectifier output 24 is connected to a first plate of the fourth matching capacitor 46 and to the third matching inductor 52. The third matching inductor 52 connects the first inductor 19 of the rectifying network 33 to the first plate of the fourth matching capacitor 46. The second rectifier output 26 is connected to the second plate of the fourth matching capacitor 46 and to the fourth matching inductor 54. The fourth matching inductor 54 connects the second rectifier output 26 to the second plate of the third matching capacitor 44 and to the second inductor 38 of the rectifying network 33.

(31) In operation, based on an alternating RF voltage received via the first matching network 30 the rectifying element 17 provides, at its output, DC electrical energy and one or more harmonics of the alternating RF voltage. The second matching network 32 receives the DC electrical energy and provides i- to the rectifier outputs. The second matching network 32 also receives the one or more harmonics and reflects those harmonics back towards the rectifying element 17.

(32) Whilst the primary function of the first matching network 30 is to present a lower input impedance to an inductive coupler (such as the inductive coupler 12 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1) than would be provided by the rectifying network 33 taken alone, it may also serve to reflect, back towards the rectifying network 33, harmonics of the alternating RF voltage that have been reflected from the second matching network 32. The component values in the matching network may be chosen to increase the reflection of harmonics whilst also matching the impedance of the rectifier at the fundamental frequency.

(33) Investigation by the inventors has shown that the efficiency and frequency characteristics provided by the embodiments described herein are particularly desirable.

(34) FIG. 4A shows a plot of simulated efficiency data for a rectifier and matching networks as illustrated in FIG. 3. The simulation which produced this data was conducted assuming the output voltage provided from the rectifier outputs was 3.5V. It can be seen that, for a range of input powers between about 17 and about 21 dBm, the efficiency is better than 80%. This is comparable to the efficiency achieved by a prior art rectifier providing a 13V DC output voltage. This embodiment may thus achieve the goal of providing lower output voltage at high power without undesirable loss of efficiency. This topology may therefore significantly reduce the mismatch when connecting to a classical PMM, improving the overall system efficiency.

(35) FIG. 4B shows a measured efficiency data for a rectifier and matching networks as illustrated in FIG. 3.

(36) In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, power provided by the alternating voltage at the output of the inductive coupler may be shared between the near field communicator and the rectifier for the auxiliary circuit 18 by appropriate selection of the input impedance of the rectifier and the input impedance of the near field communicator. In other words—power may be shared passively between the two parts of the apparatus. It will be appreciated however that power may be shared actively between the two. That is to say a switch may be provided in the connection between the inductive coupler and the near field communicator, and another switch may be provided in the connection between the inductive coupler and the rectifier for the auxiliary circuit 18. A controller may share the power provided by the alternating voltage by controlling these switches.

(37) The near field RF communicators referred to herein may be any type of near field RF communications enabled device. It will be appreciated in the context of the present disclosure that near field RF communication may be referred to as near-field RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or near-field communication. NFC communicators are a type of near field RF communicator that is capable of both initiating a near field RF communication (through transmission or generation of an alternating magnetic field) with another near field RF communicator and of responding to initiation of a near field RF communication by another near field RF communicator. The term “near field RF communicator” includes not only NFC communicators but also initiating near field RF communicators such as RFID transceivers or readers that are capable of initiating a near field RF communication but not responding to initiation of a near field RF communication by another near field RF communicator and responding near field RF communicators such as RFID transponders or tags that are capable of responding to initiation of a near field RF communication by another near field RF communicator but not of initiating a near field RF communication with another near field RF communicator.

(38) An RFID tag is always a target and an RFID reader always an initiator of communication. However, as will be understood from the above, an NFC communicator may operate in an “initiator” mode in which the NFC communicator seeks to initiate near field RF communication or in a “target” mode in which the NFC communicator is receptive to initiation of near field RF communication. NFC communicators may also operate in either a “passive communications mode” or an “active communications mode”. When communication is by the “passive communications mode” an initiator NFC communicator will generate an RF field and a target NFC communicator will respond by modulation of the received RF signal, usually by load modulation. When communication is by the “active communications mode” both the initiator NFC communicator and the target NFC communicator use their own RF field to enable communication.

(39) An RFID tag may be an active tag, that is a tag which is self-powered, or a passive tag, that is a tag which derives power by inductive coupling to the magnetic field (H-field) generated by an RFID reader or NFC communicator. The terms “passive” and “active” in the context of NFC communicators thus do not have the same meaning as “passive” and “active” when used in the context of traditional RFID tags and readers.

(40) Embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise smart cards, e.g. a plastic card, often having the same form factor as a typical credit card but carrying a built-in microprocessor. This microprocessor may comprise the auxiliary circuits described herein.

(41) In an embodiment there is provided a power harvesting apparatus comprising a signal connection for connecting to a source of alternating voltage, such as an RF antenna or a capacitive coupler for coupling with an alternating E-field, or an inductive coupler for coupling with an alternating H-field. Such a power harvesting apparatus also comprises a rectifier, coupled to the signal connection for receiving the alternating voltage.

(42) The rectifier comprises a rectifying element having an output connected to a first output of the rectifier by a first inductor. The output of the rectifying element is also connected to a first input of the rectifier, optionally by a first capacitor.

(43) The rectifier may be single ended or differential. In single ended embodiments the input of the rectifying element may be coupled to a ground or reference voltage. For example, the second input of the rectifier may be connected to a ground or reference voltage. In single ended embodiments, the output of the rectifying element may be connected zo the second input of the rectifier by a filter capacitor. In single ended embodiments, optionally, an output storage capacitor may be connected between the first output of the rectifier and a second output of the rectifier.

(44) In differential embodiments, a second input of the rectifier may be connected to the input of the rectifying element, optionally by a second capacitor. In both differential and single ended embodiments, the input of the rectifying element may be connected to a second output of the rectifier, optionally by a second inductor.

(45) The rectifier may be connected to the signal connection by a first matching network. The rectifier may be connected to power an auxiliary circuit (such as a biometric sensor) by a second matching network.

(46) The rectifying element may generate, based on the alternating RF voltage, DC electrical energy and one or more harmonics of the alternating RF voltage, and the second matching network is arranged to receive, from the rectifying element, the DC electrical energy and the one or more harmonics and to reflect the one or more harmonics back towards the rectifying element.

(47) The data processing and other functionality described and claimed herein may be provided by a general purpose processor, which may be configured to perform a method according to any one of those described herein.

(48) Whilst the embodiments described herein have particular utility when the rectifier is connected for harvesting power from an inductive coupler of a near field RF communications device, embodiments of the disclosure may be used in other applications. For example, instead of being connected to the inductive coupler of a near field RF communications device they may be connected to the antenna of a WiFi enabled device, a Bluetooth device, a telecommunications device such as a cellular telephone, or any other device which receives significant RF power.

(49) In some examples the controllers, processors, and other types of logic described and/or claimed herein may comprise digital logic, such as field programmable gate arrays, FPGA, application specific integrated circuits, ASIC, a digital signal processor, DSP, or by any other appropriate hardware. In some examples, one or more memory elements can store data and/or program instructions used to implement the operations described herein. Embodiments of the disclosure provide tangible, non-transitory storage media comprising program instructions operable to program a processor to perform any one or more of the methods described and/or claimed herein and/or to provide data processing apparatus as described and/or claimed herein. Analogue control circuits may also provide at least a part of this control functionality. An embodiment provides an analogue control circuit configured to perform any one or more of the signal processing methods and/or logic described herein.

(50) The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples. Further embodiments are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.