Circuitry for powering on and maintaining activation of a powered off electronic component

A system comprising:

• a first device adapted to receive from a second device an RF communication signal, the first device comprising:
• a converter for converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;
• power on logic circuitry electrically connected to the converter, the converter generating an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry, the power on logic circuitry producing a first power on signal in response to receiving the RF enable signal;
• a power source;
• a first electronic component that is continuously powered on by the power source and operates at a first clock speed;
• and
• a second electronic component that remains in a powered off state is electrically connected to the power source via a first switch that is opened and remains closed in the presence of the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, the second electronic component operates at a second clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component.

A system comprising:

• a first device adapted to receive from a second device an RF communication signal, the first device comprising:
• a power source;
• a first electronic component that is continuously powered on by the power source and operates at a first clock speed;
• a converter for converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;
• power on logic circuitry electrically connected to the converter, the converter generating an RF enable signal when (i) power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry or (ii) the power on logic circuitry receives a start self-test signal from the first electronic component upon the expiration of a periodic period of time for initiating self-testing sequencing to ensure proper operation of at least one component of the first device;
• the power on logic circuitry producing a first power on signal in response to receiving the RF enable signal;
• and
• a second electronic component that remains in a powered off state is electrically connected to the power source via a switch that is opened and remains closed in the presence of the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, the second electronic component operates at a second clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component.

A method for automatically powering on and maintaining activation of a powered off electronic component of a first device that receives an RF communication signal from a second device, the first device including power on logic circuitry electrically connected between a converter and the electronic component, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at the first device the RF communication signal transmitted from the second device;
• converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;
• generating using the converter an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry;
• producing at the power on logic circuitry a first power on signal in response to the RF enable signal;
• and
• in response to receiving the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, closing a switch disposed between a power source and the electronic component to power on the electronic component.

A method for use in a first device that receives an RF communication signal from a second device, the first device having at least two electronic components including a continuously powered on first electronic component operating at a first clock speed and a powered off second electronic component operating at a second clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component, power on logic circuitry electrically connected between a converter and the first electronic component, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at the first device the RF communication signal transmitted from the second device;
• converting the RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;
• generating an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry;
• producing at the power on logic circuitry a first power on signal in response to the RF enable signal;
• in response to receiving the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, closing a first switch disposed between a power source and the second electronic component to power on the second electronic component.