Power harvest architecture for near field communication devices

An electronic communication device comprising:

• an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) field and generate a differential voltage at a first tag pin and a second tag pin from the RF field;
• a voltage reference system coupled to the first tag pin and the second tag pin and configured to generate a bandgap reference voltage and a reference current responsive to the differential voltage;
• a shunt regulator coupled to the first tag pin and the second tag pin and configured to generate a shunt current responsive to the differential voltage and the bandgap reference voltage;
• a field detection circuit coupled to the first tag pin and the second tag pin and configured to compare the shunt current and the reference current;
• and
• a logic unit coupled to the field detection circuit and configured to activate a bank of switching devices if shunt current is more than the reference current.

A computing device comprising:

• a processing unit;
• a memory module coupled to the processing unit;
• an electronic communication device coupled to the processing unit and the memory module, wherein the electronic communication device further comprises:
• an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) field and generate a differential voltage at a first tag pin and a second tag pin from the RF field;
• a voltage reference system coupled to the first tag pin and the second tag pin and configured to generate a bandgap reference voltage and a reference current responsive to the differential voltage;
• a shunt regulator coupled to the first tag pin and the second tag pin and configured to generate a shunt current responsive to the differential voltage and the bandgap reference voltage;
• a field detection circuit coupled to the first tag pin and the second tag pin and configured to compare the shunt current and the reference current;
• and
• a logic unit coupled to the field detection circuit and configured to activate a bank of switching devices if shunt current is more than the reference current.