Circuitry for use in smart cards and other applications
AssigneeDrayson Technologies (Europe) Limited
InventorsAlison LLOYD, Vitor FREITAS
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Abstract
A smart card comprising rectification circuitry arranged to receive an alternating electrical signal from a near field RF communications antenna of the smart card, and convert it into DC electrical energy for powering an auxiliary circuit. The rectification circuitry comprises a first inductor arranged so that the alternating electrical signal flows through the first inductor and a second inductor arranged for inductive coupling with the first inductor to provide the alternating electrical signal to a near field RF communicator.
Claims25
A smart card comprising:
- rectification circuitry arranged to receive an alternating electrical signal from a near field RF communications antenna of the smart card, and convert it into DC electrical energy for powering an auxiliary circuit, wherein the rectification circuitry comprises a first inductor arranged so that the alternating electrical signal flows through the first inductor;
- a second inductor arranged for inductive coupling with the first inductor to provide the alternating electrical signal to a near field RF communicator.
A power splitter comprising:
- an input connection for connecting to an inductive coupler for coupling inductively with a radio frequency, RF, H-field to provide a first alternating RF voltage at the connection;
- and
- a rectifier comprising:
- a rectifying element connected in a shunt configuration to the input connection thereby to provide a one-way conduction path between the connection and a reference voltage connection, and
- a first inductor connected between the input connection and an output of the rectifier for providing DC electrical energy based on the first alternating RF voltage;
- a second inductor, arranged for inductive coupling with the first inductor thereby to provide a second alternating RF voltage across the second inductor for connection to a near field RF communicator to enable said near field RF communicator to perform near field RF communications via the inductive coupler.
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A smart card blank comprising:
- an inductive coupler for coupling inductively with a radio frequency, RF, H-field to provide a first alternating RF voltage;
- and
- a rectifier comprising:
- a rectifying element connected in a shunt configuration to the inductive coupler thereby to provide a one-way conduction path between a connection to the inductive coupler and a reference voltage connection, and
- a first inductor connected between the connection and an output of the rectifier for providing DC electrical energy based on the first alternating RF voltage;
- wherein the smart card blank further comprises a chip seat, for seating a chip assembly in the card blank, and the first inductor is disposed adjacent the chip seat for inductive coupling with a second inductor carried by a chip assembly thereby to provide a second alternating RF voltage across the second inductor for connection to a near field RF communications chip in said chip assembly.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.