Adaptation of transponder card performance to available power

• US 20070108297A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bates, Colin
• Application Number:
  US11/273,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20070108297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

A smart card operates within an electromagnetic field produced at radio or microwave frequencies and rectifies the received field to provide power for operation of a load device. The field strength received by the smart card varies due to differing strengths of generation sources, proximity of the card to a source, and a presence of other active cards in the field. The amount of transmitted power available to supply an operation of the smart card varies in proportion to the strength of the field received by the card. The smart card detects the amount of power available and adjusts a performance point of the smart card load so that an amount of power consumed is appropriate to the amount of power received. In the event that the amount of power received exceeds an amount of power required, a shunting device is employed to regulate power to the smart card load.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic field receiving device comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving a transmitted electromagnetic field, the receiver being configured to produce an oscillating electrical signal;

a rectifier coupled to the receiver, the rectifier capable of receiving the oscillating electrical signal and configured to produce a level of power proportional to a magnitude of the oscillating electrical signal received;

a detector coupled to the rectifier, the detector capable of receiving the oscillating electrical signal and configured to produce an indicator signal proportional to a magnitude of power received;

a load device coupled to the rectifier, the load device capable of receiving power and performing calculations;

a performance adapter coupled to the detector, the rectifier, and the load device, the performance adapter capable of receiving the indicator signal and configured to adjust a performance level of the load device proportional to the indicator signal; and

a regulator, coupled to the rectifier capable of receiving a feedback signal and configured to select an operating point for the load device proportional to the feedback signal.

2. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is further comprised of an inductor coupled in parallel with a capacitor.

3. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 1, wherein the rectifier is comprised of a bridge rectifier circuit.

4. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 1, wherein the load device is a microprocessor.

5. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 1, wherein the performance adapter is a phase-lock-loop frequency synthesizer with a voltage-controlled oscillator control.

6. An electromagnetic field receiving device comprising:

a receiver means for producing an oscillating electrical signal at a power level proportional to an electromagnetic field received;

a rectifier means for producing a level of power proportional to the level of the oscillating electrical signal received;

a detector means for producing an indicator signal proportional to the level of power received;

a processor means for performing calculations;

a regulator means for providing an adjusted power level for the processor means; and

an adapter means for controlling a performance level of the processor means.

7. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 6, wherein the receiving means is an inductor coupled in parallel with a capacitor.

8. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 6, wherein the rectifier means is a bridge rectifier.

9. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 6, wherein the processor means is a microprocessor.

10. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 6, wherein the adapter means is a phase-lock-loop frequency synthesizer with a voltage-controlled oscillator control.

11. A method for adapting transponder performance comprising:

monitoring a generated electromagnetic field;

producing a field strength indication proportional to a magnitude of the generated electromagnetic field received;

generating a clock frequency proportional to a magnitude of the field strength indication; and

shunting an amount of power proportional to a magnitude of the field strength indication.

12. The electromagnetic field receiving device of claim 11, wherein power is shunted when a current produced from the generated electromagnetic field is in excess of 80 mA.