RFID tags with electronic fuses for storing component configuration data
First Claim
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1. An RFID tag circuit comprising:
- a fuse adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power, the fuse including a nonvolatile memory (NVM) element for storing the configuration data, the fuse further including a fuse switch;
an operational component adapted to operate based on the configuration data, the operational component including a configurable circuit adapted to exhibit an operative impedance that varies according to the configuration data, in which the configuration data can take such values that the operative impedance is discretely variable, the configurable circuit including an impedance component, in which the fuse switch controls whether the impedance component will be part of the operative impedance; and
a non-volatile memory (NVM) memory array distinct from the fuse and having a plurality of NVM cells that are addressable in terms of a row and a column and are adapted to store data in a way that survives loss of power.
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Abstract
An RFID tag has a fuse that is adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power. The fuse can be one time programmable or many times programmable, and be implemented with a non-volatile memory. The configuration data becomes available to an operational component of the tag, such as at power up, controlling its performance.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. An RFID tag circuit comprising:
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a fuse adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power, the fuse including a nonvolatile memory (NVM) element for storing the configuration data, the fuse further including a fuse switch; an operational component adapted to operate based on the configuration data, the operational component including a configurable circuit adapted to exhibit an operative impedance that varies according to the configuration data, in which the configuration data can take such values that the operative impedance is discretely variable, the configurable circuit including an impedance component, in which the fuse switch controls whether the impedance component will be part of the operative impedance; and a non-volatile memory (NVM) memory array distinct from the fuse and having a plurality of NVM cells that are addressable in terms of a row and a column and are adapted to store data in a way that survives loss of power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An RFID tag circuit comprising:
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a fuse adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power, the fuse including a nonvolatile memory (NVM) element for storing the configuration data, the NVM element including a floating gate of a floating-gate transistor which is adapted to be in triode operation; an operational component adapted to operate based on the configuration data, the operational component including a configurable circuit adapted to exhibit an operative impedance that varies continuously according to the configuration data, wherein the configuration data is first input in the NVM memory array from the fuse, and then it is input in the operational component from the NVM memory array; and a non-volatile memory (NVM) memory array distinct from the fuse and having a plurality of NVM cells that are addressable in terms of a row and a column and are adapted to store data in a way that survives loss of power. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An RFID tag circuit comprising:
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a fuse adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power, a value for the configuration data being encoded in an amount of charge stored in a first floating gate; an operational component adapted to operate based on the configuration data, wherein the configuration data is first input in the NVM memory array from the fuse, and then it is input in the operational component from the NVM memory array; and a non-volatile memory (NVM) memory array distinct from the fuse and having a plurality of NVM cells that are addressable in terms of a row and a column and are adapted to store data in a way that survives loss of power. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An RFID tag circuit comprising:
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a fuse adapted to store configuration data in a way that survives loss of power, a value for the configuration data being encoded in an amount of charge stored in a first floating gate; an operational component adapted to operate based on the configuration data; and a non-volatile memory (NVM) memory array distinct from the fuse and having a plurality of NVM cells that are addressable in terms of a row and a column and are adapted to store data in a way that survives loss of power, wherein the configuration data is first input in the NVM memory array from the fuse, and then it is input in the operational component from the NVM memory array, the fuse includes a binary output circuit adapted to output a binary value dependent on the configuration data, and the tag operational component receives an output of the binary output circuit. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification