Radio frequency identification device power-on reset management

• US 7,872,566 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synopsys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synopsys Incorporated
• Inventors: Khieu, Cong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US11/965,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods may include providing a power-on reset function to many types of receiving circuitry, including radio frequency identification (RFID) tag processing circuitry. Thus, the power-on reset function may be realized by applying a supply voltage to a power-on reset circuit coupled to RFID tag processing circuitry. Operations may include sensing a first current substantially independent of the supply voltage, sensing a second current substantially dependent on the supply voltage, and indicating a power-on reset condition based on a comparison between the first current and the second current. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an inlay;

an antenna structure supported by the inlay;

a processing circuit coupled to the antenna; and

a power-on reset circuit coupled to the processing circuit, the power-on reset circuit comprising an independent current circuit to provide a current substantially independent of a supply voltage, a dependent current circuit to provide a current substantially dependent on the supply voltage, and an output circuit to provide a power-on reset indication based on a comparison between the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage and the current substantially independent of the supply voltage.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the independent current circuit comprises:

a transistor coupled directly to the supply-voltage.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the dependent current circuit comprises:

a transistor having a gate controlled by current that has a magnitude depending on a voltage across a transistor coupled to the supply voltage.

4. The RFID tag of claim 3, wherein the voltage across the transistor comprises:

a source to drain voltage.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, comprising:

a transistor configured to bound a reference voltage coupled to a comparison of the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage and the current substantially independent of the supply voltage.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the output circuit comprises:

a logic function circuit to receive the comparison of the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage and the current substantially independent of the supply voltage.

7. The RFID tag of claim 6, wherein the logic function circuit comprises:

a pair of serially-connected Schmitt triggers.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1, comprising:

a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein the first transistor is in a first state when the supply voltage is less than a power-on selected value, wherein the first transistor is in a second state when the supply voltage is greater than the power-on selected value to permit charging a capacitor using current through the second transistor, and wherein the power-on reset indication is asserted responsive to the charging.

9. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the output circuit comprises:

a capacitor to charge when a supply voltage increases, and not when the supply voltage decreases.

10. The RFID tag of claim 9, wherein the capacitor is coupled to a pair of Schmitt triggers.

11. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the power-on reset indication comprises:

at least one pulse.

12. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the output circuit comprises:

a logic gate to combine a comparison result of the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage and the current substantially independent of the supply voltage, and a delayed version of the comparison result.

13. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the current substantially independent of the supply voltage comprises a transistor bias current.

14. A method, comprising:

applying a supply voltage to a power-on reset circuit coupled to a processing circuit of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;

sensing a first current substantially independent of the supply voltage;

sensing a second current substantially dependent on the supply voltage; and

indicating a power-on reset condition based on a comparison between the first current and the second current.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

sensing the current substantially independent of the supply voltage and the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage at a single node.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the single node comprises a Schmitt trigger input.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising:

delaying a comparison result of the current substantially independent of the supply voltage and the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage to provide a delayed comparison; and

providing the comparison result and the delayed comparison to inputs of a logic gate.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

responsive to values of the comparison result and the delayed comparison, providing the indication of the power-on reset condition as a pulse at an output of the logic gate.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the delaying comprises:

charging a capacitor coupled to a pair of Schmitt triggers.

20. The method of claim 14, comprising:

turning a first transistor to a first state when the supply voltage is less than a power-on selected value;

turning off the first transistor when the supply voltage is greater than the power-on selected value to permit charging a capacitor by current through a second transistor; and

terminating a power-on reset pulse responsive to the charging.

21. The method of claim 14, comprising:

providing the current substantially independent of the supply voltage as a bias current.

22. An article comprising a machine-readable memory containing thereon instructions which, if executed by mask making machinery as instructions for processing a semiconductor wafer, an integrated circuit will result on the wafer, the integrated circuit comprising:

an independent current circuit to provide a current substantially independent of a supply voltage;

a dependent current circuit to provide a current substantially dependent on the supply voltage;

at least a portion of a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit; and

an output circuit to provide a power-on reset indication to the at least a portion of the RFID circuit based on a comparison between the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage and the current substantially independent of the supply voltage.

23. The article of claim 22, in which the dependent current circuit comprises:

a transistor having a gate controlled by current that has a magnitude depending on a voltage across a transistor coupled to the supply voltage.

24. The article of claim 22, in which the output circuit comprises:

a logic function circuit to receive the comparison of the current substantially dependent on the supply voltage and the current substantially independent of the supply voltage.

25. The article of claim 22, in which the integrated circuit further comprises:

a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein the first transistor is in a first state when the supply voltage is less than a power-on selected value, wherein the first transistor is in a second state when the supply voltage is greater than the power-on selected value to permit charging a capacitor using current through a second transistor, and wherein the power-on reset indication is asserted responsive to the charging.