Contactless interface

• US 8,611,119 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WISeKey Semiconductors
• Original Assignee: INSIDE Contactless S.A.
• Inventors: Bates, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Nguyen
• Application Number:
  US13/329,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 363/73, 363/74, 363/127, 323/311, 323/312, 323/313, 323/314, 323/315
• US Class Current: 363/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• 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

Power extracted from an antenna inductively coupled to an alternating magnetic field is regulated to provide voltage supplies. In some implementations, a first voltage supply (e.g., 3.8 volts) provides regulated voltage to analog circuits and a second, lower, voltage supply (e.g., 1.4 volts) provides regulated voltage to digital circuits. The first voltage supply is regulated, using shunt regulation, by a first voltage regulator circuit. The second voltage supply is regulated, using a series regulation, by a second voltage regulator circuit. The second voltage regulator circuit is supplied by the shunted current from the first voltage regulator. Excess shunt current provided by the first regulator circuit can be bypassed (e.g., bypassed to ground). The second voltage regulator circuit can use a timer circuit to control the amount of charge transferred to a second voltage supply rail. The timer circuit can compensate for different currents from the first voltage regulator circuit.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

first and second input terminals;

a first supply rail energized from the first input terminal for providing a first supply voltage;

a shunt regulator operable to regulate the first supply voltage by establishing a shunt current between the first and second input terminals;

a second supply rail; and

a switching circuit coupled to the shunt regulator and operable by a switch control signal to direct the shunt current, in a first mode, to flow to the second supply rail for providing a second supply voltage and, in a second mode, to bypass the second supply rail to the second input terminal.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the input terminals are configured for coupling to an antenna and for receiving an alternating voltage from the antenna, and comprising a rectifier circuit coupled to the input terminals, operable for rectifying the alternating voltage for energizing the first supply rail and the shunt regulator.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the input terminals are coupled to a tuning circuit for tuning the antenna.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the shunt regulator includes a current mirror that includes two transistors having respective gates coupled to a shunt control signal for controlling the flow of the shunt current through the current mirror.

5. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a timer circuit configured to provide the switch control signal.

6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein the timer circuit comprises:

a capacitor operable for generating a ramping voltage by integrating a current, wherein the ramping voltage is proportional to the magnitude of the current;

a transistor operable for resetting the voltage on the capacitor to a reference voltage;

an error amplifier operable for comparing a divided second supply voltage on the second supply rail to the reference voltage and outputting an amplified error voltage; and

a comparator operable for comparing the amplified error voltage with the voltage on the capacitor, and for outputting the switch control signal as a result of the comparing.

7. The circuit of claim 6, further comprising a voltage divider for providing the divided second supply voltage from the second supply voltage on the second supply rail.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the second supply voltage on the second supply rail has a smaller voltage swing than the first supply voltage on the first supply rail.

9. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising one or more analog circuits coupled to the first supply rail.

10. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising one or more digital circuits coupled to the second supply rail.

11. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a decoupling capacitor coupled to the first or second supply rail.

12. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuit is included in a smart card.

13. A method comprising:

receiving an alternating voltage from an antenna;

rectifying the alternating voltage, using a rectifier circuit, to provide a first supply voltage to a first supply rail;

supplying, using a current source, a shunt current; and

configuring a switch coupled to the current source with a switch control signal to enable the shunt current to flow to a second supply rail to provide a second supply voltage on the second supply rail when the switch is in a first mode, and to bypass the second supply rail when the switch is in a second mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second supply voltage has a smaller voltage swing than the first supply voltage.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating a ramping voltage by integrating a current, where the ramping voltage is proportional to the magnitude of the current;

resetting a voltage on a capacitor to a reference voltage;

comparing a divided second supply voltage on the second supply rail to the reference voltage and outputting an amplified error voltage;

comparing the amplified error voltage with the voltage on the capacitor; and

outputting the switch control signal based on the comparing.