Coordinating multiple contactless data carriers
First Claim
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1. A contactless transponder device comprising:
- a first integrated circuit (IC) that includes a first contactless transponder interface circuit configured and arranged to respond to a contactless field by providing a first identifier of the first IC using near-field wireless communications;
a second IC that includes a second contactless transponder circuit configured and arranged to respond to the contactless field by providing a second identifier of the second IC using near-field wireless communications; and
a controller circuit, communicatively connected to the first and second IC, and configured and arranged todetermine, in response to a first received communication request, that a previous state of the first IC allowed the first IC to respond using near-field wireless communications;
in response to the determination, inhibit, the first IC from responding to the contactless field using near-field wireless communications; and
allow, in response to a second received communication request, the first IC to respond using near-field wireless communications,wherein the controller circuit is further configured and arranged to, in response to at least one from a group consisting of a local power supply level and a failure of a nonvolatile memory;
select one of the first and second ICs using a default selection algorithm;
enable the selected one of the first and second ICs to respond using near-field wireless communications; and
prevent a non-selected one of the first and second ICs from responding using near-field wireless communications.
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Abstract
A contactless transponder device is provided with multiple ICs. A first IC includes a first contactless transponder interface circuit configured and arranged to respond to a contactless field by providing a first identifier of the first IC. A second IC includes a second contactless transponder interface circuit configured and arranged to respond to the contactless field by providing a second identifier of the second IC. A controller is configured and arranged to inhibit the first IC from responding to the contactless field.
20 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A contactless transponder device comprising:
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a first integrated circuit (IC) that includes a first contactless transponder interface circuit configured and arranged to respond to a contactless field by providing a first identifier of the first IC using near-field wireless communications; a second IC that includes a second contactless transponder circuit configured and arranged to respond to the contactless field by providing a second identifier of the second IC using near-field wireless communications; and a controller circuit, communicatively connected to the first and second IC, and configured and arranged to determine, in response to a first received communication request, that a previous state of the first IC allowed the first IC to respond using near-field wireless communications; in response to the determination, inhibit, the first IC from responding to the contactless field using near-field wireless communications; and allow, in response to a second received communication request, the first IC to respond using near-field wireless communications, wherein the controller circuit is further configured and arranged to, in response to at least one from a group consisting of a local power supply level and a failure of a nonvolatile memory; select one of the first and second ICs using a default selection algorithm; enable the selected one of the first and second ICs to respond using near-field wireless communications; and prevent a non-selected one of the first and second ICs from responding using near-field wireless communications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating an automotive key device comprising:
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receiving a control input; inhibiting, in response to the control input, a first integrated circuit (IC) that includes a first contactless communication interface circuit, from responding to a contactless field using near-field wireless communications; and subsequently allowing, in response to a change in the control input, both the first IC and a second IC to respond to the contactless field by providing respective identifiers, wherein, in response to the control input and at least one from a group consisting of a local power supply level and a failure of a nonvolatile memory, one of the first and second ICs is selected using a default selection algorithm; the selected one of the first and second ICs is enabled to respond using near-field wireless communications; and a non-selected one of the first and second ICs is prevented from responding using near-field wireless communications. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A contactless transponder device comprising:
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first and second integrated circuits (ICs), each IC including a respective contactless transponder interface circuit configured and arranged to respond to a contactless field by providing a respective identifier using near-field wireless communications; and a controller configured and arranged to, in response to a first received communication request; using a value that is stored in a nonvolatile memory and that is indicative of a previous state of the device, determine whether the first IC was used to respond to a previous communication request; in response to determining the first IC was used to respond to the previous communication request, enable the second IC to respond using near-field wireless communications and prevent the first IC from responding using near-field wireless communications; and in response to determining the first IC was not used to respond to the previous communication request, enable the first IC to respond using near-field wireless communications and prevent the second IC from responding using near-field wireless communications; wherein the controller is further configured and arranged to, in response to at least one from a group consisting of a local power supply level and a failure of the nonvolatile memory; select one of the first and second ICs using a default selection algorithm; enable the selected one of the first and second ICs to respond using near-field wireless communications; and prevent a non-selected one of the first and second ICs from responding using near-field wireless communications. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification