Nxp B.v.

Dorian Haslinger

Wolfgang Eber

Mehmet Ufuk Buyuksahin

David Veit

Filippo Casamassima

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a near field communication (NFC) device is provided, comprising: an antenna configured to enable wireless communication with an external device; a charging unit configured to charge the external device by transferring power to said external device through said antenna; a detection unit configured to detect whether the external device is a passive NFC device; a controller configured to control the charging unit in dependence on an output of the detection unit, wherein said output indicates whether the external device is a passive NFC device. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a near field communication (NFC) device is conceived.

NFC device and method of operating an NFC device

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, comprising: a plurality of communication nodes which are operatively coupled to each other, wherein each of said communication nodes comprises a first radio frequency (RF) communication unit configured to perform ranging sessions with an external communication device; a controller configured to create a logical subset of said communication nodes based on an indication of a channel quality between the communication nodes and the external communication device, wherein said indication of the channel quality has been obtained using a second RF communication unit comprised in each of said communication nodes; the controller further being configured to cause that only the communication nodes included in said logical subset perform said ranging sessions with the external communication device.

Communication system and operating method

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit configured to carry out UWB communication with an external communication device; a plurality of antennas operatively coupled to said UWB communication unit, at least one inertial sensor; an antenna selection unit configured to select, based on an output of the inertial sensor, a specific antenna of said plurality of antennas for carrying out the UWB communication. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Communication device and method of operation

An infrastructure-controller () for an infrastructure (), wherein the infrastructure has a plurality of Bluetooth Low Energy, 'BLE', nodes () associated with it. The infrastructure-controller () is configured to: identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a current-BLE-node (), and activate the current-BLE-node () for communication with a key () using BLE signals; determine a communication-quality-indicator for each of the plurality of BLE nodes (), that represents the quality of communication with the key (); based on the communication-quality-indicators, identify one of the plurality of BLE nodes as a next-BLE-node (); and provide connection-information to the next-BLE-node () using out-of-band signalling (). The infrastructure-controller () can then deactivate the current-BLE-node (); and activate the next-BLE-node () for continued communication with the key () using BLE signals.

Infrastructure controller for an infrastructure

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a plurality of antennas; a communication unit configured to execute ranging sessions with an external communication counterpart through said antennas; an antenna selection unit configured to select a specific antenna from said plurality antennas for carrying out one or more of said ranging sessions, wherein the antenna selection unit is configured to select said specific antenna in dependence on one or more parameters indicative of a communication quality between the antennas and the external communication counterpart. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived. In accordance with a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided for carrying out said method.

Communication device and operating method

A controller for a communication and ranging apparatus wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit both a data signal and a ranging signal, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a scheduled transmission event of the data signal; determine a scheduled transmission event of the ranging signal; determine if the scheduled transmission events will occur within a predetermined time window of each other; if it is determined that the scheduled transmission events will occur within a predetermined time window of each other, then determine a priority signal and a secondary signal, wherein: the priority signal is one of the data signal and the ranging signal; and the secondary signal is the other of the data signal and the ranging signal; and provide signaling configured to prevent the scheduled transmission event of the secondary signal from being transmitted such that only the scheduled transmission event of the priority signal is transmitted.

Controller for a communication and ranging apparatus

An infrastructure-controller for an infrastructure. The infrastructure-controller configured to: send a ranging-scheduling-signal to a key, wherein the ranging-scheduling-signal comprises timing-information for a subsequent ranging operation; and activate one or more ranging nodes associated with the infrastructure, for receiving a key-ranging-signal from the key, at an infrastructure-node-start-ranging-time based on the timing-information. The ranging-scheduling-signal has a frequency in a first RF frequency range. The key-ranging-signal has a frequency in a second RF frequency range.

Infrastructure controller for an infrastructure and a key controller for a key

A first anchor of a first type communicates with a mobile electronic device. A characteristic of the communications between the first anchor of the first type and the mobile electronic device is determined. One or more second anchors each of a second type is selected based on the characteristic of the communications. A respective distance to the mobile electronic is determined based on each of the selected one or more second anchors each of the second type.

Method and apparatus for selecting a ranging anchor based on characteristics of communication between a connection anchor and a mobile electronic device

A key fob including at least one wireless communication circuit, a power supply node coupled to provide power to the at least one wireless communication circuit, a battery node, a battery power circuit, and an inductive power circuit. The battery power circuit provides power when a battery with sufficient charge is provided. The inductive power circuit only provides power when energized with inductive power when the battery is not provided or is not sufficiently charged. The inductive power circuit may include a rectifier circuit and an inductor and may further include regulator circuitry. The inductive power circuit does not perform wireless communications thereby simplifying circuitry and operation of the key fob and a corresponding access system. Since only configured to transfer power, the inductive power circuit may be optimized for power transfer. The access system inductively couples power to the key fob when within a predetermined coupling zone distance.

System and method of optimized backup functionality for electronic control key

An electronic control key including security check circuitry used by an inductive system to perform at least one security check to determine whether to enable authorized functions. The inductive system receives power and enables communications via an inductive link for backup operation. The security check circuitry may include battery status circuitry and distance measurement circuitry. The inductive system invokes the distance measurement circuitry to perform a secure distance check when the battery status is good, in which the inductive system enables authorized functions only when the secure distance check passes. The security check circuitry may include a motion detector for performing a motion inquiry. The motion inquiry may include detecting motion of the electronic control key or detecting a predetermined characteristic movement or a programmed motion pattern. The security check circuitry may be a button in which authorized functions are enabled only when the button is pressed.

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Graz, Austria

Dorian Haslinger