Em Microelectronic-Marin Sa

Ipico South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

Thierry Roz

Marc Degrauwe

David A Kamp

Filippo Marinelli

Olivier Desjeux

Josef Preishuber-Pfluegl

Albertus Jacobus Pretorius

Hendrik Lodewyk Van Eeden

Andreas Schuhai

Christopher Turner

Jürg Rudin

Gilles C&eacute;r&egrave;de

Navraj Nandra

Christophe Turner

The self-powered detection device comprises a Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) unit formed by at least a NVM cell and a sensor activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, the NVM unit arranged for storing in the NVM cell, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to it with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal and a base terminal of the NVM unit with at least a given set voltage.

Self-powered detection device with a non-volatile memory

The self-powered detection device comprises a non-volatile memory cell and a sensor activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, this sensor forming an energy harvester transforming energy from the physical or chemical action orphenomenon into an electrical stimulus pulse, the memory cell arranged for storing, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, at least a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor of at least a first physical or chemical action or phenomenon. The non-volatile memory cell comprises a FET transistor having a control gate, a first diffusion defining a first input and a second diffusion defining a second input. This FET transistor is set to its written logical state from its initial logical state when, in a detection mode, it receives on a set terminal a voltage stimulus signal resulting from the first physical or chemical action or phenomenon.

Self-powered event detection device

An electronic tag is configured to be responsive to a TTO or TTF protocol energizing signal from a reader, but to suspend transmission when receiving an RTF protocol communication signal from a reader. The tag typically includes a protocol detectorwhich is operable to detect receipt of an RTF protocol communication signal and to suspend transmission when the electronic tag receives an RTF protocol communication signal from a reader.

RFID tag

There is disclosed a system for detecting the passage of persons or objects through an entry-exit () to a delimited space (), including (i) a detection device including transmission means () for transmitting different first and second electromagnetic signals (a, b) in respectively first and second communication regions (A, B) spatially separated from each other and partially overlapping, (ii) portable electronic units () intended to be fitted to said persons or objects and including reception means for said first and second electromagnetic signals, and (iii) means for detecting the direction of passage, through said entry-exit, of a person or an object fitted with a portable electronic unit. Each portable electronic unit includes amplitude measuring means for determining the reception amplitude of said first and second electromagnetic signals and comparator means for comparing the reception amplitude of the first and second electromagnetic signals so as to determine which of these two signals has the highest amplitude.

System for detecting individuals or objects passing through an entrance-exit of a defined space

The active transponder is intended for several applications or to operate in various modes requiring different levels of security. Security is controlled by varying the maximum communication distance to a reader. The active transponder includes a battery () powering the various electronic circuits amplifying component (), a module () forming a demodulator for the incoming signals, and a component for validating the data comprised in the signals, and a data processing unit (). The unit includes circuit () for controlling the maximum communication distance between the transponder and a reader transmitting signals at a determined power. Circuit () sends a security signal (S, S) respectively to the data validating component and/or to the signal amplifying component. This signal is used either to control the value of the reference value of the validating component, or to vary the gain of the amplifying component to vary the maximum communication distance.

Active transponder with means allowing the maximum communication distance to be varied

The invention relates to a method for keyless unlocking of an access door to a closed space, in particular a motor vehicle, which is carried out by an electronic system, comprising a control module for an electronic lock, associated with the door and a portable transponder for authorised users. The method comprises sending an interrogation signal at low frequency from the control module to the transponders and also the exchange of data at high frequency. The control module has reception device for the above which are at least continuously in a listening mode. The method is characterised in that the low frequency transmitters are inactive in a preliminary functional mode, the high frequency transmission device in the transponder periodically emits an activation signal for said the transmission device in order that the above are only activated during limited periods, which ensures the reception of an interrogation signal for a transponder entering the low frequency communication region.

Method for keyless unlocking of an access door to a closed space

Transponder ( ) associated with a communication system for various different applications having different security levels. This transponder includes means ( , R) allowing the maximum communication distance between the transponder and a reader ( ) to be varied as a function of the application selected or activated. A code, which determines the opening or closing of the switch ( ) is associated with each application. In a first group of embodiments, the equivalent impedance of the electronic unit associated with the antenna ( ) is varied, whereas in another embodiment, the electric characteristics of the antenna itself are varied.

Transponder intended for several different applications

The present invention concerns an active transponder ( ) including an antenna ( ) for exchanging a radioelectric signal ( ), processing means ( ), an accumulator ( ) able to supply a first power supply signal (V ), and storage means ( ) able to store the power originating from the received radioelectric signal, and to supply a second power supply signal (V ). This transponder further includes: two means ( ) for comparing the two power supply signals to a minimum threshold (Vmin) and, in response, providing two control signals (V , V ); and charging means ( ) controlled by the two control signals, so that the accumulator can be charged, via the charging means, from the stored power. One advantage of such a transponder is that the accumulator can be automatically recharged, as soon as the latter is no longer sufficiently charged to assure the functions of the transponder.

Rechargeable active transponder

A base station (,) for a contactless interrogation system includes an oscillating device (,) supplying a control signal having a frequency which is adjustable via adjusting circuits (,), a circuits (,) for controlling an antenna connected to the base station (,) for transmitting information, decoding circuits (,) for decoding the information picked up by the antenna. The oscillating device (,) is a voltage controlled oscillator which is phase locked by the adjusting circuits (,), so that the control signal frequency is determined by the base station (,) and is adapted to the antenna. The sensitivity of a contactless interrogation system comprising the base station (,) of the present invention is improved, its structure is simpler and its different components can be integrated in a same chip.

Base station for a contactless interrogation system comprising a phase locked and voltage controlled oscillator

A transponder (30), intended to exchange data during a half duplex communication, includes a coil (3), a capacitor (8) connected to the coil to form a resonant circuit, and processing means (33) arranged to process the data. The transponder further includes switching means (32) arranged so that, under the control of the processing means, the switching means connect the processing means in series with the capacitor and the coil which are connected to form, during the entire duration of the reception phase, a parallel LC circuit and, during the entire duration of the transmission phase, a series LC circuit to optimize the electric power exchanged between an antenna and the processing means.

Growing community of inventors

Hauts-Geneveys, Switzerland

Thierry Roz