NFC Controller Bypass Power Circuit for Off-State Peripheral Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional NFC controllers face challenges in managing the power supply of security peripherals, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and latency during wake-ups, and are unable to function in an off state due to conventional wake-up mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A hardware-based power management circuit in the NFC controller that automatically enables a bypass power supply mode in response to an external supply voltage, independent of the controller's operating mode, using a power management circuit with voltage detection, slew rate limiting, and internal voltage generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the NFC controller uses software-based power management to enable bypass power supply mode, then the power supply management is flexible and controllable, but it causes unnecessary energy consumption and latency due to wake-up processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic power supply managementVSAvoidenergy consumption during wake-up

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power management circuit is designed to automatically detect the presence of an external power source and enable bypass power supply mode without requiring software intervention or wake-up processes. The circuit autonomously manages the power supply state, eliminating the energy consumption associated with software-based wake-up and mode switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the software-based control mechanism with a hardware-based automatic detection and switching mechanism. The power management circuit uses hardware logic to detect external power sources and automatically switch to bypass mode, substituting the software execution path with a direct hardware response that consumes no additional energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by stationary object

If the NFC controller is forced into off state for energy saving, then energy consumption is reduced, but the controller cannot manage power supply of security peripherals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption in off stateVSAvoidpower supply management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the power management function from the main NFC controller functionality. The power management circuit operates independently in hardware, allowing it to remain active and manage power supply to security peripherals even when the main NFC controller is in off state or low power mode. This segmentation enables the controller to be fully powered down while peripheral power management continues autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The power management circuit acts as an intermediary between the external power source and the security peripherals. It independently handles power supply decisions and can activate bypass power supply mode without requiring the main controller to be awake, thus mediating between the off state requirement and the need for peripheral power management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the NFC controller uses conventional power management with wake-up interrupts, then power supply can be established by software commands, but it introduces latency before effective power supply establishment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware-controlled power managementVSAvoidlatency in power supply establishment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The power management circuit continuously monitors for the presence of external power sources in advance, ready to immediately enable bypass power supply mode when detected. This preliminary detection capability eliminates the latency associated with software wake-up processes, as the hardware is already prepared to switch modes instantly upon detecting power availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the software command sequence with a direct hardware detection-and-switch mechanism. When the power management circuit detects an external power source, it automatically enables bypass mode through hardware switching, eliminating the multi-step software process and associated latency for power supply establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12620804B2Power management in a near field communication controller

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 STMICROELECTRONICS (ALPS) SAS

AI summary

A near field communication controller integrated circuit includes a power management circuit configured to retransmit an external supply voltage from at least one power supply input node to at least one power supply output node in a bypass power supply mode. The power management circuit is hardware configured to automatically enable the bypass power supply mode in response to the external supply voltage being present at the at least one power supply input node.