Protection of an NFC or RFID radio in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields

1. A near-field communication (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) device, comprising:

an NFC or RFID circuit;

an antenna including a first terminal and a second terminal;

a first rectifier coupled to the first terminal of the antenna;

a first switch coupled between the first rectifier and the NFC or RFID circuit;

a second switch coupled between the second terminal and the NFC or RFID circuit;

a second rectifier coupled to the second terminal of the antenna;

a voltage detector configured to detect a voltage in the device caused by a signal received at the antenna; and

a controller, coupled to the first and second switches, and configured to:

when the voltage exceeds a first threshold magnitude, cause the first switch to be in an open state;

wait for a first time period;

after the first time period lapses, determine whether the voltage exceeds a second threshold magnitude that is less than the first threshold magnitude;

based on the voltage exceeding the second threshold magnitude after the first time period lapses, cause the switch to remain in the open state; and

based on the voltage not exceeding the second threshold magnitude after the first time period lapses, cause the switch to be in a closed state; and

control the second switch in the same manner as the first switch.

2. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the first switch is coupled between the second terminal and the NFC or RFID circuit.

3. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the voltage detector is configured to detect the voltage at a node between the first switch and the NFC or RFID circuit.

4. The NFC or RFID device of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the voltage exceeds the second threshold magnitude by gradually transitioning the first switch to the on state and monitoring the voltage.

5. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the voltage detector is configured to detect the voltage at a node between the first rectifier and the first switch.

6. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a gate voltage of the switch.

7. The NFC or RFID device of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to control the gate voltage via a charge pump circuit.

8. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

after the first time period lapses, determine that the voltage exceeds the second threshold magnitude and that the switch is in the open state;

after a further time period, determine that the voltage still exceeds the second threshold magnitude; and

control the switch to remain in the open state based on the determination that the voltage exceeds the second threshold magnitude.

9. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a first capacitor, a first inductor, and a second capacitor coupled in series between the first terminal and a second terminal.

10. The NFC or RFID device of claim 9 , wherein the antenna further comprises:

a second inductor connected between the first terminal and ground; and

a third inductor connected between the second terminal and ground.

11. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel, and wherein a centre tap of the inductor is connected to ground.

12. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the first rectifier comprises a first diode.

13. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the second rectifier comprises a second diode.

14. The NFC or RFID device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

after the first time period lapses, determine that the voltage still exceeds the second threshold magnitude; and

control the switch to remain in the open state based on the determination that the voltage still exceeds the second threshold magnitude.

15. A method of protecting a near-field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

rectifying a signal received at a first terminal of an antenna using a first rectifier;

detecting that a voltage caused by the signal received at the antenna has exceeded a first threshold magnitude;

controlling a first switch coupled between the first rectifier and the NFC or RFID circuit to be in an open state;

waiting for a first time period;

after the first time period lapses, determining whether the voltage exceeds a second threshold magnitude that is less than the first threshold magnitude;

based on the voltage exceeding the second threshold magnitude after the first time period lapses, controlling the first switch to remain in the open state;

based on the voltage not exceeding the second threshold magnitude after the first time period lapses, cause the switch to be in a closed state;

rectifying the signal received at a second terminal of the antenna using a second rectifier; and

controlling a second switch coupled between the second rectifier and the NFC or RFID circuit in the same manner as the first switch.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

after the first time period lapses, determining that the voltage no longer exceeds the second threshold magnitude; and

controlling the first switch to be in a closed state based on the determination that the voltage no longer exceeds the second threshold magnitude.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

after the first time period lapses, determining that the voltage still exceeds the second threshold magnitude and that the first switch is in the open state;

after a further time period, determining that the voltage still exceeds the second threshold magnitude; and

controlling the first switch to remain in the open state based on the determination that the voltage still exceeds the second threshold magnitude.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the voltage exceeds the second threshold magnitude comprises gradually transitioning the first switch to the on state and monitoring the voltage.