Near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna

• US 10,347,973 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Kerselaers, Anthony, Gomme, Liesbeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Magallanes, Ricardo I
• Application Number:
  US15/437,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20180241116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/06 with core of ferromagnetic material H01Q7/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/265 Open ring dipoles; Circular dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/43 Antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

One example discloses a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna, having: a core; an electric antenna including an electrically conductive surface; a magnetic antenna including a first coil coupled to a second coil; a first feeding connection coupled to one end of the first coil; a second feeding connection coupled to another end of the first coil and coupled to one end of the second coil; wherein the first and second feeding connections are configured to be coupled to an electrical apparatus; wherein another end of the second coil is coupled to the electrically conductive surface; a magnetic permeable material between a first side of the magnetic antenna and the core; and wherein the first coil, the second coil, the magnetic permeable material, and the electrically conductive surface are wrapped around the core.

Claims

1. A near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna, comprising:

a core;

an electric antenna including an electrically conductive surface;

a magnetic antenna including a first coil coupled to a second coil;

a first feeding connection coupled to one end of the first coil;

a second feeding connection coupled to another end of the first coil and coupled to one end of the second coil, wherein the first and second feeding connections are configured to be coupled to an electrical apparatus and another end of the second coil is coupled to the electrically conductive surface; and

a magnetic permeable material between a first side of the magnetic antenna and the core, wherein the first coil and the second coil are wrapped around the magnetic permeable material in an interleaved pattern.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface is on a second side of the magnetic antenna opposite to the magnetic permeable material.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are configured to be magnetically coupled to each other, and to generate or respond to a magnetic field, and the electrically conductive surface is configured to generate or respond to an electric field.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to operate at a carrier communications frequency at about 10.6 MHz.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface includes a gap configured to permit the magnetic antenna to radiate a magnetic signal.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the core includes a circumference and the first coil, the second coil, and the magnetic permeable material encircle the circumference of the core.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface is wrapped completely, partially, or multiply around the magnetic permeable material and the core.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein completely around is at least 360 angular degrees, wherein partially is less than 360 angular degrees, and wherein multiply is more than 360 angular degrees.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the core is at least one of a non-magnetic metallic core, a battery, air, or a solid.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the core includes an electrical apparatus including at least one of an integrated circuit (IC), an RF IC, a connector port, a circuit element;

a tuning circuit, a receiver circuit and/or a transmitter circuit, a radio circuit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, an audio amplifier, a data processing unit, a human interface unit, and/or another antenna.

11. The antenna of claim 10, wherein the electrical apparatus is coupled to the first and second feeding connections.

12. The antenna of claim 1:

wherein the core includes an electrical apparatus, and a conductive layer between the electrical apparatus and the magnetic permeable material is configured to reduce electric interference.

13. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeable material is configured to permit the core to be inserted and removed.

14. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeable material is configured to be permanently attached to the core.

15. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeable material is at least one of:

a planar sheet, a ferrite shield, a ferrite sheet, a coating comprising ferrite particles in suspension, or a sticker having an adhesive on one side.

16. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeable material is configured to:

shield the core from magnetic flux generated by the coils; and

spatially amplify the magnetic flux generated by the coils toward a direction opposite from the core.

17. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeable material covers less than all of an outer surface of the core.

18. A wearable device comprising a near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI) antenna including:

a core;

an electric antenna including an electrically conductive surface;

a magnetic antenna including a first coil coupled to a second coil;

a first feeding connection coupled to one end of the first coil;

a second feeding connection coupled to another end of the first coil and coupled to one end of the second coil, wherein the first and second feeding connections are configured to be coupled to an electrical apparatus and another end of the second coil is coupled to the electrically conductive surface; and

a magnetic permeable material between a first side of the magnetic antenna and the core; and

wherein the first coil and the second coil are wrapped around the magnetic permeable material in an interleaved pattern, and the wearable device is at least one of;

a radio system, a wireless device, a hearing aid, or an earbud.