PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS WITH NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) APPLICATION AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20080032626A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xueshan Technologies Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MStar Semiconductor Incorporated (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Shou-Fang
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A portable electronic apparatus with NFC application and the method of operating the portable electronic apparatus are disclosed. The portable electronic apparatus includes an application module, an active NFC device, a passive NFC device, and a power supply unit. The application module is utilized for performing a main function of the portable electronic apparatus. The active NFC device which is coupled to the application module is utilized for communicating with an NFC device outside the portable electronic apparatus. The passive NFC device is utilized for communicating with an NFC device outside the portable electronic apparatus. The power supply unit which is coupled to the application module and the active NFC device is utilized for powering the application module and the active NFC device.

Claims

1. A portable electronic apparatus, comprising:

an application module for performing a main function of the portable electronic apparatus;

an active near field communication (NFC) device coupled to the application module for communicating with an NFC device outside the portable electronic apparatus;

a passive NFC device for communicating with an NFC device outside the portable electronic apparatus; and

a power supply unit coupled to the application module and the active NFC device for powering the application module and the active NFC device.

2. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a voltage detector coupled to the power supply unit and the passive NFC device for disabling the passive NFC device when the voltage of the power supply unit is not less than a threshold value.

3. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a cellular phone and the main function is receiving and transmitting electromagnetic waves which carry substantially voice signals.

4. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application module comprises:

a processing unit coupled to the power supply unit;

a user interface circuit coupled to the processing unit and the power supply unit for providing a user interface through which a user can manipulate the portable electronic apparatus;

an application circuit coupled to the processing unit and the power supply unit wherein the processing unit controls the application circuit to perform the main function of the portable electronic apparatus; and

a memory device coupled to the processing unit and the power supply unit for storing specific information.

5. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 4, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a cellular phone and the memory device is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

6. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 5, wherein the specific information is selected from the group consisting of a card number of the SIM card, a personal identity number, and an identification code.

7. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the active NFC device is an RFID reader.

8. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the active NFC device comprises:

an RF interface coupled to the power supply unit for receiving and transmitting RF signals;

a controller coupled to the RF interface and the power supply unit for processing the RF signals; and

a storage unit coupled to the controller and the power supply unit for storing data.

9. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passive NFC device is an RFID transponder.

10. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passive NFC device comprises:

an RF interface for receiving and transmitting RF signals;

a controller coupled to the RF interface for processing the RF signals; and

a storage unit coupled to the controller for storing data.

11. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a supply voltage generator coupled to the RF interface and the storage unit for transforming the received RF signal into a supply voltage to power the RF interface and the storage unit.

12. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the active NFC device and the passive NFC device comprise:

an active NFC device controller coupled to the power supply unit;

a passive NFC device controller;

an RF interface coupled to the active NFC device controller, the passive NFC device controller and the power supply unit for receiving and transmitting RF signals; and

a storage unit coupled to the active NFC device controller, the passive NFC device controller and the power supply unit for storing data.

13. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 12, wherein the passive NFC device comprises a supply voltage generator coupled to the RF interface and the storage unit for transforming the received RF signal into a supply voltage to power the RF interface and the storage unit.

14. A method of operating a portable electronic apparatus, the portable electronic apparatus comprising an application module, an active NFC device and a passive NFC device, the method comprising:

powering the application module and the active NFC device with a power supply unit;

detecting a voltage of the power supply unit; and

when the voltage of the power supply unit is not less than a threshold value, disabling the passive NFC device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the application module comprises a memory device for storing specific information, the passive NFC device comprises a storage unit, and the method further comprises:

after powering on the portable electronic apparatus, writing the specific information into the storage unit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a cellular phone and the memory device is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the specific information is selected from the group consisting of a card number of the SIM card, a personal identity number, and an identification code.

18. A portable electronic apparatus, comprising:

a power supply unit for providing a voltage;

a processing unit coupled to the power supply unit;

a user interface circuit coupled to the processing unit and the power supply unit for providing a user interface through which a user can manipulate the portable electronic apparatus;

an application circuit coupled to the processing unit and the power supply unit wherein the processing unit controls the application circuit to perform a main function of the portable electronic apparatus;

a memory device coupled to the processing unit and the power supply unit for storing specific information;

an active NFC device controller coupled to the power supply unit and the processing unit;

a passive NFC device controller;

an RF interface coupled to the active NFC device controller, the passive NFC device controller and the power supply unit for receiving and transmitting RF signals; and

a storage unit coupled to the active NFC device controller, the passive NFC device controller and the power supply unit for storing data.

19. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a voltage detector coupled to the power supply unit and the passive NFC device controller for disabling the passive NFC device controller when the voltage of the power supply unit is not less than a threshold value.

20. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the specific information is written into the storage unit under the control of the active NFC device controller after the portable electronic apparatus is powered on.

21. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 18, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a cellular phone and the main function is receiving and transmitting electromagnetic waves which carry substantially voice signals.

22. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 21, wherein the memory device is a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

23. The portable electronic apparatus of claim 22, wherein the specific information is selected from the group consisting of a card number of the SIM card, a personal identity number, and an identification code.