SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A SINGLE ANTENNA FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RADIO FUNCTIONS

• US 20080146148A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hulvey, Robert William
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/287 when the channel is in stand-by

Abstract

A system and method for using a single antenna for active and passive radio functions. A wireless communication device includes a passive component that can be read using an antenna when the wireless communication device is in a low power sleep mode. When it is determined that a higher capacity is needed, the wireless communication device activates an active component. Activation of the active component includes a switching of a connection of the antenna from the passive component to the active component.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device, comprising:

an antenna;

a passive component that is coupled to said antenna, said passive component capable of being read when it is not powered; and

an active component that is selectively coupled to said antenna when said wireless communication device is in need of capacity of said active component.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a switch that selectively couples said antenna to said passive component or said active component.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said passive component is a passive radio frequency identification tag.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said active component is a Bluetooth module.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said active component is a Wi-Fi module.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said active component is a near field communication module.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said passive component is coupled to said antenna when said wireless communication device is in a low power sleep mode.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said capacity of said active component is storage capacity.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said capacity of said active component is transmission capacity.

10. A wireless communication method, comprising:

transmitting, by a passive component in a wireless communication device, using an antenna, wherein said antenna is coupled to said passive component using a switch element;

determining whether a capacity of an active component in said wireless communication device is needed;

switching a connection of said antenna to said active component when it is determined that said capacity of said active component is needed; and

transmitting, by said active component, using said antenna.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said passive component is a passive radio frequency identification tag.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said active component is a Bluetooth module.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said active component is a Wi-Fi module.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said active component is a near field communication module.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining comprises determining whether higher storage capacity is needed.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said determining comprises determining whether higher transmission capacity is needed.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said switching comprises removing a connection between said antenna and said passive component.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said passive component is coupled to said antenna when said wireless communication device is in a low power sleep mode.