Communications Device, Apparatus and System

• US 20090121835A1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brooks, Colin, Hills, Andrew, Borret, Marc, Huomo, Heikki
• Application Number:
  US11/886,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10207 parameter settings related to power consumption of the interrogator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10237 the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

A wireless near-field communications device is disclosed which comprises a first and a second near-field inductive coupling member, each of said first and second coupling member arranged to have a different coupling configuration from each other.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A wireless near-field communications device, comprising a first and a second near-field inductive coupling member, each of said first and second coupling member arranged to have a different coupling configuration from each other.

28. The device according to claim 27, said first coupling member arranged to generate a near-field having a different orientation relative to a near-field generated by said second coupling member.

29. The device according to claim 28, said first coupling member arranged to generate a near-field having an orientation transverse, orthogonal or opposed to a near-field generated by said second coupling member.

30. The device according to claim 27, said first coupling member arranged to generate a different magnetic near-field configuration from a magnetic near-field configuration generated by said second coupling member.

31. The device according to claim 27, said first coupling member disposed spatially distant from said second coupling member.

32. The device according to claim 27, said first coupling member arranged to generate a near field having a different near field coupling distance relative to a near field generated by said second coupling member.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein said second coupling member is configured to have a maximum near field coupling distance of up to 1 centimetre.

34. The device according to claim 27, wherein said wireless near-field communications device is an NFC device.

35. The device according to claim 27, wherein said wireless near-field communications device is an RFID reader.

49. A wireless near-field inductive coupling communications system comprising apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said component part includes a device according to claim 27.

36. Apparatus comprising:

a wireless near-field communications device, comprising a first and a second near-field inductive coupling member, each of said first and second coupling member arranged to have a different coupling configuration from each other; and

a second wireless near-field communications device.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the first coupling member is arranged to a have a configuration compatible with a complementary coupling member of the second wireless near-field communications device.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, said device positioned in said apparatus such that said second coupling member is operative to communicate with said complementary coupling member.

39. Apparatus according to claim 36, said apparatus comprising a host part and a component part, said host part including said wireless near-field communications device and wherein said device is positioned in said host part such that said second coupling member is operative to couple with a complementary coupling member supported by said component part.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said component part is removable from said apparatus.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said component part is replaceable.

42. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said component part comprises a consumable item for said apparatus.

43. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said component part comprises an accessory for the host part.

44. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said component part is a spare part for said apparatus.

45. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the apparatus is an electrical device and the component part is a fuel cell device.

46. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the apparatus is a printer and the component part is an ink cartridge.

47. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the apparatus is one of a printer, a mobile telephone, a personal computer.

48. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said first coupling member is operative to communicate with a wireless near-field inductive coupling device external to said apparatus.

50. The wireless near-field inductive coupling communications system comprising apparatus according to claim 48 and a wireless near-field inductive coupling device external to said apparatus.

51. The system according to claim 50, wherein one or other or both of said devices are configured to provide for power transfer between them.