Method and System for Utilizing a Frequency Modulation (FM) Antenna for Near Field Communication (NFC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• US 20110165838A1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

A method for wireless communication is provided and may include configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals. An antenna and at least one inductor in the antenna system may be configured for receiving external signals at a first frequency. An inductor and a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference may be configured for receiving the external signals at a different frequency if the frequency is utilized for backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception. Near field communication (NFC) signals may be received at the different frequency for backscattered signals. Radio frequency identification (RFID) signals may be received at the different frequency for magnetically coupled signals. The first frequency may be within the FM frequency band. The antenna system may be configured to transmit signals to be subsequently received as backscattered signals or magnetically coupled signals.

Claims

1-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:

configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals;

configuring an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals, if said frequency is utilized for a first frequency; and

configuring said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals at a different frequency if said frequency is utilized for one or both of backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception.

47. The method according to claim 46, comprising receiving near field communication (NFC) signals at said different frequency for said backscattered signal reception.

48. The method according to claim 46, comprising receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) signals at said different frequency for said magnetically coupled signal reception.

49. The method according to claim 46, wherein said first frequency is within the FM frequency band.

50. The method according to claim 46, comprising configuring said antenna system to transmit signals to be subsequently received for said backscattered signal reception.

51. The method according to claim 46, wherein said backscattered signals comprise NFC signals.

52. The method according to claim 46, comprising configuring said antenna system to transmit signals to be subsequently received for said magnetically coupled signal reception.

53. The method according to claim 46, wherein said magnetically coupled signals comprise RFID signals.

54. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a wireless device comprising an antenna system, said one or more circuits being operable to;

configure at least one capacitor array in said antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals;

configure an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals, if said frequency is utilized for a first frequency; and

configure said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals at a different frequency if said frequency is utilized for one or both of backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception.

55. The system according to claim 54, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive near field communication (NFC) signals at said different frequency for said backscattered signal reception.

56. The system according to claim 54, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive radio frequency identification (RFID) signals at said different frequency for said magnetically coupled signal reception.

57. The system according to claim 54, wherein said first frequency is within the FM frequency band.

58. The system according to claim 54, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure said antenna system to transmit signals to be subsequently received for said backscattered signal reception.

59. The system according to claim 54, wherein said backscattered signals comprise NFC signals.

60. The system according to claim 54, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure said antenna system to transmit signals to be subsequently received for said magnetically coupled signal reception.

61. The system according to claim 54, wherein said magnetically coupled signals comprise RFID signals.

62. A machine readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for wireless communication, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps comprising:

configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals;

configuring an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals, if said frequency is utilized for a first frequency; and

configuring said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals at a different frequency if said frequency is utilized for one or both of backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception.

63. The machine readable code according to claim 62, comprising receiving near field communication (NFC) signals at said different frequency for said backscattered signal reception.

64. The machine readable code according to claim 62, comprising receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) signals at said different frequency for said magnetically coupled signal reception.

65. The machine readable code according to claim 62, wherein said first frequency is within the FM frequency band.

66. The machine readable code according to claim 62, comprising configuring said antenna system to transmit signals to be subsequently received for said backscattered signal reception.

67. The machine readable code according to claim 62, wherein said backscattered signals comprise NFC signals.

68. The machine readable code according to claim 62, comprising configuring said antenna system to transmit signals to be subsequently received for said magnetically coupled signal reception.

69. The machine readable code according to claim 62, wherein said magnetically coupled signals comprise RFID signals.