Wireless Peripheral Device Powered by Harvested Power Generated by Wireless Communication

• US 20130005249A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: NAHIDIPOUR, Aram
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A powerless/wireless peripheral device is disclosed that engages in wireless communication such as near field communication (NFC) and/or far field communication with other communication devices capable of NFC and/or far field communication. The powerless/wireless peripheral device harvests power from the NFC and/or far field communication and operates of the harvested power eliminating the need for an internal battery and/or an external power supply. The powerless/wireless peripheral device supplements a computing device in enabling an operator to interact with the computing device. The powerless/wireless peripheral device is inexpensive, portable and easy to use.

Claims

1. A powerless/wireless peripheral device, comprising:

an input/output module configured to receive operator information provided by an operator;

a transceiver module configured to receive a communication signal, and modulate the communication signal with the operator information; and

a power harvesting module configured to harvest power from the communication signal, wherein the harvested power is provided to the transceiver module and to the input/output module.

2. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver module further comprises:

a controller module configured to translate the operator information, so as to format the operator information prior to being modulated onto the communication signal.

3. The wireless/peripheral device of claim 2, wherein the controller module is further configured to format an identification address for each portion of the operator information prior to being modulated onto the communication signal.

4. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna module configured to generate a field for the communication signal.

5. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 4, wherein the power harvesting module harvests the harvested power from a magnetic field generated by near field communication (NFC) between the antenna module and a NFC device.

6. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 4, wherein the power harvesting module harvests the harvested power from an electric field generated by far field communication between the antenna module and a far field communication device.

7. The powerless/wireless periPheral device of claim 1, wherein the wireless peripheral device is implemented as a keyboard.

8. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver module is further configured to demodulate recovered information from the communication signal, to route the recovered information to the input/output module.

9. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the powerless/wireless peripheral device includes an address that identifies the powerless/wireless peripheral device to a powerless/wireless peripheral device controller.

10. A method for engaging in wireless communication by a wireless peripheral device, comprising:

(a) receiving a communication signal and operator information, the operator information received from an input/output module;

(b) modulating the communications signal with the operator information; and

(c) harvesting power provided by the communications signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

(d) demodulating recovered information from the communication signal;

(e) routing the recovered information to the input/output module; and

(f) receiving the operator information by the input/output module, wherein the operator information is provided by an operator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein step (b) further comprises translating the operator information so as to format the information prior to being modulated onto the communication signal.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein step (b) further comprises formatting an identification address for each portion of operator information prior to being modulated onto the communication signal.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein step (c) further comprises harvesting power from a magnetic field generated by near field communication (NFC) between the wireless peripheral device and a NFC device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein step (c) further comprises harvesting power from an electric field generated by far field communication between the wireless peripheral device and a far field communication device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the communication signal operating a first frequency and receiving the communication signal operating at a second frequency.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein step (d) further comprises encoding the recovered information so as to format the recovered information prior to being provided to the operator.

18. A powerless/wireless peripheral device, comprising:

an input/output module configured to receive operator information provided by an operator;

a transceiver module configured to receive a communication signal operating at a first frequency, and modulate the communication signal with the operator information; and

a power harvesting module configured to harvest power from the communication signal operating at a second frequency, wherein the harvested power is provided to the transceiver module and to the input/output module.

19. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 18, further comprising:

a controller module configured to translate the operator information, so as to format the operator information prior to being modulated onto the communication signal.

20. The powerless/wireless peripheral device of claim 18, further comprising:

an antenna module configured to generate a field for the communication signal.