Frequency Modulation (FM) Antenna for Near Field Communication (NFC) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

• US 20130065524A1
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• 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 8,909,184 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

1-69. -69. (canceled)

70. A system for wireless communication, said system comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive a wireless signal;

a control circuit configured to utilize an antenna when said wireless signal is utilized for frequency modulation (FM) signal reception;

wherein a frequency of said wireless signal is utilized for near field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) communications signal reception.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said control circuit is configured to select said frequency of said wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein each of said one or more capacitive arrays comprises a plurality of switches configured to couple one or more of a plurality of capacitors to each of said one or more capacitive arrays.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein said control circuit is configured to couple a bias voltage to one or more inductors when said frequency of said wireless signal is utilized for near field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) communications signal reception.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein said bias voltage comprises one of a voltage source, a capacitor and a ground reference.

75. The system of claim 70, wherein said frequency of said wireless signal utilized for said FM signal reception is between 87.5 MHz and 108 MHz.

76. The system of claim 70, wherein said frequency of said wireless signal utilized for said NFC or RFID communications is approximately 13.5 MHz.

77. The system of claim 70, wherein said control circuit is configured to compensate for a center frequency drift of said wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays.

78. The system of claim 70, wherein said RF receiver enables detection of electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium for said NFC or RFID communications signal reception.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein said RF receiver receives data in said wireless signal based on detected variations in a strength of said electromagnetic energy.

80. A method for wireless communication, said method comprising:

utilizing a radio frequency (RF) receiver;

selecting a frequency of a received wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays;

utilizing a frequency of said received wireless signal for frequency modulation (FM) signal reception;

utilizing said frequency of said received wireless signal for near field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) communications signal reception.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein each of said one or more capacitive arrays comprises a plurality of switches configured to couple one or more of a plurality of capacitors to each of said one or more capacitive arrays.

82. The method of claim 80, further comprising utilizing a control circuit to couple a bias voltage to one or more inductors when said frequency of said received wireless signal is utilized for near field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) communications signal reception.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said bias voltage comprises one of a voltage source, a capacitor and a ground reference.

84. The method of claim 80, wherein said frequency of said received wireless signal utilized for said FM signal reception is between 87.5 MHz and 108 MHz.

85. The method of claim 80, wherein said frequency of said received wireless signal utilized for said NFC or RFID communications is approximately 13.5 MHz.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein said control circuit is configured to compensate for a center frequency drift of said received wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays.

87. The method of claim 80, wherein said RF receiver enables detection of electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium for said NFC or RFID communications signal reception.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein said RF receiver receives data in said received wireless signal based on detected variations in a strength of said electromagnetic energy.