ANTENNA SHARING FOR WIRELESSLY POWERED DEVICES

• US 20140152253A1
• Filed: 02/10/2014
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ozaki, Ernest T., Toncich, Stanley S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,246,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include an antenna for receiving electromagnetic radiation in a broadcast radiation band and a near-field radiation band to generate a Radio Frequency (RF) signal. A coupling element couples the RF signal to a first port and at least one additional port, which may be a second port and a third port. A wireless power receiver on the first port includes a rectifier for converting the RF signal to a DC signal when the antenna couples to radiation in the near-field radiation band in a coupling-mode region of the antenna. A near-field communication transceiver includes circuitry for communicating information on the antenna in the near-field radiation band when the coupling element couples the second port to the RF signal. A broadcast receiver on the third port includes circuitry for receiving and tuning the broadcast radiation band when the coupling element couples the third port to the RF signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication and power transfer, the apparatus comprising:

a coupling element including a common port on a first side of the coupling element, the common port selectively coupled to a first port or a second port of a second side of the coupling element, the common port operably coupled to an antenna configured to receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals;

a wireless power receiver coupled to the first port, the wireless power receiver comprising a matching circuit coupled to the first port and configured to receive wireless charging power from a power transmitter via the antenna when the coupling element couples the first port to the common port; and

a Near-Field Communication (NFC) transceiver coupled to the second port, the NFC transceiver comprising circuitry configured to communicate information via the antenna when the coupling element couples the second port to the common port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises a switch configured to selectively couple the common port to one of the first port, the second port, or the third port.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises:

a switch configured to selectively couple the common port to a near-field signal or the third port, the near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal (electromagnetic radiation) in a near-field radiation band; and

a directional coupler configured to couple the near-field signal to the second port and the first port.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises:

a diplexer operably coupled to the common port and configured to combine or separate a signal corresponding to an RF signal in a broadcast radiation band on the third port and a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band; and

a switch configured to selectively couple the near-field signal to the second port or the first port.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises:

a diplexer operably coupled to the common port and configured to combine or separate a signal corresponding to an RF signal in a broadcast radiation band on the third port and a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band; and

a directional coupler configured to couple the near-field signal to the second port and the first port.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises a triplexer operably coupled to the common port and configured to combine or separate a broadcast signal corresponding to an RF signal in a broadcast radiation band on the third port, a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band on the second port and a wireless power signal in the near-field radiation band on the first port.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third port and further comprising:

a broadcast receiver operably coupled to the third port and comprising circuitry configured to receive and tune a broadcast radiation band from the RF signal when the coupling element couples the third port to the common port.

8. A method for receiving for wireless communication and power transfer, the method comprising:

selectively coupling a common port on a first side of a coupling element to a first port or a second port on a second side of the coupling element, the common port operably coupled to an antenna configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals;

operating a wireless power receiver when the first port is coupled to the common port, the wireless power receiver configured to provide an impedance match; and

transmitting, receiving, or a combination thereof, information via the antenna when the second port is coupled to the common port.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the selectively coupling comprises selectively coupling the common port to one of the first port, the second port, or the third port.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the selectively coupling comprises:

selectively coupling the common port to a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band or the third port; and

directionally coupling the near-field signal to the second port and the first port.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the selectively coupling comprises:

diplexing to combine or separate a signal corresponding to an RF signal in a broadcast radiation band on the third port and a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band; and

selectively coupling the near-field signal to the second port or the first port via a switch.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the selectively coupling comprises:

diplexing to combine or separate a signal corresponding to an RF signal in a broadcast radiation band on the third port and a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band; and

directionally coupling the near-field signal to the second port and the first port.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising a third port on the second side of the coupling element, wherein the selectively coupling comprises triplexing to combine or separate a signal corresponding to an RF signal in a broadcast radiation band on the third port, a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band on the second port and a wireless power signal in the near-field radiation band on the first port.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising a third port and the method further comprising receiving a signal at a broadcast radiation band when the third port is coupled to the common port.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising converting a near-field radiation signal corresponding to an RF signal in the near-field radiation band to a DC signal, wherein the transmitting, receiving, or a combination thereof, information on the antenna further comprises providing a broad bandwidth in the near-field radiation band to optimize NFC communications.

16. A wireless power receiver for wireless communication and power transfer, the receiver comprising:

means for selectively coupling a common port on a first side to a first port or a second port on a second side, the common port operably coupled to an antenna configured to receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals;

means for receiving wireless charging power from a power transmitter via the antenna when the means for coupling couples the first port to the common port; and

means for transmitting and receiving information coupled to the second port via the antenna when the second port is coupled to the common port.

17. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, further comprising a third port on the second side, wherein the means for selectively coupling comprises means for selectively coupling the common port to one of the first port, the second port, or the third port.

18. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, further comprising a third port on the second side, wherein the means for selectively coupling comprises:

means for selectively coupling the common port to a near-field signal corresponding to an RF signal in a near-field radiation band or the third port; and

means for directionally coupling the near-field signal to the second port and the first port.

19. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, further comprising a third port on the second side and further comprising means for receiving a broadcast radiation band when the third port is coupled to the common port.

20. The wireless power receiver of claim 16, further comprising:

means for converting a near-field radiation signal corresponding to electromagnetic_radiation in the near-field radiation band to a DC signal; and

wherein the means for transmitting, receiving, or a combination thereof, information on the antenna further comprises means for providing a broad bandwidth in the near-field radiation band to optimize NFC communications.