Power Harvesting and Use in a Near Field Communications (NFC) Device

• US 20140170976A1
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: AWAD, Mohamed
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatus for harvesting and using power in a near field communications mode, includes a host device with operating components. A first near field communication (NFC) device is contained in the host device and is configured to be selectively coupled to one of the operating components. The first NFC device harvests energy from a second NFC device and converts the harvested energy to electrical power. The first NFC device receives information from the second NFC device and power on the operating component as a function of the information received from the second NFC device. The first NFC device transfers data to or from the operating component when the operating component is powered on. The first NFC device powers off the operating component when the transfer of data between the first NFC device and the operating component has been completed.

Claims

1. A host device comprising:

operating equipment comprising a first and second component; and

a first near field communication (NFC) device configured to convert energy received from a second NFC device into electrical power and use the electrical power to power on the first and second component of the operating equipment to perform a function based on a signal received from the second NFC device,

wherein the first NFC device is configured to use the electrical power to power on the second component after powering off the first component.

2. The host device of claim 1, wherein the host device is a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet computing device.

3. The host device of claim 1, wherein the first component is a memory and the second component is a processor.

4. The host device of claim 1, wherein the second NFC device is associated with an access device for a mode of transportation.

5. The host device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC device is configured to instruct the first component to provide data to the first NFC device while the first NFC device uses the electrical power to power on the first component.

6. The host device of claim 5, wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data to the second component for processing while the first NFC device uses the electrical power to power on the second component.

7. The host device of claim 6, wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the second NFC device.

8. The host device of claim 6, wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the first component for storage.

13. The host device of claim 1, wherein the first NFC device is configured to instruct the first component to provide data to the second component during the first period of time.

14. The host device of claim 5, wherein the second component is configured to process the data during the second period of time and transfer the data to the NFC device after having been processed.

15. The host device of claim 14, wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the second NFC device.

16. The host device of claim 14, wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the first component for storage.

9. A host device, comprising:

operating equipment comprising a first and second component; and

a first near field communication (NFC) device configured to convert energy received from a second NFC device into electrical power and use the electrical power to power on the first and second component of the operating equipment to perform a function based on a signal received from the second NFC device,

wherein the first NFC device is configured to use the electrical power to initially power on both the first and second component for a first period of time and, thereafter, power on the second component but not the first component for at least a second period of time.

10. The host device of claim 9, wherein the host device is a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet computing device.

11. The host device of claim 9, wherein the first component is a memory and the second component is a processor.

12. The host device of claim 9, wherein the second NFC device is associated with an access device for a mode of transportation.

17. A method comprising:

converting energy wirelessly received from a near field communication (NFC) device into electrical power; and

using the electrical power to power on a first and second component to perform a function based on a signal received from the NFC device,

wherein the electrical power is used to power on the second component after powering off the first component.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first component is a memory and the second component is a processor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second component are implemented in a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet computing device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the NFC device is associated with an access device for a mode of transportation.