METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ANTENNA NETWORK QUALITY FACTOR OF A NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITHOUT CHANGING MATCHING NETWORK, AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS

• US 20140323043A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xueshan Technologies Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek Singapore Pte. Ltd. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shana'a, Osama K A, Heng, Chee-Lee, Tan, Ying Chow
• Granted Patent: US 9,819,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

A method for controlling an antenna network quality factor of an NFC device includes: determining whether a first data rate or a second data rate should be used for data communication during different time intervals, respectively; and when it is determined that the first data rate should be used during a first time interval of the time intervals, controlling a set of internal resistors positioned within a chip of the NFC device to have a first configuration during the first time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor. More particularly, the method further includes: when it is determined that the second data rate should be used during a second time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an antenna network quality factor of a near field communication (NFC) device, the method comprising:

determining whether a first data rate or a second data rate should be used for data communication during different time intervals, respectively, wherein the first data rate is different from the second data rate; and

when it is determined that the first data rate should be used for data communication during a first time interval of the time intervals, controlling a set of internal resistors positioned within a chip of the NFC device to have a first configuration during the first time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when it is determined that the second data rate should be used for data communication during a second time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the set of internal resistors positioned within the chip of the NFC device to have the first configuration during the first time interval further comprises:

when it is determined that the first data rate should be used for data communication during the first time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have the first configuration during the first time interval, causing the antenna network quality factor of the NFC device to be equivalent to a first value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

when it is determined that the second data rate should be used for data communication during a second time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, causing the antenna network quality factor of the NFC device to be equivalent to a second value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second value is different from the first value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal resistors are positioned on a plurality of switchable conduction paths between a rectifier positioned within the chip of the NFC device and at least one ground terminal of the chip, respectively.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

utilizing a plurality of switching units positioned within the chip of the NFC device to selectively enable the switchable conduction paths, respectively, in order to set up the first configuration.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

when it is determined that the second data rate should be used for data communication during a second time interval of the time intervals, controlling the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor; and

utilizing a plurality of switching units positioned within the chip of the NFC device to selectively enable the switchable conduction paths, respectively, in order to set up the second configuration.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal resistors are internal components of a programmable resistor array positioned within the chip of the NFC device.

11. An apparatus for controlling an antenna network quality factor of a near field communication (NFC) device, the apparatus comprising at least one portion of the NFC device, the apparatus comprising:

a set of internal resistors, positioned within a chip of the NFC device, arranged to perform antenna network quality factor control; and

a control circuit, positioned within the chip of the NFC device and coupled to the set of internal resistors, arranged to determine whether a first data rate or a second data rate should be used for data communication during different time intervals, respectively, wherein the first data rate is different from the second data rate;

wherein when it is determined that the first data rate should be used for data communication during a first time interval of the time intervals, the control circuit controls the set of internal resistors to have a first configuration during the first time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when it is determined that the second data rate should be used for data communication during a second time interval of the time intervals, the control circuit controls the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when it is determined that the first data rate should be used for data communication during the first time interval of the time intervals, the control circuit controls the set of internal resistors to have the first configuration during the first time interval, causing the antenna network quality factor of the NFC device to be equivalent to a first value.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein when it is determined that the second data rate should be used for data communication during a second time interval of the time intervals, the control circuit controls the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, causing the antenna network quality factor of the NFC device to be equivalent to a second value.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second value is different from the first value.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internal resistors are positioned on a plurality of switchable conduction paths between a rectifier positioned within the chip of the NFC device and at least one ground terminal of the chip, respectively.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of switching units, positioned within the chip of the NFC device, arranged to selectively enable the switchable conduction paths, respectively, in order to set up the first configuration.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein when it is determined that the second data rate should be used for data communication during a second time interval of the time intervals, the control circuit controls the set of internal resistors to have a second configuration during the second time interval, in order to adjust the antenna network quality factor;

and the apparatus further comprises;

a plurality of switching units, positioned within the chip of the NFC device, arranged to selectively enable the switchable conduction paths, respectively, in order to set up the second configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internal resistors are internal components of a programmable resistor array positioned within the chip of the NFC device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a transceiver and rectifier module, and the transceiver and rectifier module is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

and the transceiver and rectifier module comprises;

a transmitter arranged to transmit data for the NFC device;

a receiver arranged to receive data for the NFC device; and

a rectifier arranged to perform rectifying operations for the NFC device;

wherein the programmable resistor array is positioned outside the transceiver and rectifier module.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a rectifier, and the rectifier is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

the rectifier is arranged to perform rectifying operations for the NFC device; and

the programmable resistor array is integrated into the rectifier.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a transmitter, and the transmitter is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

the transmitter is arranged to transmit data for the NFC device; and

the programmable resistor array is integrated into the transmitter.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a receiver, and the receiver is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

the receiver is arranged to receive data for the NFC device; and

the programmable resistor array is integrated into the receiver.

25. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a transceiver and rectifier module, and the transceiver and rectifier module is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

and the transceiver and rectifier module comprises;

a transmitter arranged to transmit data for the NFC device;

a receiver arranged to receive data for the NFC device; and

a rectifier arranged to perform rectifying operations for the NFC device;

wherein the internal resistors are positioned outside the transceiver and rectifier module.

26. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a rectifier, and the rectifier is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

the rectifier is arranged to perform rectifying operations for the NFC device; and

the internal resistors are integrated into the rectifier.

27. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a transmitter, and the transmitter is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

the transmitter is arranged to transmit data for the NFC device; and

the internal resistors are integrated into the transmitter.

28. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a receiver, and the receiver is positioned within the chip of the NFC device;

the receiver is arranged to receive data for the NFC device; and

the internal resistors are integrated into the receiver.