COEXISTENCE BETWEEN NFC AND WCT

• US 20150087228A1
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Matos, Gary N., Rea, Adam D., Gallahan, Ron W., Porat, Shahar
• Application Number:
  US14/125,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20150087228A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• 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 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Two devices containing NFC radios may use some of the NFC components to permit one device to wirelessly charge a battery in the other device. Time sharing between the communication and charging, functions may allow the two devices to use the same frequency for both functions, without the charging, function causing interference in the communication function. One device may periodically transmit polls, with both a data exchange communication period and a charging period occurring between two successive polls. In some embodiments, a data exchange period using the NFC radios and a charging period using the charging circuitry do not overlap in time.

Claims

1. A first wireless communications device having a processor, a memory, and a near field communication (NFC) radio, the first device adapted to

transmit an NFC poll signal at predetermined intervals;

and

perform, after each poll signal;

listening for an NFC response from a second wireless communication device;

executing an NFC data exchange with the second device if the response is received;

transmitting a charging signal; and

stopping, the transmitting of the charging signal before another NFC poll signal is scheduled to occur;

wherein the NFC data exchange and the charging signal do not overlap in time.

2. The first device of claim 1, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is fixed.

3. The first device of claim 1, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is variable, and the duration is indicated in a current or previous data exchange.

4. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data exchange includes information pertaining to one or mote of the following items:

1) whether a charging signal is to be transmitted,

     2) a strength of the charging signal,

     3) a start time of the charging signal,

     4) a duration of the charging signal,

     4) whether the charging signal should be adjusted,

     5) a charge state of a battery,

     6) an internal temperature of the second device, and

     7) a received power of the charging signal.

5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data exchange signal and the charging signal use a same frequency.

6. A method of wireless communication by a first wireless device, comprising:

transmitting an NFC poll signal at predetermined intervals; and

performing after each poll signal;

listening;

for an NFC response from a second wireless communication device;

executing an NFC data exchange with the second device if the response is received;

transmitting a charging signal; and

stopping the transmitting of the charging signal before another NFC poll signal is scheduled to occur;

wherein the NFC data exchange and the charging signal do not overlap in time.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is fixed.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is variable, and the duration is indicated in a current or previous data exchange.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the data exchange includes information on a charge is state of a battery in another device participating in the data exchange.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the data exchange includes information pertaining to one or more of the following items:

1) whether a charging signal is to be transmitted,

     2) a strength of the charging signal,

     3) a start time of the charging signal,

     4) a duration of the charging signal,

     4) whether the charging signal should be adjusted,

     5) a charge state of the battery,

     6) an internal temperature of the second device, and

     7) a received power of the charging signal.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the data exchange signal and e charging signal use a same frequency.

12. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

transmitting an NFC poll signal from a first device at predetermined intervals; and

performing, after each poll signal;

listening for an NFC response from a second wireless communication device;

executing an NFC data exchange with the second device if the response is received;

transmitting a charging signal; and

stopping the transmitting of the charging signal before another NFC poll signal is scheduled to occur;

wherein the NFC data exchange and the charging, signal do not overlap in time.

13. The medium of claim 12, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is fixed.

14. The medium of claim 12, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is variable. and the duration is indicated in a current or previous data exchange.

15. The medium of claim 12, wherein the data exchange includes information on a charge state of a battery in another device participating in the data exchange.

16. The medium of claim 12, wherein the data exchange includes information pertaining to one or more of the following items:

1) whether a charging signal is to be transmitted,

     2) a strength of the charging signal,

     3) a start time of the charging signal,

     4) a duration of the charging signal,

     4) whether the charging signal should be adjusted,

     5) a charge state of a battery,

     6) an internal temperature of the second device, and

     7) a received power of the charging signal.

17. A first wireless communication device having a processor, a memory, and a near Field communication (NFC) radio, the first device adapted to:

perform an NFC data exchange with a second wireless communication device; and

receive a charging signal from the second device;

wherein the data exchange and the charging signal occur between two successive polls from the second device;

wherein the data exchange and the charging signal do not overlap in time.

18. The first device of claim 17, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is fixed.

19. The first device of claim 17, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is variable, and the duration is indicated in a current or previous data exchange.

20. The first device of claim 17, wherein the data exchange includes information pertaining to one or more of the following items:

1) whether a charging signal is to be transmitted,

     2) a strength of the charging signal,

     3) a start time of the charging signal,

     4) a duration of the charging signal,

     4) whether the charging signal should be adjusted,

     5) a charge state of a battery,

     6) an internal temperature of the first device, and

     7) a received power of the charging signal.

21. The first device of claim 17, wherein the data exchange signal and the charging signal use a same frequency.

22. A method of communicating wirelessly by a first device, comprising:

performing an NFC data exchange with a second wireless communication device; and

receiving a charging signal from the second wireless communication device;

wherein the data exchange and the charging signal occur between two successive polls from the second wireless communication device;

wherein the data exchange and the charging signal do not overlap in time.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is fixed.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is variable, and the duration is indicated in a current or previous data exchange.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the data exchange includes information pertaining to one or more of the following items:

1) whether a charging signal is to be transmitted,

     2) a strength of the charging signal,

     3) a start time of the charging signal,

     4) a duration of the charging signal,

     4) whether the charging signal should be adjusted,

     5) a charge state of a battery,

     6) an internal temperature of the first device, and

     7) a received power of the charging signal.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the data exchange signal and the charging signal use a same frequency.

27. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium that contains instructions, which when executed by one or more processors result in performing operations comprising:

performing an NFC data exchange with a wireless communication device; and

receiving a charging signal from the wireless communication device;

wherein the data exchange and the charging signal occur between two successive polls from the wireless communication device;

wherein the data exchange and the charging signal do not overlap in time.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is fixed.

29. The medium of claim 27, wherein a duration of the NFC data exchange is variable, and the duration is indicated in a current or previous data exchange.

30. The medium of claim 27, wherein the data exchange includes information pertaining to one or more of the following items:

1) whether a charging signal is to be transmitted,

     2) a strength of the charging signal,

     3) a start time of the charging signal,

     4) a duration of the charging signal,

     4) whether the charging signal should be adjusted,

     5) a charge state of the battery,

     6) an internal temperature of a device, and

     7) a received power of the charging signal.