APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON-CONTACT RECHARGING AND NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION IN A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20150155740A1
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: YOON, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Apparatus and methods in a near field communication capable electronic device are disclosed. An antenna receives a near field signal from a recharging pad or a reader to provide a reception signal. A detector coupled to the antenna receives the reception signal and detects therefrom a voltage, current or power value representing a power level of the near field signal. A switch is coupled to the detector, and switches the reception signal corresponding to the recharging pad or the reader to a recharging transceiver to recharge a battery, or to a near field communication transceiver, respectively, on the basis of the detected voltage. A Hall-effect type magnetic sensor may be used as an alternative to the detector.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an antenna capable of receiving or transmitting a first signal to be used for near field communication; and

a controller operatively coupled to the antenna, the controller configured to;

receive a second signal, via the antenna, from an electronic device external to the apparatus;

determine whether the electronic device comprises a charging device, based at least in part on the signal; and

cause the antenna to be coupled to charging circuitry based at least in part on the determining.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, as at least part of the signal, power to charge a battery operatively coupled to the apparatus, or communication information between the apparatus and the electronic device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine at least one of a voltage, a current, or a power level associated with the signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine the electronic device as the charging device based at least in part on the at least one of the voltage, current, or power level falling into a specified range.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch to selectively couple the antenna to the charging circuitry or near field communication circuitry.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to:

control the switch to couple the antenna to the near field communication circuitry based at least on a determination that the electronic device does not comprise the charging device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to

determine a magnetic field level sensed by the sensor, associated with the electronic device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine the electronic device as the charging device based on the magnetic field level falling into a specified range.

9. An apparatus comprising:

first circuitry operated using a first signal having a first characteristic;

second circuitry operated using a second signal having a second characteristic; and

an antenna selectively coupled to the first circuitry or the second circuitry based on a characteristic of a signal received thereby matching the first or second characteristic.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a switch coupled to the first circuitry and the second circuitry.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a controller controlling the switch to selectively couple the antenna to a corresponding one of the first circuitry and the second circuitry based at least in part on the signal received via the antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a detector coupled to the switch, the detector to detect a voltage, a current, or a power associated with the signal received via the antenna.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one circuitry of the first circuitry or the second circuitry comprises charging circuitry.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the charging circuitry is configured to:

charge, using a signal received via the antenna, a battery operatively coupled to the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one circuitry of the first circuitry or the second circuitry comprises near field communication circuitry.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the near field communication circuitry is configured to:

receive or transmit information associated with a mobile payment via the antenna.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an inductor to receive a signal transmitted from an electronic device external to the apparatus; and

a controller to selectively provide the signal to first circuitry or second circuitry of the apparatus based at least in part on a determination that the signal corresponds to a respective one of the first circuitry and the second circuitry.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine, based at least in part on the signal, that the electronic device comprises a near field communication device or a charging device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the inductor forms at least part of an antenna to be selectively coupled to at least one of the first circuitry or the second circuitry.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the inductor is configured to:

receive a magnetic field signal associated with the electronic device.