NFC ANTENNA MODULE AND NFC MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20150180548A1
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SONG, IL-JONG, ROH, HYOUNG-HWAN, JANG, YO-HAN
• Granted Patent: US 9,800,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

A resonance frequency of a near field communication (NFC) antenna module may be set to be equal to a first frequency by a resonance unit included in the NFC antenna module. The NFC module may include a matching circuit connected to the NFC antenna module. The matching circuit may include terminals exposed to the outside such that the antenna module is detachable from the matching circuit.

Claims

1. A near field communication antenna (NFC) module comprising:

an NFC controller including an NFC transmitter, an NFC receiver and an NFC card;

a matching circuit including a transmitter interface connected to the NFC transmitter, a receiver interface connected to the NFC receiver and a card interface connected to the NFC card; and

an antenna module including a first terminal, a second terminal, an antenna connected to the first and second terminals, and a resonance unit,

wherein the resonance unit is connected to the first and second terminals and includes a first passive device, a value of the first passive device being such that a resonance frequency between the first and second terminals is in a predetermined frequency range.

2. The NFC antenna module of claim 1, wherein the first passive device is a capacitor having a capacitance based on the resonance frequency and an inductance of the antenna.

3. The NFC antenna module of claim 1, wherein the NFC antenna module is connected to an external matching circuit via the first and second terminals, and

the first and second terminals are exposed to an outside of the antenna module such that the antenna module is detachable from the matching circuit.

4. The NFC antenna module of claim 3, wherein the antenna module is installed in a battery of a mobile communication device and uses two terminals among terminals of the battery as the first and second terminals.

5. The NFC antenna module of claim 3, wherein the antenna module is installed on a battery cover of the mobile communication device.

6. The NFC antenna module of claim 1, further comprising a flexible printed circuit board, and

wherein the antenna and the first passive device are mounted on the flexible printed circuit board.

7. The NFC antenna module of claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency is in the range of 13 MHz to 14 MHz.

8. A near field communication (NFC) module comprising:

an antenna module including a first terminal, a second terminal, an antenna connected to the first and second terminals, and a resonance unit;

a matching circuit connected to the antenna module, the matching circuit including a plurality of passive devices; and

an NFC controller connected to the matching circuit,

wherein the antenna module is configured to resonate at a first frequency,

the NFC controller is configured to output or receive a signal of a second frequency, and

the first frequency is set regardless of the plurality of passive devices.

9. The NFC module of claim 8, wherein values of the plurality of passive devices are based on an impedance at the first frequency.

10. The NFC module of claim 8, wherein the matching circuit comprises at least one terminal that contacts the antenna module, and

the at least one terminal of the matching circuit is exposed to an outside of the matching circuit such that the antenna module is detachable from the NFC module.

11. The NFC module of claim 8, wherein the NFC controller comprises a secure element that stores data that is related to payment information and transmitted via the antenna module.

12. The NFC module of claim 8, wherein the matching circuit comprises a semiconductor chip package, and

the semiconductor chip package encapsulates the plurality of passive devices.

13. The NFC module of claim 8, wherein the second frequency is 13.56 MHz, and the first frequency is in the range of 13 MHz to 14 MHz.

14. The NFC module of claim 8, wherein the antenna module is included in the NFC module, and

the resonance unit comprises a first passive device, the value of the first passive device being determined such that a resonance frequency of the antenna module is equal to the first frequency.

15. The NFC module of claim 14, wherein the first passive device is a capacitor having a capacitance based on the first frequency and an inductance of the antenna.

16. A system comprising:

a controller;

a memory;

a near field communication (NFC) module including;

an NFC controller including an NFC transmitter, an NFC receiver and an NFC card;

a matching circuit including a transmitter interface connected to the NFC transmitter, a receiver interface connected to the NFC receiver and a card interface connected to the NFC card; and

an antenna module including a first terminal, a second terminal, an antenna connected to the first and second terminals, and a resonance unit,

wherein the resonance unit is connected to the first and second terminals and includes at least one passive device,

the matching circuit includes at least one passive device, and

a value of the first passive device being such that a resonance frequency between the first and second terminals is in a predetermined frequency range,

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a battery on which the antenna module is installed.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the antenna module shares the first terminal and the second terminal with the battery.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the NFC controller receives data from a host.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the antenna is a dual-loop antenna.