ANTENNA CONFIGURATION FOR DYNAMIC RE-DISTRIBUTION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS

• US 20150180552A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Konanur, Anand, Yang, Songnan, Lee, Kwan Ho, Karacaoglu, Ulun, Adrangi, Farid
• Granted Patent: US 9,935,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/005 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for dynamic re-distribution of magnetic fields in a device during near field communication (NFC) related functions or transactions and/or wireless charging.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

one or more processors;

a near field communication (NFC) module coupled to the one or more processors;

a primary coil antenna coupled to the NFC module and the one or more processors, the primary coil includes a continuous loop of coil antenna line;

a loop array coupled to the NFC module and the one or more processors, the loop array disposed on top of the primary coil antenna, the loop array includes a plurality of loop antennas configured to resonate at or near an operating frequency of the primary coil antenna.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to turn ON the plurality of loop antennas based upon a detected location of a coupling secondary coil antenna, the detection includes measuring field strength due to mutual induction between the primary coil antenna and the coupling secondary coil antenna.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the NFC module is configured to facilitate current that excites the primary coil antenna, wherein magnetic field from the primary coil antenna induce currents to the plurality of loop antennas of the loop array.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to have the operating frequency at or near 13.56 MHz.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a capacitor that is connected to each of the plurality of loop antennas, wherein the capacitor is adjusted to resonate each of the plurality of loop antennas at or near the operating frequency of the primary coil antenna.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the loop array is operated independently from the primary coil antenna.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the loop antennas comprises circular, square, or rectangular shapes.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a primary coil antenna;

a loop array disposed over the primary coil antenna, the loop array includes a plurality of loop array coils coupled to a plurality of capacitors, wherein the plurality of capacitors are adjusted to resonate the plurality of loop array coils at or near an operating frequency the primary coil antenna.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of loop array coils are activated based upon a detected location of a coupling secondary coil antenna, the detection includes measuring field strength due to mutual induction between the primary coil antenna and the coupling secondary coil antenna.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the primary coil antenna is excited with a current to generate magnetic fields, wherein the generated magnetic fields from the primary coil antenna induce currents to the plurality of loop array coils.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to have the operating frequency at or near 13.56 MHz.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the primary coil antenna and the loop array form a single module.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the loop array is operated independently from the primary coil antenna.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of loop array coils comprises circular, square, or rectangular shapes.

15. A method of dynamic re-distribution of magnetic fields during near field communications (NFC) related functions or transactions in a device, the method comprising:

providing near field coupling by a primary coil antenna;

detecting position of a coupling secondary coil antenna;

in response to detecting the position of the coupling secondary coil antenna, activating a plurality of loop array coils in a loop array disposed over the primary coil antenna, wherein the plurality of loop array coils are configured to resonate at or near an operating frequency the primary coil antenna.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the detecting position includes measuring field strength due to mutual induction between the primary coil antenna and the coupling secondary coil antenna.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the providing near field coupling includes a current flowing through the primary coil antenna, wherein the current generates magnetic fields that induce current to the plurality of loop array coils.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to have the operating frequency at or near 13.56 MHz.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of loop array coils comprises circular, square, or rectangular shapes of coil antenna.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of loop array coils are a plurality of terminated individual capacitors configured to adjust resonance frequency of the plurality of loop array coils.