CARD DETECTION FOR A NFC (NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION) READER SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for operating a device that communicates via inductive coupling to detect an external tag device, the method comprising:
- generating, by a Tx (transmitter) unit of the device, a transmitted signal to a matching network that sends the transmitted signal to an antenna, wherein the antenna and matching network receive data passed to a Rx (receiver) unit,wherein a Tx (transmitter) control unit of the device is configured for controlling the Tx (transmitter) unit of the device;
sweeping through, by the Tx (transmitter) control unit of the device, a first output of the transmitted signal;
monitoring, by the Tx control unit a second output of the transmitted signal based on the Tx control unit sensing the Rx (receiver) unit,wherein a change in the second output of the transmitted signal indicates detection of the external tag device.
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Abstract
This specification discloses methods and devices for NFC/RFID (near field communication/radio frequency identification) reader systems to detect an external target device (e.g., tag or card device) within communication distance. In some embodiments, this is achieved by: (i) directing a Tx (transmitter) unit to generate a Tx signal, (ii) sweeping through a first Tx output (e.g., Tx voltage) in an increasing manner, and then (iii) monitoring a second Tx output (e.g., Tx current). During monitoring, a step change in the second Tx output (e.g., Tx current) would indicate detection of an external target device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a device that communicates via inductive coupling to detect an external tag device, the method comprising:
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generating, by a Tx (transmitter) unit of the device, a transmitted signal to a matching network that sends the transmitted signal to an antenna, wherein the antenna and matching network receive data passed to a Rx (receiver) unit, wherein a Tx (transmitter) control unit of the device is configured for controlling the Tx (transmitter) unit of the device; sweeping through, by the Tx (transmitter) control unit of the device, a first output of the transmitted signal; monitoring, by the Tx control unit a second output of the transmitted signal based on the Tx control unit sensing the Rx (receiver) unit, wherein a change in the second output of the transmitted signal indicates detection of the external tag device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for detecting an external tag device in communications with the device via inductive coupling, the device comprising:
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a matching network; an antenna; a Rx (receiver unit), wherein the data is received from the antenna and the matching unit and passed to the Rx (receiver) unit; a Tx (transmitter) unit, the Tx (transmitter) unit configured to generate a transmitted signal that is transmitted through the matching network and the antenna, the Tx (transmitter) unit comprising a Tx (transmitter) control unit, wherein the Tx control unit is configured for controlling the Tx (transmitter) unit, wherein the Tx control unit is further configured for detecting the external tag device by; directing the Tx (transmitter) unit to generate the transmitted signal, directing the Tx (transmitter) unit to sweep through a first output of the transmitted signal, monitoring a second output of the transmitted signal by sensing the Rx (receiver) unit, detecting the external tag device when there is a change in the second output of the transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification