Method and system for utilizing an antenna for frequency modulation (FM) communication, near field communication (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID)

• US 7,907,926 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Blane J
• Application Number:
  US11/536,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/193.1, 455/275, 455/290, 455/269, 455/280, 455/281, 455/282, 455/288, 455/289, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 455/289
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for utilizing a frequency modulation (FM) antenna for near field communication (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID) are presented. Aspects of a system for utilizing an FM antenna for NFC and RFID may include a tuning control block that enables configuration of at least one capacitor array to control a frequency for reception of signals. A processor may enable configuration of an antenna for the reception of signals wherein the frequency for the received signals is utilized for FM signal reception, and at least one of: NFC signal reception, and RFID signal reception.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals;

configuring an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals, if said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception; and

configuring said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals if said frequency is utilized for one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium via said at least one inductor for said NFC signal reception or for said RFID signal reception.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting a frequency for said RFID signal reception.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said RFID signal reception based on said configuring of said at least one capacitor array.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting a frequency for said NFC signal reception.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said NFC signal reception based on said configuring said at least one capacitor array.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising switching between configuring said antenna and said at least one inductor, and configuring said at least one inductor and said one or more of said voltage source, said capacitor, and/or said ground reference based on whether said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception or one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

8. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for communicating information in a wireless communications system, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals;

configuring an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals if said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception; and

configuring said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said receiving of said external signals if said frequency is utilized for one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

9. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for detecting electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium via said at least one inductor for said NFC signal reception or for said RFID signal reception.

10. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting a frequency for said RFID signal reception.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said RFID signal reception based on said configuring said at least one capacitor array.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting a frequency for said NFC signal reception.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said NFC signal reception based on said configuring said at least one capacitor array.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, comprising switching between configuring said antenna and said at least one inductor, and configuring said at least one inductor and said one or more of said voltage source, said capacitor, and/or said ground reference based on whether said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception or one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

15. A system for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

at least one circuit that enables configuration of at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for reception of external signals;

said at least one circuit enables configuration of an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said reception of said external signals if said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception; and

said at least one circuit enables configuration of said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said reception of said external signals if said frequency is utilized for one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one circuit enables detection of electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium via said at least one inductor for said NFC signal reception or for said RFID signal reception.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one circuit enables selection of a frequency for said RFID signal reception.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said RFID signal reception based on said configuration of said at least one capacitor array.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one circuit enables selection of a frequency for said NFC signal reception.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said NFC signal reception based on said configuration of said at least one capacitor array.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one circuit comprises a switch that enables switching between configuration of said antenna and said at least one inductor, and configuration of said at least one inductor and said one or more of said voltage source, said capacitor, and/or said ground reference based on whether said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception or one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

22. A system for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

at least one circuit that controls a frequency for reception of external signals in an antenna system;

said at least one circuit enables configuration of an antenna and at least one inductor in said antenna system for said external signals reception if said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception; and

said at least one circuit enables configuration of said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference in said antenna system for said external signals reception if said frequency is utilized for one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one circuit enables detection of electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium via said at least one inductor for said NFC signal reception or for said RFID signal reception.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one circuit enables selection of a frequency for said RFID signal reception.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said RFID signal reception based on configuration of at least one capacitor array.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one circuit enables selection of a frequency for said NFC signal reception.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said NFC signal reception based on configuration of at least one capacitor array.

28. The system according to claim 22, wherein said at least one circuit comprises a switch that enables switching between configuration of said antenna and said at least one inductor, and configuration of said at least one inductor and said one or more of said voltage source, said capacitor, and/or said ground reference based on whether said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception or one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

29. A system for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

at least one circuit that enables configuration of an antenna and at least one inductor for reception of external signals if a frequency of received external signals is utilized for FM signal reception, and

said at least one circuit enables configuration of said at least one inductor and one or more of a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference if said frequency of received external signals is utilized for one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one circuit enables detection of electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium via said at least one inductor for said NFC signal reception or for said RFID signal reception.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one circuit enables selection of a frequency for said RFID signal reception.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said RFID signal reception based on configuration of at least one capacitor array.

33. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one circuit enables selection of a frequency for said NFC signal reception.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said selected frequency is modified for said NFC signal reception based on configuration of at least one capacitor array.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein said at least one circuit comprises a switch that enables switching between configuration of said antenna and said at least one inductor, and configuration of said at least one inductor and said one or more of said voltage source, said capacitor, and/or said ground reference based on whether said frequency is utilized for FM signal reception or one or both of near field communication (NFC) signal reception and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) signal reception.