Near-field communication device with environmental sensor

• US 8,013,717 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Robb, Patricia A., Alberth, William P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRAVARI, PETER CYRUS
• Application Number:
  US11/855,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.16, 340/505, 340/517, 340/540, 340/539.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/10.41, 340/10.1, 345/157, 345/161, 709/203, 709/219, 705 141- 1439, 705/14.4, 705/14.5
• US Class Current: 340/10.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber

Abstract

A wireless communication device includes a near-field activated circuit that transmits an output signal upon exposure to an energizing electromagnetic field, and a sensor having an output coupled to the near-field activated circuit, wherein the sensor produces an output signal in response to sensing an environmental condition other than the energizing electromagnetic field, and wherein the output signal of the near-field activated circuit changes when the sensor changes states.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device energized by an electromagnetic field produced by another device, the wireless communication device comprising:

a near-field activated circuit transmitting an output signal upon exposure to an energizing electromagnetic field; and

a sensor having an output coupled to the near-field activated circuit, the sensor producing a signal on the output of the sensor in response to sensing an environmental condition other than the energizing electromagnetic field, the output signal of the near-field activated circuit including incentive-based information selected from the group consisting of;

sweepstakes information and a coupon, wherein the sensor produces the signal in response to sensing the environmental condition.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a radiation sensor, a moisture sensor, a charge sensor, and a conductivity sensor.