Apparatus and method for near-field communication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication device having optical and near-field communication capability, the device comprising:
- an integrated circuit die;
an optical transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive optical signals;
a near field transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive data using near-field electro-magnetic signals; and
control circuitry configured to selectively enable the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal;
the communication device further comprising a transmit antenna coupled to the near field transceiver circuit, the transmit antenna comprising at least one of;
a sub-half-wave plate or wire, with the near field transceiver circuit being configured to transmit capacitive near field signals by driving the sub-half-wave plate or wire with a voltage source, ora sub-half-wave loop, with the near field transceiver circuit being configured to transmit inductive near field signals by driving the sub-half-wave loop with a current source, ora combination thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication device is disclosed having optical and near-field communication capability. The device includes an optical transceiver circuit fabricated on an integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive far field signals. A near field transceiver circuit is also fabricated on the integrated circuit die and is configured to transmit and receive near-field electro-magnetic signals. Control circuitry is provided to selectively enable the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A communication device having optical and near-field communication capability, the device comprising:
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an integrated circuit die; an optical transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive optical signals; a near field transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive data using near-field electro-magnetic signals; and control circuitry configured to selectively enable the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal; the communication device further comprising a transmit antenna coupled to the near field transceiver circuit, the transmit antenna comprising at least one of; a sub-half-wave plate or wire, with the near field transceiver circuit being configured to transmit capacitive near field signals by driving the sub-half-wave plate or wire with a voltage source, or a sub-half-wave loop, with the near field transceiver circuit being configured to transmit inductive near field signals by driving the sub-half-wave loop with a current source, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication device having optical and near-field communication capability, the device comprising:
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an integrated circuit die; an optical transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive optical signals; a near field transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive data using near-field electro-magnetic signals; and control circuitry configured to selectively enable the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal; where the near field transceiver circuit is further configured to sense a resistance coupled to an interface pin of the integrated circuit die and set an operating parameter of the near field transceiver circuit based on a magnitude of the sensed resistance.
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15. A method for providing near field communication capability in a transceiver device, the method comprising the steps of:
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fabricating an optical transceiver circuit and a near field transceiver circuit on an integrated circuit die, where the optical transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive optical signals, and further wherein the near field transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive data using near-field electro-magnetic signals; and providing control circuitry for selectively enabling the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to a control signal; the method further comprising at least one of; electrically coupling a transmit antenna to the integrated circuit die, the transmit antenna comprising a sub-half-wave plate or wire, and transmitting capacitive near field signals by driving the sub-half-wave plate or wire with a voltage source, or electrically coupling a transmit antenna to the integrated circuit die, the transmit antenna comprising a sub-half-wave loop; and
transmitting inductive near field signals by driving the sub-half-wave loop with a current source, ora combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for providing near field communication capability in a transceiver device, the method comprising the steps of:
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fabricating an optical transceiver circuit and a near field transceiver circuit on an integrated circuit die, where the optical transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive optical signals, and further wherein the near field transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive data using near-field electro-magnetic signals; and providing control circuitry for selectively enabling the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to a control signal; the method further comprising the steps of;
sensing a resistance present at an interface of the integrated circuit die; and
setting an operating parameter of the near field transceiver circuit based on a magnitude of the sensed resistance.
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28. The system for wireless near field communication, the system comprising:
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a first integrated circuit device, the first device having formed thereon a first transceiver circuit, a first near field transceiver circuit, and control circuitry for selectively enabling one of the first transceiver circuit and the first near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal; and
a first antenna coupled to the first near field transceiver circuit;a second integrated circuit device, the second device having formed thereon a second near field transceiver circuit, and a second antenna coupled to the second near field transceiver circuit;
where the first antenna and the second antenna are capacitively coupled to one another within a distance of about one wavelength in order to exchange non-propagating wireless near field data signals. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A communication device having optical and near-field communication capability, the device comprising:
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an integrated circuit die; an optical transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive optical signals; a near field transceiver circuit fabricated on the integrated circuit die and configured to transmit and receive near-field electro-magnetic signals; and control circuitry configured to selectively enable the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to an external control signal; where the near field transceiver circuit is further configured to sense a resistance coupled to an interface pin of the integrated circuit die and set an operating parameter of the near field transceiver circuit based on a magnitude of the sensed resistance.
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37. A method for providing near field communication capability in a transceiver device, the method comprising the steps of:
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fabricating an optical transceiver circuit and a near field transceiver circuit on an integrated circuit die, where the optical transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive optical signals, and further wherein the near field transceiver circuit is configured to transmit and receive near-field electro-magnetic signals; providing control circuitry for selectively enabling the optical transceiver circuit and the near field transceiver circuit responsive to a control signal; sensing a resistance present at an interface of the integrated circuit die; and setting an operating parameter of the near field transceiver circuit based on a magnitude of the sensed resistance.
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Specification