Coordinating contactless communication and charging functions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic device comprising:
- an antenna element;
a contactless integrated circuit (IC) card function unit configured to be connected to the antenna element and process a signal received at the antenna;
a clamp circuit included in the contactless IC card function unit, the clamp circuit configured to suppress excessive voltage of the signal received at the antenna;
a contactless charging function unit including a battery and configured to be connected to the antenna, and charge the battery by receiving an electromotive force induced at the antenna;
a switching module configured to eliminate or reduce the function of the clamp circuit; and
a control unit connected to the switching module and configured to determine whether the contactless IC card function unit is in use or the contactless charging function unit is in use and control the switching module based on the determination, whereinthe switching module is a switch included in the clamp circuit configured to switch the clamp circuit between at least a first threshold voltage level and a second threshold voltage level, wherein the first threshold voltage level is lower than the second threshold voltage level.
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Abstract
An electronic device includes a contactless integrated circuit card function unit, a contactless charging function unit, and a switching unit. The contactless integrated circuit card function unit includes a clamp circuit and realizes a contactless integrated circuit card function. The clamp circuit suppresses excessive voltage of a signal received at an antenna whose operating frequency is a predetermined frequency. The contactless charging function unit commonly uses the antenna and realizes a contactless charging function. The switching unit invalidates or reduces the function of the clamp circuit when the contactless charging function unit is used.
1 Citation
18 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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an antenna element; a contactless integrated circuit (IC) card function unit configured to be connected to the antenna element and process a signal received at the antenna; a clamp circuit included in the contactless IC card function unit, the clamp circuit configured to suppress excessive voltage of the signal received at the antenna; a contactless charging function unit including a battery and configured to be connected to the antenna, and charge the battery by receiving an electromotive force induced at the antenna; a switching module configured to eliminate or reduce the function of the clamp circuit; and a control unit connected to the switching module and configured to determine whether the contactless IC card function unit is in use or the contactless charging function unit is in use and control the switching module based on the determination, wherein the switching module is a switch included in the clamp circuit configured to switch the clamp circuit between at least a first threshold voltage level and a second threshold voltage level, wherein the first threshold voltage level is lower than the second threshold voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
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processing a signal received at an antenna element of the electronic device at a contactless integrated circuit (IC) card function unit; suppressing excessive voltage of the signal received at the antenna at a clamp circuit included in the contactless IC card function unit; charging a battery of the electronic device by receiving an electromotive force induced at the antenna at a contactless charging function unit connected to the antenna and including the battery; switching a switching module to eliminate or reduce the function of the clamp circuit; and determining, at a control unit of the electronic device, whether the contactless IC card function unit is in use or the contactless charging function unit is in use and controlling the switching module based on the determination, wherein the switching module is a switch included in the clamp circuit configured to switch the clamp circuit between at least a first threshold voltage level and a second threshold voltage level, wherein the first threshold voltage level is lower than the second threshold voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic device comprising:
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means for receiving a signal; means for processing the received signal; means for suppressing excessive voltage of the received signal; means for charging a battery of the electronic device by receiving an electromotive force induced at the means for receiving a signal; means for eliminating or reducing the function of the means for suppressing; and means for determining whether the means for processing or means for charging is in use and controlling the means for eliminating or reducing based on the determination, wherein the means for eliminating or reducing the function of the means for suppressing is a switch included in the means for suppressing that switches the means for suppressing between at least a first threshold voltage level and a second threshold voltage level, wherein the first threshold voltage level is lower than the second threshold voltage level.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeSony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
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Original AssigneeSony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
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InventorsShimizu, Kanjiro
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Primary Examiner(s)Berhanu, Samuel
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Application NumberUS12/900,177Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,076 DaysField of Search320/108US Class Current320/108CPC Class CodesH02J 50/10 using inductive couplingH02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for ch...
