Switching between multiple coupling modes

• US 9,002,263 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Klabunde, Karin, Corroy, Steven, Baldus, Heribert, Gallo, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US12/808,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/28 using the near field of leaky cables, e.g. of leaky coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling

Abstract

A device for transmitting in multiple coupling modes has a transmission module (11), at least one periphery module (18), and an antenna (16, 17) for each of the multiple coupling modes. Further, in a method of switching between multiple coupling modes, switching is conducted between at least polling and listening phases of first and second coupling modes. The device and the method enable a seamless switching between e.g. a near field communication and a body coupled communication. Such a coupling or switching is particularly useful for performing secure transactions whereby through body coupled communication a body-worn tag is interrogated which provides a secure code for a transaction initiated through near field communication with a transaction terminal.

Claims

1. A device for transmitting in multiple coupling modes, comprising:

a transmission module,

at least one periphery module,

and a first antenna for a first coupling mode of the multiple coupling modes and a second antenna for a second coupling mode of the multiple coupling modes wherein switching between the first coupling mode and the second coupling mode is conducted between at least polling and listening phases of the first coupling mode and the second coupling mode, wherein a time of polling in said second coupling mode is determined based on a number of a plurality of technologies polled in said first coupling mode, wherein a search for information in said second coupling mode is initiated based on an action associated with said first coupling mode; and

transmitting, through said first coupling mode, said information obtained in said second coupling mode.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one periphery module comprises:

a receiver circuit,

a filter, and

a matching module.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the matching module comprises at least one matching circuit for at least one of the multiple coupling modes.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one periphery module is configured for each of the multiple coupling modes by comprising:

a receiver circuit for each of the multiple coupling modes,

a filter for each of the multiple coupling modes, and

a matching circuit for each of the multiple coupling modes.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling mode is an inductive coupling mode, and the second coupling mode is a capacitive coupling mode.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the inductive coupling mode is used for near field communication, and the capacitive coupling mode is used for body coupled communication.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission module and the at least one periphery module are integrated in a single module.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a device comprising;

a transmission module,

at least one periphery module, and

a first antenna for a first coupling mode of the multiple coupling modes and a second antenna for a second coupling mode of the multiple coupling modes wherein switching between the first coupling mode and the second coupling mode is conducted between at least polling and listening phases of the first coupling mode and the second coupling mode, wherein a time of polling in said second coupling mode being determined based on a number of a plurality of technologies polled in said first coupling mode, wherein a search for information in said second coupling mode is initiated based on an action associated with said first coupling mode; and

transmitting, through said first coupling mode, said information obtained in said second coupling mode.