Low power near-field communication devices
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit device coupled to a resonant loop antenna circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
- a controller configured to control transmission and reception of near-field communications signals via the resonant loop antenna circuit,an inductance detection circuit configured to detect changes in antenna inductance associated with the resonant loop antenna circuit that is indicative of interference due to an external object located proximate to the device,an antenna tuning circuit configured to adjust a variable component of the resonant loop antenna circuit to compensate for changes in the antenna inductance detected by the inductance detection circuit so that a target range of operation is maintained, anda wake-on circuit responsive to a sufficient change in the antenna inductance being detected by the inductance detection circuit to transition the controller from a low power sleep mode to a communications mode in which the wake-on circuit is only again responsive to the sufficient change in the antenna inductance as referenced to the adjusted resonant loop antenna circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Power consumption of near-field communication devices is regulated by waking the device for communications when a potential external near-field device is detected, and by adjusting the resonant antenna circuit to account for the detected change in antenna environment. Such near-field communication devices include a resonant loop antenna circuit. The resonant loop antenna circuit is connected to an integrated circuit that includes a controller for controlling near-field communications via the resonant loop antenna circuit, an inductance detection circuit to detect changes in the antenna inductance, a wake-on circuit responsive to a sufficient change in antenna inductance to transition the controller from a low power sleep mode to a communications mode, and an antenna tuning circuit to adjust the variable component of the resonant loop antenna circuit to compensate for changes in antenna inductance and to maintain the target range of operation.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit device coupled to a resonant loop antenna circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
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a controller configured to control transmission and reception of near-field communications signals via the resonant loop antenna circuit, an inductance detection circuit configured to detect changes in antenna inductance associated with the resonant loop antenna circuit that is indicative of interference due to an external object located proximate to the device, an antenna tuning circuit configured to adjust a variable component of the resonant loop antenna circuit to compensate for changes in the antenna inductance detected by the inductance detection circuit so that a target range of operation is maintained, and a wake-on circuit responsive to a sufficient change in the antenna inductance being detected by the inductance detection circuit to transition the controller from a low power sleep mode to a communications mode in which the wake-on circuit is only again responsive to the sufficient change in the antenna inductance as referenced to the adjusted resonant loop antenna circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for using an integrated circuit device connected to a resonant loop antenna circuit that includes an antenna and a variable component, the integrated circuit device including a controller configured to control transmission and reception of near-field communications signals via the resonant loop antenna circuit, the method comprising:
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detecting changes in antenna inductance; responsive to detecting a sufficient change in the antenna inductance, transitioning the integrated circuit controller from a low power sleep mode to a communications mode; adjusting the variable component of the resonant loop antenna circuit to compensate for the detected changes in the antenna inductance to maintain a target range of operation; and upon adjusting the variable component of the resonant loop antenna circuit, only transitioning the integrated circuit controller from the low power sleep mode to the communications mode again if the sufficient change in the antenna inductance is detected as referenced to the adjusted antenna resonant loop antenna circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification