NFC device for contactless communication

• US 9,246,550 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Merlin, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US14/302,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20140295756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/91, 455/127.1, 455/129, 455/73
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/70 specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A Near Field Communication (NFC) device for contactless communication includes a transmitter being adapted to generate an electromagnetic carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal according to transmitting data, an antenna having an inductor, which antenna is connected to and driven by the transmitter with the modulated carrier signal, and wherein connection points of the antenna are further connected to inputs of switches, the outputs of these switches being switchable between ground potential and inputs of a rectifier, the outputs of the rectifier being fed to power supply rails of the NFC device.

Claims

1. A Near Field Communication (NFC) device for contactless communication comprising:

a transmitter being adapted to generate an electromagnetic carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal according to transmitting data; and

an antenna having an inductor, which antenna is connected to and driven by the transmitter with the modulated carrier signal,

wherein connection points of the antenna are further connected to inputs of switches, the outputs of the switches being switchable between ground potential and inputs of a rectifier, the outputs of the rectifier being fed to power supply rails of the NFC device.

2. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein the switches are controlled by a mode selector adapted to switch the outputs of the switches to ground in a card mode, and to switch the outputs of the switches to the inputs of the rectifier in a powered by the field mode.

3. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein the inductor of the antenna is divided into two partial inductors having about the same inductance values.

4. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein the NFC device is adapted to be powered by a mobile phone.

5. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein the switches are controlled by a mode selector adapted to switch the outputs of the switches to ground in a reader mode, and to switch the outputs of the switches to the inputs of the rectifier in a powered by the field mode.

6. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein when the switches are connected to ground potential, the NFC device is in reader mode.

7. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein when the switches are connected to ground potential, the NFC device is in battery supplied card mode.

8. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein when the switches are connected to the rectifier, the NFC device is in a powered by the field mode.

9. The NFC device of claim 1, wherein when the switches are connected to the rectifier, the NFC device is in a powered by field card mode.

10. A Near Field Communication (NFC) device for contactless communication comprising:

a transmitter being adapted to generate an electromagnetic carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal according to transmitting data; and

an antenna having an inductor, which antenna is connected to and driven by the transmitter with the modulated carrier signal,

wherein connection points of the antenna are further connected to inputs of switches, the outputs of the switches being switchable between either connected to or not connected to inputs of a rectifier, the outputs of the rectifier being fed to power supply rails.

11. The NFC device of claim 10, wherein the switches are controlled by a mode selector adapted to switch the outputs of the switches to being not connected to the inputs of the rectifier in a powered by a battery mode, and to switch the outputs of the switches to being connected to the inputs of the rectifier in a powered by the field mode.

12. The NFC device of claim 11, wherein the NFC device is adapted to be powered by a mobile phone.

13. The NFC device of claim 11, wherein the outputs of the rectifier are being fed to power supply rails of the NFC device.

14. The NFC device of claim 11, wherein when the outputs of the switches are not connected to the inputs of the rectifier, the NFC device is in a battery supplied card mode or a reader mode.

15. The NFC device of claim 11, wherein when the outputs of the switches are connected to the inputs of the rectifier, the NFC device is in a powered by the field mode.

16. A Near Field Communication (NFC) device for contactless communication comprising:

a transmitter being adapted to generate an electromagnetic carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal according to transmitting data; and

an antenna having an inductor, which antenna is connected to and driven by the transmitter with the modulated carrier signal,

wherein connection points of the antenna are further connected to inputs of switches, the outputs of the switches being switchable between either connected to or not connected to inputs of a circuit device, the outputs of the circuit device being fed to power supply rails.

17. The NFC device of claim 16, wherein the switches are controlled by a mode selector adapted to switch the outputs of the switches to being not connected to the inputs of the circuit device in a powered by a battery mode, and to switch the outputs of the switches to being connected to the inputs of the circuit device in a powered by the field mode.

18. The NFC device of claim 17, wherein the NFC device is adapted to be powered by a mobile phone.

19. The NFC device of claim 17, wherein the circuit device is one of the following:

a rectifier, a transformer.

20. The NFC device of claim 17, wherein the outputs of the rectifier are being fed to power supply rails of the NFC device.