Apparatus and method for near field communication

• US 9,307,352 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AQ Corporation
• Original Assignee: AQ Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Sang Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US14/812,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• 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 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a mobile phone with the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and method of operating the mobile phone. The mobile phone includes a display; a baseband chip; an near field communication (NFC) module comprising an RF antenna, an NFC tag circuit and an NFC main chip; and the RF antenna configured to receive, from an external RF reader, a command RF signal in 13.56 MHz and further configured to transmit, to the external RF reader, a responsive RF signal in 13.56 MHz.

Claims

1. A mobile phone comprising:

a display;

a baseband chip configured to control overall processing of the mobile phone;

a near field communication (NFC) module comprising an RF antenna, an NFC tag circuit and an NFC main chip;

the RF antenna configured to receive, from an external RF reader, a command RF signal in 13.56 MHz and further configured to transmit, to the external RF reader, a responsive RF signal in 13.56 MHz;

the NFC tag circuit electrically interposed between the RF antenna and the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification for providing, to the NFC main chip, a discretized command data signal corresponding to the command RF signal and further configured to modulate a responsive data signal from the NFC main chip for providing, to the RF antenna, the responsive RF signal corresponding to the responsive data signal; and

the NFC main chip electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the baseband chip, the NFC main chip configured to process the discretized command data signal from the NFC tag circuit for communicating with the baseband chip and further configured to generate the responsive data signal based on communication with the baseband chip for providing to the NFC tag circuit,

wherein the RF antenna is configured to receive the command RF signal when the mobile phone tags the external RF reader that transmits the command RF signal carrying a command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification for providing, to the NFC main chip, the discretized command data signal that carries the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to providing the discretized command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip is configured to communicate with the baseband chip such that the baseband chip processes in accordance with the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to processing at the baseband, the NFC main chip is configured to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal carrying a response of the mobile phone that responds to the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to providing the responsive data signal at the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit is configured to modulate the responsive data signal for providing, to the RF antenna, the responsive RF signal that carries the response of the mobile phone, and

wherein in response to providing of the responsive RF signal at the NFC tag circuit, the RF antenna is configured to transmit the responsive RF signal such that the external RF reader receives the responsive RF signal carrying the response of the mobile phone.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

3. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal configured to receive an interrupt signal indicative of receipt of the command RF signal from the external RF reader, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

4. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause to the NFC main chip to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal in response to the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises transmitter terminals electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC tag circuit is further configured to perform envelope detection and discretization for providing the command data signal to the NFC main chip.

5. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the NFC tag circuit comprises a rectifier configured to supply electric power to one or more components of the NFC tag circuit.

6. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal configured to receive an interrupt signal indicative of receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC.

7. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power based on determination of whether power has been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

8. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal configured to receive an interrupt signal indicative of receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises transmitter terminals electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit for data communication therebetween, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause to the NFC main chip to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal in response to the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the NFC tag circuit is further configured to perform envelope detection and discretization for providing the command data signal to the NFC main chip.

9. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

10. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a USIM card electrically connected to the NFC main chip, wherein in response to providing of the command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip is configured to also communicate with the USIM card such that the USIM card processes in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

11. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the NFC module further comprises an NFC receiver circuit electrically connected between the RF antenna and the NFC main chip, wherein the NFC receiver circuit is configured to perform signal processing with regard to RF signals received at the RF antenna when the NFC module operates in a reader mode.

12. A method for near field communication (NFC), the method comprising:

providing the mobile phone of claim 1; and

tagging the mobile phone with the external RF reader that transmits a command RF signal carrying a command of the RF reader, wherein tagging causes, in the mobile phone, a series of processes comprising;

the RF antenna receives the command RF signal,

in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification for providing, to the NFC main chip, the discretized command data signal that carries the command of the external RF reader,

in response to providing the discretized command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip communicates with the baseband chip such that the baseband chip processes in accordance with the command of the external RF reader,

in response to processing at the baseband, the NFC main chip provides, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal carrying a response of the mobile phone that responds to the command of the external RF reader,

in response to providing the responsive data signal at the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit modulates the responsive data signal for providing, to the RF antenna, the responsive RF signal that carries the response of the mobile phone, and

in response to providing of the responsive RF signal at the NFC tag circuit, the RF antenna transmits the responsive RF signal such that the external RF reader receives the responsive RF signal carrying the response of the mobile phone.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal configured to receive an interrupt signal indicative of receipt of the command RF signal from the external RF reader, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause to the NFC main chip to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal in response to the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises transmitter terminals electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC tag circuit is further configured to perform envelope detection and discretization for providing the command data signal to the NFC main chip.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal configured to receive an interrupt signal indicative of receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power based on determination of whether power has been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal configured to receive an interrupt signal indicative of receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises transmitter terminals electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit for data communication therebetween, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause to the NFC main chip to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal in response to the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the NFC tag circuit is further configured to perform envelope detection and discretization for providing the command data signal to the NFC main chip.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a USIM card electrically connected to the NFC main chip, wherein in response to providing of the command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip is configured to also communicate with the USIM card such that the USIM card processes in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the NFC module further comprises an NFC receiver circuit electrically connected between the RF antenna and the NFC main chip, wherein the NFC receiver circuit is configured to perform signal processing with regard to RF signals received at the RF antenna when the NFC module operates in a reader mode.

21. A mobile phone comprising:

a display;

a near field communication (NFC) module comprising an RF antenna, an NFC tag circuit and an NFC main chip;

the RF antenna configured to receive, from an external RF reader, a command RF signal in 13.56 MHz and further configured to transmit, to the external RF reader, a responsive RF signal in 13.56 MHz;

the NFC tag circuit electrically interposed between the RF antenna and the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification for providing, to the NFC main chip, a discretized command data signal corresponding to the command RF signal and further configured to modulate a responsive data signal from the NFC main chip for providing, to the RF antenna, the responsive RF signal corresponding to the responsive data signal; and

the NFC main chip electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip configured to process the discretized command data signal from the NFC tag circuit and further configured to generate the responsive data signal for providing to the NFC tag circuit,

wherein the RF antenna is configured to receive the command RF signal when the mobile phone tags the external RF reader that transmits the command RF signal carrying a command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification for providing, to the NFC main chip, the discretized command data signal that carries the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to providing the discretized command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip is configured to process the discretized command data signal for extracting the command of the external RF reader and further configured to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal carrying a response of the mobile phone that responds to the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to providing the responsive data signal at the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit is configured to modulate the responsive data signal for providing, to the RF antenna, the responsive RF signal that carries the response of the mobile phone, and

wherein in response to providing the responsive RF signal at the NFC tag circuit, the RF antenna is configured to transmit the responsive RF signal such that the external RF reader receives the responsive RF signal carrying the response of the mobile phone.

22. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the mobile phone is configured to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

23. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the NFC main chip is connected to a host interface for data communication with another component of the mobile phone, wherein the NFC main chip comprises transmitter terminals electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit for data communication therebetween, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the mobile phone is configured to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC tag circuit is further configured to perform envelope detection and discretization for providing the command data signal to the NFC main chip.

24. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the NFC tag circuit comprises a rectifier configured to supply electric power to one or more components of the NFC tag circuit, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the NFC tag circuit is further configured to perform envelope detection and discretization for providing the command data signal to the NFC main chip.

25. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC.

26. The mobile phone of claim 21, further comprising a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of RF signals at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power based on determination of whether power has been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

27. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the mobile phone is configured to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

28. The mobile phone of claim 21, further comprising a USIM card electrically connected to the NFC main chip, wherein in response to providing of the command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip is configured to also communicate with the USIM card such that the USIM card processes in accordance with the command of the external RF reader, wherein the mobile phone is configured to display information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

29. A method for near field communication (NFC), the method comprising:

providing the mobile phone of claim 21; and

tagging the mobile phone with the external RF reader that transmits a command RF signal carrying a command of the RF reader, wherein tagging causes, in the mobile phone, a series of processes comprising;

the RF antenna receives the command RF signal,

in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification for providing, to the NFC main chip, the discretized command data signal that carries the command of the external RF reader,

in response to providing the discretized command data signal at the NFC tag circuit, the NFC main chip extracts the command of the external RF reader and subsequently provides, to the NFC tag circuit, the responsive data signal carrying a response of the mobile phone that responds to the command of the external RF reader,

in response to providing the responsive data signal at the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit modulates the responsive data signal for providing, to the RF antenna, the responsive RF signal that carries the response of the mobile phone, and

in response to providing of the responsive RF signal at the NFC tag circuit, the RF antenna transmits the responsive RF signal such that the external RF reader receives the responsive RF signal carrying the response of the mobile phone.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein upon completion of the series of processes, the mobile phone displays information indicative of processing of the mobile phone in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.