Antenna sharing in mobile devices for backscatter radio
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of wirelessly communicating data, the method comprising:
- receiving electromagnetic (“
EM”
) radiation incident upon an antenna of a mobile device from a base station, wherein the antenna is an element of the mobile device that serves an additional purpose than just as a reflective antenna for backscatter communications;
modulating a radar cross-section of the antenna between two or more states using a backscatter tag coupled to the antenna;
encoding the data onto a backscatter channel of the EM radiation via the modulation of the radar cross-section; and
transmitting the data to the base station over the backscatter channel,wherein the additional purpose of the antenna comprises an emission antenna coupled to an active wireless transceiver that operates according to at least one of a Wifi communication standard, a Bluetooth communication standard, or a cellular communication standard.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for wirelessly communicating data that receives electromagnetic (“EM”) radiation incident upon an antenna of a mobile device from a base station is described. The antenna is an element of the mobile device that serves an additional purpose than just as a reflective antenna for backscatter communications. A radar cross-section of the antenna is modulated between two or more states using a backscatter tag coupled to the antenna. Data is encoded onto a backscatter channel of the EM radiation via the modulating. The data is transmitted to the base station over the backscatter channel.
28 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of wirelessly communicating data, the method comprising:
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receiving electromagnetic (“
EM”
) radiation incident upon an antenna of a mobile device from a base station, wherein the antenna is an element of the mobile device that serves an additional purpose than just as a reflective antenna for backscatter communications;modulating a radar cross-section of the antenna between two or more states using a backscatter tag coupled to the antenna; encoding the data onto a backscatter channel of the EM radiation via the modulation of the radar cross-section; and transmitting the data to the base station over the backscatter channel, wherein the additional purpose of the antenna comprises an emission antenna coupled to an active wireless transceiver that operates according to at least one of a Wifi communication standard, a Bluetooth communication standard, or a cellular communication standard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. At least one non-transitory machine-accessible storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a mobile device, will cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving electromagnetic (“
EM”
) radiation incident upon an antenna of a mobile device from a base station, wherein the antenna is an element of the mobile device that serves an additional purpose than just as a reflective antenna for backscatter communications;modulating a radar cross-section of the antenna between two or more states; encoding data onto a backscatter channel of the EM radiation via the modulating; and transmitting the data to the base station over the backscatter channel, wherein the additional purpose of the antenna comprises an emission antenna coupled to an active wireless transceiver that operates according to at least one of a Wifi communication standard, a Bluetooth communication standard, or a cellular communication standard. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mobile device, comprising:
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an active wireless transceiver coupled to drive a first antenna to emit radiation during an active emission communication session, wherein the active wireless transceiver operates according to at least one of a Wifi communication standard, a Bluetooth communication standard, or a cellular communication standard; a backscatter tag including an adjustable load impedance module that is selectively coupled to the first antenna to modulate a radar cross-section of the first antenna between two or more states to encode data onto a backscatter channel when electromagnetic (“
EM”
) radiation is incident upon the first antenna during a backscatter communication session; andcontrol circuitry coupled to share the first antenna between the backscatter tag for backscatter communications and the active wireless transceiver for active emission communications. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification