Mobile phone and method for near field communication

• US 9,351,104 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• 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:
  US14/880,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 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 constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• 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; a 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 incoming RF signals 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 USIM card connected to the baseband chip;

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 incoming RF signals in 13.56 MHz; and

the NFC tag circuit electrically connected to the RF antenna and the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit configured to perform signal processing for the incoming RF signals received at the RF antenna and further to perform signal processing for generating outgoing RF signals to provide to the RF antenna; and

the NFC main chip configured to process data contained in the incoming RF signals and further to communicate with the baseband chip for generating data to include in the outgoing RF signals,

wherein the RF antenna is configured to receive a command RF signal when the mobile phone tags an external RF reader transmitting the command RF signal that carries a command of the external RF reader that request a specific action by the mobile phone,

wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification such that the signal processing of the command RF signal generates a discretized command data signal carrying the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to the discretized command data signal, the NFC main chip is configured to process the discretized command data signal and communicate with the baseband chip rather than the USIM card for performing the requested specific action and for generating a responsive data signal carrying a response of the mobile phone that relates to the mobile phone'"'"'s performing of the requested specific action in response to the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to the responsive data signal, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing for the responsive data signal to provide a responsive RF signal to the RF antenna such that the external RF reader can read from the RF antenna the responsive RF signal carrying the response while the mobile phone maintains tagging with the external RF terminal,

wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause the display to display information indicative of the mobile phone'"'"'s performing of the requested specific action in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

2. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

3. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal, wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the baseband chip is notified of the receipt of the command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal.

4. The mobile phone of claim 3, 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.

5. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip is configured to cause 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 signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the discretized command data signal to the NFC main chip.

6. 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.

7. 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, wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the baseband chip is notified of the receipt of the command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal 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.

8. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of the command RF signal 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.

9. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal, wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the baseband chip is notified of the receipt of the command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal, 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 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 signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the discretized command data signal to the NFC main chip.

10. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the USIM card is also electrically connected to the NFC main chip for processing commands relating to a single wired protocol (SWP).

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

the RF antenna receives the first command RF signal,

in response to receipt of the first command RF signal, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification such that the signal processing of the first command RF signal generates a first discretized command data signal carrying the first command of the first external RF reader,

in response to the first discretized command data signal, the NFC main chip processes the first discretized command data signal for extracting the first command therefrom and communicates with the baseband chip rather than the USIM card for performing the first action and for generating a first responsive data signal carrying a first response of the mobile phone that relates to the mobile phone'"'"'s performing of the first action in response to the first command of the first external RF reader,

in response to the first responsive data signal, the NFC tag circuit modulates the first responsive data signal to provide a first responsive RF signal to the RF antenna such that the first external RF reader can read from the RF antenna the first responsive RF signal carrying the first response while the mobile phone maintains tagging with the first external RF terminal, and

subsequently the display displays information indicative of the mobile phone'"'"'s performing of the first action in accordance with the first command of the first external RF reader.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the mobile phone supplies power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal, wherein in response to receipt of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the baseband chip is notified of the receipt of the first command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal, wherein the NFC main chip and the baseband chip are connected via a host interface for data communication therebetween.

15. The method of claim 14, 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.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the baseband chip causes the NFC main chip to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the first responsive data signal in response to the first command of the first 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 signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the discretized command data signal to the NFC main chip.

17. 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, wherein in response to receipt of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the baseband chip is notified of the receipt of the first command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the baseband chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip, wherein in response to receipt of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the mobile phone supplies power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the mobile phone supplies power based on determination of whether power has been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the baseband chip comprises an IRQ input terminal, wherein in response to receipt of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the baseband chip is notified of the receipt of the first command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal, 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 causes the NFC main chip to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, the first responsive data signal in response to the command of the external RF reader, wherein the NFC main chip comprises a transceiver IC, wherein the signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the first discretized command data signal to the NFC main chip.

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 performs 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 USIM card;

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 incoming RF signals in 13.56 MHz; and

the NFC tag circuit electrically connected to the RF antenna and the NFC main chip, the NFC tag circuit configured to perform signal processing for the incoming RF signals received at the RF antenna and further to perform signal processing for generating outgoing RF signals to provide to the RF antenna; and

the NFC main chip configured to process data contained in the incoming RF signals and further to generate data to include in the outgoing RF signals,

wherein the RF antenna is configured to receive a command RF signal when the mobile phone tags an external RF reader transmitting the command RF signal that carries a command of the external RF reader that requests a specific action by the mobile phone,

wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification such that the signal processing of the command RF signal generates a discretized command data signal carrying the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to the discretized command data signal, the NFC main chip is configured to process the discretized command data signal for extracting therefrom the requested specific action of the command of the external RF reader and further configured to provide, to the NFC tag circuit, a responsive data signal carrying a response of the mobile phone that relates to the mobile phone'"'"'s performing, of the requested specific action in response to the command of the external RF reader,

wherein in response to the responsive data signal, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing for the responsive data signal to provide a responsive RF signal to the RF antenna such that the external RF reader can read from the RF antenna the responsive RF signal carrying the response while the mobile phone maintains tagging with the external RF terminal,

wherein the mobile phone is configured to display information indicative of the mobile phone'"'"'s performing the requested specific action in accordance with the command of the external RF reader.

22. The mobile phone of claim 21, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein in response to receipt of the command RF signal at the RF antenna, the mobile phone is configured to supply power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

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 signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the discretized 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.

25. 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 signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the discretized command data signal to the NFC main chip.

26. The mobile phone of claim 21, further comprising a controller chip configured to control hardware and operation of the mobile phone in view of NFC communication with external RF readers, wherein the USIM card is electrically connected to the NFC main chip and the controller chip, wherein the NFC main chip is configured to communicate with the controller chip rather than the USIM card for performing the requested specific action.

27. The mobile phone of claim 21, 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.

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

providing the mobile phone of claim 21; and

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

the RF antenna receives the first command RF signal,

in response to receipt of the first command RF signal, the NFC tag circuit is configured to perform signal processing comprising signal amplification such that the signal processing of the first command RF signal generates a first discretized command data signal carrying the first command of the first external RF reader,

in response to the first discretized command data signal, the NFC main chip processes the first discretized command data signal for extracting therefrom the first command of the first external RF reader and subsequently further provides, to the NFC tag circuit, a first responsive data signal carrying a first response of the mobile phone that relates to the mobile phone'"'"'s performing of the first action in response to the first command of the first external RF reader, and

in response to the first responsive data signal, the NFC tag circuit modulates the first responsive data signal to provide a first responsive RF signal to the RF antenna such that the first external RF reader can read from the RF antenna the first responsive RF signal carrying the first response while the mobile phone maintains tagging with the first external RF terminal, and

subsequently the display displays information indicative of the mobile phone'"'"'s performing of the first action in accordance with the first command of the first external RF reader.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a power source external to the NFC module, wherein upon detection of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the mobile phone supplies power if power has not been supplied to the NFC tag circuit.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the NFC module further comprises a tuning circuit electrically interposed between the NFC tag circuit and the RF antenna, wherein the NFC main chip comprises transmitter terminals electrically connected to the NFC tag circuit for data communication therebetween, wherein the signal processing of the NFC tag circuit further comprises envelope detection and discretization for providing the discretized command data signal to the NFC main chip.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the mobile phone further comprises a controller chip configured to control hardware and operation of the mobile phone in view of NFC communication with external RF readers, wherein the USIM card is electrically connected to the NFC main chip and the controller chip, wherein the NFC main chip communicates with the controller chip rather than the USIM card for performing the first action.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the controller chip comprises an IRQ input terminal, wherein in response to receipt of the first command RF signal at the RF antenna, the controller chip is notified of the receipt of the first command RF signal via the IRQ input terminal, wherein the IRQ input terminal of the controller chip is connected to an IRQ output terminal of the NFC main chip.