Systems and methods for switching quality factors during inductively coupled communications

• US 9,553,747 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramakrishnan, Prasannasarathy
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, David B.
• Application Number:
  US14/580,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20160182263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/04 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits

Abstract

A method for inductively coupled communications is described. The method includes applying a high loaded quality factor to a matching network of an active transmitter during an amplitude modulation (AM) high state. The method also includes switching to a low loaded quality factor for the matching network during an AM low state.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

applying a high loaded quality factor to a matching network of an active transmitter during an amplitude modulation (AM) high state;

switching to a low loaded quality factor for the matching network during an AM low state;

selecting different impedances for the high loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the high loaded quality factor include impedance values for a source impedance and a reactive load impedance; and

selecting different impedances for the low loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the low loaded quality factor include impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active transmitter transfers power and can be used in both an initiator mode and a target mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the high loaded quality factor and the low loaded quality factor are produced by changing the source impedance with respect to a matching network impedance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein for the high loaded quality factor, there is less mismatch between the source impedance and the matching network impedance than the low loaded quality factor.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the high loaded quality factor is produced by setting the source impedance equal to the matching network impedance, and wherein the low loaded quality factor is produced by setting the source impedance to a mismatch state with respect to the matching network impedance.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising changing a quality factor of a reactive load on the matching network to produce the high loaded quality factor and the low loaded quality factor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein components of the matching network are fixed for different data rates and at least one of a source quality factor and a reactive load quality factor switch between the AM high state and the AM low state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching a quality factor of a reactive load between the AM high state and the AM low state, wherein the reactive load is an inductively coupled target load seen by the transmitter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein switching the quality factor of the reactive load is done in combination with switching a source quality factor.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising switching the quality factor of the reactive load without switching a source quality factor during low-power transmitter conditions, wherein the low-power transmitter conditions comprise using a high-output impedance transmitter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein during the AM low state, the transmitter is modeled as a voltage source with a series impedance, wherein the voltage source produces zero voltage.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by an initiator near field communication (NFC) device or a target NFC device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a first data rate;

selecting a first impedance for a high loaded quality factor, wherein the first impedance includes impedance values for a source impedance and a reactive load impedance;

selecting a second impedance for the low loaded quality factor, wherein the second impedance includes impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance;

applying a second data rate;

selecting a third impedance for the high loaded quality factor, wherein the third impedance includes impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance; and

selecting a fourth impedance for the low loaded quality factor, wherein the third impedance includes impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the high loaded quality factor for the first data rate is greater than the low loaded quality factor for the first data rate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second impedance is higher than the first impedance.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

apply a high loaded quality factor to a matching network of an active transmitter during an amplitude modulation (AM) high state;

switch to a low loaded quality factor for the matching network during an AM low state;

select different impedances for the high loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the high loaded quality factor include impedance values for a source impedance and a reactive load impedance; and

select different impedances for the low loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the low loaded quality factor include impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the high loaded quality factor and the low loaded quality factor are produced by changing the source impedance with respect to a matching network impedance.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable to change a quality factor of a reactive load on the matching network to produce the high loaded quality factor and the low loaded quality factor.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising instructions executable to switch a quality factor of a reactive load between the AM high state and the AM low state, wherein the reactive load is an inductively coupled target load seen by the transmitter.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for applying a high loaded quality factor to a matching network of an active transmitter during an amplitude modulation (AM) high state;

means for switching to a low loaded quality factor for the matching network during an AM low state;

means for selecting different impedances for the high loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the high loaded quality factor include impedance values for a source impedance and a reactive load impedance; and

means for selecting different impedances for the low loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the low loaded quality factor include impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the high loaded quality factor and the low loaded quality factor are produced by changing the source impedance with respect to a matching network impedance.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for switching a quality factor of a reactive load between the AM high state and the AM low state, wherein the reactive load is an inductively coupled target load seen by the transmitter.

23. A computer-program product, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for causing an electronic device to apply a high loaded quality factor to a matching network of an active transmitter during an amplitude modulation (AM) high state;

code for causing the electronic device to switch to a low loaded quality factor for the matching network during an AM low state;

code for causing the electronic device to select different impedances for the high loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the high loaded quality factor include impedance values for a source impedance and a reactive load impedance; and

code for causing the electronic device to select different impedances for the low loaded quality factor based on different data rates, wherein the different impedances for the low loaded quality factor include impedance values for the source impedance and the reactive load impedance.

24. The computer-program product of claim 23, wherein the high loaded quality factor and the low loaded quality factor are produced by changing the source impedance with respect to a matching network impedance.

25. The computer-program product of claim 23, further comprising code for causing the electronic device to switch a quality factor of a reactive load between the AM high state and the AM low state, wherein the reactive load is an inductively coupled target load seen by the transmitter.