Near field communication and wireless charging device and switching method using the same

• US 9,608,473 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Ho, Chien-TIng, Lin, Keng-Chih, Chen, Chien-Chih, Kuo, Yen-Liang, Hu, Chih-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodas, Richard Isla
• Assistant Examiner(s): Henze-Gongola, David V
• Application Number:
  US14/324,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20160006290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A near field communication and wireless charging device includes a coil, a tuning module, a near field communication module, a wireless charging module, and a power storage device. The coil is configured to receive electromagnetic waves. The tuning module is electrically connected to the coil. The near field communication module includes an attenuator and a near field communication control circuit. The attenuator is configured to attenuate the energy of electromagnetic waves transmitted from the tuning module. The near field communication control circuit is electrically connected to the attenuator. The power storage device is electrically connected to the wireless charging module. Electromagnetic waves are magnetically coupling to the coil, and the coil transmits signals of the electromagnetic waves to the near field communication module through the tuning module, or transmits the energy of the electromagnetic waves to the power storage device through the tuning module and the wireless charging module.

Claims

1. A near field communication and wireless charging device comprising:

a coil configured to receive electromagnetic waves;

a tuning module electrically connected to the coil, wherein the tuning module comprises;

a first tuning element electrically connected to the near field communication module and the coil; and

a second tuning element electrically connected to the wireless charging module and the coil, wherein a capacitance of the first tuning element is smaller than a capacitance of the second tuning element;

a near field communication module comprising;

an attenuator configured to attenuate the energy of the electromagnetic waves transmitted from the tuning module; and

a near field communication control circuit electrically connected to the attenuator to process near field communication information of the electromagnetic waves attenuated by the attenuator;

a wireless charging module; and

a power storage device electrically connected to the wireless charging module,

wherein the electromagnetic waves are capable of magnetically coupling to the coil, such that the coil transmits signals of the electromagnetic waves to the near field communication module through the tuning module, or transmits the energy of the electromagnetic waves to the power storage device through the tuning module and the wireless charging module.

2. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging module comprises:

a rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic waves into a direct current; and

a power management integrated circuit configured to transmit the direct current to the power storage device and manage power transfer of the power storage device.

3. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 2, wherein the wireless charging module further comprises:

a switch electrically connected to the rectifier and the power management integrated circuit, wherein the switch has a power threshold;

when a power of the direct current is higher than the power threshold, the rectifier and the power management integrated circuit are electrically connected; and

when the power of the direct current is lower than the power threshold, the switch is open.

4. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 3, wherein the switch is a single pole single throw switch.

5. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 2, wherein the wireless charging module further comprises:

a voltage converter configured to adjust a voltage of the direct current.

6. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 5, wherein the wireless charging module further comprises:

a transmitting transceiver electrically connected to the voltage converter and configured to communicate with a transmission source to decide whether to actuate the voltage converter according to a transmission result with the transmission source.

7. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging module comprises:

a matching circuit configured to match an impedance between the coil and a transmission source.

8. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the near field communication module further comprises:

a matching circuit configured to match an impedance between the coil and a transmission source.

9. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 1, wherein the coil defines a through hole by a looped configuration, and the near field communication module, the wireless charging module, and the power storage device form a metal area disposed in the through hole.

10. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional area of the through hole changes along an axis of the through hole.

11. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first shielding layer disposed between the metal area and the coil.

12. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 11, further comprising:

a housing disposed around the coil.

13. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 12, wherein when the housing is made by conductive material, the near field communication and wireless charging device further comprising:

a second shielding layer disposed between the housing and the coil.

14. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 11, wherein the first shielding layer is configured to be a carrier of the coil.

15. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 12, wherein the housing is configured to be a carrier of the coil.

16. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 13, wherein the second shielding layer is configured to be a carrier of the coil.

17. The near field communication and wireless charging device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wearable structure configured to allow a user to wear the near field communication and wireless charging device, wherein the coil is disposed at a surface of a body of the near field communication and wireless charging device away from the user.

18. A switch method of near field communication and wireless charging comprising:

detecting an operation frequency of electromagnetic waves received by a coil; and

selecting to proceed a near field communication mode or a wireless charging mode according to the operating frequency;

if selecting the near field communication mode, transmitting the energy of the electromagnetic waves through a first tuning element and attenuating the energy of the electromagnetic waves and then processing information of the electromagnetic waves; and

if selecting the wireless charging mode, transmitting the energy of the electromagnetic waves to a power storage device through a second tuning element which has a capacitance greater than a capacitance of the first tuning element.

19. The switch method of claim 18, wherein selecting the near field communication mode comprises:

processing a transmission confirmation with a transmission source, wherein if the transmission confirmation is positive, processing signals of the electromagnetic waves; and

if the transmission confirmation is negative, stopping processing the signals of the electromagnetic waves.

20. The switch method of claim 18, wherein selecting the wireless charging mode comprises:

processing a transmission confirmation with a transmission source, wherein if the transmission confirmation is positive, transmitting the energy of the electromagnetic waves to the power storage device; and

if the transmission confirmation is negative, stopping transmitting the energy of the electromagnetic waves to the power storage device.