NFC architecture

• US 9,634,727 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Ozenne, Patrick Andre Yves, Merlin, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Liao, Hsin-Chun
• Application Number:
  US14/268,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 90, 455575, 375267
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0802 using antenna selection H04B7/0868 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24

Abstract

Disclosed is an integrated circuit, system or architecture suitable for NFC functionality and including an NFC companion block connectible to a power source and capable to providing a non-continuous power boost to NFC signals, inter alia, thereby facilitating use of a broader range of antennas, multiple antennas, and thereby providing greater NFC functionality and versatility Further disclosed is a detachable antenna embedded in a potentially detachable shell which closely fits a mobile device and is adapted for use with the above mentioned integrated circuit, system or architecture.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a first antenna, a second antenna and an antenna matching circuit;

an antenna changer circuit for switching between the first antenna and the second antenna; and

an NFC companion circuit configured and arranged to be connected to the first antenna and connected to a power source, the NFC companion circuit being further configured and arranged to operate in a first mode and in a second mode by passing a signal from another circuit toward the first antenna, wherein in the respective first and second modes the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to pass the signal at a first power level and at a second power level that is higher than the first power level, wherein in the second mode the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to provide a non-continuous power boost by using the power source to increase a power of the signal being provided from the other circuit to the first antenna, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost in response to a difference in antenna impedance, and therein being automatically switchable between the first mode and the second mode and between the first and second antennas.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1,

wherein the antenna matching circuit is configured and arranged to provide an impedance match to either the first antenna or the second antenna.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the second antenna is designed to operate at a higher power level than the first antenna.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the other circuit includes an NFC controller circuit connected to the NFC companion circuit, wherein in the second mode the NFC controller circuit is configured and arranged to control the NFC companion circuit and to cause the NFC companion circuit to provide the non-continuous power boost to the signal provided from the NFC controller circuit, and wherein in the first mode the NFC companion circuit is further configured and arranged to pass the signal without increasing the power level of the signal provided from the NFC controller circuit.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost in response to a sensed difference in antenna impedance.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 5, in which the second antenna is embedded in a detachable shell.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further including circuitry configured and arranged for communications using a protocol chosen from the group consisting of:

WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth.

8. A mobile device comprising:

an NFC companion circuit;

an NFC controller circuit connected to the NFC companion circuit and configured and arranged to control operation of the NFC companion circuit, and wherein the NFC controller circuit includes a transmitter configured and arranged to provide signals to the NFC companion circuit;

a power source connected to the NFC companion circuit; and

two antennas connected to the NFC companion circuit, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to operate in a first mode and in a second mode by passing the signals from the NFC controller circuit toward a first antenna of the two antenna, wherein in the respective first and second modes the NFC companion circuit is further configured and arranged to pass the signals at a first power level and at a second power level that is higher than the first power level, wherein in the second mode the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to provide a non-continuous power boost by using the power source to increase a power of the signals being provided from the NFC controller circuit to a second antenna of the two antennas, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost in response to a sensed difference in antenna impedance between the two antennas.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, further including a detachable shell closely fitting said mobile device and containing the second antenna embedded therein, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost, and thereby switch between the first mode and second mode.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to provide the non-continuous power boost by increasing a power-level of the signals being provided from the NFC controller circuit to the first antenna, wherein the increased power-level is from the first power level to the second power level, and wherein in the first mode the NFC companion circuit is further configured and arranged to pass the signals from the NFC controller circuit without increasing the power-level of the signals being provided from the NFC controller circuit, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost, and thereby automatically switching between the first mode and second mode and switching between the first and second antennas.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, further including an antenna matching circuit configured and arranged to provide an impedance match to the antenna, and wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost in response to a sensed difference in the antenna impedance.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, further including a detachable shell closely fitting the mobile device, wherein the two antennas is embedded in the detachable shell.

13. An integrated circuit comprising:

an NFC companion circuit connectable to a first antenna, a second antenna, and connectable to a power source, the NFC companion circuit being configured and arranged to operate in a first mode and in a second mode by passing a signal from an NFC controller circuit toward the first antenna, wherein in the respective first and second modes the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to pass the signal at a first power level and at a second power level that is higher than the first power level, wherein in the second mode the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to provide a non-continuous power boost to increase a power of the signal, in response to a sensed difference in antenna impedance, being provided from the NFC companion circuit to the first antenna from the first power level to the second power level, and thereby automatically switching between the first mode and the second mode and switching between the first and second antennas; and

the NFC controller circuit connected to the NFC companion circuit, wherein the NFC controller circuit is configured and arranged to control the NFC companion circuit to cause the NFC companion circuit to provide the non-continuous power boost.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 13, further including:

the first antenna configured and arranged to operate at the first power level in response to the NFC companion circuit passing the signal without the non-continuous power boost; and

the second antenna configured and arranged to operate at the second power level in response to the NFC companion circuit passing the signal with the non-continuous power boost.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 14, further including:

antenna matching circuitry configured and arranged to provide an impedance match to the first antenna;

antenna changing circuitry configured and arranged to selectively connect the first antenna to the antenna matching circuitry; and

wherein in the first mode the NFC companion circuit and the NFC controller circuit are configured and arranged to provide the signal without the power boost to the antenna matching circuitry.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 14, further including:

antenna matching circuitry configured and arranged to provide an impedance match to the second antenna;

antenna changing circuitry configured and arranged to selectively connect the second antenna to the antenna matching circuitry; and

wherein in the second mode the NFC companion circuit and the NFC controller circuit are configured and arranged to provide the signal with the power boost to the antenna matching circuitry.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 14, wherein the NFC companion circuit and the NFC controller circuit are embedded in a mobile device and wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are embedded in a detachable shell closely fitting the mobile device.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 13, further including:

antenna matching circuitry configured and arranged to provide an impedance match to either the first antenna or the second antenna; and

antenna changing circuitry configured and arranged to selectively connect the first antenna or the second antenna to the antenna matching circuitry.

19. The integrated circuit of claim 13, wherein the NFC companion circuit is configured and arranged to enable the power boost by sensing the difference in antenna impedance.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 13, wherein the NFC companion circuit and the NFC controller circuit are embedded in a mobile device and wherein the first antenna is embedded in a detachable shell closely fitting the mobile device.