Antenna configuration for dynamic re-distribution of magnetic fields

• US 9,935,691 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Konanur, Anand S., Yang, Songnan, Lee, Kwan Ho, Karacaoglu, Ulun, Adrangi, Farid
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAKRABORTY, RAJARSHI
• Application Number:
  US14/134,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20150180552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/005 with variable reactance for tuning the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for dynamic re-distribution of magnetic fields in a device during near field communication (NFC) related functions or transactions and/or wireless charging.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a primary coil antenna including a continuous loop of coil antenna line to form an outermost loop and an innermost loop;

a loop array including a plurality of loop antennas that are disposed on top of and within an area defined by the innermost loop of the primary coil antenna, wherein each loop antenna of the plurality of loop antennas is operated independently from other of the loop antennas, each loop is configured to have a resonance frequency that is below an operating frequency of the primary coil antenna upon activation;

a near field communication (NFC) transceiver coupled to the primary coil antenna and the loop array, and configured to process signals received through the primary coil antenna; and

one or more processors coupled to the NFC transceiver, to the loop array, and to the primary coil antenna, and configured to detect a location of a coupling secondary coil antenna, and selectively activate the plurality of loop antennas based on the detected location of the coupling secondary coil antenna, the selectively activating being to re-distribute a magnetic field from the primary coil antenna based on the detected location.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the detection of the location includes measuring field strength due to mutual induction between the primary coil antenna and the coupling secondary coil antenna.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic field from the primary coil antenna induces currents to the plurality of loop antennas of the loop array.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to have an operating frequency at or near 13.56 MHz.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a capacitor that is connected to each of the plurality of loop antennas, wherein the capacitor is adjusted to resonate each of the plurality of loop antennas below the operating frequency of the primary coil antenna.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the loop array is operated independently from the primary coil antenna.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the loop antennas comprises a circular, square, or rectangular shape.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a primary coil antenna that includes an outermost loop and an innermost loop; and

a loop array including a plurality of loop array coils that are disposed over and within an area defined by the innermost loop, wherein each loop array coil of the plurality of loop array coils is operated independently from other of the loop array coils, and each loop array coil upon activation is adjusted to resonate below an operating frequency of the primary coil antenna, the plurality of loop array coils being selectively activated based on a detected location of a secondary coil antenna to re-distribute a magnetic field from the primary coil antenna based on the detected location.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the detection of the location of the secondary coil antenna includes measuring field strength due to mutual induction between the primary coil antenna and the coupling secondary coil antenna.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to be excited with a current to generate the magnetic field, wherein the generated magnetic field from the primary coil antenna includes currents to the plurality of loop array coils.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to have an operating frequency at or near 13.56 MHz.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the primary coil antenna and the loop array form a single circuitry.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the loop array is operated independently from the primary coil antenna.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of loop array coils comprises circular, square, or rectangular shapes.

15. A method of dynamic re-distribution of magnetic fields during near field communications (NFC) related functions or transactions in a device, the method comprising:

providing near field coupling by a primary coil antenna having an outermost loop and an innermost loop;

detecting a location of a coupling secondary coil antenna; and

in response to detecting the location of the coupling secondary coil antenna, selectively activating a plurality of loop array coils disposed over and within an area defined by the innermost loop, wherein each loop array coil of the plurality of loop array coils is operated independently from other of the loop array coils, and each loop array coil is configured to resonate below an operating frequency of the primary coil antenna, the selective activation being to re-distribute a magnetic field from the primary coil antenna based on the detected location.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the detecting of the location includes measuring field strength due to mutual induction between the primary coil antenna and the coupling secondary coil antenna.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the providing of the near field coupling includes generating the magnetic field that induces currents to the plurality of loop array coils by exciting the primary coil antenna.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the primary coil antenna is configured to have an operating frequency at or near 13.56 MHz.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of loop array coils comprises circular, square, or rectangular shapes of coil antenna.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of loop array coils are a plurality of terminated individual capacitors configured to adjust resonance frequency of the plurality of loop array coils.