All-in-one method for wireless connectivity and contactless battery charging of small wearables
First Claim
1. A wearable device comprising:
- a battery;
an antenna coil;
a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery;
an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal;
an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to send and receive audio streams;
a controller; and
an adjustable capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to provide a tunable resonant frequency, wherein the controller adjusts the resonant frequency to a value suitable for a selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One illustrative wearable device embodiment includes: a battery; an antenna coil; a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery; an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal; and an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to send and receive audio streams. An illustrative wireless communications method embodiment includes: coupling an antenna coil to a wireless charging module to charge a battery; coupling the antenna coil to an NFC (near field communications) module; and coupling the antenna coil to an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module to send or receive an audio stream. When coupled, the NFC module receives a query signal, provides a tag response signal, and receives a command signal to set at least one parameter value affecting rendering of the audio stream.
16 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wearable device comprising:
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a battery; an antenna coil; a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery; an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal; an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to send and receive audio streams; a controller; and an adjustable capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to provide a tunable resonant frequency, wherein the controller adjusts the resonant frequency to a value suitable for a selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A wireless communication method that comprises:
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coupling an antenna coil to a wireless charging module to charge a battery; coupling the antenna coil to an NFC (near field communications) module, the NFC module; receiving a query signal; providing a tag response signal; and receiving a command signal to set at least one parameter value affecting rendering of an audio stream; coupling the antenna coil to an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module to send or receive the audio stream; and adjusting a capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to tune a resonant frequency to a value suitable for a selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hearing aid that comprises:
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a microphone; a speaker; a battery; an antenna coil around a ferrite element; a controller powered by the battery, wherein the controller filters and amplifies sound received via the microphone for playback via the speaker, and wherein the controller includes; a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery; an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal, wherein the NFC module further reports parameter values and accepts new parameter values for operation as said hearing aid; and an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to exchange audio streams with a second hearing aid in an opposite ear, wherein the controller selectively enables only one of the wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules at a time by setting an adjustable capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to provide a tunable resonant frequency, wherein the controller adjusts the resonant frequency to a value suitable for the selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules.
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Specification