MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE INCLUDING NFC ANTENNA SCANNING SWITCH AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20130189923A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: LEWIN, Mathias
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device may include a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, and a near-field communication (NFC) device coupled to the processor. The NFC device may include an NFC controller, an NFC transceiver coupled to the NFC controller, and spaced apart NFC antennas. The NFC device also includes a scanning switch coupled between the spaced apart NFC antennas and the NFC transceiver. The NFC controller may be configured to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna to the NFC transceiver, while attempting to establish NFC communication with an adjacent NFC device. The NFC device may also be configured to lock coupling to a corresponding NFC antenna upon establishing NFC communication with the adjacent NFC device.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a processor coupled to said wireless transceiver; and

a near-field communication (NFC) device coupled to said processor and comprising

an NFC controller,

an NFC transceiver coupled to said NFC controller,

a plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas, and

a scanning switch coupled between said plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas and said NFC transceiver,

said NFC controller configured to operate said scanning switch to

successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver while attempting to establish NFC communication with an adjacent NFC device, and

lock coupling to a corresponding NFC antenna upon establishing NFC communication with the adjacent NFC device.

2. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said NFC controller is configured to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver in a random fashion.

3. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said NFC controller is configured to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver in a predetermined pattern.

4. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said NFC controller is configured to operate the scanning switch to unlock coupling to the corresponding NFC antenna upon losing NFC communication with the adjacent NFC device.

5. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 4, wherein said NFC controller is configured to resume operating the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver while attempting to establish NFC communication with an adjacent NFC device after coupling has been unlocked.

6. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said NFC controller is configured to determine a relative position of the adjacent NFC device based upon the corresponding NFC antenna with locked coupling.

7. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 6, further comprising a display coupled to said processor;

and wherein said processor is configured to generate an image on said display based upon the relative position of the adjacent NFC device.

8. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, further comprising a portable housing carrying said wireless transceiver, said processor, and said NFC device;

and

wherein said plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas is spaced around a periphery of said portable housing.

9. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver comprises a cellular transceiver.

10. A near-field communication (NFC) device to be coupled to a processor of a mobile wireless communications device comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor, the NFC device comprising:

an NFC controller;

an NFC transceiver coupled to said NFC controller;

a plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas; and

a scanning switch coupled between said plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas and said NFC transceiver;

said NFC controller configured to operate said scanning switch to

successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver while attempting to establish NFC communication with an adjacent NFC device, and

lock coupling to a corresponding NFC antenna upon establishing NFC communication with the adjacent NFC device.

11. The NFC device of claim 10, wherein said NFC controller is configured to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver in a random fashion.

12. The NFC device of claim 10, wherein said NFC controller is configured to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver in a predetermined pattern.

13. The NFC device of claim 10, wherein said NFC controller is configured to operate the scanning switch to unlock coupling to the corresponding NFC antenna upon losing NFC communication with the adjacent NFC device.

14. The NFC device of claim 13, wherein said NFC controller is configured to resume operating the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of said plurality thereof to said NFC transceiver while attempting to establish NFC communication with an adjacent NFC device after coupling has been unlocked.

15. The NFC device of claim 10, wherein said NFC controller is configured to determine a relative position of the adjacent NFC device based upon the corresponding NFC antenna with locked coupling.

16. A communications method for a mobile wireless communications device comprising a wireless transceiver, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, and a near-field communication (NFC) device coupled with the processor and comprising an NFC controller, an NFC transceiver coupled with the NFC controller, a plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas, and a scanning switch coupled between the plurality of spaced apart NFC antennas and the NFC transceiver, the method comprising:

using the NFC controller to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of the plurality thereof to the NFC transceiver while attempting to establish NEC communication with an adjacent NFC device; and

using the NEC controller to operate the scanning switch to lock coupling to a corresponding NFC antenna upon establishing NFC communication with the adjacent NFC device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising using the NFC controller to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NEC antenna of the plurality thereof to the NEC transceiver in a random fashion.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising using the NFC controller to operate the scanning switch to successively couple each NEC antenna of the plurality thereof to the NEC transceiver in a predetermined pattern.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising using the NEC controller to operate the scanning switch to unlock coupling to the corresponding NEC antenna upon losing NFC communication with the adjacent NEC device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising using the NFC controller to resume operating the scanning switch to successively couple each NFC antenna of the plurality thereof to the NFC transceiver while attempting to establish NFC communication with an adjacent NFC device after coupling has been unlocked.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising using the NFC controller to determine a relative position of the adjacent NFC device based upon the corresponding NFC antenna with locked coupling.