Near field communications (NFC) and proximity sensor for portable devices
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsSongnan Yang, Anand S. Konanur, Ulun Karacaoglu, Hao-Han Hsu
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Abstract
Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and proximity sensing operations. For example, a proximity sensor uses a coil antenna that is utilized for near field communications (NFC) functions. The proximity sensor may be integrated into an NFC module to form a single module.
Claims22
A portable electronic device, comprising:
- a near field communications (NFC) circuitry adapted to transmit or receive NFC electrical signals via a coil antenna having at least first and second coil antenna terminals, the coil antenna defining a close ended antenna during NFC process;
- a proximity sensing circuitry adapted to receive proximity sensing electrical signals from the coil antenna, the coil antenna defining an open-ended antenna during proximity sensing process;
- a first switch to couple the proximity sensing circuitry to the first coil antenna terminal;
- a second switch to couple the NFC circuitry to the first coil antenna terminal;
- and
- a third switch to couple the NFC circuitry to the second coil antenna terminal.
An electronic device to provide proximity detection and Near-Field Communication (NFC), the device comprising:
- an NFC circuitry to transmit or to receive NFC electrical signals via an antenna, wherein the NFC electrical signals comprise high frequency NFC signals from a first external source;
- and
- a proximity sensing circuitry to receive proximity sensing electrical signals from the antenna from a second external source;
- wherein the NFC circuitry and the proximity sensing circuitry form part of a single module.
An electronic device to provide proximity detection and Near-Field Communication (NFC), the device comprising a switching circuitry to receive a first signal from an antenna configured to operate as an open-ended antenna and to direct the first signal to a proximity detection module to detect proximity to an external object, the switching circuitry configured to receive a second signal from the antenna configured to operate as a close-ended antenna and to direct the second signal to an NFC module for the NFC communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.