Power harvesting and use in a near field communications (NFC) device
View Patent ↗Apparatus for harvesting and using power in a near field communications mode, includes a host device with operating components. A first near field communication (NFC) device is contained in the host device and is configured to be selectively coupled to one of the operating components. The first NFC device harvests energy from a second NFC device and converts the harvested energy to electrical power. The first NFC device receives information from the second NFC device and power on the operating component as a function of the information received from the second NFC device. The first NFC device transfers data to or from the operating component when the operating component is powered on. The first NFC device powers off the operating component when the transfer of data between the first NFC device and the operating component has been completed.
1. A host device, comprising:
operating equipment comprising a first and second component; and
a first near field communication (NFC) device configured to convert energy received from a second NFC device into electrical power and use the electrical power to power on the first and second component of the operating equipment to perform a function based on a signal received from the second NFC device,
wherein the first NFC device is configured to use the electrical power to power on the second component after powering off the first component,
wherein the first NFC device is configured to instruct the first component to provide data to the first NFC device while the first NFC device uses the electrical power to power the first component, and
wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data to the second component for processing while the first NFC device uses the electrical power to power the second component.
2. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the host device is a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet computing device.
3. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the first component is a memory and the second component is a processor.
4. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the second NFC device is associated with an access device for a mode of transportation.
5. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the second NFC device.
6. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the first component for storage.
7. A host device, comprising:
operating equipment comprising a first and second component; and
a first near field communication (NFC) device configured to convert energy received from a second NFC device into electrical power and use the electrical power to power on the first and second component of the operating equipment to perform a function based on a signal received from the second NFC device,
wherein the first NFC device is configured to use the electrical power to initially power on both the first and second component for a first predetermined period of time and, thereafter, power on the second component but not the first component for at least a second predetermined period of time.
8. The host device of claim 7 , wherein the host device is a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet computing device.
9. The host device of claim 7 , wherein the first component is a memory and the second component is a processor.
10. The host device of claim 7 , wherein the second NFC device is associated with an access device for a mode of transportation.
11. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to instruct the first component to provide the data to the second component during a period of time.
12. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the second component is configured to process the data during a period of time and transfer the data to the first NFC device after having been processed.
13. The host device of claim 12 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the second NFC device.
14. The host device of claim 12 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to transfer the data, after having been processed by the second component, to the first component for storage.
15. A method, comprising:
converting energy wirelessly received at a first near field communication (NFC) device from a second NFC device into electrical power;
using the electrical power to power on a first and second component to perform a function based on a signal received from the second NFC device, wherein the electrical power is used to power on the second component after powering off the first component;
instructing the first component to provide data to the first NFC device while the first NFC device uses the electrical power to power on the first component; and
transferring the data to the second component for processing while the first NFC device uses the electrical power to power on the second component.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first component is a memory and the second component is a processor.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second component are implemented in a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet computing device.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second NFC device is associated with an access device for a mode of transportation.
19. The host device of claim 1 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to use the electrical power to power on the first component for a first predetermined period of time.
20. The host device of claim 19 , wherein the first NFC device is configured to use the electrical power to power on the second component for a second predetermined period of time.