IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,723,434
Granted Patent B1
US 9,723,434 · App. 15/162,738 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Information handling system proximity sensing

Inventors: Ching-Wei Chang (New Taipei, TW); I-Yu Chen (Taipei, TW)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04W4/008H04B5/00H04W8/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,723,434
App. No.
15/162,738
Filed
May 24, 2016
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B1
Examiner
MATHEW, MAX
Art Unit
2649
USPC
455/41.1
Abstract

A portable information handling system multi-purposes a near field communication (NFC) antenna to detect object proximity of objects by interfacing a capacitive proximity processor with the NFC antenna and isolating the capacitive effects at the NFC antenna with a capacitive matching circuit disposed between the NFC antenna and an NFC transceiver. Comparison of the objects detected proximate the NFC antenna and proximate a conductive antenna provides a distinction of different types of objects, such as human forms versus a desktop.

Claims (42)

1. A portable information handling system comprising:

a planar housing;

a processor disposed in the planar housing and operable to execute instructions to process information;

a memory disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the information;

a display disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the processor and memory, the display operable to present the information as visual images;

a radio disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the processor, the radio operable to transmit wireless signals at selectable signal strengths with conductive effects;

a near field communication (NFC) transceiver disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the processor, the NFC transceiver operable to transmit wireless signals;

an NFC antenna disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the NFC transceiver to support NFC wireless signal communication with inductive effects; and

a proximity processor disposed in the planar housing and interfaced with the NFC antenna, the proximity detector operable to detect proximity of objects to the NFC antenna with capacitive effects, the proximity detector providing the proximity of objects to the radio for selecting signal strength.

2. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a matching circuit disposed between the NFC transceiver and the NFC antenna, the matching circuit having only capacitive elements.

3. The portable information handling system of claim 1 wherein the NFC antenna is disposed at a back side of the planar housing opposite a front side having the display.

4. The portable information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a conductive antenna interfaced with the radio and operable to communicate the wireless signals; and

a proximity sensor disposed proximate the conductive antenna and operable to detect proximity of objects relative to the conductive antenna, the proximity sensor providing the proximity of objects to the radio for selecting signal strength.

5. The portable information handling system of claim 4 further comprising an object analyzer interfaced with the radio and operable to compare proximity of objects from the proximity processor and the proximity sensor to select the signal strength.

6. The portable information handling system of claim 5 wherein detection of an object proximate the NFC antenna without detection of an object proximate the conductive antenna selects full signal strength.

7. The portable information handling system of claim 5 wherein detection of a constant object proximate the NFC detection with detection of a variable object proximate the conductive antenna selects signal strength based upon proximity of the object to the conductive antenna.

8. The portable information handling system of claim 5 wherein the conductive antenna comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN) antenna.

9. A method for selecting radio signal strength at a portable information handling system, the method comprising:

interfacing a proximity processor with a near field communication (NFC) antenna;

monitoring electrostatic charge at the NFC antenna with the proximity processor to sense proximate objects by changes in capacitive effects at the NFC antenna; and

providing the sensed proximate objects to a radio to select signal strength transmitted by the radio, the radio sending wireless signals with conductive effects.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

interfacing the NFC antenna with an NFC transceiver; and

isolating the NFC transceiver from the capacitive effects with a capacitive matching circuit disposed between the NFC antenna and the NFC transceiver.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

monitoring proximity of objects to a conductive antenna that sends that radio signals at the radio signal strength with a proximity sensor disposed proximate the conductive antenna; and

selecting the radio signal strength at least in part by comparing the proximity of objects to the NFC antenna and the conductive antenna.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the conductive antenna comprises a wireless local area network antenna.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the conductive antenna comprises a wireless wide area network antenna.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting the radio signal strength by comparing the proximity of objects further comprises comparing changes in proximity of objects to the NFC antenna and the conductive antenna as the proximity of objects changes over time.

15. A portable information handling system proximity detector comprising:

a near field communication (NFC) antenna;

an NFC transceiver interfaced with the NFC antenna and operable to perform NFC communications through the NFC antenna with inductive effects associated with the NFC antenna;

a proximity processor interfaced with the NFC antenna and operable to perform proximity detection of objects proximate the NFC antenna with electrostatic effects associated with the NFC antenna;

a capacitive matching circuit disposed between the NFC antenna and the NFC transceiver, the capacitive matching circuit isolating the NFC transceiver from the electrostatic effects;

a radio operable to communicate wireless signals with conductive effects;

a radio antenna disposed distal the NFC antenna and interfaced with the radio, the radio antenna operable to transmit and receive the wireless signals with the conductive effects; and

a proximity sensor disposed proximate the radio antenna and interfaced with the radio, the radio operable to alter wireless signal strength based at least in part on objects detected by the proximity sensor.

16. The portable information handling system proximity detector of claim 15 wherein the radio interfaces with the proximity processor to alter wireless signal strength based at least in part on a comparison of objects detected proximate the NFC antenna.

17. The portable information handling system proximity detector of claim 16 wherein the radio comprises a wireless local area network radio.

18. The portable information handling system proximity detector of claim 16 wherein the radio comprises a wireless wide area network radio.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (NOTES) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040026/0710 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0329 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040013/0733 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039643/0953 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039719/0889 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039644/0084 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2016
From: CHANG, CHING-WEI; CHEN, I-YU
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 038697/0844 →