IP Library Granted Patent US 8,311,504
Granted Patent B2
US 8,311,504 · App. 13/047,222 · Granted Nov 13, 2012

Method and system for utilizing a frequency modulation (FM) antenna system for near field communication (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID)

Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,311,504
App. No.
13/047,222
Granted
Nov 13, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for wireless communication is provided and may include configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals. An antenna and at least one inductor in the antenna system may be configured for receiving external signals at a first frequency. An inductor and a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference may be configured for receiving the external signals at a different frequency if the frequency is utilized for backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception. Near field communication (NFC) signals may be received at the different frequency for backscattered signals. Radio frequency identification (RFID) signals may be received at the different frequency for magnetically coupled signals. The first frequency may be within the FM frequency band. The antenna system may be configured to transmit signals to be subsequently received as backscattered signals or magnetically coupled signals.

Claims (27)

1. A system for wireless communication, said system comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to one or more inductors, said RF transceiver configured to receive a wireless signal;

a control circuit configured to utilize a switch to couple an antenna to said one or more inductors when a frequency of said wireless signal is utilized for frequency modulation (FM) signal reception;

wherein said control circuit is configured to utilize said switch to couple a bias voltage to said one or more inductors when said frequency of said wireless signal is utilized for near field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) communications signal reception.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said control circuit is configured to select said frequency of said wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays coupled to said one or more inductors.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein each of said one or more capacitive arrays comprises a plurality of switches configured to couple one or more of a plurality of capacitors to each of said one or more capacitive arrays.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said bias voltage comprises one of a voltage source, a capacitor and a ground reference.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said frequency of said wireless signal utilized for said FM signal reception is between 87.5 MHz and 108 MHz.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said frequency of said wireless signal utilized for said NFC or RFID communications is approximately 13.5 MHz.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said control circuit is configured to compensate for a center frequency drift of said wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays coupled to said one or more inductors.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein said control circuit is configured to select a modified version of said frequency to receive an FM signal at said modified version of said frequency.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said RF transceiver enables detection of electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium for said NFC or RFID communications signal reception via said one or more inductors.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said RF transceiver receives data in said wireless signal based on detected variations in a strength of said electromagnetic energy.

11. A method for wireless communication, said method comprising:

in a system comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to one or more inductors:

selecting a frequency of a wireless signal by adjusting a capacitance of one or more capacitive arrays coupled to said one or more inductors;

configuring a switch to couple an antenna to said one or more inductors when a frequency of said wireless signal is utilized for frequency modulation (FM) signal reception;

configuring said switch to couple a bias voltage to said one or more inductors when said frequency of said wireless signal is utilized for near field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) communications signal reception.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said adjusting said capacitance of said one or more capacitive arrays further comprises utilizing a plurality of switches to couple one or more of a plurality of capacitors to each of said one or more capacitive arrays.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said bias voltage comprises one of a voltage source, a capacitor and a ground reference.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said frequency of said wireless signal utilized for said FM signal reception is between 87.5 MHz and 108 MHz.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said frequency of said wireless signal utilized for said NFC or RFID communications is approximately 13.5 MHz.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising compensating for a center frequency drift of said wireless signal by adjusting said capacitance of said one or more capacitive arrays coupled to said one or more inductors.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a center frequency drift of said wireless signal utilizing a received signal strength indication of said wireless signal or a bit error rate of said wireless signal.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selecting a modified version of said frequency to receive an FM signal at said modified version of said frequency.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting electromagnetic energy in a wireless medium for said NFC or RFID communications signal reception via said one or more inductors.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said RF transceiver receives data in said wireless signal based on detected variations in a strength of said electromagnetic energy.

Assignments (7)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2017
From: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.; NXP USA, INC.
To: NXP USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 042525/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ADD OMITTED PAGE 6 OF 22 TO THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040569 FRAME: 0572. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 042108/0597 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040569/0572 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040192/0701 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2012
From: ROFOUGARAN, AHMADREZA
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027496/0477 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 11536676 · Sep 29, 2006
Related Publication 20110165838A1 · Jul 7, 2011