Noise Responsive Near Field Communication Device

Abstract

An example discloses a near-field wireless communication device, comprising: a near-field antenna; a near-field noise detector coupled to receive a first set of near-field signals from the near-field antenna; wherein the near-field noise detector is configured to identify a set of properties of near-field noise within the first set of near-field signals; a controller configured to generate at least one synchronization signal based on at least one of the properties of the near-field noise; and a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a second set of near-field signals in response to the synchronization signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present specification relates to systems, methods, devices, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and instructions for near field communication devices. Background Art

[0002] Discussed herein is a near-field interaction between one or more near-field devices or conductive surface bodies on a user's body (i.e., on-body devices) and other conductive surfaces and / or other wireless devices (i.e., off-body devices), the near-field interaction being based on any of the following: near-field electromagnetic induction (NFEMI), in which a transmitter and a receiver are coupled via magnetic (H) and electric (E) fields; near-field electric induction (NFEI), in which a transmitter and a receiver are coupled via electric (E) fields; and near-field magnetic induction (NFMI / NFC), in which a transmitter and a receiver are coupled via magnetic (H) fields. While RF wireless communications are accomplished by propagating RF plane waves through free space, NFEMI, NFEI, NFMI, and NFC communicate using non-propagating quasi-static E-field and / or H-field signals. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to an example embodiment, a near-field wireless communication device includes: a near-field antenna; a near-field noise detector coupled to receive a first set of near-field signals from the near-field antenna; wherein the near-field noise detector is configured to identify a set of properties of near-field noise within the first set of near-field signals; a controller configured to generate at least one synchronization signal based on at least one of the properties of the near-field noise; and a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a second set of near-field signals in response to the synchronization signal.

[0004] In another example embodiment, the synchronization signal comprises a timing command; and the transmitter circuit is configured to transmit the second set of near-field signals at a time specified in the timing command.

[0005] In another example embodiment, the synchronization signal comprises a timing command; the second set of near-field signals is divided into a set of data packets; and the timing command specifies a time at which at least one of the data packets in the set of data packets is to be transmitted.

[0006] In another example embodiment, the synchronization signal includes a data packet length command; the second group of near-field signals is divided into a group of data packets; and the transmitter circuit is configured to set the length of at least one of the data packets to the data packet length specified in the data packet length command.

[0007] In another example embodiment, the synchronization signal includes both a timing command and a packet length command; the second group of near-field signals is divided into a group of data packets; the transmitter circuit is configured to set the length of at least one of the data packets to the packet length specified in the packet length command; and the timing command specifies the time at which at least one of the group of data packets is to be transmitted.

[0008] In another example embodiment, the set of properties corresponds to a quasi-periodic pattern in the near-field noise.

[0009] In another example embodiment, the controller is configured to statistically characterize the set of properties in the near-field noise over a predetermined period of time.

[0010] In another example embodiment, the set of properties of the near-field noise includes a bursty portion and a static portion.

[0011] In another example embodiment, the controller is configured to command the transmitter circuit to begin transmitting the second set of near-field signals after a predetermined delay after the burst portion of the near-field noise ends.

[0012] In another example embodiment, the controller is configured to set the predetermined delay based on a mean, a median, or a standard deviation of durations of the burst portions of the near-field noise.

[0013] In another example embodiment, the controller is configured to command the transmitter circuit to begin transmitting the second set of near-field signals after a predetermined delay after the burst portion of the near-field noise begins.

[0014] In another example embodiment, the controller is configured to command the transmitter circuit to set a data packet length of the second set of near-field signals based on a mean, median, or standard deviation of a duration of the static portion of the near-field noise.

[0015] In another example embodiment, the data packet length varies as the burst portion or the static portion of the near-field noise signal varies.

[0016] In another example embodiment, the near-field antenna includes an electric (E) near-field antenna and a magnetic (H) near-field antenna; the near-field noise includes near-field electric noise; and the controller is configured to generate the synchronization signal based only on the pattern in the near-field electric noise.

[0017] In another example embodiment, the near-field antenna includes an electric (E) near-field antenna and a magnetic (H) near-field antenna; the near-field noise includes near-field magnetic noise; and the controller is configured to generate the synchronization signal based only on the pattern in the near-field magnetic noise.

[0018] In another example embodiment, the near-field antenna includes an electric (E) near-field antenna and a magnetic (H) near-field antenna; the near-field noise includes both near-field electric noise and near-field magnetic noise; and the controller is configured to generate the synchronization signal based on the pattern in both the near-field electric noise and the near-field magnetic noise.

[0019] In another example embodiment, the near-field antenna includes an electric (E) near-field antenna and a magnetic (H) near-field antenna; and the controller is configured to modulate a ratio of energy sent to and / or received from each of the electric antenna and the magnetic antenna in response to a ratio of near-field electric noise to near-field magnetic noise.

[0020] In another example embodiment, the device is embedded in at least one of: a smartphone, a smart watch, a sensor, a medical sensor, an earbud, or an audio device.

[0021] In another example embodiment, the near-field antenna comprises at least one conductive surface; and wherein the conductive surface is configured to carry a non-propagating quasi-static near-field electro-induction signal.

[0022] In another example embodiment, the near-field antenna comprises at least one coil; and the coil is configured to carry a non-propagating quasi-static near-field magnetic induction signal.

[0023] The above discussion is not intended to represent every example embodiment or every implementation within the scope of current or future claim sets.The following figures and detailed description also exemplify various example embodiments.

[0024] Various example embodiments may be more fully understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is the first example of a near-field wireless device. Figure 2 is an example of the first group of near-field noise.

[0026] Figure 3 is an example of the second group of near-field noise.

[0027] Figure 4 is an example of the third group of near-field noise.

[0028] Figure 5 is a second example of a near-field wireless device.

[0029] Figure 6 is a third example of a near-field wireless device.

[0030] Although the present disclosure allows for various modifications and alternative forms, the details of the present disclosure have been shown in the drawings by way of example and will be described in detail. However, it should be understood that other embodiments other than the specific embodiments described may also exist. All modifications, equivalents and alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims are also encompassed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In various example embodiments, the first near-field antenna comprises a near-field electric induction antenna (eg, an NFEI antenna or an NFEMI antenna) and is configured for on-body communication. The second near-field antenna comprises a near-field magnetic induction antenna (eg, an NFC antenna) and is configured for off-body communication.

[0032] For example, the on-body sensor in the first near-field wireless device may be configured to transmit the sensor's reading to a second on-body near-field wireless device, which collects the sensor's reading and possibly other user information. The third off-body wireless device may be a smartphone / NFC reader that powers the second on-body near-field wireless device that collects the sensor's reading, and thereby causes the second on-body near-field wireless device to transmit the collected sensor's reading to the smartphone / NFC reader.

[0033] Note that although the example embodiments discussed herein refer to the user's body, on-body, and outside of the body, in alternative embodiments of the near-field device 100, the body is broadly defined herein to include at least: a human body, an animal body, a living body, a body structure of an inanimate object, a robot, a vehicle, a docking system, a physically coupled system, a workbench on an assembly line, etc.

[0034] H-field antennas (i.e., magnetic antennas) are primarily sensitive to magnetic fields and / or induce magnetic fields primarily when driven by current. Any E-field component from an H-field antenna is greatly reduced (e.g., from -20 dB to -60 dB, a factor of 0.1 to 0.0008 (10% to 0.08%), depending on the antenna design).

[0035] A small loop antenna is an example H-field antenna and includes a loop antenna with dimensions much smaller than the wavelength it is used in. The small loop antenna does not resonate at the NFEMI carrier frequency, but is instead tuned to resonance by an external reactance. In some example embodiments, the current in the small loop antenna has the same value in each position of the loop.

[0036] E-field antennas (i.e., electric antennas) are primarily sensitive to electric fields and / or induce electric fields primarily when driven by voltage. Any H-field component from an E-field antenna is greatly reduced (e.g., from -20 dB to -60 dB, a factor of 0.1 to 0.0008 (10% to 0.08%), depending on the antenna design).

[0037] The short loaded dipole antenna is an example E-field antenna and includes a short dipole with dimensions much smaller than the NFEMI carrier frequency and in some example embodiments has additional capacitive surfaces at both ends.

[0038] The quasi-static nature of these fields is a result of the combination of the size of the NFEMI antenna and its carrier frequency. Most of the near-field energy is stored in the form of magnetic and electric fields, while a small amount of RF energy inevitably propagates in free space. Small antenna geometry minimizes radiated waves in free space.

[0039] While on-body and off-body communications can achieve high energy efficiency in communication, the quality and / or stability of near-field communications may be impaired by noise energy in the near-field frequency band generated from various sources (e.g., computer keyboards, computer monitors, touchpads / screens, smartphones in use, etc.), which may disrupt and / or interfere with communications between groups of near-field communication devices.

[0040] Now discussed is a near-field based wireless device for detecting and modulating its data transmission based on quasi-periodic patterns in near-field noise / interference levels. Studies have shown that various wireless signal generating devices (e.g., household devices, computers, vehicles, etc.) also generate noise in either or both of the near-field magnetic signal band and the near-field electrical signal band. The near-field noise has a bursty / static pattern detected by the near-field based wireless device discussed below and is suitable for improving the reliability and stability of near-field communication devices.

[0041] Quasi-periodic is defined herein to include patterns (e.g., burst / static patterns) having varying burst and / or static statistical periods / durations in a first time period, but having more stable burst and / or static statistical periods / durations in a second time period. In some example embodiments, the first time period is shorter than the second time period, but in other example embodiments, the first time period is longer than the second time period.

[0042] It should be noted that although the various example embodiments discussed herein refer to a "user", in alternative embodiments, the near-field device 100 may be completely controlled by other objects, entities, etc., such as a robot, a vehicle, a docking system, a physically coupled system, a station on an assembly line, etc.

[0043] Figure 1 is a first example of a near field wireless device 100. The first example near field wireless device 100 includes a near field antenna 102, a tuning circuit 104, a controller 108 having a near field noise detector 114, and a transceiver circuit 112.

[0044] In various example embodiments, the near field antenna 102 may be a NFEMI, NFEI, NFC, or NFMI antenna. Thus, the antenna 102 includes a coil (H-field) antenna for the magnetic field, and a short loaded dipole (E-field) antenna for the electric field. The H-field antenna may include a ferrite core wrapped with a wire or may be a planar design. The E-field antenna may include one or two conductive loading structures / plates. The antenna 102 will include two or more feed points designed to couple to various transceiver circuit systems such as a tuning circuit 104 and / or other downstream radio transmitter and receiver integrated circuits (RF-ICs) (not shown).

[0045] The controller 108 is configured to monitor and maintain the operating resonant frequency of the device 100 and the operating bandwidth / quality factor of the near-field signal (e.g., NFEI or NFEMI) carried by the near-field antenna. The controller 108 is configured to adjust the tuning parameters if the operating resonant frequency is different from the preselected resonant frequency and / or the operating bandwidth is different from the preselected bandwidth.

[0046] The controller 108 is also configured to detect and monitor near-field noise received from various interference sources, characterize patterns in the near-field noise (e.g., identify a set of properties of the near-field noise) (e.g., having noise burst portions / periods, static / minimal noise portions / periods, or other types of properties), and generate various synchronization / adaptation signals based on these patterns / properties.

[0047] The tuning circuit 104 is configured to adjust the resonant frequency of the device 100 using a capacitor bank (C bank) and adjust the bandwidth using a resistor bank (R bank) in response to a signal from the controller 108. In some examples, the discrete components of the C bank and the R bank are approximately 130 pF and 5000 ohms, respectively, to support the desired resonant frequency (e.g., 10.6 MHz) and bandwidth (e.g., 400 KHz). The controller 108 is configured to use the tuning circuit 104 to adjust (e.g., increment / decrement) the C bank and R bank values.

[0048] Transceiver circuitry 112 is configured to receive near-field communications signals from and transmit near-field communications signals to various other baseband circuitry (not shown).

[0049] The near-field noise detector 114 is coupled to receive a near-field signal from a receiver portion of the transceiver circuit 112 and identify the near-field noise. In various example embodiments, the near-field noise detector 114 may include a basic circuit or a complex circuit that characterizes the near-field noise in various ways. In some example embodiments, the near-field noise detector 114 may dynamically identify attributes, such as a noise burst portion / period and a static period / portion in the near-field noise. These or other attributes may be updated quickly or slowly in a statistical manner as needed depending on the stability of the desired near-field communication link. In other example embodiments, the near-field noise detector 114 may further characterize the near-field noise over a possibly longer period of time, and / or identify other portions or sub-portions other than the burst and static portions.

[0050] Based on the burst and static portions identified by near field noise detector 114, controller 108 then configures transceiver circuit 112 to transmit near field communication signals at specific times and for specific durations synchronized with the quasi-periodicity of the near field burst noise / interference so as to provide the lowest possible packet error rate.

[0051] For example, a specific time may be set so that the start of near field communication signal transmission is synchronized with the end of an interference burst in the near field noise signal pattern. In some example embodiments, the specific duration of near field communication signal transmission is set to be less than the mean, standard deviation, median, etc. of the static time intervals between noise / interference bursts.

[0052] The following Figure 2 , 3 and 4 An example of near-field noise with quasi-periodic bursts and static noise periods / portions is shown.

[0053] Figure 2 2 is a first set of near-field noise examples 200. Examples 200 include a noise amplitude 202 that varies over time 204 and has a burst portion / period 206 and a static portion / period 208.

[0054] In this example 200, the set of near-field noises corresponds to a user touching / typing with his fingers on a computer keyboard. The near-field antenna 102 is positioned near the user's wrist (e.g., like a smart watch). As shown, the near-field noise (e.g., interference) has a quasi-periodic characteristic, with significantly less interference between bursty portions / periods 206 and static portions / periods 208. These bursty and static portions / periods can be relatively stable or dynamically changing.

[0055] Figure 3 is an example 300 of a second set of near-field noise. The example 300 includes a noise amplitude 302 that varies over time 304 and has a burst portion / period 306 and a static portion / period 308.

[0056] In this example 300, the set of near-field noise corresponds to a user touching a display screen (e.g., a laptop touch screen) with his finger. The near-field antenna 102 is similarly positioned near the user's wrist. As shown, the near-field noise (e.g., interference) has a quasi-periodic characteristic, with significantly less interference between the burst portion / period 306 and the static portion / period 308.

[0057] Figure 4 4 is a third set of near-field noise examples 400. The examples 400 include a noise amplitude 402 that varies over time 404 and has a burst portion / period 406 and a static portion / period 408.

[0058] In this example 400, the set of near-field noise corresponds to a user touching a touch pad of a portable computer (e.g., a tablet computer) with his finger. The near-field antenna 102 is also positioned near the user's wrist. As shown, the near-field noise (e.g., interference) has a quasi-periodic characteristic, where there is significantly less interference between the burst portion / period 406 and the static portion / period 408.

[0059] Figure 5 5 is a second example of a near-field wireless device 500. Example 500 includes a near-field magnetic antenna (MA) 502, a near-field electric antenna (EA) 504, a tuning circuit 506, a fast ADC 508, a near-field noise detector 510, a packet delimiter 512, a packet generator 514, a time synchronizer 516, and a signal processor 518.

[0060] Near-field magnetic field antenna (MA) 502 and near-field electric field antenna (EA) 504 receive and transmit near-field communication signals and are coupled to tuning circuit 506. However, in alternative example embodiments, near-field second antenna (MA) 502 and near-field second antenna (EA) 504 may be coupled together to a signal-sharing pair of nodes, rather than the four nodes shown.

[0061] The signal processor 518 is coupled to receive near field communication signals from the tuning circuit 506 and route such signals to other baseband components (not shown). The signal processor 518 is also coupled to receive near field communication signals to be transmitted from the time synchronizer 516 and the packet generator 514, and route such signals to the tuning circuit 506 for transmission by the antennas 502, 504.

[0062] A fast analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 508 is connected to the tuning circuit 506 and receives a near-field signal including near-field noise from a low noise amplifier (LNA) (not shown) in the tuning circuit 506. The fast ADC 508 is coupled to a near-field noise detector 510, which analyzes the near-field noise and patterns (i.e., bursts and static) in the received near-field signal.

[0063] The near field noise detector 510 is configured similar to Figure 1 1. The near-field noise detector 510 may be operated in the manner of the near-field noise detector 114 discussed in the foregoing. For example, in various example embodiments, the near-field noise detector 510 may include basic circuits or complex circuits that characterize the near-field noise in various ways. The near-field noise detector 510 may dynamically identify temporary bursts and static periods / portions in the near-field noise, which are updated quickly or slowly in a statistical manner as needed depending on the desired stability of the selected near-field communication link. In other example embodiments, the near-field noise detector 510 may further characterize the near-field noise over a potentially longer period of time, and / or identify other portions or sub-portions in addition to the bursts and static portions.

[0064] The packet delimiter 512 then commands the packet generator 514 to set the data packet length and / or commands the time synchronizer 516 to set the timing when each data packet is transmitted based on the burst and static portions identified by the near-field noise detector 510. Thus, the data packets are transmitted with a length and transmission timing that are synchronized with the quasi-periodicity of the near-field noise / interference in order to provide the lowest possible packet error rate.

[0065] For example, the timing may be set so that the start of data packet transmission is synchronized with the end of an interference burst in the near-field noise signal pattern. In some example embodiments, the packet size is set to be smaller than the mean, standard deviation, median, etc. of the static time intervals between noise / interference bursts.

[0066] Figure 6 A third example 600 of a near-field wireless device with H-field to E-field (H / E) ratio control using a ratio controller coupled to .

[0067] The ratio controller 602 is coupled to a near-field magnetic antenna (MA) 604 and a near-field electric antenna (EA) 606. The ratio controller 602 also includes elements for detecting patterns in near-field noise (e.g., as may be distributed between the signal processing unit (SPU2) and the digital processing unit (DPU) and associated circuits) and synchronizing transmission of near-field communication signals during static portions of the near-field noise (e.g., as may be distributed between the digital processing unit (DPU) and the signal processing unit (SPU1) and associated circuits).

[0068] The ratio controller 602 operates according to the following two principles. The first principle is that the H-field signal of the NFEMI antenna is not attenuated by intermediate structures (e.g., conductive structures, human body, objects, etc.) like the E-field signal, but can have a relatively shorter communication range than the E-field signal of the NFEMI antenna. The second principle is that the E-field signal of the NFEMI antenna has a larger range than the H-field signal of the NFEMI antenna, but is attenuated more by intermediate structures than the H-field signal.

[0069] Therefore, for NFEMI antenna nodes that are completely or partially blocked by a structure, reducing the ratio of energy in the E-field signal to energy in the H-field signal will better enable the NFEMI antenna to still communicate through the structure. In some example embodiments, the ratio is set to be less than one (i.e., amplitude (E-field) / amplitude (H-field) < 1). This ratio allocates the NFEMI's transmit and / or receive energy primarily or entirely to the H-field component during near-field communications, such as front-to-back node communications on a human body.

[0070] However, for nodes that are not completely or partially blocked by structures but are separated by larger distances, the ratio between the E-field amplitude and the H-field amplitude increases, and thus better enables the NFEMI antenna to communicate also over longer distances. In some example embodiments, the ratio is set to be greater than one (i.e., amplitude (E-field) / amplitude (H-field)>1). This ratio allocates the transmit and / or receive energy of the NFEMI primarily or entirely to the E-field component during near-field communications, such as head-to-toe node communications on a human body.

[0071] The ratio can be calculated in various ways, such as: electric field (E field) energy divided by magnetic field (H field) energy, electric field (E field) amplitude divided by magnetic field (H field) amplitude, and / or electric field (E field) phase minus magnetic field (H field) phase (e.g., phase ratio e i (ph E -ph H ) ).

[0072] Thus, the H-field has important advantages in situations where communication is required between nodes separated by a structure (e.g., front and back of the body) and / or in a noisy E-field environment. However, the E-field has important advantages in situations where communication is required between nodes that are located far from each other along a structure (e.g., head to toe, chest to toe, etc.) and / or in a noisy H-field environment. The ratio controller 602 modulates the energy ratio of the H-field to the E-field using a device such as an RF-IC (integrated circuit) or electromagnetic induction radio (EIR).

[0073] exist Figure 6 In the example embodiment, the ratio controller 602 includes a digital processing unit (DPU), signal processing units SPU1 and SPU2, signal generators S1 and S2, buffers B1, B2, B3, a magnetic field antenna coil (MA) and an electric field antenna (EA) (e.g., a capacitor).

[0074] The DPU controls the operation of the rate controller 602 and processes signals related to near field communications. The signal processing units SPU1 and SPU2 contain hardware for interfacing with the antennas MA, EA and the DPU. SPU1 and SPU2 are connected to additional baseband circuitry (not shown) that generates or receives data in near field signals. SPU1 generates near field transmit signals and SPU2 receives near field signals.

[0075] In the transmit mode, the H field (Um) is generated by the first alternating current (Im) across the magnetic antenna MA (i.e., the first alternating voltage (Vm) across the magnetic antenna MA), while the e field (Ue) is generated by the second alternating voltage (Ve) on the electric antenna EA. Therefore, the two voltages Vm and Ve define the H field (Um) and the E field (Ue), respectively. Changing one of the Vm amplitude and the Ve amplitude or the phase between them changes the ratio of the signal strength between the H field and the E field. The fusion of these fields improves the stability and performance of the wireless communication system.

[0076] The signal processing unit SPU1 commands the signal generators S1 and S2 to generate a current driving the resonant circuit formed by the coil MA and the tuning capacitor (TC).The sources S1 and S2 generate the near-field signal to be transmitted.

[0077] In some example embodiments, the ratio of the signal strength between the H field and the E field can be controlled by a voltage processing unit (VC). The voltage processing unit (VC) modulates the voltage Vm on the magnetic antenna MA and the voltage Ve on the electric antenna EA in the transmit or receive mode. VC can reduce or increase the amplitude or phase of the voltage Ve relative to Vm. In this way, the ratio between the H field and the E field can be changed depending on a pair of NFEMI nodes that are communicating.

[0078] In reception mode, the voltages received by the magnetic antenna MA and the electric antenna EA may be combined, amplitude modulated and / or phase modulated.

[0079] Thus, by varying the ratio of the E field to the H field depending on which node is communicating with which node and the timing and length of the near field noise bursts and static portions, the ratio controller 602 is able to achieve stable node-to-node NFEMI communication in response to near field noise. A different ratio may be used for each pair of communicating nodes.

[0080] The exact ratio used between a particular set of near-field nodes depends on: the distance between the nodes, the attenuation due to the structure between the nodes, the bursty portion of the near-field noise, and / or the static portion of the near-field noise. In this way, node-to-node communication can be optimized and the signal-to-noise ratio maximized.

[0081] Thus, these various example near-field wireless device embodiments provide a method for improving the stability of a near-field data signal link in an otherwise noisy signal environment. This is particularly important in many medical applications.

[0082] Unless a particular order is explicitly stated, the various instructions and / or operational steps discussed in the above figures may be performed in any order. Likewise, those skilled in the art will recognize that, although some example instruction sets / steps have been discussed, the material in this specification may be combined in a variety of ways to produce yet other examples, and should be understood within the context provided by this specific embodiment.

[0083] In some example embodiments, these instructions / steps are implemented as functional and software instructions. In other embodiments, the instructions can be implemented using logic gates, application-specific chips, firmware, and other hardware forms.

[0084] When the instructions are implemented as an executable instruction set in a non-transitory computer-readable or computer-usable medium, these instructions are implemented on a computer or machine programmed with the executable instructions and controlled by the executable instructions. The instructions are loaded for execution on a processor (e.g., one or more CPUs). The processor includes a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a processor module or a subsystem (including one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers) or other control or computing devices. The processor may refer to a single component or multiple components. The computer-readable or computer-usable storage medium is considered to be part of an article (or product). An article or product may refer to any manufactured single component or multiple components. A non-transitory machine or computer-usable medium as defined herein does not include a signal, but such a medium is capable of receiving and processing information from a signal and / or other temporary medium.

[0085] It will be readily appreciated that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations. Therefore, the following more detailed description of the various embodiments represented in the figures is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of the various embodiments. Although various aspects of the embodiments are presented in the drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

[0086] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the present invention. The described embodiments are considered to be illustrative and non-restrictive in all respects. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the specific embodiments. All changes within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims are included within the scope of the claims.

[0087] References throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language do not imply that all features and advantages that may be achieved with the present invention are or are included in any single embodiment of the present invention. Rather, language referring to features and advantages should be understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of features and advantages and similar language throughout this specification may, but does not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0088] In addition, the described features, advantages and characteristics of the present invention may be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. In view of the description herein, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other cases, additional features and advantages may be identified in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present invention.

[0089] References throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Claims

1. A near field wireless communication device, characterized in that: include: Near field antennas; a near-field noise detector coupled to receive a first set of near-field signals from the near-field antenna; wherein the near-field noise detector is configured to identify a set of properties of near-field noise within the first set of near-field signals; a controller configured to generate at least one synchronization signal based on at least one of the properties of the near-field noise; as well as a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a second set of near-field signals in response to the synchronization signal; wherein the set of properties of the near-field noise includes a bursty portion and a static portion; The controller is configured to command the transmitter circuit to set a data packet length of the second set of near-field signals based on a mean, a median, or a standard deviation of a duration of the static portion of the near-field noise.

2. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The synchronization signal includes a timing command; and Wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to transmit the second set of near-field signals at a time specified in the timing command.

3. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The synchronization signal includes a timing command; wherein the second group of near-field signals is divided into a group of data packets; and The timing command specifies a time at which at least one of the group of data packets is to be transmitted.

4. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The synchronization signal includes a data packet length command; wherein the second group of near-field signals is divided into a group of data packets; and The transmitter circuit is configured to set the length of at least one of the data packets to the data packet length specified in the data packet length command.

5. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The synchronization signal includes both a timing command and a packet length command; wherein the second group of near-field signals is divided into a group of data packets; wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to set the length of at least one of the data packets to the data packet length specified in the data packet length command; and The timing command specifies a time at which at least one of the group of data packets is to be transmitted.

6. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The set of properties corresponds to quasi-periodic patterns in the near-field noise.

7. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The controller is configured to statistically characterize the set of properties in the near-field noise over a predetermined period of time.

8. The device according to claim 1: It is characterized in that The controller is configured to command the transmitter circuit to begin transmitting the second set of near-field signals after a predetermined delay after the burst portion of the near-field noise ends.

9. The device according to claim 8: It is characterized in that The controller is configured to set the predetermined delay based on a mean, a median, or a standard deviation of durations of the burst portions of the near-field noise.

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