Self-powered near field communication code plate

Abstract

The embodiment of the specification discloses a self-powered near field communication code plate, compared with a near field communication payment machine, the near field communication code plate is more lightweight and low cost, does not need an external power supply, is convenient to carry, is convenient to deploy, is convenient to use, and based on the cooperation of the above two types of coils, helps to improve the induction and the near field communication success rate, and also helps to more reliably and efficiently carry out the near field communication and related business. The near field communication code plate comprises a shell, a first coil, a second coil, a control chip and a photovoltaic cell; the photovoltaic cell supplies power for the first coil and the control chip; the control chip controls the first coil; under the control of the control chip, the first coil uses the energy brought by the photovoltaic cell power supply to stimulate the terminal equipment close to the near field communication code plate, so as to improve the signal strength of the terminal equipment near field communication; the second coil carries out near field communication with the terminal equipment, and carries out business information interaction through near field communication.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese Patent Application No. 202411047101.4, filed on August 1, 2024, entitled "A Self-Powered Near-Field Communication Tag", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This specification relates to the field of near-field communication technology, and in particular to a self-powered near-field communication tag. Background Technology

[0003] Near Field Communication (NFC) is an emerging technology that allows devices to exchange data when they are close to each other. It evolved from contactless radio frequency identification (RFID) and interconnection technologies by integrating inductive card readers, inductive cards, and peer-to-peer communication functions onto a single chip.

[0004] With the widespread use of smartphones that support NFC, NFC technology is being applied more extensively in the payment field. For example, when merchants deploy payment machines based on near-field communication at the cashier, users can use NFC-enabled mobile phones to make payments by interacting with the payment machine through sensing, which is simpler than scanning a QR code.

[0005] However, for some small businesses or even individual operators with no fixed business location, it may be inconvenient to deploy payment machines based on near-field communication (NFC), and the cost of NFC-based payment machines is also relatively high.

[0006] Therefore, for NFC business scenarios such as near-field communication-based payments, there is a need for solutions that are lower in cost, easier to deploy and use, and more reliable. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This specification provides one or more embodiments of a self-powered near-field communication (NFC) tag to address the following technical problem: for NFC business scenarios such as near-field communication-based payments, there is a need for a lower-cost, easier-to-deploy, and more reliable solution.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, one or more embodiments of this specification are implemented as follows:

[0009] This specification provides one or more embodiments of a self-powered near-field communication tag, including a housing, a first coil, a second coil, a control chip, and a photovoltaic cell;

[0010] The photovoltaic cell supplies power to the first coil and the control chip.

[0011] The control chip controls the first coil;

[0012] The first coil, under the control of the control chip, uses the energy generated by the photovoltaic cell to excite the terminal device that is close to the near-field communication code plate, so as to improve the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device.

[0013] The second coil communicates with the terminal device in the near field to exchange service information.

[0014] Optionally, the photovoltaic cell indirectly supplies power to the first coil through the control chip.

[0015] Optionally, the control chip acquires the light intensity received by the photovoltaic cell;

[0016] Based on the light intensity, one type of service information is matched from a variety of different service information and used as the target service information, which is then provided to the second coil for near-field communication.

[0017] Optionally, the step of matching one type of service information from multiple different service information based on the light intensity as the target service information specifically includes:

[0018] Determine whether the light intensity is in a stable state;

[0019] If so, based on the intensity of the light, one type of business information is matched from various business information with different levels of complexity in processing logic as the target business information, in order to improve the efficiency of business processing in scenarios where the user is not comfortable.

[0020] Optionally, the control chip acquires the light intensity received by the photovoltaic cell;

[0021] Based on the light intensity, it is determined whether a user is approaching the near-field communication tag;

[0022] If so, the first coil is triggered to begin attempting to sense the terminal device;

[0023] Otherwise, the photovoltaic cell will temporarily stop supplying power to the first coil.

[0024] Optionally, there are multiple sets of the second coil, which are distributed in different areas of the near-field communication tag;

[0025] The step of determining whether a user is near the near-field communication tag based on the light intensity specifically includes:

[0026] Based on the distribution and changes in light intensity within a corresponding range in space, it is determined whether multiple users are approaching the near-field communication tag;

[0027] If so, the photovoltaic cell supplies power to at least one set of the second coils, enabling the powered second coils to actively communicate with the terminal devices of at least one of the plurality of users in near-field communication.

[0028] Optionally, there are multiple photovoltaic cells, and each group of the second coils has one photovoltaic cell corresponding to it;

[0029] The light-receiving surface of the photovoltaic cell is deployed to align with the expected approach direction of the terminal device corresponding to the second coil.

[0030] Optionally, the first coil is an active coil, and the second coil is a passive coil.

[0031] Optionally, the first coil is movable;

[0032] The control chip detects the induction between the first coil and the terminal device;

[0033] The first coil is controlled to move according to the sensing conditions, so as to improve the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device through electromagnetic interference by means of the attitude and / or position after the movement.

[0034] Optionally, there may be one or more control chips;

[0035] The second coil acquires service information from at least one of the control chips and provides it to the terminal device for reading via the near-field communication.

[0036] Optionally, there are multiple sets of the first coil and the second coil, forming multiple pairs of coil groups. Each pair of coil groups includes a set of first coils and a set of second coils.

[0037] The multiple pairs of coil groups are distributed in different areas within the near-field communication code.

[0038] Optionally, in the deployment area of ​​each pair of coil groups, the first coil group contained therein is located on the inside, and the second coil group is located on the outside.

[0039] Optionally, the first coil has one set, and the second coil has multiple sets;

[0040] Of the multiple sets of second coils, only one set of second coils performs the near-field communication with the terminal device in this instance.

[0041] Optionally, one set of the first coils is deployed in the middle area of ​​the near-field communication code, and multiple sets of the second coils are dispersedly deployed in the surrounding area of ​​the middle area.

[0042] The at least one technical solution described above in one or more embodiments of this specification can achieve the following beneficial effects: It provides a near-field communication (NFC) token that is lower in cost and more convenient to use than payment machines based on NFC. Two types of coils with different functions are deployed in this token: a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is an active coil with power supply (powered by the photovoltaic cells integrated into the NFC token), primarily responsible for stimulating terminal devices near the NFC token to improve the signal strength of the terminal device's NFC communication. The second coil can be a passive coil without power supply, primarily responsible for NFC communication with the terminal device. This enables business information exchange. Compared to payment machines based on near-field communication (NFC), this NFC-enabled token is more lightweight and lower cost, easier to carry, deploy, and use. Furthermore, the division of labor between the two types of coils helps improve the success rate of induction and NFC communication, facilitating more reliable and efficient NFC communication and related services. Moreover, it fully utilizes the photovoltaic cells' ability to sense ambient light, opening up more flexible business opportunities and enabling efficient multi-user service scenarios without the need for additional sensor deployment, significantly enhancing the practical value of photovoltaic cell deployment in the solution. Attached Figure Description

[0043] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or prior art of this specification, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0044] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a self-powered near-field communication code provided in one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0045] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a self-powered near-field communication code provided in one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0046] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating another working principle of the self-powered near-field communication tag provided in one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0047] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a near-field communication signal strength enhancement scheme for a terminal device via a near-field communication tag, provided for one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0048] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a service processing scheme based on photovoltaic cells in a near-field communication code card, provided for one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0049] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating an adaptive power supply scheme for a first coil provided for one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0050] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a power supply scheme for a multi-user scenario provided in one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0051] Figure 8 A first detailed structural schematic diagram of a self-powered near-field communication code provided for one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0052] Figure 9 A second detailed structural schematic diagram of a self-powered near-field communication code provided for one or more embodiments of this specification;

[0053] Figure 10 This is a third detailed structural diagram of a self-powered near-field communication tag provided for one or more embodiments of this specification. Detailed Implementation

[0054] This specification provides an embodiment of a self-powered near-field communication tag.

[0055] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions in this specification, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this specification, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0056] To address the issues mentioned in the background technology, the applicant considered using a lighter NFC (Near Field Communication) tag to replace NFC-based payment machines (typically resembling POS machines or QR code payment broadcasting machines). This would allow users' smartphones, smartwatches, and other terminal devices to sense the NFC tag and exchange business information via NFC, thereby reducing the cost for merchants to integrate NFC capabilities. However, the applicant's initial proposed solution still had some issues regarding convenience and reliability. This solution involved embedding a NFC coil and auxiliary modules such as a control chip within the NFC tag, with the coil sensing nearby terminal devices to establish NFC communication. However, actual testing revealed that due to differences in the capabilities and operating states of different terminal devices, as well as variations in user operation, some terminal devices or users might not be able to achieve NFC communication smoothly on the first attempt. This might require adjustments to the proximity distance, the device's orientation, or the current screen displayed on the device, potentially leading to a frustrating and unreliable user experience. Based on this, the applicant modified the solution, providing an updated near-field communication tag. The coil was physically separated and its functional responsibilities were separated, and the two were deployed separately to complete the interaction process with the terminal device in a coordinated manner, so as to improve the success rate and efficiency of near-field communication. Optionally, based on the capabilities of photovoltaic cells, a new type of business control logic was deployed more flexibly to improve the scalability of NFC capabilities, effectively breaking through the limitations of the traditional uses of photovoltaic cells, and meeting more potential user needs while taking cost into account.

[0057] Based on this overall approach, the solution proposed in this application will be further explained below.

[0058] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates a structure of a self-powered near-field communication (NFC) tag provided in one or more embodiments of this specification. The NFC tag can be used in NFC-related business scenarios such as NFC-based payments and NFC check-ins. Through the NFC tag, relevant business code values ​​(e.g., payment codes, check-in addresses, payment amounts) or other business information (e.g., promotional information) can be provided to nearby terminal devices via NFC interaction to complete the target business.

[0059] Figure 1 The near-field communication tag (also known as an NFC tag) includes at least a shell 102, a first coil 104, a second coil 106, a control chip 108, and a photovoltaic cell 110.

[0060] The photovoltaic cell 110 supplies power to the first coil 104 and the control chip 108.

[0061] The control chip 108 controls the first coil 104;

[0062] The first coil 104, under the control of the control chip 108, uses the energy generated by the photovoltaic cell to excite the terminal device that is close to the near-field communication code plate, so as to improve the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device.

[0063] The second coil 106 communicates with the terminal device in the near field and exchanges service information through the near field communication.

[0064] Terminal devices include mobile terminal devices that support NFC, such as smartphones, smartwatches, other wearable devices, and portable game consoles that support NFC.

[0065] The housing 102 can be made of either flexible or rigid materials, but plastic is a common choice. The housing 102 can be flat and compact, conforming to the general public's impression of a "sign," thus offering good convenience and helping to reduce costs. Other components can be housed within the housing 102; alternatively, some components can be deployed on the housing, the former resulting in greater integration and improving the durability of the near-field communication sign.

[0066] The near-field communication tag may include one or more control chips. That is, in addition to control chip 108, there may be other control chips. Moreover, there may be one or more control chips 108. In the case of multiple chips, a control architecture combining a central control and multiple sub-controls can be adopted, or various more independent distributed control architectures can be adopted.

[0067] Photovoltaic cells 110, including devices that directly convert light energy into electrical energy through photoelectric effect or photochemical effect, can convert ambient light into electrical energy, which can then drive some modules in near-field communication tags that require power supply. This allows the deployment of near-field communication tags to be freed from power supply limitations, helping to improve their applicability and making them particularly friendly to small businesses.

[0068] It should be noted that this application does not only utilize the power supply capability of the photovoltaic cell 110, but also further utilizes the ability of the photovoltaic cell 110 to sense ambient light, cleverly achieving a more special purpose, which will be explained in detail later.

[0069] The first coil 104 represents a type of coil used in this application. Specifically, it may include one or more coils; in the case of multiple coils, it may also be specifically deployed as a group or multiple groups of coils, each group of coils may contain one or more coils.

[0070] The first coil 104 primarily operates when powered, thus it can actively sense terminal devices near the near-field communication tag, and is therefore used as an active coil. The first coil 104 can be powered by the near-field communication tag's own photovoltaic cells 110, which facilitates deployment and makes the near-field communication tag easier to use.

[0071] The first coil 104 utilizes the power supplied to actively sense nearby terminal devices and excites them using one or more methods to enhance the signal strength of the terminal device's near-field communication. These methods may include prompting the terminal device to switch operating modes, positively strengthening the terminal device's signal through electromagnetic interference, or directly instructing the terminal device based on signal commands, etc. Preferably, a method that does not require near-field communication data transmission with the terminal device can be used. This facilitates simpler and lower-cost design and implementation of the first coil 104, and allows for the deployment of a larger number of first coils 104 when needed, enabling more reliable excitation of surrounding terminal devices.

[0072] The second coil 106 represents another type of coil used in this application. Specifically, it may include one or more coils; in the case of multiple coils, it may also be specifically deployed as a group or multiple groups of coils, each group of coils may contain one or more coils.

[0073] The second coil 106 mainly operates without power supply. It is primarily responsible for near-field communication with terminal devices near the near-field communication tag. The second coil 104 can mainly be used as a passive coil.

[0074] As can be seen, in the above two types of coils, the first coil 104 is mainly used to assist the second coil 106 in conducting near-field communication with the terminal device more efficiently and reliably. By rationally deploying the relative positions of the first coil 104 and the second coil 106, the first coil 104 has a higher probability of sensing the terminal device more widely and earlier, so as to prepare for the second coil 106 to perform auxiliary work in advance. Furthermore, when there are multiple or multiple groups of second coils 106, they can be deployed in a distributed manner. The second coil 106 can, based on the sensing situation with the near-field communication code, cooperate with the control chip 108 to help decide which one or more groups of second coils 106 are more suitable (e.g., closer to the terminal device or more idle) to conduct near-field communication with the terminal device, and then the second coil 106 will specifically execute the communication.

[0075] When the second coil 106 acts as a passive coil, the terminal device (e.g., a typical NFC-enabled mobile phone) can function as a card reader, exchanging business information via near-field communication. It reads the required business information, such as the target business code value (payment code, payment amount, etc.) and authorization credentials (electronic ticket, etc.), through the second coil 106. The second coil 106 can also be connected to a corresponding control chip for operations such as reading and writing business information.

[0076] In this way, a better near-field communication experience can be achieved through a combination of passive and active methods, enabling services such as payments. Taking a mobile phone as an example, by converting light received in space into electrical energy through photovoltaic cells, this energy can drive an active antenna and control chip to enhance the near-field communication signal of the mobile phone, thereby improving the success rate and speed of the mobile phone's sensing of the near-field communication code. There is no need to deploy additional corresponding equipment for the near-field communication code, resulting in lower costs and helping to make fuller use of social resources.

[0077] It should be noted that, in the figure, the second coil 106 is exemplarily connected to the control chip 108 (or at least one if there are multiple control chips 108). Of course, the second coil 106 can also be connected to other control chips besides the control chip 108. As mentioned earlier, the second coil 106 can be unpowered, so the control chip connected to it may not necessarily need to be powered. In the absence of power, the control chip can operate using the induced current when the terminal device senses the second coil 106, for example, by sending relevant service information to the second coil for the terminal device to read.

[0078] pass Figure 1 The proposed solution offers a more cost-effective and user-friendly near-field communication (NFC) tag compared to NFC-based payment machines. It deploys two types of coils with distinct functions: a first coil and a second coil. The first coil is an active coil with its own power supply (powered by the tag's built-in photovoltaic cells), primarily responsible for stimulating terminal devices near the tag to enhance their NFC signal strength. The second coil can be a passive coil without power supply, mainly responsible for NFC communication with the terminal device to exchange business information. Thus, compared to NFC-based payment machines, this NFC tag is more lightweight and cost-effective, easier to carry and deploy, and more convenient to use. Furthermore, the division of labor between the two types of coils helps improve the success rate of induction and NFC communication, and facilitates more reliable and efficient NFC communication and related services.

[0079] based on Figure 1 In addition to the proposed solution, this manual also provides some specific implementation schemes and extended schemes for this solution, which will be further explained below.

[0080] Based on the above description, the working principle of a self-powered near-field communication tag based on photovoltaic cells is explained by way of example. See [link to documentation]. Figure 2 , Figure 3 .

[0081] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a self-powered near-field communication tag provided in one or more embodiments of this specification. Figure 2 In this context, the terminal device mentioned above is specifically a mobile phone. The first coil is called the B group coil, which is an active coil, and the second coil is called the A group coil, which is a passive coil. Each group of coils has one or more coils.

[0082] The working principle includes: photovoltaic cells convert light received from the environment into electrical energy to power the control chip and B-group coil; when a user (e.g., a consumer) brings an NFC-enabled mobile phone close to the near-field communication (NFC) token, the B-group coil senses the phone and, based on the energy obtained from the power supply, excites the phone, increasing the signal strength of the phone's NFC. Subsequently, the phone can more easily sense the A-group coil to establish NFC, enabling the A-group signal to send a corresponding signal to the control chip. In response, the control chip sends the corresponding service information to the A-group coil, and the phone can then read the service information through NFC with the A-group coil and use the service information to execute the service.

[0083] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates another working principle of the self-powered near-field communication tag provided in one or more embodiments of this specification. Figure 3 In this system, two control chips are used for decentralized control and interaction. Control chip A is responsible for exchanging the aforementioned service information with coil group A, while control chip B is responsible for controlling coil group B. The rest are related to... Figure 2 The principle is similar, so I won't go into details.

[0084] It should be noted that there can be one or more groups of coils in group A and group B, and the control chip can also adopt other deployment architectures, which will be illustrated later.

[0085] As mentioned earlier, there are several methods to improve the signal strength of near-field communication in terminal devices by using the assistance of the first coil. For ease of understanding, the following will combine... Figure 4 Each of the optional solutions will be explained separately.

[0086] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating another signal strength enhancement scheme for near-field communication of a terminal device via a near-field communication tag, provided in one or more embodiments of this specification.

[0087] Figure 4The process includes the following steps:

[0088] S402: The first coil, when powered, actively attempts to sense terminal devices around the near-field communication tag.

[0089] S404: The control chip detects the induction between the first coil and the terminal device.

[0090] S406: Based on the induction situation, control the first coil to improve the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device through electromagnetic interference.

[0091] By controlling parameters such as the signal frequency of the first coil, it is possible to enhance electromagnetic interference for the terminal device, thereby increasing the peak of the near-field communication signal after interference and thus enhancing the intensity.

[0092] S408: If the first coil is movable, control the first coil to move according to the sensing conditions, so as to improve the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device through electromagnetic interference by means of the attitude and / or position after the movement.

[0093] Another example is provided: the first coil, when powered, actively attempts to sense terminal devices around the near-field communication tag; the first coil excites the terminal devices close to the near-field communication tag so that if the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device is in the low power mode, it exits the low power mode and senses the second coil with a higher signal strength, thereby performing near-field communication.

[0094] Low-power mode refers to the state in which the terminal device operates in card emulation mode for near-field communication (NFC). In this mode, the terminal device simulates a card, waiting for the card reader to read it via NFC. Therefore, the signal strength is relatively low, which may prevent successful NFC communication with the second coil. Therefore, the terminal device can be excited by the first coil to exit low-power mode, for example, by switching to card reader mode, thus improving the NFC signal strength.

[0095] Following a similar principle, a pre-defined low-power mode can also be defined as follows: the signal strength of the terminal device's current near-field communication is low enough, for example, below a set threshold or in other specified states (e.g., related services are in background standby, or the signal is limited due to low power mode).

[0096] In one or more embodiments of this specification, the first coil may be fixed or designed to be movable. When movable, the first coil can be controlled to adjust its attitude and / or position, potentially affecting the antenna signal transmission position or direction, thereby facilitating a more flexible and reliable achievement of enhanced electromagnetic interference.

[0097] In some of the previous examples, photovoltaic cells were used only as a power source. This application further considers utilizing the photovoltaic cells' ability to sense ambient light to develop more flexible business operations and achieve efficient multi-user service scenarios. In this case, there is no need to spend additional costs to deploy corresponding sensors, which can greatly enhance the practical value of photovoltaic cell deployment in the solution.

[0098] In one or more embodiments of this specification, when powered by photovoltaic cells, the ambient light in the space environment changes, and the photovoltaic cells can sense these changes. Therefore, based on this characteristic, adaptive control is considered using photovoltaic cells and corresponding control chips to select the appropriate service from a variety of available services for this near-field communication without real-time intervention from the user (e.g., cashier or consumer). This overcomes the limitations of relatively fixed services, allowing for flexible expansion of various services and contributing to an improved user experience.

[0099] Based on this approach, one or more embodiments of this specification provide a flowchart illustrating a service processing scheme based on photovoltaic cells in a near-field communication tag. (See attached diagram.) Figure 5 .

[0100] Figure 5 The process includes the following steps:

[0101] S502: The control chip acquires the light intensity received by the photovoltaic cell.

[0102] It can specifically distinguish the light intensity received by multiple different areas on a photovoltaic cell. Currently, multiple photovoltaic cells can also be deployed in a distributed manner, thereby enabling better detection of the distribution of light intensity in different areas.

[0103] S504: Based on the light intensity, among various different service information, one service information is matched as the target service information and provided to the second coil for the near-field communication.

[0104] Different business information can represent different types of businesses, such as payment services, discount redemption services, check-in services, e-ticket services, gaming services, etc., or they can represent different sub-businesses within the same type of business. Changes in the surrounding environment, or interference from external factors, cause corresponding changes in the light received by photovoltaic cells, resulting in different distributions of light intensity. By matching these distributions, corresponding business information can be selected, thus facilitating a more accurate and precise distinction between different businesses. Alternatively, business information can be matched more easily based on individual values ​​of light intensity (e.g., by dividing into one or more intensity thresholds for comparison), and so on.

[0105] Furthermore, the correspondence between changes in light intensity and different services can be customized. Alternatively, it can be more specific to consider what environmental conditions (e.g., a large number of people nearby may exacerbate the change) cause a certain change in light intensity. Then, a correspondence can be established between this change and the service related to that environment (e.g., discount redemption service, which helps to achieve efficient and centralized discount distribution). This approach is more logical, easier for users to understand, and ultimately helps to achieve more positive results.

[0106] It should be noted that, Figure 5 This solution is particularly suitable for scenarios where users' business needs or requirements are not clear enough, or even not clear at all. It helps users get in touch with new businesses, helps bring more traffic opportunities to different businesses, and is easy to understand by users.

[0107] Furthermore, when matching business information, it can be determined whether the light intensity is stable. If it is not stable enough, it can wait temporarily. If it is stable, it can match one type of business information as the target business information from among various business information with different levels of processing logic (which can be for the same business or for different businesses) based on the level of light intensity. This can improve the efficiency of business processing in scenarios where users are uncomfortable (for example, when the light intensity is too high, which may be outdoors, business information with simpler processing logic can be selected as the target business information to adaptively reduce auxiliary business logic and avoid causing user resentment).

[0108] In one or more embodiments of this specification, the sensitivity of photovoltaic cells to ambient light is considered to determine the surrounding interference, such as interference from a target user.

[0109] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating an adaptive power supply scheme for a first coil provided for one or more embodiments of this specification.

[0110] Figure 6The process includes the following steps:

[0111] S602: The control chip acquires the light intensity received by the photovoltaic cell.

[0112] S604: Based on the light intensity, determine whether a user (e.g., a consumer as the target user) is near the near-field communication tag.

[0113] When a user approaches the near-field communication (NFC) tag, it may cause ambient light obstruction, resulting in a sudden decrease in the light intensity received by the photovoltaic (PV) cells. Based on the PV cells' auxiliary judgment, additional sensors such as Time-of-Flight (TOF) distance sensors can be eliminated, simplifying integration and reducing costs.

[0114] It's important to note that this judgment can be further differentiated into different patterns of surrounding interference. For example, is it merely a passing phenomenon, or is it a deliberate approach targeting an NFC device? Additionally, is it caused by the shop owner? These interference patterns can be identified based on the specific changes in light intensity, leading to the final judgment.

[0115] S606: If so, the first coil is triggered to begin attempting to sense the terminal device.

[0116] The first coil can be powered only when needed, otherwise it can be left idle. Furthermore, even if the first coil is continuously energized, the control chip can further decide how to activate the first coil, the power level, and whether to send a signal or specific instruction (e.g., instructing the terminal device to automatically redirect to a certain page, requesting pre-authorization from the terminal device, etc.) based on the judgment result in step S604. This ensures that the first coil can better serve the terminal device while balancing cost and the rational utilization of device processing resources.

[0117] S608: Otherwise, temporarily stop the photovoltaic cell from supplying power to the first coil.

[0118] If no user is nearby, the first coil does not need to be energized, and therefore, it can be temporarily de-energized. Alternatively, the first coil can be placed in a passive standby state even when energized.

[0119] Furthermore, based on the above-mentioned idea of ​​using photovoltaic cells to assist in user sensing, one or more embodiments of this specification provide a flowchart illustrating a power supply solution for multi-user scenarios. See [link to flowchart illustration]. Figure 7 .

[0120] Figure 7 The process includes the following steps:

[0121] S702: Based on the distribution and changes of light intensity within a corresponding range in space, determine whether there are multiple users approaching the near-field communication code card, wherein there are multiple sets of the second coil, which are dispersed and deployed in different areas of the near-field communication code card.

[0122] S704: If so, the photovoltaic cell supplies power to at least one set of the second coils (there may be at least one set of the second coils not supplied power, still operating in the previous manner), so that the supplied second coils can actively communicate with the terminal devices of at least one of the plurality of users in near-field communication.

[0123] In this configuration, at least one set of second coils can actively communicate with one terminal device via near-field communication, while at least another set of second coils can passively communicate with another terminal device via near-field communication. Thus, these two terminal devices can operate in different modes (e.g., one in reader mode, the other in card emulation mode, etc.), facilitating more reliable parallel execution of multiple different services and enabling the simultaneous service of more users through a single near-field communication tag.

[0124] In one or more embodiments of this specification, there may be multiple photovoltaic cells. For example, each group of second coils may have its own corresponding photovoltaic cell. The light-receiving surface of the photovoltaic cell may be deployed to align with the expected approach direction of the terminal device corresponding to its second coil (for example, the plane where the photovoltaic cell is located is not parallel to the plane where the near-field communication code is located, but has a certain tilt angle (for example, 5 degrees to 30 degrees) so as to be more perpendicular to the expected approach direction). This facilitates more accurate perception of changes in light caused by the user approaching to conduct business.

[0125] In practical applications, the specific deployment methods of the various modules of the aforementioned near-field communication (NFC) tag are diverse. To illustrate this, several exemplary detailed structures of the NFC tag are provided below as a reference for specific implementation schemes. See also... Figures 8-10 For ease of description, the term "..." is retained. Figure 2 and Figure 3 Module naming in the context.

[0126] In one or more embodiments of this specification, there are multiple sets of first coils and second coils, forming multiple pairs of coil groups. Each pair of coil groups includes a set of first coils and a set of second coils. These multiple pairs of coil groups are distributed across different areas within the near-field communication tag. In the deployment area of ​​each pair of coil groups, one set of first coils is located on the inner side, and the other set of second coils is located on the outer side. This facilitates more focused and directional excitation of the first coils, helping to sense the terminal device earlier, and also allows the corresponding second coils to establish near-field communication more smoothly. Photovoltaic cells can be deployed in suitable areas of the near-field communication tag, such as concentrated deployment in vacant areas on the outer side. For example, see... Figure 8 , Figure 9 .

[0127] Figure 8 This is a first detailed structural diagram of a self-powered near-field communication tag provided for one or more embodiments of this specification.

[0128] exist Figure 8 The system employs a unified control chip, directly connecting all A-group coils, B-group coils, and photovoltaic cells to this chip. A total of four coil pairs are deployed, distributed across four areas: upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right. The control chip is positioned in the middle area for easy connection to other modules, and the photovoltaic cells are, for example, deployed in the lower outer area.

[0129] Figure 9 This is a second detailed structural diagram of a self-powered near-field communication tag provided for one or more embodiments of this specification.

[0130] Compared to Figure 8 , Figure 9 The main difference in the structure lies in the use of two separate control chips. Control chip A connects all the coils in group A, while control chip B connects all the coils in group B and the photovoltaic cells.

[0131] In one or more embodiments of this specification, there is one set of first coils and multiple sets of second coils; among the multiple sets of second coils, only one set of second coils may perform the current near-field communication with the terminal device; one set of first coils is deployed in the central area of ​​the near-field communication tag, and multiple sets of second coils are dispersedly deployed in the surrounding area of ​​the central area. For example, see... Figure 10 .

[0132] Figure 10 This is a third detailed structural diagram of a self-powered near-field communication tag provided for one or more embodiments of this specification.

[0133] exist Figure 10In this design, a single control chip is used for overall control. However, there is only one group of coils in Group B, located in the center, serving the surrounding area uniformly. This approach is highly efficient and energy-saving. For example, based on the sensing relationship with the mobile phone, it can select the group of coils in Group A that is relatively closer to the phone from the surrounding four groups for subsequent near-field communication (NFC) information exchange. In this scenario, with proper control, other Group A coils can also be allowed to simultaneously exchange NFC information with other mobile phones, thus enabling simultaneous service for multiple users with the same service needs, effectively improving service efficiency.

[0134] Based on the detailed structural examples presented above, more deployment schemes can be derived, which may also achieve the same positive effects. They can be implemented and used according to actual needs.

[0135] In the 1990s, improvements to a technology could be clearly distinguished as either hardware improvements (e.g., improvements to the circuit structure of diodes, transistors, switches, etc.) or software improvements (improvements to the methodology). However, with technological advancements, many methodological improvements today can be considered direct improvements to the hardware circuit structure. Designers almost always obtain the corresponding hardware circuit structure by programming the improved methodology into the hardware circuit. Therefore, it cannot be said that a methodological improvement cannot be implemented using hardware physical modules. For example, a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) (such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)) is such an integrated circuit whose logic function is determined by the user programming the device. Designers can program and "integrate" a digital system onto a PLD themselves, without needing chip manufacturers to design and manufacture dedicated integrated circuit chips. Furthermore, nowadays, instead of manually manufacturing integrated circuit chips, this programming is mostly implemented using "logic compiler" software. Similar to the software compiler used in program development, the original code before compilation must be written in a specific programming language, called a Hardware Description Language (HDL). There are many HDLs, such as ABEL (Advanced Boolean Expression Language), AHDL (Altera Hardware Description Language), Confluence, CUPL (Cornell University Programming Language), HDCal, JHDL (Java Hardware Description Language), Lava, Lola, MyHDL, PALASM, and RHDL (Ruby Hardware Description Language). Currently, the most commonly used are VHDL (Very-High-Speed ​​Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language) and Verilog. Those skilled in the art should understand that by simply performing some logic programming on the method flow using one of these hardware description languages ​​and programming it into an integrated circuit, the hardware circuit implementing the logical method flow can be easily obtained.

[0136] The controller can be implemented in any suitable manner. For example, it can take the form of a microprocessor or processor and a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable program code (e.g., software or firmware) executable by the (micro)processor, logic gates, switches, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic controllers, and embedded microcontrollers. Examples of controllers include, but are not limited to, the following microcontrollers: ARC 625D, Atmel AT91SAM, Microchip PIC18F26K20, and Silicon Labs C8051F320. A memory controller can also be implemented as part of the control logic of the memory. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that, in addition to implementing the controller in purely computer-readable program code form, the same functionality can be achieved by logically programming the method steps to make the controller take the form of logic gates, switches, application-specific integrated circuits, programmable logic controllers, and embedded microcontrollers. Therefore, such a controller can be considered a hardware component, and the means included therein for implementing various functions can also be considered as structures within the hardware component. Alternatively, the means for implementing various functions can be considered as both software modules implementing the method and structures within the hardware component.

[0137] The systems, devices, modules, or units described in the above embodiments can be implemented by computer chips or entities, or by products with certain functions. A typical implementation device is a computer. Specifically, a computer can be, for example, a personal computer, laptop computer, cellular phone, camera phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, media player, navigation device, email device, game console, tablet computer, wearable device, or any combination of these devices.

[0138] For ease of description, the above devices are described in terms of function, divided into various units. Of course, in implementing this specification, the functions of each unit can be implemented in one or more software and / or hardware components.

[0139] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of this specification can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the embodiments of this specification can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the embodiments of this specification can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0140] This specification is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this specification. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create a machine for implementing the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0141] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0142] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0143] In a typical configuration, a computing device includes one or more processors (CPU), input / output interfaces, network interfaces, and memory.

[0144] Memory may include non-persistent storage in computer-readable media, such as random access memory (RAM) and / or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) or flash RAM. Memory is an example of computer-readable media.

[0145] Computer-readable media includes both permanent and non-permanent, removable and non-removable media that can store information using any method or technology. Information can be computer-readable instructions, data structures, modules of programs, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase-change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile optical disc (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transferable medium that can be used to store information accessible by a computing device. As defined herein, computer-readable media does not include transient computer-readable media, such as modulated data signals and carrier waves.

[0146] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0147] This specification can be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions that are executed by a computer, such as program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform a specific task or implement a specific abstract data type. This specification can also be practiced in distributed computing environments, where tasks are performed by remote processing devices connected via a communication network. In distributed computing environments, program modules can reside in local and remote computer storage media, including storage devices.

[0148] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In particular, the embodiments of apparatus, devices, and non-volatile computer storage media are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the descriptions are relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the descriptions of the method embodiments.

[0149] The foregoing has described specific embodiments of this specification. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and may still achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific or sequential order shown to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are possible or may be advantageous.

[0150] The above description is merely one or more embodiments of this specification and is not intended to limit this specification. Various modifications and variations can be made to the one or more embodiments of this specification by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principle of one or more embodiments of this specification should be included within the scope of the claims of this specification.

Claims

1. A self-powered near-field communication tag for merchants, the near-field communication tag comprising a housing, a control chip, a photovoltaic cell, a first coil and / or a second coil; The photovoltaic cell powers the control chip; The control chip acquires the light intensity received by the photovoltaic cell; Based on the light intensity, one type of service information is matched from a variety of different service information and used as the target service information for near-field communication based on the first coil and / or the second coil. Different business information represents different types of business, or different sub-businesses within the same type of business.

2. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 1, wherein the first coil, under the control of the control chip, uses the energy generated by the photovoltaic cell to excite the terminal device close to the near-field communication code card, thereby improving the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device; The second coil communicates with the terminal device in the near field to exchange service information.

3. In the near-field communication code card as described in claim 1 or 2, the photovoltaic cell indirectly supplies power to the first coil through the control chip.

4. The near-field communication tag as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein matching one type of service information from multiple different service information based on the light intensity as the target service information specifically includes: Determine whether the light intensity is in a stable state; If so, based on the intensity of the light, one type of business information is matched from various business information with different levels of complexity in processing logic as the target business information, in order to improve the efficiency of business processing in scenarios where the user is not comfortable.

5. The near-field communication code as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control chip acquires the light intensity received by the photovoltaic cell; Based on the light intensity, it is determined whether a user is approaching the near-field communication tag; If so, the first coil is triggered to begin attempting to sense the terminal device; Otherwise, the photovoltaic cell will temporarily stop supplying power to the first coil.

6. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 5, wherein there are multiple sets of the second coil, which are distributed in different areas of the near-field communication code card; The step of determining whether a user is near the near-field communication tag based on the light intensity specifically includes: Based on the distribution and changes in light intensity within a corresponding range in space, it is determined whether multiple users are approaching the near-field communication tag; If so, the photovoltaic cell supplies power to at least one set of the second coils, enabling the powered second coils to actively communicate with the terminal devices of at least one of the plurality of users in near-field communication.

7. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 5, wherein there are multiple photovoltaic cells, and each group of the second coils has one photovoltaic cell corresponding to it; The light-receiving surface of the photovoltaic cell is deployed to align with the expected approach direction of the terminal device corresponding to the second coil.

8. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first coil is an active coil and the second coil is a passive coil.

9. The near-field communication tag as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first coil is movable; The control chip detects the induction between the first coil and the terminal device; The first coil is controlled to move according to the sensing conditions, so as to improve the signal strength of the near-field communication of the terminal device through electromagnetic interference by means of the attitude and / or position after the movement.

10. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control chip comprises one or more chips; The second coil acquires service information from at least one of the control chips and provides it to the terminal device for reading via the near-field communication.

11. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first coil and the second coil are in multiple sets, forming multiple pairs of coil groups, and each pair of coil groups includes a set of first coils and a set of second coils; The multiple pairs of coil groups are distributed in different areas within the near-field communication code.

12. The near-field communication tag of claim 11, wherein in the deployment area of ​​each pair of coil groups, the first coil group is located on the inner side and the second coil group is located on the outer side.

13. The near-field communication code card as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first coil has one set and the second coil has multiple sets; Of the multiple sets of second coils, only one set of second coils performs the aforementioned near-field communication with the terminal device.

14. The near-field communication code card as claimed in claim 13, wherein a group of the first coils is deployed in the central region of the near-field communication code card, and a plurality of groups of the second coils are dispersedly deployed in the surrounding region of the central region.

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