NFC Tag Hall Effect Sensor Activation Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices with NFC and Bluetooth circuits face power drainage due to constant activation, leading to unwanted connections and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A system using Hall Effect sensors and magnets to activate NFC circuits only when devices are in close proximity, allowing for a 'kiss' gesture to initiate communication, thereby reducing power usage and preventing accidental connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If NFC circuits are constantly activated to enable communication, then communication availability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection using Hall Effect sensors to detect the presence of magnets before activating NFC circuits. This preliminary action ensures that NFC is only activated when another device is in proximity, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while maintaining communication availability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the activation state of NFC circuits based on real-time detection of magnetic fields. The NFC circuits transition between active and inactive states according to the presence or absence of nearby devices, optimizing the balance between communication availability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If NFC circuits are constantly activated, then communication responsiveness is improved, but unwanted connections increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidunwanted connections
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection using Hall Effect sensors to identify the presence of magnets before enabling NFC communication. This preliminary filtering prevents unwanted connections by ensuring NFC is only activated when a legitimate device is in proximity, while maintaining fast responsiveness when actual communication is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If proximity detection is added to control NFC activation, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces Hall Effect sensors as intermediary components that detect magnetic fields from magnets on nearby devices. These sensors act as mediators between physical proximity and NFC activation, providing a simple and energy-efficient mechanism to control NFC circuits without requiring complex processing or multiple sensor types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces power consumption by activating NFC circuits only when necessary, minimizing unwanted connections and enhancing the efficiency of data exchange through controlled proximity-based communication.

Implementation Method 1

A first magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors is operable to detect a second magnetic field generated by a second magnet of the second NFC tag

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall Effect: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 2

Near Field Communications technology is commonly used for contactless short-range communications based on radio frequency identification (RFID) standards, using magnetic field induction to enable communication between electronic devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2302560B1System and associated nfc tag using plurality of nfc tags associated with location or devices to communicate with communications device
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2302560B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2302560B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2302560B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A Near Field Communications (NFC) tag includes a housing and a magnet carried by the housing and configured to be magnetically sensed by a magnetic sensor carried by a communications device to activate an NFC circuit within the communications device to communicate using an NFC communications protocol. A data store stores data regarding a function of the communications device to be magnetically coupled by the magnet. The data store is configured to be read by the communications device using an NFC communications protocol after the NFC circuit had been activated.