NFC Antenna Power Boosting for EMVco Payment Transactions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing NFC solutions face challenges in meeting the performance and user experience requirements of EMVco standards for payment transactions while minimizing cost, size, and power consumption, especially as mobile devices become smaller and more compact.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic adjustment of NFC antenna transmission power using a power amplifier (PA) or booster, controlled by the CPU or NFC module, to increase transmission power during payment transactions, such as EMVco transactions, while maintaining low power consumption in proximity usage modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a larger coil with larger and high quality ferrite is used to increase the coupling factor, then the power received by the NFC card increases, but the device size increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower received by NFC cardVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of transmit power based on the detected NFC usage mode. The system switches between proximity mode (lower power) and payment mode (higher power) to provide the necessary power only when needed, rather than continuously operating at high power levels. This resolves the contradiction by making the power output dynamic rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmit power parameter dynamically based on the detected usage mode. By detecting whether the NFC interaction is a proximity usage or a payment transaction, the system adjusts the transmit power parameter accordingly, allowing high power only when EMVco compliance is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If transmit power is increased to meet EMVco standards, then payment transaction performance improves, but system power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmit powerVSAvoidsystem power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of transmit power based on the detected NFC usage mode. The system switches between proximity mode (lower power) and payment mode (higher power) to provide the necessary power only when needed, rather than continuously operating at high power levels. This resolves the contradiction by making the power output dynamic rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically detects the NFC usage mode and adjusts transmit power accordingly. By using periodic detection and adjustment rather than continuous high power operation, the system reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining payment transaction capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Power

If a larger coil is used to increase coupling factor, then NFC card power reception improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNFC card power receptionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of transmit power based on the detected NFC usage mode. The system switches between proximity mode (lower power) and payment mode (higher power) to provide the necessary power only when needed, rather than continuously operating at high power levels. This resolves the contradiction by making the power output dynamic rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmit power parameter dynamically based on the detected usage mode. By detecting whether the NFC interaction is a proximity usage or a payment transaction, the system adjusts the transmit power parameter accordingly, allowing high power only when EMVco compliance is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for efficient compliance with EMVco standards by dynamically boosting NFC antenna transmission power only when needed, thereby optimizing battery life and reducing the need for larger, more expensive ferrite materials and new NFC chip designs.

Implementation Method 1

NFC systems may rely on the near field coupling of a magnetic field between two coils tuned near resonance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

Implementing a dynamic adjustment of NFC antenna transmission power using a power amplifier (PA) or booster

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal amplification: Magnetic Amplifier

Data Source

PatentEP2918021B1Dynamic boost of near field communications (NFC) performance/coverage in devices

Publication Date: 2023.03.29 INTEL CORP

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AI summary

Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for dynamic amplification/boosting of near field communications (NFC) antenna transmission power in a device during NFC related functions that require increase 5 in an NFC antenna transmission power such as a payment transaction. For example, to comply with Europay MasterCard and Visa (EMVco) standards with regard to higher NFC antenna transmission power during the EMVco transactions, the NFC antenna transmission power may be dynamically controlled to maximize efficiency of a battery/power supply of the device.