NFC Transmitter Voltage Control via Dual Feedback Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Payment object readers face synchronization and reading errors due to voltage fluctuations affecting components, particularly when detecting integrated circuit or NFC-enabled payment objects.
Innovation Solution
A dual feedback mechanism for a boost converter integrated circuit chip that regulates voltage to the NFC antenna, using a microcontroller with ADC and DAC inputs/outputs to monitor and control the voltage, ensuring accurate power delivery and modulation for reading data from NFC-enabled and IC chip payment objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If voltage is applied to NFC antenna and IC chip reader components, then data reading capability is enabled, but voltage fluctuations cause synchronization and reading errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the microcontroller continuously monitors the actual voltage supplied to the NFC antenna and IC chip reader through ADC inputs, compares it with the desired voltage level, and dynamically adjusts the power output via PWM signals to the boost converter. This closed-loop feedback system eliminates voltage fluctuations that cause synchronization and reading errors, thereby improving reading accuracy while maintaining voltage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the voltage parameter supplied to the NFC antenna and IC chip reader based on real-time conditions. The microcontroller adjusts the duty cycle of PWM signals to the boost converter, thereby varying the output voltage to match the precise requirements of different payment objects (NFC cards, EMV chips), ensuring optimal reading accuracy without voltage-induced errors.
2Measurement precision
If dual feedback mechanism with ADC and DAC is implemented, then voltage control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the central processing unit, ADC for voltage sensing, DAC for signal generation, PWM controller for boost converter control, and overall system manager. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional microcontroller, the patent achieves high voltage measurement and control precision without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the microcontroller integrates all these capabilities in one component.
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 solution stabilizes the voltage supply to NFC antennas and IC chip readers, reducing errors and enhancing the reliability of data reading from various payment objects, including NFC-enabled and EMV cards, by dynamically adjusting the power output based on real-time voltage measurements.
Implementation Method 1
A second feedback circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) input and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) output
Implementation Method 2
The DAC output is connected to the boost converter feedback pin via a transistor and a resistor divider
Implementation Method 3
A boost converter IC chip has a voltage output pin connected to the NFC antenna and a feedback pin connected to a first feedback circuit
Implementation Method 4
The DAC output is connected to the boost converter feedback pin via a transistor and a resistor divider
Data Source
AI summary
A payment object reader configured to read data from NFC or EMV enabled payment objects. The payment device includes a NFC antenna, a boost converter (voltage regulator) chip. A first feedback circuit is connected to the NFC antenna and the feedback pin of the boost converter chip. The boost converter chip regulates a first voltage provided to the NFC antenna for the NFC antenna to modulate a field. A second feedback circuit includes a microcontroller with an ADC input and a DAC output. ADC input is connected to NFC antenna, and DAC is connected to the feedback pin of the boost converter chip. The microcontroller receives the voltage at the ADC input and controls the DAC output to transition based on the value of the ADC input.