Shared Conductive Coil for NFC, Charging, and Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive coil structures in electronic devices occupy excessive space, making it challenging to achieve compact sizes, especially when they need to perform multiple functions.
Innovation Solution
The use of shared conductive coil structures that integrate near-field communications, wireless charging, and acoustic/haptic functions, where the coil is coiled around a magnet and adhered to the housing wall, allowing for the optimization of space by using the same coil for multiple purposes through switching circuitry control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate conductive coil structures are used for each function (acoustic, NFC, wireless charging), then each function can be performed reliably, but the device size and space consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate conductive coil structures into a single shared coil that serves multiple functions including acoustic output, NFC communications, and wireless charging. This merging eliminates redundant components and significantly reduces the space required in the device while maintaining the reliability of each function through selective activation via switching circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared conductive coil is designed to perform multiple functions universally - it can operate as an acoustic voice coil, an NFC antenna, and a wireless charging coil depending on which circuitry is activated. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require three separate components, directly addressing the space reduction goal.
2Volume of moving object
If a shared conductive coil is used for multiple functions, then space consumption is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to switching circuitry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces switching circuitry that dynamically configures the shared coil's function based on operational needs. The switching circuitry can selectively connect the coil to different circuitry (acoustic, NFC, or wireless charging) as needed, allowing the system to adapt its configuration dynamically rather than requiring separate dedicated coils for each function.
3Reliability
If the conductive coil is coiled around a magnet for acoustic function, then acoustic performance is improved, but the space required for the magnet increases device volume
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet and coil assembly is designed as a multi-functional unit where the same magnetic structure serves both acoustic purposes (when driven by audio signals) and wireless charging purposes (when driven by charging frequencies). This eliminates the need for separate magnets for acoustic and wireless charging functions, reducing overall space consumption while maintaining acoustic performance.
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 minimizes space consumption by enabling the coil to perform multiple functions simultaneously, such as transmitting audio signals, haptic signals, near-field communications, and wireless charging, while maintaining efficient performance.
Implementation Method 1
The amplifier circuitry may drive audio signals and/or haptic signals onto the conductive coil that cause the conductive coil to vibrate the housing wall
Implementation Method 2
The amplifier circuitry may drive audio signals and/or haptic signals onto the conductive coil that cause the conductive coil to vibrate the housing wall
Implementation Method 3
The near-field communications circuitry may convey near-field communications signals through the housing wall using the conductive coil
Implementation Method 4
The wireless charging circuitry may receive wireless power for charging the battery through the housing wall using the conductive coil
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a housing, a battery, a conductive coil, near-field communications circuitry, amplifier circuitry, and wireless charging circuitry. The housing may have a housing wall. The conductive coil may be adhered to the housing wall. The conductive coil may be coiled around a magnet. The amplifier circuitry may drive audio signals and/or haptic signals onto the conductive coil that cause the conductive coil to vibrate the housing wall. The near-field communications circuitry may convey near-field communications signals through the housing wall using the conductive coil. The wireless charging circuitry may receive wireless power for charging the battery through the housing wall using the conductive coil. If desired, the conductive coil may include a first set of windings that lie within a surface extending along the housing wall and/or a second set of vertically-stacked windings that extend away from the housing wall.