Near field communications (nfc) coil with embedded wireless antenna

Abstract

Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and WLAN dual-band operations. For example, a WLAN dual-band utilizes the same coil antenna that is utilized for near field communications (NFC) functions. The WLAN dual-band may be integrated into an NFC module to form a single module.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A device comprising:
 an antenna structure configured to transmit or receive a wireless local area network (WLAN) electrical signal and a near field communication (NFC) electrical signal;   an NFC circuit configured to process the NFC electrical signal, wherein the NFC circuit is configured to utilize a loop antenna of the antenna structure to transmit or receive the NFC electrical signal during NFC operation; and   a WLAN circuit configured to process the WLAN electrical signal, wherein the WLAN circuit is configured to use a segment of the loop antenna to transmit or receive the WLAN electrical signal during WLAN operation.   
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the loop antenna comprises an inductor, wherein the inductor is configured to act as a short circuit when transmitting or receiving an NFC signal and as an open circuit when transmitting or receiving a WLAN signal. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the WLAN electrical signal is a 2.4 GHz band WLAN electrical signal or a 5.2 GHz band WLAN electrical signal. 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the loop antenna comprises at least one loop to transmit or receive the NFC electrical signal during NFC operation, wherein the WLAN circuit is configured to use a segment of the at least one loop of the loop antenna to transmit or receive the WLAN electrical signal during WLAN operation. 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the loop antenna comprises multiple loops to transmit or receive the NFC electrical signal during NFC operation. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein the device is configured to transmit or receive the WLAN electrical signal and the NFC electrical signal at the same time. 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a processing circuit. 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 23 , further comprising a computer readable storage. 
     
     
         31 . A portable device comprising a device according to  claim 23 . 
     
     
         32 . A device comprising:
 an antenna structure configured to transmit or receive a high frequency electrical signal and a near field communications (NFC) electrical signal;   an NFC circuit configured to process the NFC electrical signal, wherein the NFC circuit is configured to utilize a loop antenna of the antenna structure to transmit or receive the NFC electrical signal during NFC operation; and   a wireless communication circuit configured to process the high frequency electrical signal, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to use a segment of the loop antenna to transmit or receive the high frequency electrical signal during wireless communication operation.   
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the loop antenna comprises an inductor, wherein the inductor has low impedance when transmitting or receiving the NFC signal and has high impedance when transmitting or receiving the high frequency signal. 
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the high frequency electrical signal is a 2.4 GHz band WLAN electrical signal or a 5.2 GHz band WLAN electrical signal. 
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the loop antenna comprises at least one loop to transmit or receive the NFC electrical signal during NFC operation, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to use a segment of the at least one loop of the loop antenna to transmit or receive the high frequency electrical signal during wireless communication operation. 
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the loop antenna comprises multiple loops to transmit or receive the NFC electrical signal during NFC operation. 
     
     
         37 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the device is configured to transmit or receive the high frequency electrical signal and the NFC electrical signal at the same time. 
     
     
         38 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the high frequency electrical signal comprises a frequency higher than a frequency of the NFC electrical signal.