Near-Field Communications (NFC) for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT): An Overview

Abstract

Recent advancements in the semiconductor integrated circuits and functional materials technologies have accelerated the demand of electronic and biomedical devices such as internet of things (IoT) and wearable sensors, which have low power consumption, miniature size and high data transfer efficiency. Wireless power transfer (WPT) has become the alternative solution to current electronic devices that rely on bulky batteries to supply the power and energy. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is extensively used for wireless power transfer, where devices communicate through inductive coupling via induced magnetic fields between transmit and receive coils (loop antennas). Thin NFC sheets made of soft magnetic materials are inserted between antennas and metal case of wireless gadgets, such as mobile phones or tablets, to reduce the degradation of antenna gain and radiation efficiency due to generation of eddy currents. To enhance the efficiency of wireless power transfer, magnetic materials with superb properties such as high permeability, low magnetic loss and high resistivity are highly desirable. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the current state of the art, recent progress and future directions in NFC based wireless power transfer, with the special focus on near field communications operating at 13.56 MHz.

Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants

“…NFC stands apart due to its specific design for short-range, high-frequency communication and power transfer. This specialized design results in NFC devices generating weaker electromagnetic fields compared to broader RF technologies, whose radiation levels vary based on power and application ( Stoecklin et al, 2020 ; Lathiya and Wang, 2021 ; Van Mulders et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Moreover, NFC’s capability to support two-way data communication between an external coil or loop antenna and a second implanted coil, while penetrating the tissue barrier, further sets it apart. This dual functionality for both power transfer and data exchange at close proximity makes NFC a versatile choice for neural implant systems, serving specific purposes that broader inductive coupling technologies might not fulfill ( Stoecklin et al, 2020 ; Lathiya and Wang, 2021 ; Van Mulders et al, 2022 ).…”

Proceedings - The Eleventh International Symposium GRID 2022

“…In another article (Lathiya & Wang, 2021), the evolution of NFC transaction values between the years 2014 and 2024 was presented (Figure 1). (Grand View Research, Inc., 2016) In this article, the author states that from 2010 onward, new interesting applications of NFC were launched every year in the communication sector by technology giants such as Google, Apple, Samsung, NXP, etc.…”

“…(Grand View Research, Inc., 2016) In this article, the author states that from 2010 onward, new interesting applications of NFC were launched every year in the communication sector by technology giants such as Google, Apple, Samsung, NXP, etc. The industry players are constantly introducing new advances and improved technologies in NFC-enabled devices, which have taken the global market to 4.80 billion USD in 2015 and are expected to reach 47.42 USD billion by 2024 (Lathiya & Wang, 2021;Grand View Research, Inc., 2016). The future of NFC technology is growing rapidly, as shown by the research data presented.…”

RF Power Transmission for Self-sustaining Miniaturized IoT Devices

“…WPT is mainly divided into near-and far-field WPT depending on the spatial range of the transfer. Near-field inductive WPT is used to wirelessly power many commercially available near-field communication (NFC) devices such as credit cards and smartphones and is widely adopted [10]. However, its range is limited to few a centimeters, due to the mainly inductive transfer of energy and data in the near-field.…”