INDUCTIVE TOUCH SCREEN WITH INTEGRATED ANTENNA FOR USE IN A COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20100265189A1
• Filed: 04/20/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

A touch screen can be used in a communication device having a transceiver that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station. The touch screen includes a display layer for displaying information. An inductor grid includes a plurality of inductive elements. A switch matrix selects a selected inductive element in response to a selection signal. A driver generates the selection signal and drives the selected inductive element to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected inductive element and generates touch screen data in response thereto. A plurality of coupling elements couple together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna and further couple the antenna to the transceiver to send and receive the RF signals.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a processor that executes a communication application;

a transceiver, coupled to the processor, that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station in accordance with the communication application;

a touch screen, coupled to the processor and the transceiver, that provides a user interface for the communication application, the touch screen comprising;

a display layer for displaying information;

an inductor grid, coupled to display layer, that includes a plurality of inductive elements;

at least one switch matrix, coupled to the inductor grid, that selects a selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in response to at least one selection signal;

a driver, coupled to the at least one switch matrix and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that drives the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and

a plurality of coupling elements that couple together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna and that couple the antenna to the transceiver to send and receive the RF signals.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of coupling elements include a plurality of capacitors.

3. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a single inductor and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a measured self inductance of the single inductor.

4. The communication device of claim 3 wherein the driver executes a calibration procedure to detect an initial self inductance, and wherein the driver generates touch screen data based on a comparison of the measured self inductance and the initial self inductance.

5. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a inductor pair and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a mutual inductance of the inductor pair.

6. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the touch screen data includes a grid position associated with the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements.

7. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the switch matrix includes a row matrix and a column matrix, the at least one selection signal includes a row selection signal and a column selection signals and the driver includes a row/column selector that generates the row selection signal and the column selection signal to sequentially scan the plurality of inductive elements.

8. The communication device of claim 7 wherein the driver includes a controller, coupled to the row/column selector, that generates the touch screen data.

9. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating an oscillation to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the oscillation.

10. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating a pulse to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the pulse.

11. A touch screen for use in a communication device having a transceiver that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station, the touch screen comprising:

a display layer for displaying information;

an inductor grid, coupled to display layer, that includes a plurality of inductive elements;

at least one switch matrix, coupled to the inductor grid, that selects a selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in response to at least one selection signal;

a driver, coupled to the at least one switch matrix and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that drives the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and

a plurality of coupling elements that couple together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna and that couple the antenna to the transceiver to send and receive the RF signals.

12. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the plurality of coupling elements include a plurality of capacitors.

13. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a single inductor and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a measured self inductance of the single inductor.

14. The touch screen of claim 13 wherein the driver executes a calibration procedure to detect an initial self inductance, and wherein the driver generates touch screen data based on a comparison of the measured self inductance and the initial self inductance.

15. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a inductor pair and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a mutual inductance of the inductor pair.

16. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the touch screen data includes a grid position associated with the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements.

17. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the switch matrix includes a row matrix and a column matrix, the at least one selection signal includes a row selection signal and a column selection signals and the driver includes a row/column selector that generates the row selection signal and the column selection signal to sequentially scan the plurality of inductive elements.

18. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating an oscillation to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the oscillation.

19. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating a pulse to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the pulse.

20. A method for use in a touch screen of a communication device having a transceiver that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station, the method comprising:

displaying information via a display layer;

generating at least one selection signal;

selecting, in response to the at least one selection signal, a selected one of a plurality of inductive elements;

driving the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements;

generating touch screen data in response when the touch object is detected in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements;

coupling together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna via a first plurality of capacitors; and

coupling the antenna formed by the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the transceiver via at least one second capacitors to send and receive the RF signals.