DISPLAY INTEGRATED ANTENNA

• US 20160328057A1
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Nugraha, Thomas Agung, Chai, Mei, Parikh, Kunjal, Horine, Bryce D., Lee, Kwan Ho, Skinner, Harry G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,551,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A touch panel for a display, the touch panel having a touch sensor configured to receive touch input, and an antenna located within or below the touch sensor.

Claims

1. A touch panel for a display, the touch panel comprising:

a touch sensor configured to receive touch input; and

a micro wire antenna located within or below the touch sensor.

2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the micro wire antenna is located within the touch sensor.

3. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the touch sensor comprises a first portion disposed in a first layer, and a second portion disposed in a second layer.

4. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein the micro wire antenna is disposed in the first layer.

5. The touch panel of claim 4, wherein the micro wire antenna is a slot antenna.

6. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein the micro wire antenna is disposed in the second layer.

7. The touch panel of claim 6, wherein the micro wire antenna is a slot antenna.

8. The touch panel of claim 3, wherein the micro wire antenna is disposed in both the first layer and the second layer.

9. The touch panel of claim 8, wherein the micro wire antenna is a patch antenna.

10. The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the micro wire antenna is disposed in a layer below the touch sensor.

11. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the micro wire antenna comprises a copper mesh.

12. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of micro wire antennas.

13. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the micro wire antenna comprises a surface area that is substantially the same as the surface area of the touch panel display.

14. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the micro wire antenna comprises a smaller surface area than the surface area of the touch panel display.

15. A wireless communication device comprising the touch panel of claim 1.

16. A touch panel for a display, the touch panel comprising:

a touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrode traces;

at least one dummy area disposed between adjacent electrode traces of the plurality of electrode traces; and

an antenna disposed in the at least one dummy area.

17. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein the at least one dummy area comprises indium tin oxide (ITO) or a micro wire metal mesh.

18. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein the antenna comprises indium tin oxide (ITO) or micro wire metal mesh.

19. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein the at least one dummy area and the antenna comprise a same transparent conductive material.

20. The touch panel of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrode traces has a toothed-shaped structure.

21. A wireless communication device comprising the touch panel of claim 16.

22. The wireless communication device of claim 21, further comprising a display panel disposed below the touch panel.

23. A method of forming a touch panel for a display, the method comprising:

forming a micro wire mesh within or below a touch sensor of the touch panel;

masking the micro wire mesh and touch sensor; and

etching the micro wire mesh and touch sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the masking comprises masking with a first mask the touch sensor.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the masking comprises masking with a second mask the micro wire mesh.