Tap zones for near field coupling devices

• US 9,529,480 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Corrion, Bradley W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US13/976,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20140191988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11, 178 1901- 1907
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling

Abstract

Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and more particularly using near field coupling related taps to indicate user selections on input/output devices. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. An input/output device comprising:

a programmable visual display defining a first and second opposite surfaces;

an array of near field coupling compatible antennas positioned at least a first distance from the first surface but within a second distance from the second surface, the first distance being sufficient to enable near field coupling between adjacent antennas of the array and an external near field coupling compatible device in a proximity of the second surface, the adjacent antennas being at least a third distance apart from one another, the third distance is dynamically adjustable to generate overlapping or non-overlapping of tap zones, wherein the adjacent antennas that generate the overlapping tap zones are configured to act as a single antenna to detect presence of the external near field coupling compatible device in proximity of a first icon, wherein each of the other antenna with corresponding non-overlapping tap zone is configured to detect presence of the external near field coupling compatible device in proximity of a second icon that is different from the first icon;

a processor in communication with the display and the antenna array; and

a memory in communication with the processor and storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to control the activation of each of the antennas, to display the first and second icons on the display and in one or more tap zones of the second surface for which the associated antenna is active, to accept from one of the antennas a signal indicating that the external NFC-compatible device to be in the proximity of the tap zone corresponding to that antenna, and to respond to that tap indication by changing the icon associated with that tap zone and to output an indication of the tapped tap zone.

2. The input/output device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen.

3. An input/output device comprising:

a visual display;

a visual display configured to show different icons that indicate a tapping zone for an external near field coupling electronic device via Near Field Communications (NFC) protocols;

a first near field coupling compatible antenna disposed at a particular distance relative to a second near field coupling compatible antenna in an array, wherein the particular distance is adjustable to generate overlapping or non-overlapping tap zones between the two antennas, wherein the overlapping tap zones configure the two antennas to act as a single antenna that is associated with a single icon while the non-overlapping tap zones configure each of the two antennas to act as separate antennas that are associated with separate respective icons.

4. The input/output device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first and second near-field coupling compatible antennas are disposed in a single plane that is in parallel with the visual display.

5. The input/output device as recited in claim 4, wherein the tap zones are spaced apart from one another.

6. The input/output device as recited in claim 4, wherein the array of near field coupling compatible antennas is configured to include multiple antennas with similar configurations.

7. The input/output device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a processor in communication with the display and the first and second antennas.

8. The input/output device as recited in claim 7, further comprising a computer readable memory in communication with the processor.

9. The input/output device as recited in claim 8, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to display a first user icon in the first tap zone of the display and to display a second user icon in the second tap zone of the display.

10. The input/output device as recited in claim 8, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to control which of the antennas is active.

11. The input/output device as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory further stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to display an icon in the tap zone associated with an active antenna.

12. The input/output device as recited in claim 8, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to detect a signal from one of the antennas indicative of a tap and to display an icon in the corresponding tap zone of the display responsive to the tap signal.