Method for preventing interference of contactless card reader and touch functions when they are physically and logically bound together for improved authentication security

• US 9,740,342 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cirque Corporation (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Cirque Corporation (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Keith L., Paulsen, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Wen
• Application Number:
  US13/720,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455 413, 455566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00

Abstract

A system for physically and logically integrating near field communication technology, touch sensor technology and display technology by using a more powerful near field communication antenna disposed under the touch sensor and display screen for transmitting, and a smaller near field communication antenna on top of the touch sensor for receiving near field communication signals.

Claims

1. A system that integrates a touch sensor and near field communication antenna technology to provide communications in a touch sensitive portable electronic appliance, said system comprising:

a display screen;

a touch sensor disposed on top of the display screen to thereby create a touchscreen;

a receiving near field communication antenna disposed between the display screen and the touch sensor and that may only function for receiving a signal; and

a transmitting near field communication antenna disposed underneath the display screen and that may only function for transmitting a signal through the touchscreen, wherein the receiving near field communication antenna is smaller than the transmitting near field communication antenna.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a ground plane disposed between the transmitting near field communication antenna and the touch sensor, wherein the ground plane includes a plurality of electrodes that are formed so that there are no closed loops to thereby minimize eddy currents in the electrodes.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a ground plane on a same substrate as the transmitting near field communication antenna, wherein the ground plane includes a plurality of electrodes that are formed so that there are no closed loops to thereby minimize eddy currents in the electrodes.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a ground plane disposed under the transmitting near field communication antenna, wherein the ground plane includes a plurality of electrodes that are formed so that there are no closed loops to thereby minimize eddy currents in the electrodes.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of:

a low or a high impedance material being used for the receiving near field communication antenna; and

a low impedance material being used for the transmitting near field communication antenna.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein the system is further comprised of an antenna circuit having a high input impedance input circuit for receiving an input signal from the receiving near field communication antenna, and a low output impedance driver circuit for transmitting a signal to the transmitting near field communication antenna.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of disposing ferrite material on at least one substrate of the system to thereby compress electric or magnetic fields generated by the system.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of at least one substrate disposed between the touch sensor and the transmitting NFC antenna, wherein a conductive material is disposed on a surface of the at least one substrate to thereby reduce electrical field interference of the transmitting NFC antenna with the touch sensor.

9. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein the system is further comprised of a conductive electrode that is coupled to all of the conductive material on the at least one substrate to thereby electrically couple all of the conductive material.

10. The system as defined in claim 8 wherein the system is further comprised of a filter disposed on each electrode of the touch sensor to thereby prevent interference of the transmitting NFC antenna with the touch sensor.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the system is further comprised of a capacitor disposed on each electrode of the touch sensor to thereby shunt signals from the transmitting NFC antenna to ground.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a common oscillator clocking signal that is used by the touch sensor, the display screen and the NFC antennas to thereby minimize unwanted signals between the touch sensor, the display screen and the NFC antennas.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a sensor for detecting activation of the transmitting NFC antenna, to thereby enable the touch sensor to modify sensing functions.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a sensor for detecting activation of the touch sensor, to thereby enable the transmitting NFC antenna to terminate communication functions.

15. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a switch in the touch sensor that enables activation of the receiving NFC antenna, the transmitting NFC antenna, or a combination of the two.

16. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a synchronization circuit for synchronizing functions of the touch sensor, the receiving near field communication antenna, the transmitting near field communication and the display screen.

17. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a mutual capacitance touch sensor.

18. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of the display screen being selected from the group of display screens comprised of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, and an organic light emitting diode display.

19. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the system is further comprised of a directional coupler connected to the receiving near field communication antenna if the receiving near field communication antenna is used to receive a signal.

20. A method for integrating a touch sensor and near field communication antenna technology to provide communications in a touch sensitive portable electronic appliance, said method comprising:

1) providing a display screen, a touch sensor disposed on top of the display screen to thereby create a touchscreen, a receiving near field communication antenna that may only receive signals and is disposed between the touch sensor and the display screen for receiving a signal, and a transmitting near field communication antenna that may only transmit signals and is disposed under or around the display screen for transmitting a signal, wherein the receiving antenna is smaller than the transmitting antenna; and

2) transmitting a near field communication signal from the transmitting near field communication antenna through the display screen, the touch sensor and the receiving near field communication antenna; and

3) receiving a near field communication signal on the receiving near field communication antenna.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of:

1) disposing a ground plane between the transmitting near field communication antenna and the touch sensor; and

2) forming a plurality of ground plane electrodes so that there are no closed loops to thereby minimize eddy currents in the electrodes.

22. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of:

1) disposing a ground plane on a same substrate as the transmitting near field communication antenna; and

2) forming a plurality of ground plane electrodes so that there are no closed loops to thereby minimize eddy currents in the electrodes.

23. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the system is further comprised of:

1) disposing a ground plane on a substrate under the transmitting near field communication antenna; and

2) forming a plurality of ground plane electrodes so that there are no closed loops to thereby minimize eddy currents in the electrodes a ground plane.

24. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of:

1) providing a low or a high impedance material for the receiving near field communication antenna; and

2) providing a low impedance material being used for the transmitting near field communication antenna.

25. The method as defined in claim 24 wherein the method is further comprised of providing an antenna circuit having a high input impedance input circuit for receiving an input signal from the receiving near field communication antenna, and a low output impedance driver circuit for transmitting a signal to the transmitting near field communication antenna.

26. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of suppressing electric or magnetic fields generated by the system by disposing ferrite material on at least one substrate of the system to thereby.

27. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of reducing electrical field interference of the transmitting NFC antenna on the touch sensor by disposing at least one substrate between the touch sensor and the transmitting NFC antenna, wherein a conductive material is disposed on a surface of the at least one substrate.

28. The method as defined in claim 27 wherein the method is further comprised of preventing interference of the transmitting NFC antenna on the touch sensor by disposing a filter on each electrode of the touch sensor.

29. The method as defined in claim 28 wherein the method is further comprised of shunting signals from the transmitting NFC antenna to ground by disposing a capacitor on each electrode of the touch sensor to thereby.

30. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of minimizing unwanted signals on the touch sensor from the transmitting NFC antenna by using a common oscillator clocking signal that is used by the touch sensor and the transmitting NFC antenna.

31. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of terminating sensing functions by detecting activation of the transmitting NFC antenna by using a sensor.

32. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of terminating communication functions by detecting activation of the touch sensor.

33. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of enabling activation of the receiving NFC antenna, the transmitting NFC antenna, or a combination of the two by activating a switch in the touch sensor.

34. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of synchronizing functions of the touch sensor, the receiving near field communication antenna, the transmitting near field communication and the display screen to thereby minimize interference of the components.

35. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of selecting the display screen from the group of display screens comprised of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode display, and an organic light emitting diode display.

36. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the method is further comprised of increasing sensitivity of the receiving NFC antenna by coupling a directional coupler to the receiving near field communication antenna if the receiving near field communication antenna is used to receive a signal.

37. A system that integrates a touch sensor and near field communication antenna technology to provide communications in a touch sensitive portable electronic appliance, said system comprising:

a display screen having a plurality of display electrodes for generating a display;

a touch sensor that shares the plurality of display electrodes in order to perform proximity and touch sensing, and to create a touchscreen for use with the display screen; and

a transmitting near field communication antenna that may only transmit signals and is disposed under or around the display screen for transmitting a signal through the touchscreen; and

a receiving near field communication antenna that may only receive signals and is disposed under the touchscreen for receiving a signal, wherein the receiving near field communication antenna is smaller than the transmitting near field communication antenna.

38. A system that integrates a touch sensor and near field communication antenna technology to provide communications in a touch sensitive portable electronic appliance, said system comprising:

a display screen having a plurality of display electrodes for generating a display;

a touch sensor that shares the plurality of display electrodes in order to perform proximity and touch sensing, and to create a touchscreen with the display screen;

a transmitting near field communication antenna that may only transmit signals and that shares the plurality of display electrodes in order to transmit a signal through the touchscreen; and

means for controlling use of the plurality of display electrodes to enable the display screen, the touch sensor and the transmitting near field communication antenna to share the use of the plurality of display electrodes.

39. The system as defined in claim 38 wherein the system is further comprised of a receiving near field communication antenna that may only receive signals and is disposed on top of the touchscreen for receiving a signal, wherein the receiving near field communication antenna is smaller than the transmitting near field communication antenna.