Method and system for a touchscreen interface utilizing leaky wave antennas

• US 8,929,841 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Rofougaran, Maryam
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALUKDER, MD K
• Application Number:
  US12/797,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 455/91, 455/66.1, 455/129, 455/566, 455/121, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73204 the bump connector being embedded into the layer connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/20 Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/22 Longitudinal slot in boundary wall of waveguide or transmission line H01Q13/203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/006 Selective devices having photonic band gap materials or materials of which the material properties are frequency dependent, e.g. perforated substrates, high-impedance surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0066 said selective devices being reconfigurable, tunable or controllable, e.g. using switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/23 Combinations of reflecting surfaces with refracting or diffracting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

Methods and systems for a touchscreen interface utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include configuring one or more leaky wave antennas utilizing conductive traces in the touchscreen interface for communication of wireless RF signals. RF signals may be communicated utilizing the configured LWAs. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. The LWAs may be configured to communicate the RF signals in a desired direction. The LWAs may comprise microstrip or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity height of the one or more leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. The touch control commands by the touchscreen interface may be sensed utilizing capacitance, inductance, and/or resistance measurements.

Claims

1. A method for communication, comprising:

in a wireless device comprising a touchscreen interface that controls operation of said wireless device and includes one or more leaky wave antennas integrated in conductive sensing traces thereof

configuring said one or more leaky wave antennas utilizing said conductive sensing traces in said touchscreen interface for communication of wireless RF signals, the configuring including setting an input impedance of each of the one or more leaky wave antennas by adjusting a position of a variable feed point within a cavity of each one of the one or more leaky wave antennas; and

communicating RF signals utilizing said one or more leaky wave antennas into touchscreen interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring a resonant frequency of said one or more leaky wave antennas utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring said one or more of the leaky wave antennas to communicate said RF signals a desired direction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more leaky wave antennas comprise microstrip waveguides.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a cavity height of said one or more leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more leaky wave antennas comprise coplanar waveguides.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a cavity height of said one or more leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said coplanar waveguide.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising sensing touch control commands by said touchscreen interface utilizing capacitance measurements.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising sensing touch control commands by said touchscreen interface utilizing inductance measurements.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising sensing touch control commands by said touchscreen interface utilizing resistance measurement.

11. a system for enabling communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a wireless device comprising a touchscreen interface that controls operation of said wireless device, wherein one or more leaky wave antennas are integrated in conductive and increases in said touchscreen interface, said one or more circuits being configured to;

configure said one or more leaky wave antennas utilizing said conductive sensing traces and said touchscreen interface for communication of wireless RF signal, configuration of said one or more leaky wave antennas including setting an input impedance of each of the one or more leaky wave antennas by adjusting a position of a variable feed point within a cavity of each one of the one or more leaky wave antennas; and

communicate RF signals utilizing said one or more leaky with antennas into touchscreen interface.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to configure a resonant frequency of said one or more leaky wave antennas utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits is operable to configure said one or more leaky wave antennas to communicate said RF signals in a desired direction.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more leaky wave antennas comprises microstrip waveguides.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein a cavity height of said one or more leaky wave antennas is dependent on a spacing between conductive lines in said microstrip waveguides.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more leaky wave antennas comprise coplanar waveguides.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein a cavity height of said one or more leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in said coplanar waveguides.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are configured to sense touch control commands by said touchscreen interface utilizing capacitance measurements.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are configured to sense touch control commands by said touchscreen interface utilizing inductance measurements.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are configured to sense touch control commands by said touchscreen interface utilizing resistance measurements.