Touch Pad Electrode Layout With Annular NFC Signal Channel

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch panels prioritize sensing accuracy without considering proper matching of near-field communication (NFC) antennas, leading to potential interference and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

Designing a touch panel with an annular signal channel along the thickness direction, incorporating a grounding layer, circuit layer with an NFC antenna, and electrode layers with specific electrode and metal pad arrangements to allow signal transmission without affecting electrode operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If components (driving electrode layer, sensing electrode layer, or grounding layer) are designed to have a cooperative layout for sensing accuracy, then sensing accuracy is improved, but proper matching of NFC antenna is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing accuracyVSAvoidNFC antenna matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding layer is segmented into a first grounding electrode and a second grounding electrode that are spatially separated and positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the NFC antenna to be embedded in the circuit layer without interfering with the electrode layout, resolving the conflict between sensing accuracy and NFC antenna matching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The NFC antenna is nested within the circuit layer, which itself is positioned between the electrode layers and the grounding layer. This nested structure allows the antenna to be integrated into the touch panel without disrupting the cooperative layout of the electrode layers for sensing accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an NFC antenna is integrated into the touch panel, then NFC functionality is added, but interference with electrode operations may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNFC functionalityVSAvoidelectrode operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The NFC antenna is extracted and placed in the circuit layer, separate from the electrode layers and grounding layer. This spatial separation prevents the antenna from interfering with electrode operations while maintaining NFC functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit layer acts as an intermediary layer that hosts the NFC antenna and positions it between the electrode layers and the grounding layer. This intermediary structure isolates the antenna from the electrode operations, preventing interference while enabling NFC functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260072554A1Touch pad and sensing module thereof

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 PIXART IMAGING INC

AI summary

A touch pad and a sensing module thereof are provided. The sensing module defines an annular signal channel along a thickness direction. The sensing module includes a grounding layer and an electrode layer located at one side of the grounding layer. The electrode layer includes a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of metal pads that are spaced apart from the first electrodes and the second electrodes. The first electrodes are arranged in rows parallel to each other, the second electrodes are arranged in columns parallel to each other, and at least one of the rows and at least one of the columns are arranged across the annular signal channel that is provided without any metal pad therein. A projection space defined by orthogonally projecting the grounding layer along the thickness direction is overlapped with the first electrodes and the second electrodes.