Touch Screen Terminal Multiplexing Electrodes for NFC
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Solution Overview
Problem
NFC-integrated mobile devices become bulky due to the need for an inductive card reader, limiting their construction and size, and existing solutions fail to achieve near-field communication without increasing the device's size.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a touch-screen terminal with multiple driver and inductive electrodes forming capacitor structures, allowing for signal multiplexing to enable electric-field-based NFC communication without the need for an additional inductive card reader, using the electrodes to transmit and receive signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an inductive card reader is added to enable NFC communication, then near-field communication capability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the NFC communication function with the existing touch sensor electrodes, merging two separate functions (touch sensing and NFC communication) into a single integrated system. The touch sensor's driver electrodes and inductive electrodes are repurposed to serve as transmitting and receiving antennas for NFC, eliminating the need for a separate inductive card reader component.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor electrodes are designed to perform multiple functions: they serve as both touch sensing elements and NFC communication antennas. The driver electrodes can transmit NFC signals while the inductive electrodes receive them, allowing the same physical structure to fulfill both touch interaction and wireless communication roles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an inductive card reader is added to enable NFC communication, then near-field communication capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the NFC communication hardware with the existing touch sensor structure, combining what would traditionally be separate components (inductive card reader and touch sensor) into a single integrated system. This reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall device construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor is designed with universal functionality, where the same electrodes serve dual purposes: touch sensing and NFC communication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized components, thereby reducing device complexity in terms of construction and material requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for efficient near-field communication without increasing the device's size, maintaining its original dimensions and enabling communication rates higher than 500 Kbit/s, while eliminating the need for additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
The first touch-screen terminal transmits near-field communication request information to a second touch-screen terminal through a transmitting electrode of the first touch-screen terminal
Implementation Method 2
The first touch-screen terminal receives answer information from the second touch-screen terminal through a receiving electrode of the first touch-screen terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-screen terminal, method and system for near-field communication are provided. The touch-screen terminal includes a touch sensor, the touch sensor includes multiple driver electrodes and inductive electrodes disposed on a substrate to form capacitor structures. At least one of the driver electrodes and the inductive electrodes is used as a transmitting electrode; at least another one of the driver electrodes and the inductive electrodes is used as a receiving electrode. In the present invention, signal transmitting and receiving are achieved by multiplexing the electrodes of the touch-screen terminals, thereby enabling electric-field-based NFC. The system part for signal processing is embedded in the chip and, therefore, there is no need for an additional inductive card reader or part with the similar function. The present invention does not change the original size of the touch-screen terminal.