# US 2013/0155023 A1 · Dual mode inductive touch screen for use in a configurable communication device and methods for use therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155023 A1 - Document ID: US20130155023A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/769,412 - Filed: 2013-02-18 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-20 - Assignees: Broadcom Corporation - Inventors: Ahmadreza Rofougaran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155023A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/046: by electromagnetic means - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A touch screen can be used in a communication device having a transceiver that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals. The communication device includes an antenna and a programmable antenna interface that couples the antenna to the transceiver. The touch screen includes a display layer for displaying information. An inductor grid includes a plurality of inductive elements. A switch matrix selects an inductive element in response to a selection signal in a first mode of operation, and couples together a group of inductive elements in a second mode of operation. A dual mode driver generates the selection signal and, in the first mode of operation, drives the selected inductive element to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto. In a second mode of operation, the dual mode driver couples the group of inductive elements to the programmable antenna interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication device comprising: a processor that executes a communication application; at least one transceiver, coupled to the processor, that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station in accordance with the communication application; an antenna interface that is coupled to the at least one transceiver and to an antenna; an inductive touch screen, coupled to the processor and the at least one transceiver, that provides a user interface for the communication application, the touch screen comprising: a display layer for displaying information; an inductor grid, coupled to display layer, that includes a plurality of inductive elements; at least one switch matrix, coupled to the inductor grid, that selects a selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in response to at least one selection signal in a first mode of operation, and that couples together a group of the plurality of inductive elements in a second mode of operation to operate as the antenna for data communication with a remote station; a dual mode driver, coupled to the at least one switch matrix and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that: in the first mode of operation, drives the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and in a second mode of operation, couples the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the antenna interface; wherein the dual mode driver includes: a measurement circuit that detects a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in the first mode of operation; a controller for generating a control signal that indicates one of, a first mode or operation and a second mode of operation; and a mode switch, coupled to the controller, that responds to the control signal by: coupling the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to the measurement circuit when the control signal indicates the first mode of operation; and coupling the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the antenna interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna interface includes at least one capacitor; and wherein the at least one capacitor and the group of the plurality of inductive elements forms a matching network to match the at least one antenna to the at least on transceiver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The communication device of claim 2 wherein the at least one transceiver generates a frequency signal; and wherein the antenna interface is coupled to adjusts a total capacitance of the at least one capacitor based on the frequency signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the at least one transceiver generates a frequency signal; and wherein the switch matrix adjusts a total inductance of the group of the plurality of inductive elements based on the frequency signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The communication device of claim 4 wherein the frequency signal indicates at least one of: an operating frequency; and a frequency band. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the at least one transceiver includes a plurality of transceivers operating at a plurality of frequency bands. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna includes a multiband antenna. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna includes a plurality of antennas for operating at a plurality of frequency bands. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the antenna interface includes at least one of the plurality of inductive elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a single inductor and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a measured self inductance of the single inductor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a inductor pair and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a mutual inductance of the inductor pair. ### Claim 12 An inductive touch screen for use in a communication device having at least one transceiver that is coupled to an antenna for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station, the inductive touch screen comprising: a display layer for displaying information; an inductor grid, coupled to display layer, that includes a plurality of inductive elements; at least one switch matrix, coupled to the inductor grid, that selects a selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in response to at least one selection signal in a first mode of operation, and that couples together a group of the plurality of inductive elements in a second mode of operation to operate as the antenna for data communication with a remote station; a dual mode driver, coupled to the at least one switch matrix and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that: in the first mode of operation, drives the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and in a second mode of operation, couples the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the antenna interface; wherein the dual mode driver includes: a measurement circuit that detects a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in the first mode of operation; a controller for generating a control signal that indicates one of, a first mode or operation and a second mode of operation; and a mode switch, coupled to the controller, that responds to the control signal by: coupling the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to the measurement circuit when the control signal indicates the first mode of operation; and coupling the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the antenna interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The touch screen of claim 12 further comprising an antenna interface for coupling the at least one transceiver to the antenna. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The touch screen of claim 13 wherein the an antenna interface includes at least one capacitor; and wherein the at least one capacitor and at least one of the plurality of inductive elements forms a matching network to match the at least one antenna to the at least on transceiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The touch screen of claim 12 wherein the at least one transceiver generates a frequency signal; and wherein the switch matrix adjusts a total inductance of the group of the plurality of inductive elements based on the frequency signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The touch screen of claim 15 wherein the frequency signal indicates at least one of: an operating frequency; and a frequency band. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The touch screen of claim 12 wherein the at least one transceiver includes a plurality of transceivers operating at a plurality of frequency bands. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The touch screen of claim 12 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a single inductor and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a measured self inductance of the single inductor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The touch screen of claim 12 wherein the plurality of inductive elements each include a inductor pair and wherein the driver detects the touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements based on a mutual inductance of the inductor pair. ### Claim 20 An inductive touch screen for use in a communication device having at least one transceiver that is coupled to an antenna for communicating radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station, the inductive touch screen comprising: a display layer for displaying information; an inductor grid, coupled to display layer, that includes a plurality of inductive elements; at least one multiplexer, coupled to the inductor grid, that selects a selected one of the plurality of inductive elements in response to at least one selection signal in a first mode of operation, and that couples together a group of the plurality of inductive elements in a second mode of operation to operate as the antenna for data communication with a remote station; a dual mode driver, coupled to the at least one multiplexer and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that: in the first mode of operation, drives the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements to detect a touch object in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and in a second mode of operation, couples the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the antenna interface.