# US 2014/0191988 A1 · Tap zones for near field coupling devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191988 A1 - Document ID: US20140191988A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/976,104 - Filed: 2011-12-21 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-21 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Bradley W. Corrion - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191988A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/041661: {using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window} - G06F 3/046: by electromagnetic means - H04B 5/22: Capacitive coupling - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Described herein are techniques related to near field coupling and more particularly using near field coupling related taps to indicate user selections on input/output devices. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An input/output device comprising: a programmable visual display defining a first and second opposite surfaces; an array of near field coupling compatible antennas positioned at least a first distance from the first surface but within a second distance from the second surface to enable near field coupling between the antennas and another device in a proximity of the second surface, the antennas being at least a third distance apart from one another, each antenna having associated there with a tap zone in the proximity of the second surface, the first, second, and third distances and the configuration of the antennas cooperating so that the tap zones do not overlap; a processor in communication with the display and the antenna array; and a memory in communication with the processor and storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to control the activation of each of the antennas, to display an icon in each tap zone of the second surface for which the associated antenna is active, to accept from one of the antennas a signal indicating that the external device to be in the proximity of the tap zone corresponding to that antenna, and to respond to that tap indication by changing the icon associated with that tap zone and to output an indication of the tapped tap zone. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The input/output device as recited in claim 21, wherein the display is a touch screen. ### Claim 23 An input/output device comprising: a visual display; a first near field coupling compatible antenna positioned relative to the visual display to create a first near field coupling tap zone associated with the visual display. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The input/output device as recited in claim 23, further comprising a second near-field coupling compatible antenna positioned relative to the visual display to create a second near field coupling tap zone associated with the visual display. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The input/output device as recited in claim 24, wherein the tap zones are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The input/output device as recited in claim 24, further comprising an array of near field coupling compatible antennas including the first and second antennas. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The input/output device as recited in claim 24, further comprising a processor in communication with the display and the first and second antennas. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The input/output device as recited in claim 27, further comprising a computer readable memory in communication with the processor. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The input/output device as recited in claim 28, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to display a first user icon in the first tap zone of the display and to display a second user icon in the second tap zone of the display. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The input/output device as recited in claim 28, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to control which of the antennas is active. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The input/output device as recited in claim 30, wherein the memory further stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to display an icon in the tap zone associated with an active antenna. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The input/output device as recited in claim 28, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to detect a signal from one of the antennas indicative of a tap and to display an icon in the corresponding tap zone of the display responsive to the tap signal. ### Claim 33 A near field coupling tap (NFC-tap) kiosk comprising: a visual display; a first near field coupling compatible antenna positioned relative to the visual display to create a first near field coupling tap zone associated with the visual display; and a second near-field coupling compatible antenna positioned relative to the visual display to create a second near field coupling tap zone associated with the visual display, the tap zones. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The kiosk as recited in claim 33, further comprising an array of near field coupling compatible antennas including the first and second antennas. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The kiosk as recited in claim 33, further comprising a processor in communication with the display and the first and second antennas. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The kiosk as recited in claim 35, further comprising a computer readable memory in communication with the processor. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The kiosk as recited in claim 36, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to display a first user icon in the first tap zone of the display and to display a second user icon in the second tap zone of the display. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The kiosk as recited in claim 36, wherein the memory stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to control which of the antennas is active. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The kiosk as recited in claim 38, wherein the memory further stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to display an icon in the tap zone associated with an active antenna. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The kiosk as recited in claim 38, wherein the memory further stores computer readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to detect a signal from one of the antennas indicative of a tap and to display an icon in the corresponding tap zone of the display responsive to the tap signal.