Display stack with millimeter-wave antenna functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12045425-B2
Application number	US-202017796141-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2020
Priority date	Jan 29, 2020
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A display stack with millimeter-wave antenna functionality comprising a plurality of adjoining layers, the layers comprising at least a cover layer, a touch sensor panel layer comprising a touch sensor arrangement, and a display panel layer. The touch sensor panel layer comprises a first sensor line grid pattern and a second sensor line grid pattern, the first sensor line grid pattern comprising a plurality of continuous first sensor lines, the second sensor line grid pattern comprising a plurality of continuous second sensor lines. At least a part of the first sensor lines and the second sensor lines are configured to function as radiators for the millimeter wave antenna functionality. This allows providing the millimeter wave antenna in the touch sensor panel structure without the antenna and the touch sensor panel interfering with each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display stack with millimeter-wave antenna functionality, comprising:
a plurality of adjoining layers, the layers comprising
a cover layer,
a display panel layer, and
a touch sensor panel layer comprising a touch sensor arrangement, wherein the touch sensor panel layer comprises:
a first sensor line grid pattern, the first sensor line grid pattern comprising a plurality of continuous first sensor lines, wherein each first sensor line is integral and uninterrupted as it extends, at least partially nonlinearly, across the first sensor line grid pattern, and

a second sensor line grid pattern, the second sensor line grid pattern comprising a plurality of continuous second sensor lines, wherein each second sensor line is integral and uninterrupted as it extends, at least partially nonlinearly, across the second sensor line grid pattern, wherein the first sensor lines form transmission lines of the touch sensor arrangement, the transmission lines extending substantially in a first direction, wherein the second sensor lines form receiver lines of the touch sensor arrangement, the receiver lines extending substantially in a second direction, wherein the first sensor lines and the second sensor lines are separated by an insulation substrate layer comprising a polymer film, and
wherein antenna sections including the receiver lines and the transmission lines are integral in the touch sensor arrangement; wherein each of the antenna sections including the receiver lines and the transmission lines connected to a feed line configured to function as radiators for the millimeter wave antenna functionality, wherein the receiver lines and the transmission lines are separated by the insulation substrate layer comprising the polymer film.

2. The display stack according to claim 1 , wherein
the second direction extending at an angle>0° to the first direction.

3. The display stack according to claim 1 , wherein the first sensor lines extend at least partially nonlinearly in the first direction such that distances between adjacent first sensor lines vary periodically along the first direction.

4. The display stack according to claim 3 , wherein a nonlinear section of the first sensor lines is at least diagonal, comprising at least two sections extending at an angle to the first direction, the angle preferably being 45°.

5. The display stack according to claim 1 , wherein the first sensor line grid pattern and a second sensor line grid pattern form a single layer conductive mesh.

6. The display stack according to claim 5 , wherein each second sensor line comprises a plurality of individual receiver units, two adjacent receiver units of one second sensor line being interconnected by a conductive bridge.

7. The display stack according to claim 6 , wherein each receiver unit of one second sensor line is connected to a feed line.

8. The display stack according to claim 7 , wherein the feed line comprises a conductive or inductive coupling to the receiver unit.

9. The display stack according to claim 6 , wherein each receiver unit has a polygonal shape, the polygon being symmetrical in the first direction and the second direction.

10. The display stack according to claim 9 , wherein the receiver unit is at least quadrilateral, comprising at least two sections extending at an angle to the first direction and the second direction, the angle preferably being 45°.

11. The display stack according to claim 1 , wherein the first sensor line grid pattern and the second sensor line grid pattern form a dual layer conductive mesh, the first sensor line grid pattern and the second sensor line grid pattern being separated by the insulation substrate layer in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

12. The display stack according to claim 11 , wherein the second sensor line grid pattern is arranged adjacent to the cover layer, and the first sensor line grid pattern is arranged adjacent to the display panel layer.

13. The display stack according to claim 11 , wherein the second sensor lines extend at least partially nonlinearly in the second direction such that distances between adjacent second sensor lines vary periodically along the second direction.

14. The display stack according to claim 11 , wherein a non-linear section of the second sensor lines is at least diagonal, comprising at least two sections extending at an angle to the second direction, the angle preferably being 45°.

15. The display stack according to claim 14 , wherein the non-linear sections of the first sensor lines comprise dummy areas isolating adjacent first sensor lines from each other, and/or the non-linear sections of the second sensor lines comprise dummy areas isolating adjacent second sensor lines from each other, the dummy area(s) being configured to accommodate millimeter wave antenna elements.

16. The display stack according to claim 1 , wherein the display stack does not comprise a separate millimeter-wave antenna layer.

17. The display stack according to claim 1 , further comprising a parasitic or coupled radiator layer arranged between the cover layer and the touch sensor panel layer, the radiator layer comprising transparent conductive mesh.

18. The display stack according to claim 1 , wherein a section of the cover layer facing the touch sensor panel layer, is configured to accommodate the radiators of the millimeter wave antenna functionality.

19. An electronic device, comprising:
a display stack with millimeter-wave antenna functionality, the display stack comprising:
a plurality of adjoining layers, the layers comprising at least
a cover layer,
a display panel layer, and
a touch sensor panel layer comprising a touch sensor arrangement, wherein the touch sensor panel layer comprises:
a first sensor line grid pattern, the first sensor line grid pattern comprising a plurality of continuous first sensor lines, wherein each first sensor line is integral and uninterrupted as it extends, at least partially nonlinearly, across the first sensor line grid pattern, and
a second sensor line grid pattern, the second sensor line grid pattern comprising a plurality of continuous second sensor lines, wherein each second sensor line is integral and uninterrupted as it extends, at least partially nonlinearly, across the second sensor line grid pattern, wherein the first sensor lines form transmission lines of the touch sensor arrangement, the transmission lines extending substantially in a first direction, wherein the second sensor lines form receiver lines of the touch sensor arrangement, the receiver lines extending substantially in a second direction, wherein the first sensor lines and the second sensor lines are separated by an insulation substrate layer comprising a polymer film, and
wherein antenna sections including the receiver lines and the transmission lines are integral in the touch sensor arrangement; wherein each of the antenna sections including the receiver lines and the transmission lines connected to a feed line configured to function as radiators for the millimeter wave antenna functionality, wherein the receiver lines and the transmission lines are separated by the insulation substrate layer comprising the polymer film.

20. The electronic device according to claim 19 , wherein
the second direction extending at an angle>0° to the first direction.

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Li Linsheng
• Lee Chien-Ming
• Wang Yongchao
• Gou Cheng
• Zhang Junyong
• He Haiming
• Wang Hanyang

Classifications

• H01Q1/44

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/243

  with built-in antennas · CPC title

• H01Q1/2266

  disposed inside the computer · CPC title

• G06F2203/04112

  Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material · CPC title

• G06F2203/04111

  Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate · CPC title