IP Library Granted Patent US 9,922,618
Granted Patent B2
US 9,922,618 · App. 14/260,572 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Systems and methods for embedding antenna array structures in an information handling system display

Inventors: Liam Prendergast (Limerick, IE); Brian O'Loughlin (Limerick, IE); Liam B. Quinn (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G09G5/006G06F3/044G06F3/0412G06F2203/04112G09G2300/04G09G2370/16H01Q1/2283H01Q21/061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,922,618
App. No.
14/260,572
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor, a user interface, and a flexible integrated circuit. The user interface may include a user interface comprising a display, a touch sensor overlaid on the display and configured to detect tactile touches on the user interface, a cover overlaid on the touch sensor, and an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas. The flexible integrated circuit may be configured to couple the antenna array to the processor, the flexible integrated circuit comprising a radio-frequency module for controlling radio-frequency communications to and from the antenna array and a baseband controller for controlling communication of information between the processor and the antenna.

Claims (28)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface comprising:

a liquid crystal display;

a touch sensor overlaid on the liquid crystal display and configured to detect tactile touches on the user interface;

a cover overlaid on the touch sensor;

an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas formed on an exterior surface of the cover; and

a flexible integrated circuit underlying the liquid crystal display and the touch sensor, the flexible integrated circuit comprising:

a radio-frequency module for controlling radio-frequency communications to and from the antenna array; and

a baseband controller for controlling communication of information between the processor and the antenna array; and

a plurality of vias configured to couple the antenna array to the flexible integrated circuit, each via of the plurality of vias extending from the flexible integrated circuit, through the liquid crystal display, the touch sensor, and the cover, to one antenna of the plurality of antennas;

wherein the plurality of antennas and the plurality of vias are located within an active viewing area of the user interface.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible integrated circuit further includes at least one of: a touch sensor controller, a backlight controller, and a display controller.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antennas are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of evenly spaced columns.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein a number of columns in the plurality of evenly spaced columns exceeds a number of rows in the plurality of rows.

5. A method for constructing a user interface of an information handling system, comprising:

providing a liquid crystal display for the user interface;

overlaying a touch sensor on the liquid crystal display, the touch sensor configured to detect tactile touches on the user interface;

overlaying a cover on the touch sensor;

forming a plurality of vias within an active viewing area of the user interface, each of the plurality of vias passing through the liquid crystal display, the touch sensor, and the cover;

forming an antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas on an exterior surface of the cover, wherein each of the plurality of antennas is located within the active viewing area and is in contact with a corresponding via of the plurality of vias; and

coupling the plurality of vias to a corresponding plurality of connection pads of a flexible integrated circuit, wherein the flexible integrated circuit includes:

a radio-frequency module for controlling radio-frequency communications to and from the antenna array; and

a baseband controller for controlling communication of information between a processor and the antenna array.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising coupling the flexible integrated circuit to a processor.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of antennas are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of evenly spaced columns.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a number of columns in the plurality of evenly spaced columns exceeds a number of rows in the plurality of rows.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the number of columns exceeds the number of rows by a factor of four.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0688 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0757 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0748 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0050 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0711 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040016/0903 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0711 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0748 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0688 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2014
From: PRENDERGAST, LIAM; O'LOUGHLIN, BRIAN; QUINN, LIAM B.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 032748/0670 →
Continuity (1)
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