Inductive touch screen with integrated antenna for use in a communication device and methods for use therewith

1. A communication device comprising:

a processor that executes a communication application;

a transceiver, coupled to the processor, that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station in accordance with the communication application;

an inductive touch screen, coupled to the processor and the transceiver, that provides a user interface for the communication application, 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;

a driver, coupled to the at least one switch matrix and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that 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 via sensing a detectable change in the magnetic field of selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and

a plurality of coupling elements that couple together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna and that couple the antenna to the transceiver to send and receive the RF signals.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of coupling elements include a plurality of capacitors.

3. 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.

4. The communication device of claim 3 wherein the driver executes a calibration procedure to detect an initial self inductance, and wherein the driver generates touch screen data based on a comparison of the measured self inductance and the initial self inductance.

5. 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.

6. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the touch screen data includes a grid position associated with the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements.

7. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the switch matrix includes a row matrix and a column matrix, the at least one selection signal includes a row selection signal and a column selection signals and the driver includes a row/column selector that generates the row selection signal and the column selection signal to sequentially scan the plurality of inductive elements.

8. The communication device of claim 7 wherein the driver includes a controller, coupled to the row/column selector, that generates the touch screen data.

9. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating an oscillation to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the oscillation.

10. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating a pulse to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the pulse.

11. An inductive touch screen for use in a communication device having a transceiver that communicates 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;

a driver, coupled to the at least one switch matrix and the inductor grid, that generates the at least one selection signal and that 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 via sensing a detectable change in the magnetic field of selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and that generates touch screen data in response thereto; and

a plurality of coupling elements that couple together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna and that couple the antenna to the transceiver to send and receive the RF signals.

12. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 wherein the plurality of coupling elements include a plurality of capacitors.

13. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 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.

14. The inductive touch screen of claim 13 wherein the driver executes a calibration procedure to detect an initial self inductance, and wherein the driver generates touch screen data based on a comparison of the measured self inductance and the initial self inductance.

15. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 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.

16. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 wherein the touch screen data includes a grid position associated with the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements.

17. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 wherein the switch matrix includes a row matrix and a column matrix, the at least one selection signal includes a row selection signal and a column selection signals and the driver includes a row/column selector that generates the row selection signal and the column selection signal to sequentially scan the plurality of inductive elements.

18. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating an oscillation to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the oscillation.

19. The inductive touch screen of claim 11 wherein the driver includes a signal generator for generating a pulse to drive the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements and a sensing circuit that generates a sensing signal in response to the pulse.

20. A method for use in an inductive touch screen of a communication device having a transceiver that communicates radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one remote station, the method comprising:

displaying information via a display layer;

generating at least one selection signal;

selecting, in response to the at least one selection signal, a selected one of a plurality of inductive elements;

driving 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 via sensing a detectable change in the magnetic field of selected one of the plurality of inductive elements;

generating touch screen data in response when the touch object is detected in proximity to the selected one of the plurality of inductive elements;

coupling together a group of the plurality of inductive elements to form an antenna via a first plurality of capacitors; and

coupling the antenna formed by the group of the plurality of inductive elements to the transceiver via at least one second capacitors to send and receive the RF signals.