WO2015149852A1

WO2015149852A1 - Antenna radiator integrated to touch sensitive device for mobile apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015149852A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/056646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dawei Zhou; Karthik GURUCHANDRAN
Original assignee: Vertu Corporation Limited
Priority date: 2014-04-03
Filing date: 2014-04-03
Publication date: 2015-10-08

Abstract

An antenna system for a mobile apparatus, the antenna system comprising a touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the touch sensitive device comprising a substrate comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis, a transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling, a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer; and an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device.

Description

ANTENNA RADIATOR INTEGRATED TO TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE FOR MOBILE APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to antennas and touch sensitive devices. The invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to integrating an antenna radiator to a touch sensitive device for a mobile apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Mobile apparatuses, such as mobile phones, tablets and personal computers have ever increasing demand for a high-speed data access. Furthermore, an antenna system of the apparatus may be arranged to operate in a plurality of different operational radio frequency bands and via a plurality of different protocols. For example, the different frequency bands and protocols may include (but are not limited to) Long Term Evolution (LTE) 700 (US) (698.0 - 716.0 MHz, 728.0 -746.0 MHz), LTE 1500 (Japan) (1427.9 - 1452.9 MHz, 1475.9 - 1500.9 MHz), LTE 2600 (Europe) (2500 - 2570 MHz, 2620 - 2690 MHz), amplitude modulation (AM) radio (0.535-1 .705 MHz); frequency modulation (FM) radio (76-108 MHz); Bluetooth (2400-2483.5 MHz); wireless local area network (WLAN) (2400-2483.5 MHz); helical local area network (HLAN) (5150-5850 MHz); global positioning system (GPS) (1570.42-1580.42 MHz); US - Global system for mobile communications (US-GSM) 850 (824-894 MHz); European global system for mobile communications (EGSM) 900 (880-960 MHz); European wideband code division multiple access (EU-WCDMA) 900 (880-960 MHz); personal communications network (PCN/DCS) 1800 (1710-1880 MHz); US wideband code division multiple access (US-WCDMA) 1900 (1850-1990 MHz); wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) 2100 (Tx: 1920-1980 MHz Rx: 21 10-2180 MHz); personal communications service (PCS) 1900 (1850- 1990 MHz); ultra wideband (UWB) Lower (3100-4900 MHz); UWB Upper (6000-10600 MHz); digital video broadcasting - handheld (DVB-H) (470-702 MHz); DVB-H US (1670-1675 MHz); digital radio mondiale (DRM) (0.15-30 MHz); worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMax) (2300-2400 MHz, 2305-2360 MHz, 2496-2690 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz, 3400-3800 MHz, 5250-5875 MHz); digital audio broadcasting (DAB) (174.928-239.2 MHz, 1452.96- 1490.62 MHz); radio frequency identification low frequency (RFID LF) (0.125-0.134 MHz); radio frequency identification high frequency (RFID HF) (13.56-13.56 MHz); radio frequency identification ultra-high frequency (RFID UHF) (433 MHz, 865-956 MHz, 2450 MHz); and ISM bands (60GHz bands).

Today's mobile apparatuses prefer reduced sizes for components, especially for components and elements not relating to user interface of the apparatus. Furthermore, more and more conductive (for example) metal materials are used in cover part of mobile apparatuses making the internal antenna system operating environment even more challenging.

At the same time, with increasing consumer awareness of quality and value mobile manufacturers are continuing to use more and more quality materials. With respect to mobile phones and tablets, the last couple of years have seen a market shift from use of plastic screens to more scratch resistant chemical toughened glass (for example Gorilla® Glass).

While Gorilla® Glass is a significant improvement over plastic it can still be scratched by everyday items such as keys or coins in bags and pockets. Also, the glass is easily fractured if the product is dropped. For this reason sapphire, for example, is being considered more and more for use on consumer goods. Sapphire is the second hardest naturally occurring material and can only be scratched by a small number of harder materials, such as diamonds. Sapphire is also a strong material and has a very high elastic modulus (stiffness). Thus, using sapphire in the construction of mobile apparatuses creates a very stiff product that is less likely to flex during accidental drop or impact. This makes sapphire a very resistant, long lasting material for mobile apparatus usage. Sapphire is used as a protective cover material due to its higher hardness and strength compared to both plastic and glass, which prevents the screen being scratched or broken during daily use. At the same time, thickness of the mobile apparatus should be minimized.

For mobile apparatuses, Near Field Communication (NFC) coils are used for contactless data exchange in close proximity. Near Field Communication (NFC) coils are usually placed on back covers of phones, which have to be made of radio frequency (RF) transparent material in order to allow the intended application to work. Thus, the Near Field Communication (NFC) will not function with back covers made of metallic or conductive material. In some cases, this limitation in material types used on back covers can be overcome by sacrificing the phone design for the purpose of enabling Near Field Communication (NFC) function. This can be done, for example, by coupling the induced magnetic field through an introduced slit to the Near Field Communication (NFC) coils located on the other side of the metallic back cover through the slit. This is not desired feature, however, since affecting the design.

Thus, especially for portable apparatuses an improved solution is needed to provide an antenna system operable within a mobile apparatus with a touch sensitive device that reduces thickness of the apparatus, improves strength of it, improves operability of the antenna system and provides the much needed flexibility in industrial design of the product. SUMMARY

According to a first example aspect of the invention there is provided an antenna system for a mobile apparatus, the antenna system comprising a touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the touch sensitive device comprising: a substrate comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis;

a transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling;

a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer; and

an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device.

In an embodiment, the metal track layer comprising a first and a second metal track.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device further comprising:

a non-transparent mask layer arranged in the edge area of the touch sensitive device, wherein the non-transparent mask layer configured to hide the first and the second metal track.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device further comprising:

a non-transparent mask layer arranged in the edge area of the touch sensitive device, wherein the non-transparent mask layer configured to hide the antenna radiator.

In an embodiment, the metal track layer comprising the antenna radiator being arranged below the substrate comprising sapphire. In an embodiment, the antenna radiator configured to transceive signals through the substrate comprising sapphire.

In an embodiment, the substrate comprising sapphire having a high dielectric constant (for example, 9 or above) In an embodiment, ferrite material is sputtered to the substrate for improving antenna radiator performance. In an embodiment, the antenna radiator comprising at least one conductive track.

In an embodiment, the at least one conductive track processed to the touch sensitive device at the same time with the metal track layer. In an embodiment, the at least one conductive track processed to the touch sensitive device using printing.

In an embodiment, the substrate comprising sapphire having a first refractive index value, and the transparent electrode pattern layer having a second refractive index value; wherein the touch sensitive device further comprising:

an index matching layer arranged between the substrate and the transparent electrode pattern layer configured to match the first refractive index value and the second refractive index value. In an embodiment, the transparent electrode pattern layer comprising a first transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis, and a second transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling.

In an embodiment, the metal track layer comprising a first and a second metal track. In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device further comprises at least one of the following:

- a display of the mobile apparatus;

- a cover part of the mobile apparatus; and

- a touch sensitive screen of the mobile apparatus. In an embodiment, the antenna system further comprising:

a sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis, a second crystal plane axis is configured to be parallel to the first axis and a third crystal plane axis is configured to be parallel to the second axis.

In an embodiment, the plurality of crystal planes comprising:

A-plane with A-axis configured to be a normal axis of the A-plane;

C-plane with C-axis configured to be a normal axis of the C-plane, the C- axis being perpendicular to the A-axis; and

M-plane with M-axis configured to be a normal axis of the M-plane, the M- axis being perpendicular to the A-axis and the C-axis.

In an embodiment, the first crystal plane axis is the A-axis, the second crystal plane axis is the M-axis and the third crystal plane axis is the C-axis.

In an embodiment, a fourth crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first crystal plane axis and inclined to the second and the third crystal plane axes.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of the M-axis and a width in a direction of the C-axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width. In an embodiment, the first and the second transparent electrode pattern layers are isolated using an isolating layer.

In an embodiment, at least one of the transparent electrode layer and the antenna radiator comprising at least one of the following: indium tin oxide (ITO), graphene and silver nano wires.

According to a second example aspect of the invention there is provided a method for providing an antenna system integrated to a touch sensitive device for a mobile apparatus, the touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the method comprising:

providing a substrate comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis;

providing a transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling;

providing a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer; and

integrating an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device.

In an embodiment, the antenna radiator comprising at least one conductive track, and the method comprising:

processing the at least one conductive track to the touch sensitive device at the same time with the metal track layer.

In an embodiment, the method further comprising:

printing at least one conductive track to the touch sensitive device.

According to a third example aspect of the invention there is provided a mobile apparatus comprising an antenna system of the first aspect.

In an embodiment, a higher strength axis of a sapphire substrate is aligned with a higher stress direction of the mobile apparatus. The mobile apparatus may comprise a portable apparatus, such as a tablet, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a laptop, a digital camera or a personal digital assistant (PDA), for example. According to a fourth example aspect of the invention there is provided a device for a mobile apparatus, the device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the device comprising:

a substrate comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis;

a metal track layer arranged to the device; and

an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer.

In an embodiment, the device comprising at least one of the following

a display; and

a cover part.

In an embodiment, the device further comprising:

a transparent electrode pattern layer of the display configured to form a plurality of display elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of display elements configured to provide display information; a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the display for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer; and

an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the display.

In an embodiment, the device further comprising:

a non-transparent mask layer arranged in the edge area of the device, wherein the non-transparent mask layer configured to hide at least one of the following:

a metal track of the metal track layer; and the antenna radiator; and

ferrite material being added to the non-transparent mask layer or adjacent to the non-transparent mask layer for improving antenna radiator performance. Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The above embodiments are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows some details of a mobile apparatus in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied;

Fig. 2 shows an illustrative example on a touch sensitive device in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied;

Fig. 3 presents a schematic view of a sapphire crystallographic structure for a touch sensitive device, in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied;

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram showing operations, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 presents a schematic view of an antenna system, in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied;

Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a sapphire crystal structure, known also as a unit cell, having a plurality of crystal planes, in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied;

Fig. 7 presents an example block diagram of an apparatus in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied;

Fig. 8 shows an illustrative example on an antenna system in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied; and Fig. 9 shows an illustrative example on a portion of a touch sensitive device in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like numbers denote like elements.

Fig. 1 shows some details of a mobile apparatus 100 in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied.

In an embodiment, the mobile apparatus 100 may comprise a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop or any other portable apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least one cover part 1 10 for providing protection to the components of the apparatus 100 and creating desired outlook and outer design for the apparatus 100. The cover part 1 10 may comprise several separate cover parts, such as front and rear covers and even a side frame. In Fig. 1 , mainly the front cover is shown. The apparatus 100 further comprises user interface 120, 130 comprising at least one display 120. The display 120 may be a touch-sensitive display for detecting user gestures and providing feedback for the apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 may also comprise a user input device 130, such as a keypad or a touchpad, for example. Furthermore, the apparatus 100 may comprise a camera 140. No matter the described elements 1 10, 120, 130, 140 are shown on the same side of the apparatus 100, they can be located on any side of the apparatus 100. No matter a plurality of apparatus elements 120-140 are illustrated in Fig. 1 , they all need not to be included. For example, only a touch-sensitive display 120 may be included without the need for separate user input device 130.

In an embodiment, at least one of the apparatus elements 1 10, 120, 130 comprises a touch sensitive device, such as touch sensitive display, touch screen or touch sensitive cover part, for example. The cover part 1 10 may comprise a touch sensitive device to provide good-looking, strong and scratch resistant touch sensitive surface for the apparatus. The display 120 may comprise a touch sensitive device display, to provide strong and scratch-resistant touch display with minimum thickness. The user input device may comprise a touch sensitive device, such as a touchpad.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device, such as a touch sensitive display 120 may be an exchangeable component.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive display 120 may form a permanent part of the cover part 1 10 or, to increase the potential for upgrading the engine throughout the life of the cover part 1 10 it may be a module that can be replaced too. Alternatively, a protective layer of the display 120 may be a part of the cover part 1 10 that layer may be independently exchanged. In further alternative embodiment the protective layer of the display 120 is integrated to the cover part 1 10.

In embodiments of the invention, the touch sensitive device may provide an operating face of the device. This gives a design engineer far greater freedom to design a device with a desirable appearance. The operating face may be provided with a user input element 130, for example a key, a touchpad, or an array of such elements. The casing may be a conventional one part casing or a clam shell, or other two or more part arrangement, where the user input elements 130 or keys may be located on a different face to a display 120.

In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 comprises an antenna system for a mobile apparatus, the antenna system comprising a touch sensitive device 1 10 - 130 having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the touch sensitive device comprising a substrate comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis. The touch sensitive device further comprising a transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling; a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer; and an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device. In an embodiment, a substrate may comprise clear ceramic instead of sapphire.

Sapphire may be used for mobile apparatus touch sensitive devices, such as display, cover part element or touch pad, for example. Sapphire has high hardness and strength. Likewise, clear ceramic can also be used which has higher hardness and strength than glass.

The present invention discusses both sapphire and alumina. The chemical composition of both is based on AI2O3. For clarifying purposes, sapphire may be understood in this context as a single crystal of alumina and alumina as a polycrystalline form of alumina (PCA).

So far sapphire has been used only as a cover glass. Traditional approaches using optical lamination of sensors to display glass and using cover layer add thickness to the display assembly and thus also to the product, and also add costs due to additional lamination and yield drop due to multiple stage laminations and handling of multiple parts, for example.

To achieve better display window strength, an ion exchanged glass variant like gorilla glass may be used. Such glass is isotropic, however. This has a disadvantage that such design, when integrated with a polarizer based display solution, is not compatible with polarized sunglasses of the user. Most liquid- crystal displays (LCDs) typically have just a linear polarizer on the top surface generating linearly polarized light which is not polarized sunglass compatible. Polarizer based displays comprise, for example, a liquid-crystal display (LCD) that has a significant market share in handheld devices when compared to an emissive display solution, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). To make such design compatible with polarized sunglasses, additional ¼ wave plates are laminated on to the display to circularly polarize the light from the display module. This means additional operations and elements to the liquid-crystal display (LCD) and also increases the device thickness, cost and potential yield drop due to additional lamination Fig. 2 shows an illustrative example on a touch sensitive device 200 in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied.

The invention enables designing and manufacturing antenna radiator and touch sensors directly on to sapphire substrate easily and with the same manufacturing process.

A sapphire layer could be used as touch sensor substrate and construct the capacitive touch sensor directly on sapphire. A certain sapphire plane could be selected. Such approach provides multiple benefits like very high scratch resistance and robustness when compared to glass, reduced product thickness, better yield and less complicated lamination process.

In an embodiment, the entire display touch solution is optimized for thickness, optical performance and reliability performance without compromising on any existing integration techniques used in the trade. Any type of display technology could be used and embodiments are not limited to displays only but any touch sensitive devices are included, such as touch screens, touchpads, and touch sensitive cover parts, for example. In an embodiment, sapphire or ceramic substrate could be used as one touch sensor layer (say X electrode) and another material layer (film, glass, sapphire or clear ceramic) as the second touch sensor layer (say Y electrode). This could give the same benefits with potentially lower manufacturing costs, but with marginally increased thickness.

In an embodiment, all of the touch sensing electrodes may be placed on to a thin material (film, glass, sapphire or clear ceramic) which will perform the touch function and then this material is laminated to a sapphire or ceramic cover glass. In an embodiment, an antenna system 200 for a mobile apparatus is provided. The antenna system comprising a touch sensitive device 210 - 260 having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width. The touch sensitive device comprises a substrate 210 comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis. The touch sensitive device 210 - 260 further comprises a transparent electrode pattern layer 220 configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling. Furthermore, a metal track layer 230 is arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the transparent electrode pattern layer 220, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer and an antenna radiator 260 integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device.

In an embodiment, the transparent layer may comprise jumpers when applied directly on to sapphire. In this case, a first layer has almost all of the X and Y lines and a second layer is used only to connect the missing connections to complete the matrix using the jumpers.

In an embodiment, an index matching layer is arranged between the substrate 210 and at least one the transparent electrode pattern layers of the touch sensor layer 220 configured to match the first and the second refractive index values; wherein at least one of the transparent electrode pattern layers of the touch sensor layer 220 is integral (e.g. sputtered) to the substrate 210.

In an embodiment, an optically clear adhesive layer is used to attach at least one of the substrate 210, the touch sensor layer 220 and the metal track layer 230 to a display 240. The display may comprise LCD or OLED display, for example. Furthermore, a flexible printed circuit 250 may be used for providing electrical connection for the touch sensor layer 220, the metal track layer 230 or the display 240, or for all.

Sapphire may be used as the base material to deposit transparent conductive electrodes or antenna radiator made of materials like indium tin oxide (ITO), graphene, silver nanowires etc. along with suitable index matching layers tuned to effectively hide the conductive electrodes becoming visible after etching a suitable capacitive touch pattern. Etching may be done using photolithography or using laser ablation but is not limited to these technologies. Insulators can be printed using inkjet technology, for example, or can be deposited and then etched so to form a basis to make cross over electrodes or jumpers for the touch sensor. The cross over electrode or jumper may also be constructed using materials like ITO, graphene, silver nanowires, etc. Metal tracks that are made of highly conductive materials like copper or silver, for example, will be connected to the transparent electrodes and then routed to bond to a printed circuit, such as flexible circuit board 250.

In an embodiment, the metal tracks do not run in both layers. The metal tracks may be arranged on the same plane as the first transparent layer and connect to both of the X and Y tracks in the same layer. The jumpers may be located on the second layer and the second layer may not comprise any metal tracks. However the metal tracks are on each layer in the case of film sensor optically laminated to sapphire. In an embodiment, black mask ink with suitable optical density may be used to hide the antenna radiator and the metal tracks and their connection to the sensor electrodes both from the user side and the underside to make it easier to bond the sapphire touch part 220 to the display 240. The black mask ink may be applied in the inner surface of the sapphire and not on top. The metal tracks and antenna radiator may be processed after black mask is applied, hence they are hidden from the users view. Another layer of black mask may be applied after metal tracks and antenna radiator are etched to protect them and insulate them. In an embodiment, further sputtering of ferrite material is done before or after final black mask processing to improve antenna performance while integrating the antenna with a touch sensor, display or other electronic device. Sapphire is a single crystal material, i.e. it is grown as a continuous large single crystal without grain boundaries. Such a single crystal may be grown before cutting to a desired size and shape for a touch sensitive device.

The sapphire single crystal, i.e., AI2O3, is used because it has higher hardness and toughness than e.g. glass. The single crystal of sapphire may be pulled, growing a seed crystal in contact with the surface of the molten alumina to produce the single crystal into a larger single crystal, so as to generally work the single crystal into the desired shape. Fig. 3 presents a schematic view 300 of a sapphire crystallographic structure 310 for a touch sensitive device 320, in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied.

The touch sensitive device 320 may be a display element, for example. The touch sensitive device 320 is developed by growing the sapphire crystallographic structure 310. The growing may be arranged in desired planes after detecting the planes and axes of the sapphire single crystal, for example.

In an embodiment, the desired dimensions of the touch sensitive device 320 comprise a length L over a first axis and a width W over a second axis, as shown in Fig. 3.

In an embodiment, orientation of the sapphire unit cell 310 may be selected so that the plane of the touch sensitive device 320, such as an optical element, corresponds to certain planes of the sapphire cell.

In an embodiment, the sapphire planes may be arranged to match a liquid-crystal display (LCD) top polarizer angle in such a way it retards one axis (called slow axis) more than the other thereby circularly or elliptically polarizing the outgoing light.

A touch sensitive device 320 may have a length (L) in a direction of a first axis and a width (W) in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width. The device comprises a substrate comprising sapphire with a first refractive index value, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis.

Fig. 4 shows operations in a mobile apparatus in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

In step 400, a method for providing an antenna system integrated to a touch sensitive device for a mobile apparatus, the touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, is started. In step 410, a substrate comprising sapphire is provided, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis. In step 420, a transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis is provided, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling. In step 430, a metal track layer is provided in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer. In step 440, an antenna radiator is integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device. In step 450, the method ends. In an embodiment, the order of the steps 410 - 450 may vary. Furthermore, an index matching layer may be applied to sapphire substrate followed by indium tin oxide (ITO) sputtering and pattern etching and then Insulator coating and etching followed by second indium tin oxide (ITO) sputtering and etching and finally metal track sputtering and etching finishing with a back index matching later for reduced reflection. Furthermore, ferrite material may be sputtered to the sapphire substrate or the mask layer for improving antenna radiator performance. Fig. 5 presents a schematic view of an antenna system 500, in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied. A touch sensitive device 505 may comprise a layer of sapphire 510 having a first refractive index value and comprising a surface, wherein the surface is visible to a user. In an embodiment, a polished sapphire 510 with a desired minor plane orientation may be printed with a black mask layer 51 1 . The black mask layer 51 1 may be provided on the edge areas of the touch sensitive device 505 to make metal tracks below invisible to the user. Choosing certain orientation of sapphire in terms of optical performance may enable avoiding additional ¼ wave plates required to circularly or elliptically polarize light to maintain polarized sunglass compatibility.

Index matching layer 520 is then applied. This layer 520 is to match the refractive indices of sapphire 510 with a transparent conductive electrode layer 530 which will form the X & Y layers. The sensor electrode pattern layer 530 might have both X and Y layers in the same plane and will be crossed over by indium tin oxide (ITO) jumpers or might have just one electrode in the sapphire surface, for example.

In an embodiment, both X & Y layers of the transparent conductive electrode layer 530 may be arranged on sapphire 510 surface. Then insulators may be applied either by spin coating or spray coating or another suitable process to form a uniform thickness and then photo-etched using a photo mask or ablated using laser or another similar process to form insulators for the indium tin oxide (ITO) jumpers.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) jumpers may be sputtered on top of these insulators and then etched using a suitable etching process like photolithography or laser ablation or similar and then connected to the corresponding sensor electrodes to complete the X & Y matrix that forms the basis of capacitive sensors.

In an embodiment, just one electrode (X or Y electrode) is arranged on sapphire 510 surface. Then insulators may not be used. Instead a separate material (film, glass or sapphire or clear ceramic) containing the other electrode will be optically bonded to the original sapphire substrate. The two electrodes will complete the X & Y matrix for capacitive sensing. A display 540 is arranged below the transparent electrodes 530. If the display 540 is not optically laminated to the sapphire and touch layers 510 - 530, additional index matching layers (sometimes referred to back index matching) will be required on top of the display 540 to reduce reflections arising due to refractive index mismatch between sapphire (or indium tin oxide (ITO)) and the air gap used. In some cases, a back index matching may be used either way to optimize indium tin oxide (ITO) edge visibility, even when the display 540 is optically laminated to the sapphire touch component 510 - 530.

Metal tracks 550 may need to be routed and then connected to the electrodes 530. The metal tracks 550 are generally made of highly electrically conductive materials like copper, silver etc. and may be sputtered and then etched or laser ablated similar to the indium tin oxide (ITO) pattern etching process.

In an embodiment, an antenna radiator 570, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna radiator, is arranged at a location in a dead band area of the touch sensitive device 505. Almost all touch display assemblies have dead bands regardless of integration method, because of the display driver integrated circuit (IC) location. A cover layer of the device 505 may comprise a substrate 510 made of sapphire that is generally designed to cover also the display dead band, which means the underside of the sapphire is not intended for any other use apart from hiding the display driver integrated circuit (IC). Such sapphire dead band may be used to integrate conventional Near Field Communication (NFC) coil tracks, for example, by printing tracks as part of the sapphire touch track deposition in one process. The printed tracks will not be visible to users because of the black mask that is applied on the underside of sapphire. Thus, Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna design may be achieved without modifying the phone outer design. In addition, sapphire is a high dielectric material and boosts Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna performance. More magnetic field generated from the Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna can be held in the high dielectric substrate material than in the air, when the material is placed on the top of the Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna, or any other antenna radiator.

In an embodiment, the antenna radiator 570 may also be integrated, at least partially, to the sapphire substrate 510.

The black mask 51 1 that was applied in the first step aims to hide the metal tracks 550 and the antenna radiator 570.

Another layer of black mask may then applied to hide the metal tracks to be visible and also insulate them from any conductive material to avoid short circuits.

The metal tracks 550 and the antenna radiator 570 may be routed in such a way that they come to a set of pads where a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 560 is bonded using suitable processes like anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The printed circuit 560 may comprise a touch controller, a display driver and other suitable components in it to make the touch sensor 530, the display 540, the antenna radiator 570 or some other component of the apparatus functional. It also carries suitable connectors to connect to the main engine to interact with the other parts of the mobile apparatus.

The invention helps achieve a simpler touch sensitive device assembly that has all the benefits of a conventional display touch assembly but one which has integrated antenna radiator with high performance without compromising the device thickness or outer design. With a fine-tuned process it is possible to achieve very high yield with this process because sapphire is not easy to scratch and there is no cutting process required. In conventional touch sensor on cover glass process, the main yield drop is due to scratches, cutting and reduced strength.

Yield needs to be very high for this process to compete with traditional display and touch assemblies. One option to handle such situation is to use a hybrid touch on sapphire, where just one touch sensitive electrode is on main sapphire and the other touch sensitive electrode is on a separate layer made of different material (film, glass or sapphire or clear ceramic). Also the antenna radiator 570 may be arranged using hybrid solution, in which at least part of the antenna radiator, or one antenna radiator of a plurality of antenna radiators, is placed to the main sapphire and the other part, or other antenna radiators, to the separate layer. This increases yield as the number of process steps on sapphire is significantly reduced and makes it cost effective. From pattern visibility point of view, this may be better as much simpler indium tin oxide (ITO) patterns can be tried and they need not have indium tin oxide (ITO) bridges which are required for non-hybrid touch on sapphire display and touch assemblies.

In an embodiment, reflections may be reduced using a textured structure on a surface of the sapphire 510. The textured features may reduce the reflection by either 'trapping' incident light within the structure 510 and or by creating a gradual change in the overall structure's refractive index. The structure can be applied to the screen as a surface coating or film or be an inherent part of the display screen. A textured structure created as part of the sapphire screen surface may be a permanent and robust solution for reducing the reflectance from a sapphire mobile apparatus screen. In an embodiment, a first transparent electrode pattern layer with a second refractive index value is configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and a second transparent electrode pattern layer with a third refractive index value is configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the second axis, wherein the first transparent electrode pattern layer and the second transparent electrode pattern layer configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling. The first transparent electrode pattern layer and the second transparent electrode pattern layer are comprised by the transparent conductive electrode layer 530.

In an embodiment, at least one of the first transparent electrode pattern layer, the antenna radiator and the second transparent electrode pattern layer may be integrated to another layer, such as to the sapphire element 510, for example.

In an embodiment, a first transparent electrode pattern layer, an antenna radiator and a second transparent electrode pattern layer may be separated with another layer, for example an index matching layer 520, in between them. Such embodiment could be illustrated by amending Fig. 5 so that the transparent conductive electrode layer 530 is divided to two layers and arranging another index matching layer 520 between the two transparent conductive electrode layers, where the antenna radiator 570 is integrated to one or both of them.

In an embodiment, a sapphire crystallographic structure has a crystal plane and the crystal plane comprises at least one of the first and the second transparent electrode pattern layers.

In an embodiment, the first and the second transparent electrode pattern layers are isolated using an isolating layer.

In an embodiment, a portion of the second transparent electrode pattern layer comprises at least one jumper configured to cross over a portion of the first transparent electrode pattern layer to form the second transparent electrode pattern layer. At least one of the transparent electrode pattern layers and the jumper comprise at least one of the following: indium tin oxide (ITO), graphene and silver nano wires. Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a sapphire crystal structure 600, known also as a unit cell, having a plurality of crystal planes 610 - 640, in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied. In the crystal structure of a sapphire, as shown in Fig. 6, the sapphire crystal is a hexagonal system, wherein C-axis forms a central axis being vertical and normal to C-plane 620. Due to the symmetry of the sapphire crystal structure the A-plane has numerous A-axes in Fig. 6, for example axis a1 to a3 that are to be extended in three directions perpendicular to C-axis. Respectively, A-plane 610 is shown in Fig. 6. M-plane 630 is perpendicular to C-plane 620 and A-plane 610. R-plane 640 is oblique at a constant angle to C-axis.

No matter only four planes 610 - 640 is shown, the crystal cell may comprise other planes. Furthermore, due to crystal symmetry, there may be several identical planes for each major plane. For example, the unit cell 600 may comprise three A- planes 610, three R-planes 640, one C-plane 620 and three M-planes 630, for example.

The C-axis is typically angled approximately 57.6 degrees with respect to the R- axis. The R-axis is typically angled with respect to the M-axis by approximately 32.4 degrees.

The planes and axes of the sapphire can be analyzed for example with X-ray or electron diffraction and can be determined about the actual sapphire single crystal.

In an embodiment, measurements of the sapphire crystal have revealed that A- plane is generally the strongest plane regarding to mechanical stress. However, the integration of sapphire to an touch sensitive device of a portable apparatus may be taken even further by controlling anisotropy (sometimes referred to as minor planes) such that the sapphire is orientated within the touch sensitive device of the apparatus for maximum strength and hence reliability. In an embodiment, the crystal planes and directions in hexagonal systems may be indexed using Miller indices, wherein crystallographically equivalent planes have indices which appear dissimilar. To overcome this Miller-Bravais indexing system may be used, where a fourth index is introduced to the three of the Miller system.

A plane is then specified using four indices (hkil), where h, k, i and I are integers. The third index is always the negative of the sum of the first two and can be determined from the Miller system. A direction is specified as [uvtw] where u, v, t and w are integers. The values of u, v and t are adjusted so that their sum is zero. The direction index cannot be written down from the equivalent Miller index.

When looking at Fig. 6 and using the Miller-Bravais indices for defining the planes, following mapping could be used:

C-plane 620 corresponds to {0 0 0 1 } of the Miller-Bravais indices;

R-plane 640 corresponds to {1 0 1 2} of the Miller-Bravais indices;

A-plane 610 corresponds to {1 12 0} of the Miller-Bravais indices; and M-plane 630 corresponds to {1 0 1 0} of the Miller-Bravais indices.

Referring to Fig. 3, A-plane of the sapphire cell 310 is shown. The length L in this embodiment is greater than the width W, as can be seen from Fig. 3. The sapphire crystallographic structure is configured so that a main plane of the sapphire cell 310 is set to be parallel to the surface plane of the touch sensitive device 320 and two minor planes are set to be parallel to the first and second axes (W and L).

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device 320 of an apparatus has a length L in a direction of a first axis and a width W in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length L is greater than or equal to the width W. The touch sensitive device 320 is developed and comprising a sapphire crystallographic structure 310 having a plurality of crystal planes with corresponding normal axes represented as C-axis, A-axis and M-axis, for example. A first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first axis L and the second axis W. A second crystal plane axis is configured to be parallel to the first axis L and a third crystal plane axis is configured to be parallel to the second axis W.

In an embodiment, a sapphire crystallographic structure has a plurality of crystal planes, wherein three major planes maybe be represented by three orthogonal axis, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the second crystal plane axis and the third crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first crystal plane axis and the second crystal plane axis. The plurality of crystal planes comprise at least:

A-plane with A-axis configured to be a normal axis of the A-plane;

In an embodiment, the plurality of crystal planes comprises:

A-plane with A-axis configured to be a normal axis of the A-plane, the A- axis being perpendicular to the C-axis and perpendicular to the M-axis; and

C-plane with C-axis configured to be a normal axis of the C-plane, the C- axis being perpendicular to the A-axis and perpendicular to the M-axis; and

M-plane with M-axis configured to be a normal axis of the M-plane, the M- axis being perpendicular to the A-axis and perpendicular to the C-axis. In an embodiment, the antenna radiator may be integrated to Sapphire or clear ceramic or similar high dielectric material without any touch integration.

In an embodiment, the first crystal plane axis is the A-axis perpendicular to the W- axis and the L-axis, the second crystal plane axis is the M-axis parallel to the L- axis and the third crystal plane axis is the C-axis parallel to the W-axis.

Configuring the sapphire crystal 310 planes so that A-plane is parallel to the surface plane of the touch sensitive device 320, such as flat display screen, provides improved strength for the touch sensitive device 320. Even further strength for the touch sensitive device is achieved by aligning the M-axis of the M- plane parallel to a longer side L of the touch sensitive device 320 and the C-axis of the C-plane parallel to a shorter side of the touch sensitive device 320.

Fig. 7 presents an example block diagram of a mobile apparatus 100 in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied. The portable apparatus 100 may be a user equipment (UE), user device or apparatus, such as a mobile terminal, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a MP3 player, a laptop, a tablet or other electronic device.

The general structure of the mobile apparatus 100 comprises a user interface 740, a communication interface 750, a processor 710, and a memory 720 coupled to the processor 710. The apparatus 100 further comprises software 730 stored in the memory 720 and operable to be loaded into and executed in the processor 710. The software 730 may comprise one or more software modules and can be in the form of a computer program product. The apparatus 100 further comprises a an antenna system for the mobile apparatus 100, the antenna system comprising a touch sensitive device 760 having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the touch sensitive device 760 comprising a substrate comprising sapphire, the sapphire comprising sapphire crystallographic structure having a plurality of crystal planes, wherein a first crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first and the second axis. The device 760 further comprises a transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis and to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling, and a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device 760 for the transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the transparent electrode pattern layer. The device further comprises an antenna radiator 770 integrated to the metal track layer in the edge area of the touch sensitive device 760. The touch sensitive device 760 may also be integrated to another element of the apparatus 100, for example to the user interface 740.

The processor 710 may be, e.g. a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit, or the like. Fig. 7 shows one processor 710, but the apparatus 100 may comprise a plurality of processors.

The memory 720 may be for example a non-volatile or a volatile memory, such as a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a data disk, an optical storage, a magnetic storage, a smart card, or the like. The apparatus 100 may comprise a plurality of memories. The memory 720 may be constructed as a part of the apparatus 100 or it may be inserted into a slot, port, or the like of the apparatus 100 by a user. The memory 720 may serve the sole purpose of storing data, or it may be constructed as a part of an apparatus serving other purposes, such as processing data.

The user interface 740 may comprise circuitry for receiving input from a user of the apparatus 100, e.g., via a keyboard, graphical user interface shown on the display of the user apparatus 100, speech recognition circuitry, or an accessory device, such as a headset, and for providing output to the user via, e.g., a graphical user interface or a loudspeaker. The display of the user interface 740 may comprise a touch-sensitive display. The touch sensitive device 760 may be integrated to the user interface 740, such as a display, a keyboard, or a touchpad. The touch sensitive device may also be integrated to a cover part of the apparatus 100.

The touch sensitive device 760 may also provide a protective sheet for multiple elements of the apparatus 100. In an example embodiment, a touch sensitive device 760 is configured to provide a protective sheet for the display of the apparatus 100. The touch sensitive device may even cover at least a part of the front, rear or side surface of the apparatus 100 cover. The communication interface module 750 implements at least part of radio transmission. The communication interface module 750 may comprise, e.g., a wireless interface module. The wireless interface may comprise such as near field communication (NFC), a WLAN, Bluetooth, infrared (IR), radio frequency identification (RF ID), GSM/GPRS, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE (Long Term Evolution) radio module or wireless power charging. The communication interface is operationally connected with the antenna radiator 770 integrated to the touch sensitive device 760. The communication interface module 750 may also be integrated into the user apparatus 100, or into an adapter, card or the like that may be inserted into a suitable slot or port of the apparatus 100. The communication interface module 750 may support one radio interface technology or a plurality of technologies. The apparatus 100 may comprise a plurality of communication interface modules 750. A skilled person appreciates that in addition to the elements shown in Fig. 7, the apparatus 100 may comprise other elements.

Fig. 8 shows an illustrative example on an antenna system 800 in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied.

A touch sensitive device 805 is shown from above in light of Fig. 5 that illustrates the device from side view. The touch sensitive device 805 may comprise a layer of sapphire 810 having a first refractive index value and comprising a surface, wherein the surface is visible to a user.

In an embodiment, a polished sapphire 810 with a desired minor plane orientation may be printed with a non-transparent black mask layer 81 1 . The black mask layer 81 1 may be provided on the edge areas of the touch sensitive device 800 to make metal tracks 812, 813 and an antenna radiator 840 below invisible to the user. Choosing certain orientation of sapphire in terms of optical performance may enable avoiding additional ¼ wave plates required to circularly polarize light to maintain polarized sunglass compatibility. The black mask layer 81 1 may be arranged in any area on the touch sensitive device 805. In Fig. 8 only the left edge of the device 805 is masked to for illustrative purposes.

A transparent conductive electrode layer 830 forms the X & Y layers. The sensor electrode pattern layer 830 might have both X and Y layers in the same plane and will be crossed over by indium tin oxide (ITO) jumpers or might have just one electrode in the sapphire surface, for example.

In an embodiment, both X & Y layers of the transparent conductive electrode layer 830 may be arranged on sapphire 810 surface. Then insulators may be applied either by spin coating or spray coating or another suitable process to form a uniform thickness and then photo-etched using a photo mask or ablated using laser or another similar process to form insulators for the indium tin oxide (ITO) jumpers.

In an embodiment, just one electrode (X or Y electrode) is arranged on sapphire 810 surface. Then insulators may not be used. Instead a separate material (film, glass or sapphire or clear ceramic) containing the other electrode will be optically bonded to the original sapphire substrate. The two electrodes will complete the X & Y matrix for capacitive sensing.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device 805 further comprises a metal track layer arranged in an edge area of the touch sensitive device for the first and the second transparent electrode pattern layer, configured to provide connection for the first and the second transparent electrode pattern layers. The metal track layer may comprise metal tracks 812, 813 and the antenna radiator 840. The metal tracks 812, 813 may need to be routed and then connected to the electrodes 830. The metal tracks 812, 813 are generally made of highly electrically conductive materials like copper or silver and may be sputtered and then etched similar to the indium tin oxide (ITO) pattern etching process. The black mask 81 1 that was applied in the first step aims to hide these metal tracks 812, 813 and the antenna radiator 840 as shown in left edge of the device 805.

In an embodiment, the touch sensitive device 805 further comprises at least one of the following:

a display of the mobile apparatus;

a cover part of the mobile apparatus; and

- a touch sensitive screen of the mobile apparatus.

In an embodiment, a plurality of crystal planes are arranged to match a liquid- crystal display (LCD) top polarizer angle of the display and configured to circularly or elliptically polarize outgoing light.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 solves a problem of mobile apparatuses having metallic covers parts reducing antenna performance, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality. In an embodiment, the Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna radiator 840, such as coil tracks, are provided as printing track as part of the sapphire 810 touch track 830 deposition in a single process. Sapphire is advantageous material for radio operation and may be regarded as a RF friendly material in that sense. Sapphire features relatively high dielectric constant and very low dielectric loss. Therefore, integrating Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna radiator directly on the sapphire surface provides many effects. The antenna radiator 840 may be printed to the sapphire substrate 810 facing to the interior of the mobile apparatus and the utilization of the sapphire layer 810 above the antenna radiator 840 enables a superior performance compared to the ones without the sapphire material 810 in presence.

In an embodiment, the sapphire goes through a black mask printing process to provide black mask 81 1 , which may be done by screen printing, for example. Then index matching and indium tin oxide (ITO) may be processed along with insulator bridges and indium tin oxide (ITO) bridges to create a sensor pattern 830.

The sensor pattern 830 needs to be connected to the metal tracks 812, 813 for the touch sensor to work and because the antenna radiator 840, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna, would also require highly conductive metal to radiate, the antenna radiator 840 can also be printed at the same time as the metal tracks 812, 813. As a result, no additional processing step is required for integrating the antenna radiator. The only change required is a slight addition to a photo mask layer that includes the antenna radiator 840 pattern. The antenna feed points can be routed to the flexible printed circuit (FPC) bond pads, which are also needed for the touch sensor pattern 830 as shown in Fig. 9.

Black mask 81 1 may again be printed on top of the metal tracks 812, 813 and antenna radiator 840 to hide the tracks and provide a good flat surface to integrate the sapphire display assembly with the mobile apparatus. In an embodiment, additional sputtering of suitable ferrite material is done before or after processing the black mask 81 1 . This will improve antenna performance while integrating the antenna with the touch sensor or the display.

In case of using a separate touch sensor layer, a sapphire cover layer may be processed just with the antenna radiator metal track 840 and a black mask 81 1 may be coated again to conceal this track. Fig. 9 shows an illustrative example on a portion 820 of Fig. 8 of a touch sensitive device in which various embodiments of the invention may be applied.

The metal tracks 812, 813 and the antenna radiator 970 may be routed in such a way that they come to a set of pads 910, 920, 960 where a flexible printed circuit (FPC) is bonded using suitable processes like anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The printed circuit may carry the touch controller, the display driver, the communication interface for the antenna radiator and other suitable components to make the touch sensor, display, antenna or the apparatus in general functional. It also carries suitable connectors to connect to the main engine to interact with the other parts of the mobile apparatus.

In an embodiment, a first transparent electrode pattern layer comprises rows 930 and a second transparent electrode pattern layer comprises columns 940. In Fig. 9 a transparent conductive electrode layer may comprise both the first transparent electrode pattern layer comprising rows 930 and the second transparent electrode pattern layer comprising columns 940.

The transparent conductive electrode layer of Fig. 9 forms the X layer comprising rows 930 and Y layer comprising columns 940 for the touch sensitive device. The sensor electrode pattern layer of Fig. 9 might have both X and Y layers in the same plane and will be crossed over by indium tin oxide (ITO) jumpers 950 or might have just one electrode in the sapphire surface, for example. In an embodiment, both X & Y layers 930, 940 of the transparent conductive electrode layer of Fig. 9 may be arranged on sapphire 810 surface. Then insulators may be applied either by spin coating or spray coating or another suitable process to form a uniform thickness and then photo-etched using a photo mask or ablated using laser or another similar process to form insulators for the ITO jumpers 950.

The antenna feed point 960 may be routed and a separate flexible printed circuit (FPC) may be bonded using suitable processes like anisotropic conductive film (ACF) or providing pogo pins positioned to make contact with the antenna radiator feed point to be able to radiate energy through the antenna radiator 970.

Embodiments disclosed offer an advantage and design freedom for the industrial design (ID) of mobile apparatuses, in which the apparatuses may well support radio access, such as Near Field Communication (NFC), with a full metallic surface of back covers of the apparatus or without sacrificing the apparatus design in order to include such radio access. Also, this integration of antenna to a touch sensitive device is unique for sapphire or other high scratch resistant material, as the user will not be able to scratch the surface of the touch sensitive device cover while using the Near Field Communication (NFC) function for payment, for example. A surprising effect discovered is that the disclosed embodiments also improve the antenna performance, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) performance on the maximum reading distance when integrating the antenna radiator 970 to the touch sensitive device comprising sapphire. The intensity of the magnetic field generated by the Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna radiator 970 (e.g. coil) becomes more concentrated than without the sapphire as the sapphire substrate is directly above the Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna radiator 970.

Similar implementation may apply to any cover part element comprising sapphire, not only to touch sensitive display. The Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna radiator 970 may be located in any edge part of the sapphire 810. The antenna radiator 970 may extend to only a limited length in any edge area. Alternatively, the antenna radiator 970 may extend around the sapphire substrate edge areas and the sensor electrode pattern layer comprising the X and Y layers 930, 940. The antenna feed point 960 does not have to be arranged next to the sensor feed points 910, 920 but can be located any location within the substrate 810. Costs of making Near Field Communication (NFC) antenna 970 are minimal when integrating the radiator 970 to same layer with touch sensitive device metal tracks 812, 813 as no additional components, such as flexible printed circuits or connectors, are required.

ITO jumpers 950 may be sputtered on top of these insulators and then etched using a suitable etching process like photolithography or laser ablation or similar and then connected to the corresponding sensor electrodes to complete the X & Y matrix 930, 940 that forms the basis of capacitive sensors.

In an embodiment, just one electrode 930, 940 (X or Y electrode) is arranged on sapphire 810 surface. Then insulators may not be used. Instead a separate material (film, glass or sapphire or clear ceramic) containing the other electrode 930, 940 will be optically bonded to the original sapphire substrate. The two electrodes 930, 940 will complete the X & Y matrix for capacitive sensing.

In an embodiment, the first transparent layer comprises both X and Y electrodes 930, 940 and the second transparent layer comprises jumpers 950 when applied directly on to sapphire. In this case, the first layer has almost all of the X and Y lines 930, 940 and the second layer is used only to connect the missing connections to complete the matrix using the jumpers 950.

Various embodiments have been presented. It should be appreciated that in this document, words comprise, include and contain are each used as open-ended expressions with no intended exclusivity. The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples of particular implementations and embodiments of the invention a full and informative description of the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented above, but that it can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the invention.

Claims

Claims:

1 . An antenna system for a mobile apparatus, the antenna system comprising a touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the touch sensitive device comprising:

2. An antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the metal track layer comprising a first and a second metal track.

3. An antenna system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprising:

4. An antenna system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprising:

5. An antenna system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metal track layer comprising the antenna radiator being arranged below the substrate comprising sapphire.

6. An antenna system of claim 5, wherein the antenna radiator configured to transceive signals through the substrate comprising sapphire.

7. An antenna system of claim 6, wherein the substrate comprising sapphire having a dielectric constant greater than 9.

8. An antenna system of claims 6 or 7, wherein the substrate comprising ferrite material sputtered to the substrate for improving antenna radiator performance.

9. An antenna system of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the antenna radiator comprising at least one conductive track.

10. An antenna system of claim 9, wherein the at least one conductive track processed to the touch sensitive device at the same time with the metal track layer.

1 1 . An antenna system of claim 10, wherein the at least one conductive track processed to the touch sensitive device using printing.

12. An antenna system of any of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the substrate comprising sapphire having a first refractive index value, and the transparent electrode pattern layer having a second refractive index value; wherein the touch sensitive device further comprising:

an index matching layer arranged between the substrate and the transparent electrode pattern layer configured to match the first refractive index value and the second refractive index value.

13. The antenna system of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the transparent electrode pattern layer comprising a first transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the first axis, and a second transparent electrode pattern layer configured to form a plurality of touch sensing elements parallel to the second axis, wherein the plurality of touch sensing elements configured to provide touch information using capacitive coupling.

14. The antenna system of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the metal track layer comprising a first and a second metal track.

15. The antenna system of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprises at least one of the following:

- a display of the mobile apparatus;

- a cover part of the mobile apparatus; and

- a touch sensitive screen of the mobile apparatus.

16. The antenna system of any claims of 1 to 15, further comprising:

17. The antenna system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of crystal planes comprising:

A-plane with A-axis configured to be a normal axis of the A-plane;

18. The antenna system of claim 17, wherein the first crystal plane axis is the A-axis, the second crystal plane axis is the M-axis and the third crystal plane axis is the C-axis.

19. The antenna system of any of claims 16 to 18, wherein a fourth crystal plane axis is configured to be perpendicular to the first crystal plane axis and inclined to the second and the third crystal plane axes.

20. The antenna system of any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of the M-axis and a width in a direction of the C-axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width.

21 . A method for providing an antenna system integrated to a touch sensitive device for a mobile apparatus, the touch sensitive device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the method comprising:

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the antenna radiator comprising at least one conductive track, and the method comprising:

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

printing at least one conductive track to the touch sensitive device.

24. A mobile apparatus comprising an antenna system of any of claims 1 to 20.

25. The mobile apparatus of claim 24, wherein a higher strength axis of a sapphire element is aligned with a higher stress direction of the mobile apparatus.

26. A device for a mobile apparatus, the device having a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, the device comprising:

a metal track layer arranged to the device; and

an antenna radiator integrated to the metal track layer.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the device comprising at least one of the following: a display and a cover part.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising:

29. The device of any of claims 26 to 28, wherein the device further comprising: a non-transparent mask layer arranged in the edge area of the device, wherein the non-transparent mask layer configured to hide at least one of the following: a metal track of the metal track layer and the antenna radiator; and

ferrite material being added to the non-transparent mask layer or adjacent to the non-transparent mask layer for improving antenna radiator performance.