Optically Invisible Antenna Integrated Within an OLED Touch Display Panel for IoT Applications

Abstract

Future electronics and Internet of Things devices with the capability of high-speed wireless communication will increasingly rely on efficient and intelligent antennas. However, conventional wireless communication systems for small wireless electronics devices suffer from low radiation efficiencies of miniaturized antennas implemented within less-than ideal locations and real estates. Here, we introduce the original concept of utilizing the entire transparent region of high-resolution organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch displays to render an antenna that is invisible to the human eye. A transverse magnetic resonant mode antenna is formulated based on transparent conductive polymers, which are precisely realized using mesoscale formation of electromagnetic boundary conditions. Simultaneously, these electromagnetic patterns achieve optical invisibility. We show that the transparent antenna film can be integrated inside an OLED touch display and feature efficient radiation properties at 2.4 GHz. The presented theory and measurement studies of the fabricated prototype for smartwatch application for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity inspire a broader range of integration of microwave and display technologies.