Array and method for improved wireless communication

Abstract

A system for communicating with a wireless device including a base including a front surface; a plurality of communication coils disposed on the front surface and arranged in a matrix, the coils being tuned to a near-field communication frequency; a selector coupled to the coils; at least one memory storing instructions; and at least one processor coupled to the selector and executing the instructions to perform operations. The operations include at least receiving a plurality of feedback signals associated with the coils; identifying a selected one of the coils associated with a strongest one of the feedback signals; and causing the selector to couple the selected coil with a wireless communication module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication matrix comprising:
 a plurality of coils;   a plurality of local switches coupled to the plurality of coils;   a multi-position switch coupled to at least one of the plurality of local switches, wherein the multi-position switch comprises:
 a row decoder coupled to one or more of the plurality of coils through a transition impedance; 
 a column decoder coupled to one or more of the plurality of coils through the transition impedance; and 
 an address manager coupled to the column decoder and the row decoder; 
 a plurality of receivers; and 
   a processor coupled to the multi-position switch and configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the plurality of receivers, feedback signals originating from a communication device; and 
 identifying one or more coils of the plurality of coils based on signal strength of the feedback signals and using the one or more coils to initiate communication with the communication device by configuring the address manager to couple the one or more coils through the row decoder and the column decoder. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coils and the plurality of receivers are disposed on a single substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The communication matrix of  claim 2 , wherein each switch of the plurality of local switches is disposed on the single substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The communication matrix of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the single substrate comprises a printed circuit board;   the printed circuit board is positioned behind an NFC area of an automatic teller machine; and   the NFC area is covered by an NFC graphical icon.   
     
     
         5 . The communication matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coils and the plurality of receivers are disposed on multiple pieces of a substrate arranged in an exterior surface of an automatic teller machine surface. 
     
     
         6 . The communication matrix of  claim 5 , wherein the multiple pieces comprise a first piece nearby to an NFC area, a second piece nearby a keyboard, and a third piece nearby a display. 
     
     
         7 . The communication matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coils comprise coils with a plurality of shapes and sizes. 
     
     
         8 . The communication matrix of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of coils is arranged in a square matrix. 
     
     
         9 . The communication matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coils is arranged in a square matrix. 
     
     
         10 . The communication matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receivers comprise at least one of micro-sized WiFi adapters, micro BLE receivers, micro IR receivers, and RF signal meters tuned for cellular frequencies. 
     
     
         11 . An automated teller machine comprising:
 an NFC area comprising a graphical icon associated with NFC communication;   a graphical user interface;   a memory device storing instructions; and   a wireless communication system located nearby the NFC area, the wireless communication system comprising:
 a plurality of coils; 
 a plurality of local switches coupled to the plurality of coils; 
 a multi-position switch directly connected to each one of the plurality of coils, 
 wherein resistances between the plurality of coils and the multi-position switch are uniform; 
 a plurality of receivers; and 
 a processor coupled to the multi-position switch, 
   wherein the instructions stored in the memory device configure the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the plurality of receivers, feedback signals originating from a communication device; and 
   identifying and using, based on signal strength of the feedback signals, one or more coils of the plurality of coils to initiate communication with the communication device.   
     
     
         12 . The automated teller machine of  claim 11 , wherein the multi-position switch comprises:
 a row decoder coupled to one or more of the plurality of coils through a transition impedance;   a column decoder coupled to one or more of the plurality of coils through the transition impedance; and   an address manager coupled to the column decoder and the row decoder.   
     
     
         13 . The automated teller machine of  claim 12 , wherein the row decoder comprises one or more multiplexers directly connected to the address manager. 
     
     
         14 . The automated teller machine of  claim 12 , wherein the row decoder comprises one or more multiplexers directly connected to the address manager. 
     
     
         15 . The automated teller machine of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of receivers is connected to at least four of the plurality of coils. 
     
     
         16 . The automated teller machine of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of receivers is equidistant from at least four of the plurality of coils connected to a respective receiver of the plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         17 . A communications matrix comprising:
 a plurality of coils;   a plurality of local switches coupled to the plurality of coils;   a multi-position switch directly connected to each one of the plurality of coils, wherein
 resistances between the plurality of coils and the multi-position switch are uniform; 
   a plurality of receivers; and   a processor coupled to the multi-position switch and configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, via the plurality of receivers, feedback signals originating from a communication device; and 
 identifying and using, based on signal strength of the feedback signals, one or more coils of the plurality of coils to initiate communication with the communication device. 
   
     
     
         18 . The communications matrix of  claim 17 , wherein the multi-position switch comprises:
 a row decoder coupled to one or more of the plurality of coils through a transition impedance;   a column decoder coupled to one or more of the plurality of coils through the transition impedance; and   an address manager coupled to the column decoder and the row decoder.   
     
     
         19 . The communications matrix of  claim 18 , wherein the row decoder comprises one or more multiplexers directly connected to the address manager. 
     
     
         20 . The communications matrix of  claim 18 , wherein the row decoder comprises one or more multiplexers directly connected to the address manager.