Patent · US Active

TIR-based optical touch systems of projection-type

US10365768B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
5References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 17, 2013
Grant dateJul 30, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 11, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04109
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by light frustration (FTIR) and comprises a light transmissive panel (1) that defines a front surface (5) and a rear surface (6), light emitters optically connected to the panel (1) so as to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel, and light detectors (3) optically connected to the panel (1) so as to define a grid of propagation paths inside the panel (1) between pairs of light emitters and light detectors (3). Each light detector (3) is optically connected to the panel (1) via an angular filter (20). The filter (20) is applied to an outcoupling region on at least one of the front and rear surfaces (5, 6) and is configured to transmit light only within a confined range of angles with respect to the normal of the outcoupling region. The confined range extends from a lower angle limit θmin to an upper angle limit θmax. The lower angle limit θmin is equal to or larger than a critical angle θC, which is given by θC=arcsin(1/npanel), with npanel being the refractive index of the light transmissive panel (1) at the outcoupling region.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.