Light collecting and redirecting means
US4766424A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1984 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0421
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved light collector, for collecting the light in a plurality of parallel light beams directed across the display surface of a touch panel apparatus and for redirecting it in a direction substantially perpendicular to the light beams for detection by a common detector positioned adjacent one end of the collector, comprises an elongated strip of light transmissive material terminated by a light collection station. A plurality of light reflecting elements is disposed inside and spaced along one side of the strip and each has a transverse dimension small in comparison to cross-section of the strip. The surface of each reflecting element is tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the strip. A like plurality of focusing elements is also disposed along the strip and each such element is individually associated with an assigned one of the reflecting elements. Each of the focusing elements is oriented and configured to collect light received in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strip and to direct such collected light to its assigned reflecting element. Each of the focusing elements is spaced from its assigned reflecting element a distan…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.