Patent · US Active

Optical generic switch panel

US7351949B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
6References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 10, 2006
Grant dateApr 1, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04109
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A switch panel having a touch plate, light converter, and light analyzer are disclosed. The touch plate includes an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces, and having an index of refraction greater than that of air. The touch plate conducts light of an excitation wavelength between the first and second surfaces and emits part of that light through the second surface at one of a plurality of emission locations depending on the position at which pressure is applied to the first surface. The light converter is positioned to receive the light emitted through the second surface and generates light having a plurality of distinct location-specific spectra, one of the location-specific spectra corresponding to each of the emission locations. The light analyzer generates a signal indicative of which of the location-specific spectra was generated by the light converter.

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