Optical coupling of light into touch-sensing systems
US9857917B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2034 |
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) with a front surface and a rear surface. Light emitters (2) and light detectors (3) optically face the rear surface along a perimeter of a touch-sensitive region (4) on the panel (1). At least one diffusively reflecting element (40) is arranged on the front surface (5) along the perimeter of the touch-sensitive region (4). The light emitters (2) are arranged to emit a respective beam of light onto the diffusively reflecting element (40), so as to generate propagating light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel (1) across the touch-sensitive region (4), and the light detectors (3) are arranged to receive detection light generated as the propagating light impinges on the diffusively reflecting element (40), so as to define a grid of propagation paths (D) across the touch-sensitive region (4) between pairs of light emitters (2) and light detectors (3).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.