Waveguide design incorporating reflective optics
First Claim
1. An input device for an electronic device comprising:
- at least one light source;
at least one multi-element light detector to detect light intensity at a plurality of light detecting elements;
an input area defining a plane; and
a waveguide structure including a first set of waveguides with associated first set of reflective elements, and a second set of waveguides, each composed of a material with first refractive index, wherein;
said light source couples light into said first set of waveguides with associated first set of reflective elements;
said first set of waveguides directs the light onto said associated first set of reflective elements;
said associated first set of reflective elements collimates the light in the plane of the input area to produce a first grid of light beams; and
said first grid of light beams traverses the input area in a first direction and is directed to the light detecting elements of said multi-element light detector by said second set of waveguides.
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Abstract
This invention relates to devices for coupling light between an optical waveguide and an optical element in a manner that is substantially independent of temperature, using reflective optics. Certain embodiments of the invention concern improved designs for the transmit and receive optics of a waveguide-based optical touch screen sensor, incorporating reflective optics. The improved designs have substantially temperature independent operation and reduced optical losses. In one preferred embodiment the improved design incorporates a parabolic or quasi-parabolic reflector. In another preferred embodiment the improved design incorporates an elliptical or quasi-elliptical reflector. The transmit and receive elements and associated waveguides preferably comprise photo-patternable polymers.
65 Citations
82 Claims
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1. An input device for an electronic device comprising:
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at least one light source;
at least one multi-element light detector to detect light intensity at a plurality of light detecting elements;
an input area defining a plane; and
a waveguide structure including a first set of waveguides with associated first set of reflective elements, and a second set of waveguides, each composed of a material with first refractive index, wherein;
said light source couples light into said first set of waveguides with associated first set of reflective elements;
said first set of waveguides directs the light onto said associated first set of reflective elements;
said associated first set of reflective elements collimates the light in the plane of the input area to produce a first grid of light beams; and
said first grid of light beams traverses the input area in a first direction and is directed to the light detecting elements of said multi-element light detector by said second set of waveguides. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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16. An input device for an electronic device comprising:
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at least one light source;
at least one multi-element light detector to detect light intensity at a plurality of light detecting elements;
an input area defining a plane; and
a waveguide structure including a first set of waveguides with associated first set of reflective elements, a third set of waveguides with associated third set of reflective elements, a second set of waveguides, and a fourth set of waveguides, each composed of a material with first refractive index, wherein;
said light source couples light into said first and third sets of waveguides with associated first and third sets of reflective elements;
said first and third sets of waveguides direct the light onto said associated first and third sets of reflective elements;
said associated first and third sets of reflective elements collimate the light in the plane of the input area to produce first and second grids of light beams;
said first grid of light beams traverses the input area in a first direction and is directed to a first set of light detecting elements of said multi-element light detector by said second set of waveguides; and
said second grid of light beams traverses the input area in a second direction, different to said first direction, and is directed to a second set of light detecting elements of said multi-element light detector by said fourth set of waveguides. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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- 63. An optical transmission device comprising a first optical waveguide with an integrally formed reflective end structure and formed on a substrate, wherein said reflective end structure comprises a curved internally reflective surface to couple light between the first optical waveguide and an optical element.
Specification