Optical generic switch panel
First Claim
1. A switch panel comprising:
- a touch plate comprising an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces, said optically transparent layer having an index of refraction greater than that of air;
an image generator that displays an image comprising a plurality of button positions to a person viewing said touch plate from said first surface;
an imaging system that records a color image of said first surface of said touch plate;
a controller that receives said image and that generates an output signal if said touch plate is touched at one of said button positions; and
a light source that generates a light signal that is reflected between said first and second surfaces of said touch plate within said transparent layer, said light source comprising a plurality of LEDs, each LED generating light having a different spectrum than the others of said LEDs, each LED being turned on in a predetermined sequence such that only one of said LEDs is turned on at a time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switch panel having a touch plate, image generator, imaging system and light source is disclosed. The touch plate includes an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces in which a light signal is trapped by internal reflection. The image generator displays an image that includes a plurality of button positions to a person viewing the touch plate from the first surface. When the user touches the front surface at one of the button positions, light from a multi-LED light source that generates the trapped light signal is caused to escape the touch plate at a point corresponding to the point of contact. The light leaving the touch plate is imaged by the imaging system and used to determine the location of the point of contact. Images taken with different LEDs in the light source are used to make the contact determination to reduce the effects of ambient light.
17 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A switch panel comprising:
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a touch plate comprising an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces, said optically transparent layer having an index of refraction greater than that of air;
an image generator that displays an image comprising a plurality of button positions to a person viewing said touch plate from said first surface;
an imaging system that records a color image of said first surface of said touch plate;
a controller that receives said image and that generates an output signal if said touch plate is touched at one of said button positions; and
a light source that generates a light signal that is reflected between said first and second surfaces of said touch plate within said transparent layer, said light source comprising a plurality of LEDs, each LED generating light having a different spectrum than the others of said LEDs, each LED being turned on in a predetermined sequence such that only one of said LEDs is turned on at a time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification