Touch input devices for display/sensor screen
First Claim
1. A mechanical touch input system for use with a display/sensor screen (DSS) assembly having a display output and a photosensor array, including:
- an outer transparent layer on said display output;
means for injecting actinic light into said outer layer at an angle to cause total internal reflection in said outer layer, said actinic light propagating along the plane of said outer layer;
at least one mechanical touch input device adapted to be removably secured to the outer surface of said outer layer;
said mechanical touch input device including at least one reflective pad disposed to contact said outer surface of said outer layer;
said reflective pad including a high index of refraction at the wavelength of said actinic light, whereby said outer surface of said outer layer is made conductive to said actinic light at the location of said reflective pad, which reflects said actinic light into impingement with said photosensor array of said DSS;
said at least one reflective pad including a recognizable distinguishing feature;
signal processing means connected to said photosensor array to recognize said recognizable distinguishing feature and identify the respective mechanical touch input device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus used in conjunction with a combined display/sensing screen (DSS) includes a transparent outer layer overtop of the sensing screen. A plurality of IR emitters inject IR light edgewise into the outer layer, where it undergoes total internal reflection. Touch input devices have reflective pads on them with a high index of refraction which alters the critical angle in the contact area so that some of the IR is refracted out of the surface and then reflected back through the outer layer to the DSS, where the IR sensor array will detect the position of the reflected light and register a signal. The sensor array signals may be combined into a sensor image to detect touch input devices and movement thereof.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A mechanical touch input system for use with a display/sensor screen (DSS) assembly having a display output and a photosensor array, including:
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an outer transparent layer on said display output; means for injecting actinic light into said outer layer at an angle to cause total internal reflection in said outer layer, said actinic light propagating along the plane of said outer layer; at least one mechanical touch input device adapted to be removably secured to the outer surface of said outer layer; said mechanical touch input device including at least one reflective pad disposed to contact said outer surface of said outer layer; said reflective pad including a high index of refraction at the wavelength of said actinic light, whereby said outer surface of said outer layer is made conductive to said actinic light at the location of said reflective pad, which reflects said actinic light into impingement with said photosensor array of said DSS; said at least one reflective pad including a recognizable distinguishing feature; signal processing means connected to said photosensor array to recognize said recognizable distinguishing feature and identify the respective mechanical touch input device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for mechanical touch input to a display/sensor screen (DSS) assembly having a display output and a photosensor array, including the steps of:
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providing an outer transparent layer on said display output; injecting actinic light into said outer layer at an angle that creates total internal reflection in said outer layer; providing at least one mechanical touch input device on the outer surface of said outer layer; providing said at least one mechanical touch input device with a reflective pad having a high index of refraction at the wavelength of said actinic light, whereby said outer surface of said outer layer is made conductive to said actinic light at the location of said reflective pad, which reflects said actinic light into impingement with said photosensor array of said DSS; providing said at least one reflective pad with a recognizable distinguishing feature; providing signal processing means connected to said photosensor array to recognize said recognizable distinguishing feature and identify the respective mechanical touch input device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification