Optical touch control apparatus and method thereof

• US 20080259052A1
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Hsin-Chia, Lee, Chin-Chou, Lin, Cho-Yi, Chen, Hui-Hsuan, Li, Kuo-Hsiung, Hsu, Yao-Ching
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

The present invention discloses an optical touch control apparatus, comprising: a light guide module having an optical information capturing position, the light guide module guiding light to the optical information capturing position, and generating optical information according to light input through or reflected from the optical information capturing position; and an image sensor module for sensing the optical information, and generating an electronic signal according to the optical information.

Claims

1. An optical touch control apparatus, comprising:

a light guide module having an optical information capturing position, the light guide module guiding light to the optical information capturing position, and generating optical information according to light input through or reflected from the optical information capturing position; and

an image sensor module for sensing the optical information, and generating an electronic signal according to the optical information.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light source, and wherein the light guide module guides light projected from the light source to the optical information capturing position.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light source is an infrared light source.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic signal is sent to a processor circuit.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the processor circuit generates three-dimensional information.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an input device which includes a portion made of a reflective material.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lens module interposed between the light guide module and the image sensor module.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light guide module and the lens module are integrated as one module.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a feedback control circuit which controls illumination of the light source according to the optical information generated by the light guide module.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said feedback control circuit receives signals from the image sensor module or from the processor circuit.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical information capturing position is a surface or an opening.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical information capturing position is a surface, and the surface is a part of a physical contact button.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical information capturing position has an area most of which is coverable by a finger or an input device.

14. A method for controlling an optical touch control apparatus, comprising:

providing a light guide module having an optical information capturing position;

causing the light guide module to generate optical information according to light input through or reflected from the optical information capturing position; and

sensing the optical information, and generating an electronic signal according to the optical information.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

projecting infrared light to the light guide module.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

generating a feedback signal according to the optical information, to control the illumination of the infrared light.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

controlling a cursor on a display optical information capturing position according to the electronic signal.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

controlling three-dimensional information according to the electronic signal.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

moving an input device on or above the optical information capturing position of the light guide module, the input device being at least partially made of a reflective material.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the optical information capturing position is a surface or an opening.

21. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the optical information capturing position has an area most of which is coverable by a finger or an input device.