OPTICAL INTERACTIVE PANEL AND DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH OPTICAL INTERACTIVE PANEL

• US 20100171717A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Hu, Hung-Lieh, Yeh, Jen-Hao, Huang, Yu-Ming, Lee, Chun-Hsing, Huang, Sheng-Ho, Chen, Yuan-Ching
• Granted Patent: US 8,384,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An optical interactive panel includes a cladding layer, a first waveguide array, a second waveguide array, a first set of image sensor, and a second set of image sensor. The cladding layer has a first index of refraction. The first waveguide array has first waveguide channels formed on the cladding layer, wherein the first waveguide channels have a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, and extending at a first direction. The second waveguide array has second waveguide channels, formed on the cladding layer and extending at a second direction. The first set of image sensor detects a first set of light signals from the first waveguide channels to determine a first-direction location. The second set of image sensor detects a second set of light signals from the second waveguide channels to determine a second-direction location.

Claims

1. An optical interactive panel, comprising:

a cladding layer, having a first index of refraction;

a first waveguide array, having a plurality of first waveguide channels formed on the cladding layer, wherein the first waveguide channels have a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, and extending at a first direction;

a second waveguide array, having a plurality of second waveguide channels, formed on the cladding layer, wherein the second waveguide channels are extending at a second direction;

a first set of image sensor, detecting a first set of light signals from the first waveguide channels to determine a first-direction location; and

a second set of image sensor, detecting a second set of light signals from the second waveguide channels to determine a second-direction location.

2. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, wherein the first direction crosses the second direction by a right angle.

3. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, wherein the first waveguide array and the second waveguide array are separately formed on different two surfaces of the cladding layer.

4. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, wherein the first waveguide array and the second waveguide array are same formed on the cladding layer at a same surface.

5. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, wherein the waveguide channels of the first waveguide array and the second waveguide array are embedded in the cladding layer, or protruding on the cladding layer.

6. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, wherein the waveguide channels of the first waveguide array and the second waveguide array are doped with an optical dye, wherein the optical dye receives a first wavelength incident light and generates a second wavelength light in cores of the waveguide channels.

7. The optical interactive panel of claim 6, wherein the optical dye in separate one of the waveguide channels is distributed in a plurality of doped regions.

8. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, further comprising a thin optical film layer at an interface between the cladding layer and the waveguide channels, the optical film layer having a third index of refraction between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction.

9. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, each of cores of the waveguide channels has an internal structure for receiving an incident light and coupling at a portion light of the incident light into the cores.

10. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, wherein the cladding layer also serving as a mechanical substrate.

11. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, further comprising a substrate for adhering the cladding layer on the substrate.

12. The optical interactive panel of claim 1, further comprising a transparent conductive interconnection structure formed on the cladding layer, and the first set of image sensor and the second set of image sensor are distributed in accordance with locations of the transparent conductive interconnection structure.

13. An optical interactive apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of optical interactive panels, assembled together side by side as a light spot sensing panel, wherein each of the optical interactive panels comprises;

a cladding layer, having a first index of refraction;

a first waveguide array, having a plurality of first waveguide channels formed on the cladding layer, wherein the first waveguide channels have a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, and are extending at a first direction;

a second waveguide array, having a plurality of second waveguide channels, formed on the cladding layer, wherein the second waveguide channels are extending at a second direction;

a first set of image sensor, detecting a first set of light signals from the first waveguide channels to determine a first-direction location; and

a second set of image sensor, detecting a second set of light signals from the second waveguide channels to determine a second-direction location.

14. A display system, comprising:

an image display; and

an optical interactive panel, formed on a screen of the image display to detect a relative location of a light spot on the screen, wherein the image display receives the relative location of a light spot and responds a corresponding action, wherein the optical interactive panel comprises;

a cladding layer, having a first index of refraction;

a first waveguide array, having a plurality of first waveguide channels formed on the cladding layer, wherein the first waveguide channels have a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, and are extending at a first direction;

a second waveguide array, having a plurality of second waveguide channels, formed on the cladding layer, wherein the second waveguide channels are extending at a second direction;

a first set of image sensor, detecting a first set of light signals from the first waveguide channels to determine a first-direction location of the relative location; and

a second set of image sensor, detecting a second set of light signals from the second waveguide channels to determine a second-direction location of the relative location.