INFRARED SENSOR INTEGRATED IN A TOUCH PANEL
First Claim
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1. A touch panel system comprising:
- a display configured to display an image viewable via a touchable surface of the touch panel system;
at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system and configured to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; and
a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein;
the infrared sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors which is directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface and reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects,output from a plurality of the infrared sensors is processed to detect an infrared image, anddetection of the infrared image based on the output of the plurality of infrared sensors does not conflict with the image visibly displayed on the display of the touch panel system.
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Abstract
An infrared source is configured to illuminate the underside of one or more objects on or above a touchable surface of a touch panel. Infrared light reflected from the underside of the object(s) is detected by an infrared sensor integrated in the touch panel below the touchable surface.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A touch panel system comprising:
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a display configured to display an image viewable via a touchable surface of the touch panel system; at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system and configured to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; and a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein; the infrared sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors which is directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface and reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects, output from a plurality of the infrared sensors is processed to detect an infrared image, and detection of the infrared image based on the output of the plurality of infrared sensors does not conflict with the image visibly displayed on the display of the touch panel system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22)
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18. A touch panel having a touchable surface configured to display an image, the touch panel comprising:
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a plurality of infrared sources configured to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; infrared sensors distributed parallel to the touchable surface, wherein output from a plurality of the infrared sensors is processed to detect an infrared image based on infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors which is directed by the infrared sources towards and through the touchable surface and reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects; and a plurality of infrared-transmitting and visible-light absorbing filters between the touchable surface and the infrared sensors, wherein the infrared-transmitting and visible-light absorbing filters shield the infrared sensors from visible light when detecting the infrared radiation which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects.
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21. A method performed in a touch panel system, the method comprising:
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displaying an image viewable via a touchable surface of the touch panel system; directing infrared radiation from at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system towards and through a touchable surface of the touch panel system for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; detecting infrared radiation incident on infrared sensors which are distributed throughout a touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein the infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors is directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface and reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects; and processing output from a plurality of the infrared sensors to detect an infrared image, wherein detection of the infrared image based on the output of the plurality of infrared sensors does not conflict with the image visibly displayed on the display of the touch panel system.
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Specification