Ultrasonic Touch Sensor With A Display Monitor

• US 20130201134A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ultra-Scan Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schneider, John K., Kitchens, Jack C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

A touch screen monitor having a display monitor and an ultrasonic device. The ultrasonic device may include a sensor array using piezoelectric sensors to detect the surface topology of a biological or other object that is in contact with a surface of the display monitor. The display monitor may be a LCD or LED monitor.

Claims

1. A touch screen display comprising:

a display monitor for providing a visual image; and

an ultrasonic device able to emit an ultrasonic energy wave, and able to detect reflected ultrasonic energy.

2. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the display monitor includes light emitting diodes for providing the visual image.

3. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the display monitor includes a liquid crystal display for providing the visual image.

4. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic device includes a piezoelectric transmitter for emitting the ultrasonic energy wave.

5. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic device includes a piezoelectric hydrophone array for detecting reflected ultrasonic energy.

6. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic device includes a thin-film transistor receiver for detecting reflected ultrasonic energy.

7. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the display monitor is comprised of layers and the ultrasonic device is comprised of at least one layer, and the ultrasonic device is attached to one of the layers of the display monitor.

8. The touch screen display of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic device includes a plurality of receivers for detecting reflected ultrasonic energy.

9. The touch screen display of claim 8, wherein each ultrasonic energy receiver is located among elements of the display monitor comprising a pixel.