Reduction of Touch Sensor Pattern Visibility Using Beamsplitters

• US 20140267168A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat, Saran, Neerja
• Granted Patent: US 10,241,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs

Abstract

In one embodiment, a touch sensor comprises a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter, a substrate, and one or more lines of conductive material disposed on the substrate, the lines of conductive material disposed between the first substrate and the beamsplitter.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising:

a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter;

a first substrate; and

one or more lines of conductive material disposed on the substrate, the lines of conductive material disposed between the first substrate and the beamsplitter.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of:

metal, indium tin oxide, and carbon nanotubes.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first portion of light is in the range of 50% to 75%, and the second portion of light is in the range of 25% to 50%.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflective coating disposed between the beamsplitter and the one or more lines.

5. The touch sensor of claim 4, wherein the one or more lines of conductive material comprises a first set of lines of conductive material and a second set of lines of conductive material, the first set of lines disposed above the substrate, the second set of lines disposed below the substrate.

6. The touch sensor of claim 4, further comprising a second substrate disposed between the beamsplitter and the anti-reflective coating.

7. The touch sensor of claim 6, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the second substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.

8. A system, comprising:

a controller;

a touch sensor comprising;

a display;

a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter;

one or more lines of conductive material disposed between the display and the beamsplitter; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the touch sensor and embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of:

metal, indium tin oxide, and carbon nanotubes.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first portion of light is in the range of 50% to 75%, and the second portion of light is in the range of 25% to 50%.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising an anti-reflective coating disposed between the beamsplitter and the one or more lines.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more lines of conductive material comprises a first set of lines of conductive material and a second set of lines of conductive material, the first set of lines disposed above the substrate, the second set of lines disposed below the substrate.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a substrate disposed between the beamsplitter and the anti-reflective coating.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.

15. A device comprising:

a display;

a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter;

a touch sensor comprising one or more lines of conductive material disposed between the display and the beamsplitter; and

a touch-sensor controller operable to apply a voltage to at least a portion of the conductive material.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of:

metal, indium tin oxide, and carbon nanotubes.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the first portion of light is in the range of 50% to 75%, and the second portion of light is in the range of 25% to 50%.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising an anti-reflective coating disposed between the beamsplitter and the one or more lines.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the one or more lines of conductive material comprises a first set of lines of conductive material and a second set of lines of conductive material, the first set of lines disposed above the substrate, the second set of lines disposed below the substrate.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a substrate disposed between the beamsplitter and the anti-reflective coating.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.