Arrangement For a Touch Sensitive Apparatus

• US 20160216844A1
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
• Original Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
• Inventors: Bergstrm, Hkan
• Application Number:
  US15/007,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216844A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0015 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• 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 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An arrangement for a touch sensitive apparatus comprises a light transmissive panel having a front surface and an opposite rear surface defining an optical media for transmitting light signals via total internal reflection. A shield layer is arranged at the rear surface of the light transmissive panel and is substantially non-transparent to visible light from the front surface. A refractive layer is arranged between the light transmissive panel and the shield layer and allows a light signal to propagate by total internal reflection within the light transmissive panel. At least one aperture is arranged through the shield layer and the refractive layer and is configured to allow a light signal to pass through the aperture.

The shield layer, the refractive layer, and the aperture are arranged at the periphery of the light transmissive panel.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a touch sensitive apparatus, comprising

a light transmissive panel having a front surface and an opposite rear surface defining an optical media for transmitting light signals via total internal reflection;

a shield layer arranged at the rear surface of the light transmissive panel and being substantially non-transparent to visible light from the front surface;

a refractive layer arranged between the light transmissive panel and the shield layer and that allows an light signal to propagate by total internal reflection within the light transmissive panel; and

at least one aperture arranged through the shield layer and the refractive layer and being configured to allow a light signal to pass through the aperture;

wherein the shield layer, the refractive layer, and the aperture are arranged at the periphery of the light transmissive panel.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises at least one electric component arranged at the shield layer, such as printed on the shield layer.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the aperture is arranged closer to the periphery of the light transmissive panel than the printed electric component.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is arranged at the edge of the light transmissive panel.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive panel has a first refractive index and the refractive layer has a second refractive index, which is lower than the first refractive index.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein the second refractive index is in the range of 1.15 to 1.45, preferably in the range of 1.20 to 1.40.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the refractive layer comprises an amorphous fluoropolymer.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the refractive layer has a layer thickness larger than 3 μ

m.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises an IR transparent substance, such as an IR transparent ink.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the shield layer comprises a substantially opaque light absorbing substance, optionally substantially having the same color as a color of the aperture.

15. A touch sensitive apparatus for a touch sensing system operating using light signals, comprising the arrangement according to claim 1 and components arranged at a rear surface of the light transmissive panel and on the shield layer of the arrangement to be invisible from the front surface the light transmissive panel.

11. A film for a touch panel of a touch sensing apparatus, comprising:

a refractive layer having a front surface and an opposing rear surface having a first refractive index;

a shield layer arranged at the rear surface of refractive layer and being substantially non-transparent to visible light from the front surface of the refractive layer; and

at least one aperture arranged through the shield layer and the refractive layer and being configured to allow light to pass through the aperture.

12. The film of claim 11, comprising at least one electric component printed on the shield layer.

13. A method for mounting a shield layer for shielding electric components of a touch sensing system, comprising

providing a light transmissive panel having a front surface and an opposite rear surface defining an optical media for transmitting light signals via total internal reflection;

arranging a refractive layer on the rear surface of the light transmissive panel, which allows a light signal to propagate by total internal reflection within the light transmissive panel; and

arranging a shield layer on the rear surface of the refractive layer, which is substantially non-transparent to visible light from the front surface;

providing at least one aperture through the shield layer and the refractive layer, which is configured to allow light to pass through the aperture;

wherein the shield layer, the refractive layer, and the aperture are arranged at the periphery of the light transmissive panel.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising arranging a component on the shield layer, such as printing the component on the shield layer.