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Light guide having focusing element and internal reflector on same face

  • US 4,673,918 A
  • Filed: 11/29/1984
  • Issued: 06/16/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. For use in a touch panel graphics display apparatus having means for producing a plurality of substantially parallel light beams directed across a display surface of said apparatus, an improved light collector means for collecting the light in said light beams and for redirecting it in a substantially common direction substantially perpendicular to said light beams for detection by a common light detector positioned adjacent one end of said light collector means,said improved light collector means comprising:

  • a multi-sided elongated strip of light transmissive material having a longitudinal axis, and being terminated by a light collection station;

    a plurality of longitudinally spaced light focusing elements disposed along a first side of said strip;

    a like plurality of longitudinally spaced light redirecting elements likewise disposed along said first side of said strip, individually paired with an assigned one of said light focusing elements and individually having a light intercepting surface having transverse dimensions small in comparison to the cross-sectional dimensions of said strip,said light intercepting surface of each said redirecting element being tilted with respect to said longitudinal axis of said strip;

    a like plurality of longitudinally spaced light reflectors disposed along that side of said strip opposite said first side and each located at a point thereon intermediate an assigned one of said light focusing elements and that element'"'"'s paired light redirecting element,each said focusing element being oriented and configured to collect light received from a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said strip and to direct such collected light, via its said assigned reflector, to said redirecting element paired with said focusing element,each said focusing element being spaced from its paired redirecting element an optical distance such that said redirecting element is positioned at, or close to, the focal plane of its paired focusing element,each said light redirecting element being so oriented, relative to said longitudinal axis, as to direct light received from its said paired assigned focusing element toward said light collection station.

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