Precision infrared position detector apparatus for touch screen system

• US 4,891,508 A
• Filed: 06/30/1988
• Issued: 01/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Campbell, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Application Number:
  US07/213,405
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 340/706, 340/708, 340/709, 340/712, 340/555, 340/556, 341/31, 178/18
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

The precision infrared position detector apparatus uses an information display device that has a substantially cylindrical shaped screen to limit curvature of the screen to a single dimension. In addition, to compensate for this curvature, a flexible printed circuit board is used to align the row of infrared light sources and detectors along the same curvature as the screen of the information display device. A first flexible printed circuit board is equipped with a single row of infrared light sources while a second flexible printed circuit board is equipped with a signal row of corresponding infrared light detectors. A frame member is used to bend the flexible printed circuit board into a substantially cylindrical shape that matches the curvature of the screen of the information display device. In this manner, the first and second flexible printed circuit boards are placed at opposite ends of the rectangular shaped screen of the information display device to thereby transmit a plurality of parallel beams of infrared light, each of which is a predetermined distance above the screen of the information display device even though the screen of the information display device curves in the shape of a cylinder.

Claims

1. Infrared touch control apparatus for accurately registering the position of a user activated stylus comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of indicia, wherein said display means has a screen that is substantially in the shape of a segment of a cylinder, including first and second spaced apart parallel curved sides and third and fourth spaced apart parallel straight sides, such that said first, second, third, fourth sides form a substantially rectangular shaped screen;

a plurality of infrared light source means disposed in a row along with first side of said screen of said displaying means for emitting a plurality of parallel infrared light beams along said screen of said displaying means a predetermined distance above said screen of said displaying means;

flexible printed circuit board means connected to said plurality of infrared light source means for positioning said plurality of infrared light source means to conform to the curvature of said screen of said displaying means such that each of said plurality of infrared light source means is a predetermined distance above said screen of said displaying means;

a like plurality of infrared light detector means disposed in a row along said second side of said screen of said displaying means in spaced apart parallel mating relationship to said plurality of infrared light source means, each of said infrared light detector means for receiving a corresponding one of said parallel infrared light beams; and

flexible printed circuit board means connected to said plurality of infrared light detector means for positioning said plurality of infrared light detector means along said screen of said displaying means a predetermined distance above said screen of said displaying means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

frame means for securing said flexible printed circuit board means in position in proximate relationship with said screen of said displaying means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said frame means includes:

means for securing said flexible printed circuit board midway along its length; and

two spacer means, one located approximately at either end of said flexible printed circuit board means for bending said flexible printed circuit board means in a curve matching the curved shape of said screen of said displaying means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

means for periodically scanning said plurality of infrared light detector means to sense an interruption in one or more of said infrared light beams.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible printed circuit board means is tapered along its length in the shape of a truncated triangle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

a second plurality of infrared light source means disposed in a row along said third side of said screen of said displaying means for emitting a plurality of parallel infrared light beams above said screen of said displaying means;

a second like plurality of infrared light detector means disposed in a row along said fourth side of said screen of said displaying means in spaced apart parallel mating relationship to said plurality of infrared light source means, each of said infrared light detector means for receiving a corresponding one of said parallel infrared light beams; and

means for periodically scanning said second plurality of infrared light detector means to sense an interruption in one or more of said infrared light beams.

7. Infrared touch control apparatus for accurately registering the position of a user activated stylus comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of indicia, wherein said displaying means has a screen that is substantially in the shape of a segment of a cylinder;

a plurality of infrared light source means disposed in a row along said screen of said displaying means for emitting a plurality of parallel infrared light beams along said screen of said displaying means a predetermined distance above said screen of said displaying means;

a like plurality of infrared light detector means disposed in a row along said screen of said displaying means in spaced apart parallel mating relationship to said plurality of infrared light source means, each of said infrared light detector means for receiving a corresponding one of said parallel infrared light beams;

means for periodically scanning said plurality of infrared light detector means to sense an interruption in one or more of said infrared light beams;

first flexible printed circuit board means connected to said plurality of infrared light source means for positioning said plurality of infrared light source means along said screen of said displaying means a predetermined distance above said screen of said displaying means;

second flexible printed circuit board means connected to said plurality of infrared light detector means for positioning said plurality of infrared light detector means along said screen of said displaying means a predetermined distance above said screen of said displaying means;

frame means for securing said first and second flexible printed circuit board means in position in proximate relationship with said screen of said displaying means, including;

means for securing said flexible printed circuit board midway along its length; and

two spacer means, one located approximately at either end of said flexible printed circuit board means for bending said flexible printed circuit board means in a curve matching the curved shape of said screen of said displaying means.

8. Infrared touch control apparatus for accurately registering the position of a user activated stylus comprising:

information display means with a screen that has substantially the curvature of the surface of a cylinder;

a plurality of infrared light source means aligned in a row that has the curvature of and is juxtaposed with said screen of said information display means to transmit a plurality of parallel infrared light beams across said screen of said information display means a predetermined distance above said screen of said information display means;

a like plurality of infrared light detector means aligned in a row that has the curvature of and is juxtaposed with said screen of said information display means to receive a corresponding one of said plurality of parallel infrared light beams;

first flexible printed circuit board means on which is mounted said plurality of infrared light source means, said first flexible printed circuit board means being bent into a curve having the curvature of said screen of said information display means; and

second flexible printed circuit board means on which is mounted said plurality of infrared detector means, said second flexible printed circuit board means being bent into a curve having the curvature of said screen of said information display means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further including:

means for periodically scanning said plurality of infrared light detector means to sense an interruption in one or more of said infrared light beams.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further including:

frame means for securing said first and second flexible printed circuit board means in position in proximate relationship with said curved screen of said information display means, including;

means for securing said flexible printed circuit board midway along its length; and

two spacer means, one located approximately at either end of said flexible printed circuit board means for bending said flexible printed circuit board means in a curve matching the curved shape of said screen of said information display means.

11. Infrared touch control apparatus for accurately registering the position of a user activated stylus comprising:

information display means with a screen that has substantially the curvature of the surface of a cylinder;

first flexible circuit board means having attached thereto a plurality of infrared light source means aligned in a straight line, wherein said first flexible circuit board means has the curvature of and is juxtaposed with said screen of said information display means to transmit a plurality of parallel infrared light beams across said screen of said information display means a predetermined distance above said screen of said information display means;

second printed circuit board means having attached thereto a like plurality of infrared light detector means aligned in a straight line, wherein said second flexible circuit board means has the curvature of and is juxtaposed with said screen of said information display means to receive a corresponding one of said plurality of parallel infrared light beams;

means for securing each of said 1st and 2nd flexible printed circuit board midway along its length; and

spacer means, one located approximately at either end of each of said 1st and 2nd flexible printed circuit board means for bending said 1st and 2nd flexible printed circuit board means in a curve matching the curved shape of said screen of said information display means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including:

means for periodically scanning said plurality of infrared light detector means to sense an interruption in one or more of said infrared light beams.

13. Infrared touch control apparatus for accurately registering the position of a user activated stylus comprising:

information display means for displaying a plurality of indicia, wherein said display means has a screen that is substantially in the shape of a segment of a cylinder, including first and second spaced apart parallel curved sides and third and fourth spaced apart parallel straight sides, such that said first, second, third, fourth sides form a substantially rectangular shaped face;

first flexible circuit board means having attached thereto a plurality of infrared light source means aligned in a straight line;

first shaping means for bending said first flexible circuit board means into the curvature of and juxtaposed with said screen of said information display means to transmit a plurality of parallel infrared light beams across said screen of said information display means a predetermined distance above said screen of said information display means;

second printed circuit board means having attached thereto a like plurality of infrared light detector means aligned in a straight line; and

second shaping means for bending said second flexible circuit board means into the curvature of and juxtaposed with said screen of said information display means to receive a corresponding one of said plurality of parallel infrared light beams.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first and said second shaping means each include:

means for securing said flexible printed circuit board midway along its length; and

two spacer means, one located approximately at either end of said flexible printed circuit board means for bending said flexible printed circuit board means in a curve matching the curved shape of said screen of said information display means.