Optical generic switch panel
First Claim
1. A switch panel comprising:
- a touch plate comprising an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces, said optically transparent layer having an index of refraction greater than that of air;
an image generator that displays an image comprising a plurality of button positions to a person viewing said touch plate from said first surface,an imaging system that records an image of said first surface of said touch plate;
a controller that is responsive to said image and generates an output signal if said touch plate is touched at one of said button positions; and
a light source that generates a light signal that is reflected between said first and second surfaces of said touch plate within said transparent layer;
wherein said first surface deforms sufficiently when a predetermined pressure is applied thereto to cause a portion of said light signal to be reflected toward said second surface at an angle greater than the critical angle in said optically transparent layer such that the reflected light escapes the optically transparent layer at the second surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch panel having a touch plate, image generator, and imaging system. The touch plate includes an optically transparent layer having first and second sides. The optically transparent layer having an index of refraction greater than that of air. A light source generates a light signal that is reflected between the first and second sides of the touch plate within the transparent layer. The imaging system records an image of the first surface. An image generator displays an image that includes a plurality of button positions to a person viewing the touch plate from the first side. A portion of the light signal is reflected toward the second surface at an angle greater than the critical angle in the optically transparent layer when the first surface is touched. The imaging system determines the location of the touch from the location of the reflected light.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A switch panel comprising:
-
a touch plate comprising an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces, said optically transparent layer having an index of refraction greater than that of air; an image generator that displays an image comprising a plurality of button positions to a person viewing said touch plate from said first surface, an imaging system that records an image of said first surface of said touch plate; a controller that is responsive to said image and generates an output signal if said touch plate is touched at one of said button positions; and a light source that generates a light signal that is reflected between said first and second surfaces of said touch plate within said transparent layer; wherein said first surface deforms sufficiently when a predetermined pressure is applied thereto to cause a portion of said light signal to be reflected toward said second surface at an angle greater than the critical angle in said optically transparent layer such that the reflected light escapes the optically transparent layer at the second surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A switch panel comprising:
-
a touch plate comprising an optically transparent layer having first and second surfaces, said optically transparent layer having an index of refraction greater than that of air; an image generator that displays an image comprising a plurality of button positions to a person viewing said touch plate from said first surface, an imaging system that records an image of said first surface of said touch plate; a controller that is responsive to said image and generates an output signal if said touch plate is touched at one of said button positions; and
a light source that generates a light signal that is reflected between said first and second surfaces of said touch plate within said transparent layer;wherein said imaging system generates a difference image comprising the difference of first and second images, said first image being formed when said light signal is absent from said optically transparent layer and said second image being generated when said light signal is present in said optically transparent layer.
-
Specification