Touch panel display system with illumination and detection provided from a single edge
First Claim
1. A touch panel display system, comprising:
- a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;
an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;
a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, the diffusing reflector having a reflective quality that causes at least a portion of the energy escaping from the interior volume of the touch panel in a direction to reflect across the front surface of the touch panel in various other directions; and
at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of at least a portion of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch panel that has a front surface, a rear surface, a plurality of edges and an interior volume. An energy source is positioned in proximity to a first edge of the touch panel and is configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel. A diffusing reflector is positioned in proximity to the front surface of the touch panel for diffusively reflecting at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume. At least one detector is positioned in proximity to the first edge of the touch panel and is configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel. Preferably, two detectors are spaced apart from each other in proximity to the first edge of the touch panel, to allow calculation of touch locations using simple triangulation techniques.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, the diffusing reflector having a reflective quality that causes at least a portion of the energy escaping from the interior volume of the touch panel in a direction to reflect across the front surface of the touch panel in various other directions; and at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of at least a portion of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having at least a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, the diffusing reflector having a reflective quality that causes at least a portion of the energy escaping from the interior volume of the touch panel in a direction to reflect across the front surface of the touch panel in various other directions; a first detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect at least a portion of the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; and a second detector positioned along the first edge of the touch pad, spaced apart from the first detector, and configured to detect at least a portion of the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to diffusively reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; wherein the at least one detector comprises a first detector and a second detector spaced apart from each other along the first edge of the touch panel; and wherein the first detector and the second detector are optical imaging devices of sufficient sensitivity to detect variations in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.
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35. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to diffusively reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface.
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36. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having at least a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, and configured to diffusively reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from within the interior volume; a first detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; and a second detector positioned along the first edge of the touch pad, spaced apart from the first detector, and configured to detect the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface.
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37. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; wherein the at least one detector comprises a first detector and a second detector spaced apart from each other along the first edge of the touch panel, the first detector and the second detector comprising optical imaging devices of sufficient sensitivity to detect variations in the intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.
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38. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface.
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39. A touch panel display system, comprising:
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a touch panel having at least a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel; an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel; a reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, and configured to reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from within the interior volume; a first detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; and a second detector positioned along the first edge of the touch pad, spaced apart from the first detector, and configured to detect the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface.
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Specification