Infrared sensor integrated in a touch panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch panel system comprising:
- a display configured to display an image viewable via a touchable surface of the touch panel system;
at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system, the at least one infrared source configured to turn on in response to contact with the touchable surface and to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; and
a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein;
the infrared sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors,the infrared sensors are in an off state when infrared radiation is not incident on the infrared sensors,one of more infrared sensors turn from the off state to an on state in response to infrared radiation directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects, anddetection of an infrared image based on output of the one or more infrared sensors does not conflict with the image visibly displayed on the display of the touch panel system.
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Abstract
An infrared source is configured to illuminate the underside of one or more objects on or above a touchable surface of a touch panel. Infrared light reflected from the underside of the object(s) is detected by an infrared sensor integrated in the touch panel below the touchable surface.
159 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A touch panel system comprising:
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a display configured to display an image viewable via a touchable surface of the touch panel system; at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system, the at least one infrared source configured to turn on in response to contact with the touchable surface and to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; and a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein; the infrared sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors, the infrared sensors are in an off state when infrared radiation is not incident on the infrared sensors, one of more infrared sensors turn from the off state to an on state in response to infrared radiation directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects, and detection of an infrared image based on output of the one or more infrared sensors does not conflict with the image visibly displayed on the display of the touch panel system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
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12. A touch panel system comprising:
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at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system, the at least one infrared source configured to turn on in response to contact with a touchable surface of the touch panel system and to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; and a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors, wherein; the infrared sensors are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, the infrared sensors are in an off state when infrared radiation is not incident on the infrared sensors, one of more infrared sensors turn from the off state to an on state in response to infrared radiation directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects, and each infrared sensor comprises a reflective material that is reflective to infrared radiation and a film that absorbs infrared radiation directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects and absorbs infrared radiation which is reflected from below the film by the reflective material. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A touch panel system comprising:
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at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system, the at least one infrared source configured to turn on in response to contact with a touchable surface of the touch panel system and to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface of the touch panel system with infrared radiation; a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein; the infrared sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors, the infrared sensors are in an off state when infrared radiation is not incident on the infrared sensors, one of more infrared sensors turn from the off state to an on state in response to infrared radiation directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects, the touch panel comprises a display configured to display images that are viewable via the touchable surface, and the display comprises an infrared-transmitting and visible-light absorbing filter between the touchable surface and the one or more infrared sensors for shielding the one or more infrared sensors from visible light when detecting the infrared radiation which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification