Optical touch pad with multilayer waveguide

• US 8,013,845 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
• Original Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
• Inventors: Bastue, Jens, Ostergaard, Jens Wagenblast Stubbe, Eliasson, Jonas Ove Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARIFI-TAFRESHI, KOOSHA
• Application Number:
  US11/320,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/175, 345/176, 178/18.09
• US Class Current: 345/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An optical touch pad that includes a multilayer waveguide optically coupled to at least one electromagnetic radiation detector. Based on electromagnetic radiation directed from an object to the detector by the multilayer waveguide, information related to an object proximate to (e.g., hovering above) and/or in contact with the optical touch pad may be determined. For example, the information related to the object may include position information, object-type information, and/or other information related to the object.

Claims

1. An optical touch pad for determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, the optical touch pad comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction; and

wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide;

wherein the multilayer waveguide is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface; and

wherein the rigid layer and the pliable layer are index of refraction matched.

120. The optical touch pad of claim 1, further comprising a layer of air supported by structures that support the multilayer waveguide such that the layer of air is formed between the multilayer waveguide and an adjacent layer of the optical touch pad.

121. The optical touch pad of claim 120, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises anti-reflective nano structures disposed in the layer of air.

2. An optical touch pad for determining the position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, the optical touch pad comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction; and

the multilayer waveguide being designed to direct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface, wherein the multilayer waveguide is positioned to;

i) receive electromagnetic radiation from an object that comes in contact with the external surface, the object being one of at least a first type of object that has first refractive characteristics or a second type of object that has second refractive characteristics; and

ii) direct the received electromagnetic radiation to the at least one detector by total internal reflection such that the processor receives the at least one signal from the at least one detector and determines the type of object.

3. The optical touch pad of claim 2, wherein the first object type comprises a relatively higher refractive object type and the second object type comprises a relatively lower refractive object type.

4. The optical touch pad of claim 2, wherein the first object type comprises a stylus and the second object type comprises a human tissue.

5. The optical touch pad of claim 2, wherein the refractive characteristics relate to an angle of reflection of electromagnetic radiation refracted by the object.

6. An optical touch pad for determining the position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, the optical touch pad comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction; and

one or more additional waveguide layers, each additional waveguide layer being bounded on at least one side by a TIR mirror, and wherein each additional waveguide layer has an index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of other waveguide layers within the multilayer waveguide;

wherein the multilayer waveguide is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface, and wherein the waveguide layers are arranged within the multilayer waveguide in order of index of refraction, with the waveguide layer with the highest index of refraction being disposed closest to the external surface of the optical touch pad and the waveguide layer with the lowest index of refraction being disposed furthest from the external surface.

7. An optical touch pad for determining the position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, the optical touch pad comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction; and

the multilayer waveguide being designed to direct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface, wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, wherein the pliable layer and the external layer are substantially index of refraction matched, wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide, and wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises a layer comprising pockets of air, anti-reflective nano structures disposed in the layer comprising pockets of air, and an angle selective TIR mirror, the layer comprising pockets of air further comprising supporting structures that support the layers adjacent to the layer comprising pockets of air such that the pockets of air are formed between the adjacent layers.

8. The optical touch pad of claim 7, wherein the second waveguide layer is disposed on a side of the first waveguide layer opposite from the external surface of the touch pad, the layer comprising pockets of air is disposed on a side of the second waveguide layer opposite from the first waveguide layer, and the angle selective TIR mirror is disposed on a side of the layer comprising pockets of air opposite from the second waveguide layer.

9. The optical touch pad of claim 8, wherein the multilayer waveguide comprises a TIR mirror separator layer disposed between the second waveguide layer and the layer comprising pockets of air.

10. The optical touch pad of claim 7, wherein the TIR mirror is mountable directly onto a display.

11. The optical touch pad of claim 10, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

12. The optical touch pad of claim 10, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

13. The optical touch pad of claim 10, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

14. The optical touch pad of claim 7, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises a TIR mirror that forms a surface of the multilayer waveguide opposite from the external surface of the optical touch pad, and wherein the TIR mirror is mountable directly onto a display.

15. The optical touch pad of claim 14, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

16. The optical touch pad of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

17. The optical touch pad of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

18. An integrated touch pad and image forming display, comprising:

an image forming display and

a touch pad laminated to the image forming display, the touch pad being capable of determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the touch pad, the touch pad comprising;

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first boundary layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first boundary layer having a first boundary index of refraction;

a second boundary layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second boundary having a second boundary index of refraction;

an underlayer having an underlayer index of refraction and being disposed between the first boundary layer and the second boundary layer; and

a plurality of deflecting structures having a structure index of refraction that is lower than the underlayer index of refraction;

wherein the first and second boundary indices of refraction are lower than the underlayer index of refraction, wherein the deflecting structures are disposed within the underlayer; and

wherein the multilayer waveguide directs electromagnetic radiation to at least one detector by total internal reflection to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface.

19. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the first boundary index of refraction is higher than the second boundary index of refraction.

20. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the first boundary index of refraction is higher than the second boundary index of refraction, and wherein the second boundary layer is on an opposite side of the first boundary layer from the external surface of the touch pad.

21. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide forms a plurality of TIR mirrors for segmenting angles of reflection of electromagnetic radiation received from an object in contact with the external surface.

22. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide forms a plurality of TIR mirrors for segmenting angles of reflection of electromagnetic radiation received from an object in contact with or hovering above the external surface.

23. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein a surface of the first boundary layer comprises the external surface of the touch pad.

24. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the touch pad comprises at least one additional layer and the external surface of the touch pad comprises a surface of the additional layer.

25. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the touch pad comprises at least one additional layer and the external surface of the touch pad comprises a surface of the additional layer;

wherein the at least one additional layer comprises a soft layer near the external surface that is softer than the first boundary layer and the second boundary layer, and wherein the soft layer, in response to being touched by an object, is;

deformable to allow radiation otherwise trapped by TIR to illuminate the object, and

configured to receive backscattered light from the object that can be trapped by TIR in one or more of the layers within the multilayer waveguide.

26. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the first boundary layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

27. The touch pad and display of claim 26, wherein the rigid layer and the pliable layer are index of refraction matched.

28. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the first boundary layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the touch pad, wherein the second boundary layer comprises a pliable layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the first boundary layer that deforms the first boundary layer into the second boundary layer, the second boundary layer compresses without substantially straining any other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

29. The touch pad and display of claim 28, wherein the first boundary index of refraction is greater than the second boundary index of refraction.

30. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises an underlayer bounded by TIR mirrors and a plurality of deflecting structures for deflecting electromagnetic radiation into the underlayer.

31. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide is positioned to:

i) receive electromagnetic radiation from an object that comes in contact with the external surface, the object being one of at least a first type of object that has first refractive characteristics or a second type of object that has second refractive characteristics; and

ii) direct the received electromagnetic radiation to the at least one detector by total internal reflection such that the processor receives the at least one signal from the at least one detector and determines the type of object.

32. The touch pad and display of claim 31, wherein the first object type comprises a relatively higher refractive object type and the second object type comprises a relatively lower refractive object type.

33. The touch pad and display of claim 32, wherein the first object type comprises a stylus and the second object type comprises a human tissue.

34. The touch pad and display of claim 33, wherein the refractive characteristics relate to an angle of reflection of electromagnetic radiation refracted by the object.

35. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises one or more additional waveguide layers, each additional waveguide layer being bounded on at least one side by a TIR mirror, and wherein each additional waveguide layer has an index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

36. The touch pad and display of claim 35, wherein the layers are arranged within the multilayer waveguide in order of index of refraction, with the layer with the highest index of refraction being disposed closest to the external surface of the touch pad and the layer with the lowest index of refraction being disposed furthest from the external surface.

37. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the external surface of the touch pad comprises scratch resistant properties.

38. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the external surface of the touch pad comprises hydrophobic properties.

39. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the external surface of the touch pad comprises anti-glare properties.

40. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein a spotted low index of refraction anti-glare coating is applied to the external surface of the touch pad, compared to the first boundary index of refraction.

41. The touch pad and display of claim 18, further comprising a layer of air supported by structures that support the multilayer waveguide such that the layer of air is formed between the multilayer waveguide and an adjacent layer of the touch pad or the display.

42. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises anti-reflective nano structures disposed in the layer of air.

43. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the first boundary layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, the pliable layer and the external layer being substantially index of refraction matched, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide, and wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises a layer comprising pockets of air, anti-reflective nano structures disposed in the layer comprising pockets of air, and an angle selective TIR mirror, the layer comprising pockets of air further comprising supporting structures that support the layers adjacent to the layer comprising pockets of air such that the pockets of air are formed between the adjacent layers.

44. The touch pad and display of claim 43, wherein the second boundary layer is disposed on a side of the first boundary layer opposite from the external surface of the touch pad, the layer comprising pockets of air is disposed on a side of the second boundary layer opposite from the first boundary layer, and the angle selective TIR mirror is disposed on a side of the layer comprising pockets of air opposite from the second boundary layer.

45. The touch pad and display of claim 44, wherein the multilayer waveguide comprises a TIR mirror disposed between the second boundary layer and the layer comprising pockets of air.

46. The touch pad and display of claim 45, wherein the TIR mirror is mountable directly onto the display.

47. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

48. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

49. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

50. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the multilayer waveguide is mounted directly to the display such that a TIR mirror is formed between a surface of the multilayer waveguide opposite from the external surface of the optical touch pad and the display.

51. The touch pad and display of claim 18, wherein the detector comprises a directional detector.

52. An integrated optical touch pad and image forming display, comprising:

an image forming display and

an optical touch pad laminated to the image forming display, the optical touch pad being capable of determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, the optical touch pad comprising;

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction;

wherein the multilayer waveguide directs electromagnetic radiation to at least one detector by total internal reflection to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface;

and wherein the multilayer waveguide is mounted directly to an outer surface of a substantially transparent substrate integrally included in the display such that the substantially transparent substrate forms a waveguide layer capable of directing electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection within the substantially transparent substrate, the total internal reflection occurring at one or both of the TIR mirror formed at the boundary between the multilayer waveguide and the outer surface of the substantially transparent substrate and a TIR mirror formed at a boundary between the inner surface of the substantially transparent substrate and air within the display.

53. An integrated touch pad and image forming display, comprising:

an image forming display and

a touch pad laminated to the image forming display, the touch pad being capable of determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the touch pad, the touch pad comprising;

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction and being disposed on an opposite side of the multilayer waveguide from the external surface;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction;

an underlayer having an underlayer index of refraction and being disposed between the first boundary layer and the second boundary layer; and

a plurality of deflecting structures having a structure index of refraction and being disposed within the underlayer;

wherein the first and second indices of refraction and the structure index of refraction are lower than the underlayer index of refraction, and wherein the first and second waveguide layers, the underlayer, and the deflecting structures are designed such that the deflecting structures deflect electromagnetic radiation within the underlayer so that the deflected electromagnetic radiation is guided within the underlayer by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface of the touch pad.

54. The touch pad and display of claim 53, wherein the touch pad is mounted directly to a display layer that is an integral component of the display such that the display layer functions as the second waveguide layer.

55. The touch pad and display of claim 53, wherein the electromagnetic radiation guided within the underlayer by total internal reflection enables the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface when the object is hovering above the external surface of the touch pad.

56. An optical touch pad system for determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction;

an underlayer having an underlayer index of refraction and being disposed between the first boundary layer and the second boundary layer; and

a plurality of deflecting structures having a structure index of refraction that is lower than the underlayer index of refraction; and

at least one detector for receiving electromagnetic radiation from at least one layer of the multilayer waveguide and generating a signal relating to the position of the object with respect to the external surface of the optical touch pad;

wherein the first and second indices of refraction are lower than the underlayer index of refraction, wherein the deflecting structures are disposed within the underlayer, and wherein the multilayer waveguide is positioned to;

i) receive electromagnetic radiation having characteristics affected by the position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, wherein the characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation include one or both of propagation and/or intensity; and

ii) direct the received electromagnetic radiation to the at least one detector by total internal reflection; and

a processor that receives the at least one signal from the at least one detector and determines position information regarding the object.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction, and wherein the second waveguide layer is on an opposite side of the first waveguide layer from the external surface of the optical touch pad.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the multilayer waveguide forms a plurality of TIR mirrors for segmenting angles of reflection of electromagnetic radiation received from an object in contact with the external surface.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the multilayer waveguide forms a plurality of TIR mirrors for segmenting angles of reflection of electromagnetic radiation received from an object in contact with or hovering above the external surface.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein a surface of the first waveguide layer comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the optical touch pad comprises at least one additional layer and the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises a surface of the additional layer.

63. The system of claim 56, wherein the optical touch pad comprises at least one additional layer and the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises a surface of the additional layer;

wherein the at least one additional layer comprises a soft layer near the external surface that is softer than the first waveguide layer and the second waveguide layer, and wherein the soft layer, in response to being touched by an object, is;

deformable to allow radiation otherwise trapped by TIR to illuminate the object, and

configured to receive backscattered light from the object that can be trapped by TIR in one or more of the waveguide layers.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the rigid layer and the pliable layer are index of refraction matched.

66. The system of claim 56, wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad, wherein the second waveguide layer comprises a pliable layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the first waveguide layer that deforms the first waveguide layer into the second waveguide layer that deforms the first waveguide layer into the second waveguide layer, the second waveguide layer compresses without substantially straining any other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

67. The system of claim 66, wherein the first index of refraction is greater than the second index of refraction.

68. The system of claim 56, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises an underlayer bounded by TIR mirrors and a plurality of deflecting structures for deflecting electromagnetic radiation into the underlayer.

69. The system of claim 56, wherein the multilayer waveguide is positioned to:

i) receive electromagnetic radiation from an object that comes in contact with the external surface, the object being one of at least a first type of object that has first refractive characteristics or a second type of object that has second refractive characteristics; and

ii) direct the received electromagnetic radiation to the at least one detector by total internal reflection such that the processor receives the at least one signal from the at least one detector and determines the type of object.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the first object type comprises a relatively higher refractive object type and the second object type comprises a relatively lower refractive object type.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the first object type comprises a stylus and the second object type comprises a human tissue.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein the refractive characteristics relate to an angle of reflection of electromagnetic radiation refracted by the object.

73. The system of claim 56, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises one or more additional waveguide layers, each additional waveguide layer being bounded on at least one side by a TIR mirror, and wherein each additional waveguide layer has an index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of other waveguide layers within the multilayer waveguide.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the waveguide layers are arranged within the multilayer waveguide in order of index of refraction, with the waveguide layer with the highest index of refraction being disposed closest to the external surface of the optical touch pad and the waveguide layer with the lowest index of refraction being disposed furthest from the external surface.

75. The system of claim 56, wherein the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises scratch resistant properties.

76. The system of claim 56, wherein the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises hydrophobic properties.

77. The system of claim 56, wherein the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises anti-glare properties.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein a spotted low index of refraction anti-glare coating is applied to the external surface of the optical touch pad, compared to the first index of refraction.

79. The system of claim 56, further comprising a layer of air supported by structures that support the multilayer waveguide such that the layer of air is formed between the multilayer waveguide and an adjacent layer of the optical touch pad.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises anti-reflective nano structures disposed in the layer of air.

81. The system of claim 56, wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, wherein the pliable layer and the external layer are substantially index of refraction matched, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide, and wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises a layer comprising pockets of air, anti-reflective nano structures disposed in the layer comprising pockets of air, and an angle selective TIR mirror, the layer comprising pockets of air further comprising supporting structures that support the layers adjacent to the layer comprising pockets of air such that the pockets of air are formed between the adjacent layers.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the second waveguide layer is disposed on a side of the first waveguide layer opposite from the external surface of the touch pad, the layer comprising pockets of air is disposed on a side of the second waveguide layer opposite from the first waveguide layer, and the angle selective TIR mirror is disposed on a side of the layer comprising pockets of air opposite from the second waveguide layer.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the multilayer waveguide comprises a TIR mirror separator layer disposed between the second waveguide layer and the layer comprising pockets of air.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein the TIR mirror is mountable directly onto a display.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

86. The system of claim 84, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

87. The system of claim 84, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

88. The system of claim 81, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises a TIR mirror separator layer that forms a surface of the multilayer waveguide opposite from the external surface of the optical touch pad, and wherein the mirror separator layer is mountable directly onto a display.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

90. The system of claim 88, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

91. The system of claim 88, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

92. The system of claim 56, wherein a surface of the multilayer waveguide opposite from the external surface of the optical touch pad contacts a surface of a display such that a TIR mirror is formed between the surface of the multilayer waveguide and the surface of the display.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

94. The system of claim 92, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

95. The system of claim 92, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

96. The system of claim 56, wherein the detector comprises a directional detector.

97. An optical touch pad system for determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction;

a first boundary layer having a first boundary index of refraction and being disposed on an opposite side of the multilayer waveguide from the external surface;

a second boundary layer having a second boundary index of refraction;

an underlayer having an underlayer index of refraction and being disposed between the first boundary layer and the second boundary layer;

a plurality of deflecting structures having a structure index of refraction and being disposed within the underlayer;

wherein the first and second boundary indices of refraction and the structure index of refraction are lower than the underlayer, and the first and second boundary layers, the underlayer, and the deflecting structures are designed such that the deflecting structures deflect electromagnetic radiation within the underlayer so that the deflected electromagnetic radiation is guided within the underlayer by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface; and

at least one detector for receiving electromagnetic radiation from at least one layer of the multilayer waveguide and generating a signal relating to the position of the object with respect to the external surface of the optical touch pad;

the multilayer waveguide positioned to;

i) receive electromagnetic radiation having characteristics affected by the position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, wherein the characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation include one or both of propagation and/or intensity; and

ii) direct the received electromagnetic radiation to the at least one detector by total internal reflection; and

a processor that receives the at least one signal from the at least one detector and determines position information regarding the object.

98. The optical touch pad system of claim 97, wherein the optical touch pad system is mounted directly to a display layer that is an integral component of a display such that the display layer functions as the second boundary layer.

99. The optical touch pad system of claim 97, wherein the electromagnetic radiation guided within the underlayer by total internal reflection enables the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface when the object is hovering above the external surface of the optical touch pad.

100. A method for determining a position of an object with respect to a surface of an optical touch pad, the method comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation through the surface of the optical touch pad;

receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation that is backscattered and/or reflected by the object into a multilayer waveguide, the multilayer waveguide comprising a first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction a second waveguide layer having a second index of refraction, and an underlayer having an underlayer index of refraction and being disposed between the first waveguide layer and the second waveguide layer, wherein a plurality of deflecting structures having a structure index of refraction are disposed within the underlayer, wherein the structure index of refraction is lower than the underlayer index of refraction;

directing the received electromagnetic radiation to at least one detector by total internal reflection, wherein the first and second indices of refraction are lower than the underlayer index of refraction;

determining a position of the object with respect to the optical touch pad based on the electromagnetic radiation directed to the at least one detector by total internal reflection.

101. The method of claim 100, further comprising the step of determining an object type of the object based on characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation directed to the at least one detector.

102. An optical touch pad for determining a position of an object with respect to an external surface of the optical touch pad, the optical touch pad comprising:

a multilayer waveguide comprising;

a first boundary layer having a first boundary index of refraction;

a second boundary layer having a second boundary index of refraction;

an underlayer having an underlayer index of refraction and being disposed between the first boundary layer and the second boundary layer; and

a plurality of deflecting structures having a structure index of refraction that is lower than the underlayer index of refraction;

wherein the first and second boundary indices of refraction are lower than the underlayer index of refraction, and the deflecting structures are disposed within the underlayer and arranged to deflect electromagnetic radiation so that the deflected electromagnetic radiation is guided within the underlayer by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface.

103. The optical touch pad of claim 102, wherein the

a multilayer waveguide further comprises:

a first waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a first TIR mirror surface of a first TIR mirror, the first waveguide layer having a first index of refraction;

a second waveguide layer bounded on at least one side by a second TIR mirror surface of a second TIR mirror, the second waveguide having a second index of refraction; and

the multilayer waveguide being designed to direct electromagnetic radiation by total internal reflection to at least one detector to enable the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface.

104. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction.

105. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the first index of refraction is higher than the second index of refraction, and wherein the second waveguide layer is on an opposite side of the first waveguide layer from the external surface of the optical touch pad.

106. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the multilayer waveguide forms a plurality of TIR mirrors for segmenting angles of reflection of electromagnetic radiation received from an object in contact with the external surface.

107. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the multilayer waveguide forms a plurality of TIR mirrors for segmenting angles of reflection of electromagnetic radiation received from an object in contact with or hovering above the external surface.

108. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein a surface of the first waveguide layer comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad.

109. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the optical touch pad comprises at least one additional layer and the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises a surface of the additional layer.

110. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the optical touch pad comprises at least one additional layer and the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises a surface of the additional layer;

wherein the at least one additional layer comprises a soft layer near the external surface that is softer than the first waveguide layer and the second waveguide layer, and wherein the soft layer, in response to being touched by an object, is;

deformable to allow radiation otherwise trapped by TIR to illuminate the object, and

configured to receive backscattered light from the object that can be trapped by TIR in one or more of the waveguide layers.

111. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad and a pliable layer that is directly adjacent to the external layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the external layer that deforms the external layer into the pliable layer, the pliable layer compresses without substantially stressing any other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

112. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the first waveguide layer comprises a rigid layer that comprises the external surface of the optical touch pad, wherein the second waveguide layer comprises a pliable layer, wherein the rigid layer is more rigid than the pliable layer and the pliable layer is more pliable than the rigid layer, and wherein when an external force is applied to the first waveguide layer that deforms the first waveguide layer into the second waveguide layer, the second waveguide layer compresses without substantially straining any other layers within the multilayer waveguide.

113. The optical touch pad of claim 112, wherein the first index of refraction is greater than the second index of refraction.

114. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises an underlayer bounded by TIR mirrors and a plurality of deflecting structures for deflecting electromagnetic radiation into and out of the underlayer.

115. The touch pad of claim 103, wherein the multilayer waveguide further comprises one or more additional waveguide layers, each additional waveguide layer being bounded on at least one side by a TIR mirror, and wherein each additional waveguide layer has an index of refraction that is different from the index of refraction of other waveguide layers within the multilayer waveguide.

116. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises scratch resistant properties.

117. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises hydrophobic properties.

118. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein the external surface of the optical touch pad comprises anti-glare properties.

119. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein a spotted low index of refraction anti-glare coating is applied to the external surface of the optical touch pad, compared to the first index of refraction.

122. The optical touch pad of claim 103, wherein a surface of the multilayer waveguide opposite from the external surface of the optical touch pad contacts a surface of a display such that a TIR mirror is formed between the surface of the multilayer waveguide and the surface of the display.

123. The optical touch pad of claim 122, wherein the display comprises an electronic display.

124. The optical touch pad of claim 122, wherein the display comprises a computer monitor or a television display.

125. The optical touch pad of claim 122, wherein the display comprises a display of a mobile electronic device.

126. The optical touch pad of claim 102, wherein the detector comprises a directional detector.

127. The optical touch pad of claim 102, wherein the touch pad is mounted directly to a display layer that is an integral component of a display such that the display layer functions as the second boundary layer.

128. The optical touch pad of claim 102, wherein the electromagnetic radiation guided within the underlayer by total internal reflection enables the detector to determine the position of the object with respect to the external surface when the object is hovering above the external surface of the optical touch pad.