Low profile touch panel systems
First Claim
1. A touch detection system comprising:
- an illumination source positioned at least partially below a plane of a touch surface and configured to direct light in a first optical path;
an optical detection system positioned at an edge of the touch surface and positioned partially above and partially below the plane of the touch surface; and
an optical assembly positioned at the edge of the touch surface and extending above the plane of the touch surface so as to intersect with a detection plane above the plane of the touch surface, the optical assembly configured to reflect or refract light from the first optical path laving in the detection plane to a second optical path into the optical detection system via a pinhole;
aperture, the second optical path being non-parallel to the first optical path;
wherein the optical assembly defines a profile height above the plane of the touch surface, the profile height approximately equal to the diameter of the pinhole aperture.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low profile touch display can be provided, namely one including an optical detection system with the bulk of the electronics and optics positioned partially or completely below the detecting plane surface. The light source and optical detection system components can be configured so that the exit and entry apertures for light being directed to and/or received from the detection plane are the only members above the touch surface. For instance, a reflective or refractive member at the edge of the touch surface can direct light to detection optics and/or from illumination sources via a pinhole aperture, with the light moving between the detection optics and illumination sources in one or more detection planes above the touch surface. Consequently, the touch screen can have a thin cross section that is more suitable for devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and other portable computing devices for which minimal device thickness is a priority.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A touch detection system comprising:
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an illumination source positioned at least partially below a plane of a touch surface and configured to direct light in a first optical path; an optical detection system positioned at an edge of the touch surface and positioned partially above and partially below the plane of the touch surface; and an optical assembly positioned at the edge of the touch surface and extending above the plane of the touch surface so as to intersect with a detection plane above the plane of the touch surface, the optical assembly configured to reflect or refract light from the first optical path laving in the detection plane to a second optical path into the optical detection system via a pinhole;
aperture, the second optical path being non-parallel to the first optical path;wherein the optical assembly defines a profile height above the plane of the touch surface, the profile height approximately equal to the diameter of the pinhole aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A touch detection system comprising:
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an illuminated bezel positioned at an edge of a touch surface and configured to direct light along a first optical path laying in a detection plane above a plane of the touch surface; a plurality of detection systems positioned along the edge of the touch surface and positioned partially above and partially below the plane of the touch surface; and at least one optical assembly positioned at the edge of the touch surface and extending above the plane of the touch surface so as to intersect with the detection plane, the optical assembly configured to direct light from the first optical path laying in the detection plane to a second optical path into the respective detection systems via a plurality of pinhole apertures, each of the plurality of the pinhole apertures corresponding to a respective detection system, the second optical path being non-parallel to the first optical path; wherein the optical assembly extends above the touch surface by a height approximately equal to the diameter of the plurality of pinhole apertures. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A touch-enabled display device, comprising:
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a display screen having a touch surface and an area; a detection system, with a portion of the detection system positioned vertically above the touch surface and a portion of the detection system positioned vertically below the touch surface; an illumination system, with at least a portion of the illumination system positioned vertically below the touch surface; a computing device configured to determine the location at which an object has changed the transmission of light across the touch surface, the touch surface being coextensive with at least a part of the area of the display screen; and at least one optical assembly positioned along at least one edge of the screen, the at least one optical assembly comprising a first facet that faces toward the interior of the touch surface and a second facet that does not face toward the interior of the touch surface; wherein the at least one optical assembly is configured so that light entering the optical assembly at the first facet is directed to exit the optical assembly at the second facet and light entering the optical assembly at the second facet is directed to exit the optical assembly at the first facet; wherein the display device is configured so that light is emitted from the illumination system and is directed into the second facet of the at least one optical assembly before crossing the touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification