Structure-augmented touch sensing with frustated total internal reflection
First Claim
1. A touch-screen device comprising:
- a radiation source;
a pliable waveguide configured to receive radiation emitted by the radiation source and to cause at least some of the received radiation to undergo total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide;
a frustrating layer disposed relative to the pliable waveguide such that a small gap exists between the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide so as to enable the frustrating layer to contact the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed, the frustrating layer being configured to;
cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the pliable waveguide at a contact point between the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed to contact the frustrating layer such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide escapes via frustrated total internal reflection from the pliable waveguide at the contact point and proceeds through the frustrating layer;
a display device fixed to a bottom surface of the frustrating layer comprising;
an imaging sensor embedded in the display device, the imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the pliable waveguide and proceeds through the frustrating layer; and
a structure configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the pliable waveguide toward the imaging sensor and proceeds through the frustrating layer;
a coupling layer in contact with a side of the display device, the side being furthest from the frustrating layer, and wherein the coupling layer is configured to couple radiation out of the display device; and
a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable waveguide;
wherein the frustrating layer is in optical contact with the display device; and
wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the structure.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch-screen device includes a radiation source, a pliable waveguide configured to receive radiation emitted by the radiation source and to cause some of the received radiation to undergo total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide, a frustrating layer disposed relative to the pliable waveguide so as to enable the frustrating layer to contact the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed, the frustrating layer being configured to cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the pliable waveguide at a contact point between the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed to contact the frustrating layer such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide escapes from the pliable waveguide at the contact point, and an imaging sensor configured to detect some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A touch-screen device comprising:
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a radiation source; a pliable waveguide configured to receive radiation emitted by the radiation source and to cause at least some of the received radiation to undergo total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide; a frustrating layer disposed relative to the pliable waveguide such that a small gap exists between the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide so as to enable the frustrating layer to contact the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed, the frustrating layer being configured to; cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the pliable waveguide at a contact point between the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed to contact the frustrating layer such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide escapes via frustrated total internal reflection from the pliable waveguide at the contact point and proceeds through the frustrating layer; a display device fixed to a bottom surface of the frustrating layer comprising; an imaging sensor embedded in the display device, the imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the pliable waveguide and proceeds through the frustrating layer; and a structure configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the pliable waveguide toward the imaging sensor and proceeds through the frustrating layer; a coupling layer in contact with a side of the display device, the side being furthest from the frustrating layer, and wherein the coupling layer is configured to couple radiation out of the display device; and a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable waveguide; wherein the frustrating layer is in optical contact with the display device; and wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A touch-screen device comprising:
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a radiation source; a pliable waveguide configured to receive radiation emitted by the radiation source and to cause at least some of the received radiation to undergo total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide; a frustrating layer disposed relative to the pliable waveguide such that a small gap exists between the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide so as to enable a top surface of the frustrating layer to contact the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed, the frustrating layer being configured to; cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the pliable waveguide at a contact point between the top surface of the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide when the pliable waveguide is physically deformed to contact the top surface of the frustrating layer such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the pliable waveguide escapes via frustrated total internal reflection from the pliable waveguide at the contact point and proceeds through the frustrating layer; an image generating layer fixed to a bottom surface of the frustrating layer that is opposite to the top surface of the frustrating layer, the image generating layer having a top surface facing the bottom surface of the frustrating layer and a bottom surface that is opposite from the top surface of the image generating layer and the image generating layer being configured to emit output images towards the frustrating layer and the pliable waveguide and to be transmissive to radiation emitted by the radiation source; an imaging sensor embedded in the image generating layer and configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the pliable waveguide and proceeds through the frustrating layer; a light-steering structure disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the image generating layer, the light-steering structure being configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the pliable waveguide and proceeds through the frustrating layer toward the imaging sensor; a coupling layer in contact with a side of the image generating layer, the side being furthest from the frustrating layer, and wherein the coupling layer is configured to couple radiation out of the image generating layer; and a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable waveguide; wherein the frustrating layer is in optical contact with the image generating layer; and wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the light-steering structure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification