Waveguide configurations for optical touch systems

• US 8,674,963 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zetta Research and Development LLC - RPO Series (Zetta Research, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Zetta Research and Development LLC - FORC Series
• Inventors: Kukulj, Dax, Gordon, Graeme, Cornish, Benjamin, Charters, Robert Bruce, Maxwell, Ian Andrew, Atkins, Graham Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolotin, Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US11/859,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20080074402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/175, 345/176, 345/179, 345/156, 385/4, 385/14, 385 31- 50, 385129-132, 178/18.09, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

Waveguide structures and optical elements for use in an optical touch input device are disclosed. The disclosed waveguide structures and optical elements allow for reduced bezel width and simplified assembly of optical touch input devices, and relaxed component tolerances.

Claims

1. A waveguide structure for an input device, the waveguide structure comprising:

an input surface defining a plane;

at least one optical waveguide adapted to carry a signal for the input device; and

an optical element having a connect portion for optically connecting to said at least one optical waveguide,

wherein the waveguide structure is configured such that, in use, the at least one optical waveguide extends entirely below the plane, and

wherein the optical element extends above the plane and the connect portion extends entirely below the plane beyond an end of the at least one optical waveguide.

2. A waveguide structure according to claim 1 wherein each of the at least one optical waveguides extends entirely below the plane.

3. A waveguide structure according to claim 1 wherein the waveguide structure is configured such that, in use, the at least one optical waveguide passes through a maximum of two mutually perpendicular planes.

4. A waveguide structure according to claim 1 wherein the waveguide structure extends around at least two adjacent sides of the periphery of the input device.

5. A waveguide structure according to claim 1 wherein the waveguide structure comprises a plurality of waveguides selected from the group consisting of a plurality of transmit waveguides adapted to carry an input signal to the input device, a plurality of receive waveguides adapted to carry an output signal from the input device, and a combination thereof.

6. A waveguide structure according to claim 5 wherein the transmit waveguides are grouped on the waveguide structure to define a transmit section and/or the receive waveguides are grouped on the waveguide structure to define a receive section.

7. A waveguide structure according to claim 6 wherein each waveguide includes an input portion for receiving an input signal and an output portion for transmitting an output signal, wherein the waveguides are positioned such that the input portions of the transmit waveguides and the output portions of the receive waveguides are disposed on or proximate to a first side of the waveguide structure, and the output portions of the transmit waveguides and the input portions of the receive waveguides are disposed on or proximate to a second side of the waveguide structure.

8. A waveguide structure according to claim 7 wherein the input portions of the transmit waveguides are grouped into an input array, and the output portions of the receive waveguides are grouped into an output array, wherein each array extends along a portion of the first side.

9. A waveguide structure according claim 6 wherein each waveguide includes an input portion for receiving an input signal and an output portion for receiving an output signal, and wherein the waveguides are positioned such that the input portions of the transmit waveguides and the output portions of the receive waveguides are disposed on or proximate to opposite sides of the waveguide structure, and the output portions of the transmit waveguides and the input portions of the receive waveguides are disposed on or proximate to a common side of the waveguide structure.

10. A waveguide structure according to claim 1 wherein the waveguide structure extends underneath and substantially parallel to the plane.

11. A waveguide structure according to claim 10 wherein the waveguide structure comprises one or more L-shaped sheets.

12. A waveguide structure according to claim 10 wherein the waveguide structure lies within the periphery of the input device.

13. A waveguide structure according to claim 10 wherein the waveguide structure comprises a plurality of waveguides selected from the group consisting of:

a plurality of transmit waveguides adapted to carry an input signal to the input device, a plurality of receive waveguides adapted to carry an output signal from the input device, and a combination thereof.

14. An optical element for an input device having an input surface defining a plane, the optical element comprising:

a first reflective surface; and

a connect portion for optically connecting to a waveguide structure having at least one optical waveguide adapted to carry an input signal or an output signal for the input device,

the optical element being configured for use with the input device such that, in use, the first reflective surface is positioned above the plane to re-direct the signal to or from the optical waveguide, the connect portion being at least partially below the plane whereby the at least one optical waveguide extends entirely below the plane and the connect portion extends beyond an end of the at least one optical waveguide.

15. An optical element according to claim 14 further comprising a body of light transmissive material for transmission of the signal between the connect portion and the first reflective surface.

16. An optical element according to claim 14 wherein said optical element is formed as a strip of plastics material substantially transparent to light of the infrared region of the spectrum and opaque to ambient visible light.

17. An optical element according to claim 14, wherein the first reflective surface focuses the signal in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane.

18. An optical element according to claim 14, further comprising a second reflective surface, such that, in use, the second reflective surface is positioned below the plane so as to re-direct the signal to or from the optical waveguide extending underneath and substantially parallel to the plane.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an input device having an input surface defining a plane and having a periphery;

a waveguide structure having at least one optical waveguide adapted to carry an input signal or an output signal for the input device; and

one or more optical elements extending along at least a portion of the periphery in optical communication with the at least one waveguide and the one or more optical elements being adapted to optically connect to the waveguide structure, each optical element extending from a position below the plane to a position above the plane such that, in use, each the optical element transmits the input signal or the output signal to or from the input surface to the at least one waveguide extending entirely below the plane,

wherein each optical element extends below the plane beyond an end of the at least one optical waveguide.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the waveguide structure extends underneath and substantially parallel to the plane.

21. A method of transmitting input and output signals for an input device, the input device having an input surface defining a plane and having a periphery, the method comprising:

providing at least one waveguide structure having at least one optical waveguide adapted to carry an input signal or an output signal for the input device, the at least one optical waveguide extending entirely below the plane;

providing one or more optical elements along at least a portion of the periphery; and

optically connecting the waveguide structure with a respective optical element such that, in use, each the optical element transmits the input signal or the output signal to or from the input surface to a respective waveguide extending entirely below the plane,

wherein each optical element extends below the plane beyond an end of the at least one optical waveguide.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the waveguide structure is provided underneath and substantially parallel to the plane.

23. A method of reducing bezel width in an input device, the input device having an input surface defining a plane and having a periphery, the method comprising:

providing at least one waveguide structure having at least one optical waveguide adapted to carry an input signal or an output signal for the input device;

providing one or more optical elements along at least a portion of the periphery; and

optically connecting the at least one optical waveguide with a respective optical element such that, in use, each the optical element transmits the input signal or the output signal to or from the at least one optical waveguide;

wherein the at least one optical waveguide is terminated at a position below the plane, and wherein the optical elements extend from above the plane to a position below the plane, and

wherein each optical element extends below the plane beyond the position where the at least one optical waveguide is terminated.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one waveguide structure is provided underneath and substantially parallel to the plane.