Touch sensing with frustrated total internal reflection
First Claim
1. A touch-screen device comprising:
- a radiation source;
an optical 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 optical waveguide;
a pliable frustrating layer disposed relative to the optical waveguide such that a small gap exists between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide so as to enable the pliable frustrating layer to contact the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed, the pliable frustrating layer being configured to;
cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the optical waveguide at a contact point between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed to contact the optical waveguide such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide escapes from the optical waveguide at the contact point via frustrated total internal reflectance;
a display device fixed to a bottom surface of the optical waveguide;
an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide, the imaging sensor embedded in the display device;
a coupling layer configured to couple radiation out of the display device, the coupling layer in contact with a side of the display device, the side furthest from the optical waveguide;
a structure comprising a diffraction pattern, the structure disposed on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer that is furthest from the optical waveguide, the structure being configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide toward the imaging sensor; and
a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer;
wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the structure;
wherein the optical waveguide is in optical contact with the display device;
wherein the structure comprises a reflective layer that is reflective to radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide; and
wherein the reflective layer transmits visible light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch-screen device includes a radiation source, a waveguide configured to receive radiation emitted by the source and to cause some of the radiation to undergo total internal reflection within the waveguide, a pliable frustrating layer disposed relative to the waveguide to enable the frustrating layer to contact the waveguide when the frustrating layer is physically deformed, the frustrating layer being configured to cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the waveguide when the frustrating layer is physically deformed to contact the waveguide such that some of the received escapes from the waveguide at the contact point, an imaging sensor configured to detect some of the radiation that escapes from the waveguide, and a structure disposed relative to the frustrating layer, the structure configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the waveguide toward the imaging sensor.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A touch-screen device comprising:
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a radiation source; an optical 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 optical waveguide; a pliable frustrating layer disposed relative to the optical waveguide such that a small gap exists between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide so as to enable the pliable frustrating layer to contact the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed, the pliable frustrating layer being configured to; cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the optical waveguide at a contact point between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed to contact the optical waveguide such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide escapes from the optical waveguide at the contact point via frustrated total internal reflectance; a display device fixed to a bottom surface of the optical waveguide; an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide, the imaging sensor embedded in the display device; a coupling layer configured to couple radiation out of the display device, the coupling layer in contact with a side of the display device, the side furthest from the optical waveguide; a structure comprising a diffraction pattern, the structure disposed on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer that is furthest from the optical waveguide, the structure being configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide toward the imaging sensor; and a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer; wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the structure; wherein the optical waveguide is in optical contact with the display device; wherein the structure comprises a reflective layer that is reflective to radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide; and wherein the reflective layer transmits visible light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A touch-screen device comprising:
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a radiation source; an optical 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 optical waveguide; a pliable frustrating layer disposed relative to the optical waveguide such that a small gap exists between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide so as to enable the pliable frustrating layer to contact the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed, the pliable frustrating layer being configured to;
cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the optical waveguide at a contact point between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed to contact the optical waveguide such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide escapes from the optical waveguide at the contact point via frustrated total internal reflectance;an image generating layer fixed to a bottom surface of the optical waveguide; an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide, the imaging sensor embedded in the image generating layer; a coupling layer configured to couple radiation out of the image generating layer, the coupling layer in contact with a side of the image generating layer, the side furthest from the optical waveguide; a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer; a structure comprising a diffraction pattern, the structure disposed on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer that is furthest from the optical waveguide, the structure being configured to; redirect at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide back into the waveguide at an angle that enables the reflected radiation to undergo total internal reflection in the optical waveguide; wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the structure; wherein the optical waveguide is in optical contact with the image generating layer; wherein the structure comprises a reflective layer that is reflective to radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide; and wherein the reflective layer transmits visible light. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A touch-screen device comprising:
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a radiation source; an optical 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 optical waveguide; a pliable frustrating layer disposed relative to the optical waveguide such that a small gap exists between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide so as to enable the pliable frustrating layer to contact the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed, the pliable frustrating layer being configured to; cause frustration of the total internal reflection of the received radiation within the optical waveguide at a contact point between the pliable frustrating layer and the optical waveguide when the pliable frustrating layer is physically deformed to contact the optical waveguide such that some of the received radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide escapes from the optical waveguide at the contact point via frustrated total internal reflectance; a display device fixed to a bottom surface of the optical waveguide; a cladding layer positioned on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer; an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide, the imaging sensor embedded in the display device; and a coupling layer configured to couple radiation out of the display device, the coupling layer in contact with a side of the display device, the side furthest from the optical waveguide;
whereinthe frustrating layer comprises a structure disposed on a surface of the pliable frustrating layer that is furthest from the optical waveguide, the structure configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide toward the imaging sensor; wherein portions of the cladding layer are located within one or more grooves defined by the structure; wherein the optical waveguide is in optical contact with the display device; wherein the structure comprises a reflective layer that is reflective to radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide; and wherein the reflective layer transmits visible light. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification