Interactive input system and panel therefor

• US 8,982,100 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rattray, Robbie, Popovich, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDIS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US13/601,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179
• US Class Current: 345/175
• 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 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

An interactive panel comprises an optical waveguide within which totally internally reflected (TIR) illumination propagates, a display device beneath the optical waveguide and a partially transparent layer beneath the display device. The partially transparent layer reflects backlight illumination towards the display device and at least allows TIR illumination escaping from the optical waveguide and passing through the optical waveguide and the display panel, as a result of one or more contacts made on the optical waveguide, to pass therethrough.

Claims

1. An interactive panel comprising:

an optical waveguide within which totally internally reflected (TIR) illumination propagates;

a display device beneath said optical waveguide; and

a partially transparent layer beneath said display device, said partially transparent layer reflecting backlight illumination towards said display device and at least allowing TIR illumination escaping from said optical waveguide and passing through said optical waveguide and display device, as a result of one or more contacts made on said optical waveguide, to pass therethrough, wherein said partially transparent layer comprises overlapping perforated films, the perforations in the films partially aligning.

2. The interactive panel according to claim 1 further comprising a backlight layer between said display device and said partially transparent layer, said backlight layer directing backlight illumination to said display device and said partially transparent layer.

3. The interactive panel according to claim 2 wherein said partially transparent layer is applied to said backlight layer.

4. The interactive panel according to claim 2 further comprising a generally transparent support layer supporting said partially transparent layer.

5. The interactive panel according to claim 1 further comprising an illumination source directing illumination having an optical property different than said backlight illumination into said optical waveguide that is totally internally reflected therein.

6. The interactive panel according to claim 5 wherein said illumination source directs infrared (IR) illumination into said optical waveguide.

7. The interactive panel according to claim 2 further comprising an illumination source directing illumination having an optical property different than said backlight illumination into said optical waveguide that is totally internally reflected therein.

8. The interactive panel according to claim 7 wherein said illumination source directs infrared (IR) illumination into said optical waveguide.

9. The interactive panel according to claim 2 further comprising a backlight illumination source directing backlight illumination into said backlight layer.

10. The interactive panel according to claim 7 further comprising a backlight illumination source directing backlight illumination into said backlight layer.

11. The interactive panel according to claim 1 wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

12. The interactive panel according to claim 2 wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

13. The interactive panel according to claim 5 wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

14. The interactive panel according to claim 7 wherein said display device is a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

15. An interactive input system comprising:

an interactive panel comprising;

a single optical waveguide within which totally internally reflected (TIR) illumination propagates;

a plurality of display devices beneath said optical waveguide; and

a partially transparent layer beneath each display device, each said partially transparent layer reflecting backlight illumination towards said display device and at least allowing TIR illumination escaping from said optical waveguide and passing through said optical waveguide and display device, as a result of one or more contacts made on said optical waveguide, to pass therethrough, wherein each partially transparent layer comprises overlapping perforated films, the perforations in the films partially aligning; and

at least one imaging device capturing image frames comprising TIR illumination passing through each said partially transparent layer.

16. The interactive input system according to claim 15 further comprising processing structure processing image frames captured by said at least one imaging device to detect contacts made on said optical waveguide.

17. The interactive input system according to claim 16 wherein said processing structure further provides image data to said plurality of display devices.

18. The interactive input system according to claim 17 further comprising a backlight layer between each display device and respective partially transparent layer, each backlight layer directing backlight illumination to said respective display device and respective partially transparent layer.

19. The interactive input system according to claim 18 wherein each partially transparent layer is applied to said respective backlight layer.

20. The interactive input system according to claim 19 further comprising a generally transparent support layer supporting each partially transparent layer.

21. The interactive input system according to claim 17 further comprising an illumination source directing illumination having an optical property different than said backlight illumination into said optical waveguide that is totally internally reflected therein.

22. The interactive input system according to claim 21 wherein said illumination source directs infrared (IR) illumination into said optical waveguide.

23. The interactive input system according to claim 18 further comprising at least one backlight illumination source directing backlight illumination into said backlight layers.

24. The interactive input system according to claim 23 comprising a plurality of backlight illumination sources directing backlight illumination into said backlight layers.

25. The interactive input system according to claim 15 comprising a plurality of imaging devices, each imaging device capturing image frames comprising TIR illumination passing through a respective subset of partially transparent layers.

26. The interactive input system according to claim 15 wherein each display device is an LCD panel.

27. The interactive input system according to claim 25 wherein each display device is an LCD panel.

29. The interactive panel according to claim 27 comprising a plurality of partially transparent layers, each partially transparent layer positioned beneath a respective one of said display panels.

28. An interactive panel comprising:

an optical waveguide within which totally internally reflected (TIR) illumination propagates;

a plurality of display panels beneath said optical waveguide; and

at least one partially transparent layer beneath said display panels, said at least one partially transparent layer reflecting backlight illumination towards said display panels and allowing TIR illumination escaping from said optical waveguide and passing through said optical waveguide and one or more of said display panels, as a result of one or more contacts made on said optical waveguide, to pass therethrough, wherein said at least one partially transparent layer comprises overlapping perforated films, the perforations in the films partially aligning.

30. An interactive input system comprising:

an interactive panel comprising;

an optical waveguide within which totally internally reflected (TIR) illumination propagates;

a plurality of display panels beneath said optical waveguide; and

at least one partially transparent layer beneath said display panels, said at least one partially transparent layer reflecting backlight illumination towards said display panels and allowing TIR illumination escaping from said optical waveguide and passing through said optical waveguide and one or more of said display panels, as a result of one or more contacts made on said optical waveguide, to pass therethrough, wherein said at least one partially transparent layer comprises overlapping perforated films, the perforations in the films partially aligning; and

at least one imaging device capturing image frames comprising TIR illumination passing through each said partially transparent layer.