Touch sensitive projection screen

• US 9,442,600 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cross, Elisa M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Long D
• Application Number:
  US11/311,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,921 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/003 Light absorbing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/60 characterised by the nature of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

An optical device and a projection system incorporating same is disclosed. The optical device includes a light management element. The light management element includes an electrically conductive light absorber that is disposed in a display area for controlling a viewing angle of light transmitted through the display area. The conductive light absorber is configured to generate a signal in response to a touch in the display area. The signal is capable of being used to determine information related to the touch.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising a light management element disposed in a display area for controlling a viewing angle of light transmitted through the display area, the light management element comprising a medium comprising a plurality of grooves, the grooves being uniformly filled with a light absorbing electrically conductive material uniformly light absorbing and electrically conductive throughout the material, the filled grooves configured to generate a signal in response to a touch in the display area, the signal capable of being used to determine information related to the touch.

2. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the light management element is optically diffusive.

3. The optical device of claim 2, wherein the light management element comprises particles having a first index dispersed in a host material having a second index different than the first index.

4. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the light management element is capable of displaying an image projected onto the light management element.

5. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the signal is capable of being used to determine the touch location.

6. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising an optically transmissive electrically conductive layer disposed in the display area, wherein the signal is generated when the conductive light absorber makes an electrical contact with the optically transmissive electrically conductive layer in response to the touch.

7. A projection system comprising the optical device of claim 6.

8. A projection screen comprising the optical device of claim 1.

9. A projection system comprising a projector capable of projecting an image onto an image plane;

and the optical device of claim 1 disposed in the image plane.

10. An optical system comprising a display element capable of displaying information in a display region of the display element;

and the optical device of claim 1 disposed in the display region.