Touchscreen for detecting multiple touches
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touchscreen system comprising:
- a substrate comprising a touch area having X and Y dimensions;
a first beam splitter positioned proximate to an outer edge of the X dimension of the touch area and configured to split a first beam into at least a first X beam and a second X beam, wherein the first X beam and the second X beam travel through the touch area in different directions with respect to each other, and the first X beam or the second X beam travels in the same direction as and parallel to the first beam;
a second beam splitter positioned proximate to an outer edge of the Y dimension of the touch area and configured to split a second beam into at least a first Y beam and a second Y beam, wherein the first Y beam and the second Y beam travel through the touch area in different directions with respect to each other; and
receive sensors configured to receive the first X beam, second X beam, first Y beam, and second Y beam and to determine locations of multiple touches on the touch area.
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Abstract
A touchscreen system comprises a touch area. At least one transmitter is positioned proximate to outer edges of the touch area for transmitting first beams in a first direction. At least one beam splitter is positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for splitting the first beams into at least second and third beams that travel through the touch area in at least second and third directions, respectively. The at least one beam splitter comprises a plurality of deflecting elements. Receivers are positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for receiving the at least second and third beams.
34 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A touchscreen system comprising:
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a substrate comprising a touch area having X and Y dimensions; a first beam splitter positioned proximate to an outer edge of the X dimension of the touch area and configured to split a first beam into at least a first X beam and a second X beam, wherein the first X beam and the second X beam travel through the touch area in different directions with respect to each other, and the first X beam or the second X beam travels in the same direction as and parallel to the first beam; a second beam splitter positioned proximate to an outer edge of the Y dimension of the touch area and configured to split a second beam into at least a first Y beam and a second Y beam, wherein the first Y beam and the second Y beam travel through the touch area in different directions with respect to each other; and receive sensors configured to receive the first X beam, second X beam, first Y beam, and second Y beam and to determine locations of multiple touches on the touch area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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10. A method for detecting multiple touches on a touchscreen system, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first beam and a second beam proximate to outer edges of a touch area; splitting the first beam to form at least a first X beam and a second X beam traveling in different directions through a touch area with respect to each other, wherein the first X beam or the second X beam travels in the same direction as and parallel to the first beam; splitting the second beam to form at least a first Y beam and a second Y beam traveling in different directions through the touch area with respect to each other; receiving, via at least one receiver, the first and second X beams and the first and second Y beams; and detecting a location of at least two externally generated touches within the touch area based on the first and second X beams and the first and second Y beams. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A touchscreen system comprising:
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a first transmitter configured to transmit an X beam; a second transmitter configured to transmit a Y beam; a first beam splitter, fabricated proximate to a touch screen area, configured to split the X beam into at least a first X beam and a second X beam that travel through the touch area in different directions with respect to each other, and wherein the first X beam or the second X beam travels in the same direction as and parallel to the first beam; a second beam splitter, fabricated proximate to the touch screen area, configured to split the Y beam into at least a first Y beam and a second Y beam that travel through the touch area in different directions with respect to each other; and a sensor configured to receive the first and second X beams and the first and second Y beams and to determine locations of multiple touches on the touch area. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification