Light coupling in TIR-based optical touch systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch-sensitive apparatus, comprising:
- a light transmissive panel comprising a front surface and an opposite, rear surface;
at least one light emitter configured to optically connect to the panel and further configured to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel across a touch-sensitive region on the panel;
wherein said light emitter comprises a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (“
VCSEL”
) array including a number of VCSELs configured to be driven to collectively form one light emitter;
a light coupling mechanism configured to connect the emitter to the panel, and further configured to give light from a plurality of the VCSELs in the VCSEL array substantially the same spread in the panel; and
at least one light detector configured to optically connect to the panel to receive propagating light from the emitter;
wherein said light coupling mechanism includes a plurality of beam-deflecting elements configured to spread light emanating from the VCSELs of the emitter;
wherein each beam-deflecting element is a substantially cylindrical convex mirror having a cylinder axis arranged at an angle to a general output beam direction of said VCSELs.
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Abstract
A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by light frustration (FTIR) and comprises a light transmissive panel that defines a front surface and a rear surface, a light emitter optically connected to the panel so as to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel, and a light detector optically connected to the panel to receive propagating light from the emitter. The emitter is a VCSEL array including a number of VCSELs driven to collectively form one light emitter, and a light coupling mechanism connecting the emitter to the panel is configured to give light from a plurality of the VCSELs in the VCSEL array substantially the same spread in the panel.
558 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A touch-sensitive apparatus, comprising:
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a light transmissive panel comprising a front surface and an opposite, rear surface; at least one light emitter configured to optically connect to the panel and further configured to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel across a touch-sensitive region on the panel; wherein said light emitter comprises a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (“
VCSEL”
) array including a number of VCSELs configured to be driven to collectively form one light emitter;a light coupling mechanism configured to connect the emitter to the panel, and further configured to give light from a plurality of the VCSELs in the VCSEL array substantially the same spread in the panel; and at least one light detector configured to optically connect to the panel to receive propagating light from the emitter; wherein said light coupling mechanism includes a plurality of beam-deflecting elements configured to spread light emanating from the VCSELs of the emitter; wherein each beam-deflecting element is a substantially cylindrical convex mirror having a cylinder axis arranged at an angle to a general output beam direction of said VCSELs. - 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-sensitive apparatus, comprising:
a light transmissive panel comprising a front surface and an opposite, rear surface; at least one light emitter configured to optically connect to the panel and further configured to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel across a touch-sensitive region on the panel; wherein said light emitter comprises a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (“
VCSEL”
) array including a number of VCSELs configured to be driven to collectively form one light emitter;a light coupling mechanism configured to connect the emitter to the panel, and further configured to give light from a plurality of the VCSELs in the VCSEL array substantially the same spread in the panel; at least one light detector configured to optically connect to the panel to receive propagating light from the emitter; and a visibility filter between the at least one light emitter and the rear surface of the panel.
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20. A touch-sensitive apparatus, comprising:
a light transmissive panel comprising a front surface and an opposite, rear surface; at least one light emitter configured to optically connect to the panel and further configured to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel across a touch-sensitive region on the panel; wherein said light emitter comprises a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (“
VCSEL”
) array including a number of VCSELs configured to be driven to collectively form one light emitter;a light coupling mechanism configured to connect the emitter to the panel, and further configured to give light from a plurality of the VCSELs in the VCSEL array substantially the same spread in the panel; and at least one light detector configured to optically connect to the panel to receive propagating light from the emitter; wherein a bandpass filter, tailored to an operating wavelength for said VCSELs, is arranged at said at least one light detector.
Specification