Touch Sensing
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 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;
an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide; and
a structure disposed relative to the frustrating layer, the structure being configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide toward the imaging sensor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
161 Citations
55 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 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; an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide; and a structure disposed relative to the frustrating layer, the structure being configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide toward the imaging sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. 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 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; and a structure disposed relative to the frustrating layer, 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. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. 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 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; and an imaging sensor configured to detect at least some of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide, wherein the frustrating layer comprises a structure configured to steer at least a portion of the radiation that escapes from the optical waveguide toward the imaging sensor. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification