User input device for a computer system

• US 6,351,260 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: POA Sana Liquidating Trust
• Original Assignee: POA Sana, Inc. (Waveguide Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, David S., Francis, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/262,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 345/175, 345/179, 345/104, 345/173, 345/176
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12195 Tapering
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

A user input device for an electronic device is disclosed. The user input device provides positional information using a grid of light. The grid of light is produced from a light source and waveguides. The grid of light is also received and processed using waveguides and a light detector. Optionally, optics may be used to enhance the operation of the user input device. The user input device is particularly suited for use as a user input device for a computer system or the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a multichannel transmission waveguide portion optically coupled to receive light from said light source, said transmission waveguide portion integrally houses a plurality of light transmission waveguides and provides said light transmission waveguides with precise alignments within said transmission waveguide portion, said light transmission waveguides produce a first set of light beams by guiding the light received from said light source so that said first set of light beans emanate from said light transmission waveguides in a first direction;

a multichannel reception waveguide portion spaced apart from said transmission waveguide in the first direction, said reception waveguide portion integrally houses a plurality of light reception waveguides and provides said light reception waveguides with precise alignments within said reception waveguide portion, said light reception waveguides receiving said first set of light beams emanating from said light transmission waveguides; and

a light detector optically coupled to said reception waveguide portion to receive the light from the light reception waveguides of said reception waveguide portion, said light detector including a plurality of light detecting elements that substantially simultaneously detects light intensity of the light from at least the first set of the light reception waveguides of said reception waveguide portion,

wherein said light reception waveguides have a flared out section near a side of said reception waveguide portion where said first set of light beams are received.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said light transmission waveguides have a flared out section near a side of said transmission waveguide portion from which said first set of light beams are transmitted.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a light source;

a multichannel transmission waveguide portion optically coupled to receive light from said light source, said transmission waveguide portion optically coupled to receive light of light transmission waveguides and provides said light transmission waveguides with precise alignments within said transmission waveguide portion, said light transmission waveguides produce a first set of light beams by guiding the light received from said light source so that said first set of light beams emanate from said light transmission waveguides in a first direction;

a multichannel reception waveguide portion spaced apart from said transmission waveguide in the first direction, said reception waveguide portion integrally houses a plurality of light reception waveguides and provides said light reception waveguides with precise alignments within said reception waveguide portion, said light reception waveguides receiving said first set of light beams emanating from said light transmission waveguides;

lenses optically positioned proximate to said transmission waveguide portion to collimate said first set of light beams emanating cross an input area from the light transmission waveguides towards the corresponding light reception waveguides of said reception waveguide portion; and

a light detector optically coupled to said reception waveguide portion to receive the light from the light reception waveguides of said reception waveguide portion, said light detector including a plurality of light detecting elements that substantially simultaneously detects light intensity of the light from at least the first set of the light reception waveguides of said reception waveguide portion,

wherein said transmission waveguide portion is a rectangular strip, and said reception waveguide portion is a rectangular strip.

4. An apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein a user provides input to the electronic device by interacting with the input area.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the user interacts with the input area with a finger or a stylus.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said light detector is an integrated circuit having a light sensing area optically coupled to said reception waveguide portion to receive the light from the light reception waveguides of said reception waveguide portion.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the light transmission waveguides and the light reception waveguides are lithographically defined waveguides.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the light transmission waveguides and the light reception waveguides have a rectangular cross-section.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said transmission waveguide portion is formed of a dielectric material, and said reception waveguide portion is formed of a dielectric material.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmission waveguide portion is formed of a dielectric material, and said reception waveguide portion is formed of a dielectric material.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said transmission waveguide portion and said reception waveguide portion are formed by a polymer material.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said transmission waveguide portion has a one-piece construction, and said reception waveguide portion has a one-piece construction.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said apparatus is a high resolution input device whereby at least said first set of light beams are able to be substantially simultaneously directed across an input area from said light source through said light transmission waveguides within said transmission waveguide portion, and then substantially simultaneously received by said light reception waveguides within said reception waveguide portion, and then being directed to the corresponding light detecting elements of said light detector where the light intensity is substantially simultaneously detected.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said multichannel reception waveguide portion includes at least one low index of refraction layer and at least one high index of refraction layer.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said light reception waveguides have a flared out section near a side of said reception waveguide portion where said first set of light beams are received.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein alignment of the rectangular strips of said transmission waveguide portion and said reception waveguide portion operates to align the internal waveguides therein.