Reflecting light

• US 8,847,924 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Blythe, Michael M., Blythe, Gregory W., Pinard, Daniel T., Snyder, Terrill D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bukowski, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Midkiff, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US11/242,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20070075648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,284 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-178, 345/102, 345/104, 362/623, 359/460, 385/147
• US Class Current: 345/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror

Abstract

Embodiments of reflecting light off surfaces are disclosed.

Claims

1. A touch screen apparatus, comprising:

a material having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first region having a uniform thickness and including the first end, a second region having a varying thickness and including the second end, and a surface between the first end and the second end for contact by an object;

an end imaging light source to direct light into the first region at the first end, reflect the light off internal surfaces of the material within the first region and the second region including the surface, and to cause the light to exit the second region at the second end;

a backlight imaging light source to direct light through the second region without reflection off the internal surfaces of the material within the second region and form an image on the surface of the material in the second region; and

a sensor to detect disruption of the light at the second end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end imaging light source includes a configuration to provide directed light that is a beam of light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material includes a configuration to change an angle of incidence of light reflecting internally based upon contact by the object on the surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sensor includes a configuration to detect a change in an angle of incidence of light when the material is contacted by the object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a logic component to identify a location of the object contacting the surface of the material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of light sensors to detect whether light that has exited the second end is disrupted.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the plurality of light sensors are provided to detect multiple locations of objects contacting the surface at different locations.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus including an image viewable through the surface of the material.

9. A method, comprising:

directing light with an end imaging light source into a first end of a first region of a member;

reflecting the light off of an inner surface of the member;

receiving the light exiting the member through a surface of a second end of a second region of the member opposite the first end with a light sensor provided on the surface of the second end of the second region;

identifying the light with a changed angle of incidence to indicate a point of contact between an object and a surface of the member; and

directing light with a backlight imaging light source through the second region of the member without reflection off inner surfaces of the member within the second region and forming an image on the surface of the member in the second region;

wherein reflecting the light includes propagating the light between parallel surfaces of the first region and between non-parallel surfaces of the second region,

wherein the point of contact between the object and the surface of the member includes contact with one of the non-parallel surfaces of the second region.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein directing light with an end imaging light source includes scanning the directed light over the first end to change a location that the directed light internally reflects off of the inner surface of the member.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the light exiting the member includes scanning the light sensor over the second end.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein directing light with an end imaging light source includes directing light in a non-visible range.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein directing light with an end imaging light source includes directing light through a transparent panel.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein directing light with an end imaging light source includes scanning a light beam across the first end such that the light beam reflects off of different portions of the inner surface of the member during a scan cycle.

15. The method of claim 14, where the light sensor moves to receive the light beam.

16. A touch screen system, comprising:

a panel having a touch screen surface opposite an angled surface, wherein the touch screen surface is planar and the angled surface is non-parallel with the touch screen surface;

a first light source to direct an end imaging beam of light into the panel through a first end of the panel such that the first beam of light undergoes internal reflection between an inner surface of each of the touch screen surface and the angled surface and passes out of a second end of the panel opposite the first end;

a second light source to direct a backlight imaging beam of light onto the angled surface such that the second beam of light passes through the angled surface and the touch screen surface without internal reflection between the inner surface of each of the touch screen surface and the angled surface; and

means, provided at the second end of the panel, for detecting a location of a point of contact between an object and the touch screen surface.

17. The touch screen system of claim 16, further including means for providing an image viewable through the touch screen surface.

18. The touch screen system of claim 16, wherein the means for detecting includes an array of sensors arranged to sense a change in an angle of incidence of light passing out of the second end.

19. The touch screen system of claim 16, wherein the means for detecting includes an array of sensors arranged to sense a change in an intensity of light passing out of the second end.

20. The touch screen system of claim 16, wherein the means for detecting includes a number of movable sensors.

21. The touch screen system of claim 16, wherein the means for detecting includes a sensor for capturing the directed beam of light passing out of the second end.

22. The touch screen system of claim 21, wherein the means for detecting includes an array of movable sensors, arranged to move as a unit, configured to sense a change in an angle of incidence of light passing out of the second end.

23. The touch screen system of claim 16, further including:

a computing device comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

wherein means for detecting the location of a point of contact includes executable instructions stored in memory and executable on the processor to determine the location of the point of contact between the object and the touch screen surface based on the location of the end imaging light source and one or more light sensors receiving light that has been influenced by the object.

24. A touch sensitive display device, comprising:

a panel comprising;

a display surface;

a first end of a first region; and

a second end of a second region opposite the first end;

an end imaging light source to direct light into the panel through the first end of the first region such that the light reflects off of at least one inside surface of the panel, including an inner surface of the display surface, and exits the panel through a surface of the second end of the second region;

a backlight imaging light source to direct light through the second region without reflection off inside surfaces of the panel within the second region and form an image on the display surface of the panel in the second region; and

a sensor provided on the surface of the second end of the second region to detect the directed light from the second end of the second region, wherein the sensor is moved across the second end and receives light that has had its angle of incidence changed due to an object contacting the display surface,

wherein the first region provides parallel surfaces for internal reflection of the light therein, and the second region provides non-parallel surfaces for emergence of the light therefrom,

wherein a location of a point of contact between the object and the display surface includes contact with one of the non-parallel surfaces of the second region.

25. The display device of claim 24, wherein the end imaging light source provides infrared light.

26. The display device of claim 24, wherein the end imaging light source provides a beam of light scanned across the first end such that the beam reflects off of the entire inner surface of the display surface during a scan cycle.

27. The display device of claim 26, wherein the location of the point of contact between the object and the display surface can be identified by a location and an angle from which the end imaging light source directs the light.

28. The display device of claim 24, wherein the sensor is movable to capture light exiting the panel.

29. The display device of claim 28, wherein the location of the point of contact between the object and the display surface can be identified by a location of the sensor when it receives light that has exited through the second end.