Uniphy Limited

T-phy Ltd.

David Lomas

David Dearn

Iain Macalister

Michael David Bean

Jim Edward Nicholas

A touch sensitive apparatus comprises: a top plate comprising a plurality of touch detection regions, and having one or more light sources associated therewith, such that light from the one or more light sources is transmitted within the top plate with total internal reflection; a plurality of detectors for detecting light from the one or more light sources, wherein each detector is associated with a touch detection region; wherein the top plate and the detectors are arranged such that if an external body touches a first surface of the top plate in a touch detection region, then light is coupled from a second surface of the top plate to the associated detector(s); the touch sensitive apparatus further comprising processing means to determine at least the presence or absence of a touch in any of the touch detection regions of the top plate.

Optical touch screen

A touch sensitive apparatus comprises a top plate configured such that light from the one or more light sources is transmitted within the top plate with total internal reflection; and a base plate within which, light is transmissible. The base plate comprises a plurality of base plate elements optically separated from each other. The top plate and the base plate are configured such that if an external body touches a first surface of the top plate, then light is coupled from a second surface of the top plate into an underlying base plate element for transmission within that base plate element. Each base plate element has one or more detectors for detecting light transmitted within that base plate element. A processor determines information from the detectors relating to touching of the first surface of the top plate. An associated method is also described.

An optical input device includes at least one optically clear plate having at least one light source positioned at a peripheral edge thereof and arranged and configured to transmit frequency modulated light into the optically clear plate along its planar length at an angle such that the modulated light is contained within the plate via total internal reflection thereof. At least one photodetector is configured to receive some or all of the modulated light. A least one input mechanism is embedded within the optically clear plate and is mechanically moveable relative thereto. A processing module receives signals from the photodetector and generates data representative of information to be displayed on a display screen. Both mechanical movement of the input mechanism relative to the optically clear plate and the application of pressure to the clear plate generate respective changes in the modulated light received by the photodetector. A change in the modulated light received by the photodetector causes the processing module to generate data representative of a change in information to be displayed on the display screen.

Optical input devices

A touch sensitive screen arrangement includes an optically dispersive base plate and structures for transmitting light onto the base plate in response to an external body touching the screen at a touch point such that the location of incident light on the surface of the base plate is representative of the relative position of the touch point on the screen. The base plate captures and disperses light that is incident on it. The decrease in incident light intensity with distance from the location of incidence on the base plate approximates a substantially exponential function. A sensor detects intensity of light at a respective edge of the base plate. The arrangement calculates the relative position of the touch point on the screen from the detected light intensity and the exponential function and generates a control signal representative of a control input derived from the position of the touch point.

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Swindon, United Kingdom

David Lomas