Rapt IP Limited

Beechrock Limited

Robert Copperwhite

Owen Drumm

Julien Piot

An optical touch-sensitive device includes a touch-sensitive surface over which touch events are detectable. The device also includes surface features on the surface that reduce touch object friction relative to an absence of surface features. Emitter and detectors are arranged along a periphery of the touch-sensitive surface. The emitters can produce optical beams that travel across the touch-sensitive surface to the detectors. Touches on the touch-sensitive surface disturb the optical beams and the touch-sensitive device determines touch events based on the disturbed optical beams. The surface features may also be arranged to reduce glare by diffusing light. In some embodiments, an anti-reflective layer is on top of the touch-sensitive surface and the surface features.

Anti-glare and anti-reflective tactile effect surface for optical touch detection

A touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors and at least one acoustic sensor. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch objects (e.g., fingers, pens, styluses) disrupt some of the optical beams and generate vibrations that are detected by the acoustic sensor. The touch-sensitive device determines information about touch events based on beam data derived from the output of the detectors and acoustic data derived from the output of the acoustic sensor.

Instrument detection with an optical touch sensitive device

An optical touch-sensitive device detects touch events caused by instruments (e.g., pens, styluses) and distinguishes these events from touch events caused by fingers. In some embodiments, different instruments can also be distinguished. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. The optical beams preferably are multiplexed in a manner so that many optical beams can be received by a detector simultaneously. Touch events disturb the optical beams, for example due to frustrated total internal reflection. Information indicating which optical beams have been disturbed is analyzed to detect one or more touch events. The analysis also distinguishes instrument touch events from finger touch events.

An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors coupled with an optical coupler assembly through a waveguide on the surface on the optical-touch sensitive device. Each emitter produces optical beams which propagate in the waveguide via total internal reflection and are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams, and are determined based on the disturbances. The waveguide has at least one dead zone on its surface. The dead zone is formed with a cover layer having a top surface and a bottom surface where the bottom surface of the cover layer is directly coupled to the top surface of the waveguide. The cover layer preserves optical beam propagation in the waveguide and makes the dead zone insensitive to touches on the top surface of the cover layer.

Augmented optical waveguide for use in an optical touch sensitive device

An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors coupled with an optical coupler assembly through a waveguide on the surface on the optical-touch sensitive device. Each emitter produces optical beams which propagate in the waveguide via total internal reflection and are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams, and are determined based on the disturbances. The optical touch-sensitive device further includes an intermediate layer interposed between the waveguide and a display surface. The intermediate layer preserves optical beam propagation in the waveguide and is transparent to visible light. The optical touch-sensitive device may further include at least one frame zone, at least one dead zone, and/or at least one fixed graphics zone.

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Dublin, Ireland

Robert Copperwhite