The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2003
Hongshen MA, Cambridge, MA (US);
Joseph A. Pardiso, Medford, MA (US);
Hongshen Ma, Cambridge, MA (US);
Joseph A. Pardiso, Medford, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A touch panel in which two or more light sensors emit light into a transparent panel at an angle to sustain transmission through the panel by total internal reflection. The transmitted light is detected at an array of light detection positions around the periphery of the panel opposite to each light source. When an object contact the surface of the panel, light transmitted along the pathway from a given source past the contact point to one of the detection points is attenuated by the frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) effect. Each contact causes two or more intersecting light beams having known end points to be attenuated, enabling a connected processor to determine the position and size of the contact area.