Abstract: A device including an elastic layer that, when depressed by an object, causes a local indentation in the layer, the geometry of the local indentation being in accordance with a force of depression, light emitters, light detectors, a light guide between the emitters and the layer directing light beams from the emitters into the layer at an angle such that the light beams, after entering the layer, remain confined to the layer by total internal reflection, a light guide between the detectors and the layer that directs light beams exiting the layer onto the detectors, each detector having a reference output value corresponding to expected light detection when no object is touching the layer, and a processor determining the object's force of depression based on the geometry of the local indentation in the layer, as calibrated by a deviation between actual and reference output values for one of the detectors.

Abstract: A light-based touch sensitive device, including a housing, a surface encased in the housing, a layer of elastic material above the surface, a plurality of light pulse emitters mounted in the housing, that transmit light pulses through the layer, a plurality of light pulse receivers mounted in the housing, that receive the light pulses transmitted through the layer, and a calculating unit, mounted in the housing and connected to the receivers, that determines a location of a pointer that touches the layer and creates an impression in the layer, based on outputs of the receivers.

Abstract: A light-based touch sensitive device, including a housing, a surface encased in the housing, a layer of elastic material above the surface, a plurality of light pulse emitters mounted in the housing, that transmit light pulses through the layer, a plurality of light pulse receivers mounted in the housing, that receive the light pulses transmitted through the layer, and a calculating unit, mounted in the housing and connected to the receivers, that determines a location of a pointer that touches the layer and creates an impression in the layer, based on outputs of the receivers.

Abstract: A method for use by a touch screen in which light transmitted inside the screen is scattered by an object touching the screen from outside the screen, the method including activating emitter-receiver pairs for a plurality of emitters and receivers while an object is touching a screen from outside the screen, wherein light emitted by each emitter is transmitted inside the screen, wherein each emitter is associated with a limited number of receivers that detect significant light from such emitter while no object is touching the screen, and wherein the activated emitter-receiver pairs include pairs for which the receiver is not associated with the emitter in the pair, determining that receivers not associated with emitters detect significant light due to the object scattering the light emitted by the emitters, and deriving the location where the object is touching the screen from the determining.

Abstract: A touch screen, including a layer of light-transmissive material having an upper surface that is exposed for touch by one or more objects, a plurality of light emitters underneath the upper surface, a first lens assembly for directing light beams emitted by the light emitters into the layer at an angle such that the light beams, when entering the layer, remain confined to the layer by total internal reflection when the light beams are not absorbed by any of the objects touching the upper surface, a plurality of light detectors for detecting light beams and for generating outputs indicating the amounts of light detected, a second lens assembly for directing light beams at a surface of the layer towards the light detectors, and a calculating unit for determining respective one or more locations of the one or more objects touching the upper surface, based on outputs of the light detectors.

Abstract: A keypad for use in conjunction with a touch-sensitive panel, the keypad including a frame surrounding a touch-sensitive panel, including a plurality of buttons suspended by the frame above the touch-sensitive panel, each of the buttons including a rigid member that is lowered through the frame when pressure is applied from above, and a resilient body attached to the rigid member and to the frame for raising the rigid member when the pressure from above is released, wherein the rigid members are exposed below the frame.