Abstract: 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. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams. Detection schemes define the operation of the touch capability. Different detection schemes consume different amounts of power and may be used in combination to reduce overall power consumption.

Abstract: An optical control system is described, which employs a series of optical emitters and detectors arranged about a touch area. The emitters are driven by a series of orthogonal functions, and the system is operable to correlate the signals received at the detectors with the modulation functions to determine the amount of energy received by the detectors from each of the emitters. This system means that all or many emitters can be modulated simultaneously, so the scanning process is accelerated. Also, the energy estimates arrived at by correlation with the modulating functions are largely unaffected by external interference signals as well by each other. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the correlation processing makes use of many detector samples and tends to yield results which have higher resolution than the sample values themselves, due to the averaging of noise over the sample set.

Abstract: 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. 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. To determine whether a candidate touch point is an actual touch event, multiple beams that would be affected are considered together.

Abstract: An optical control system is described, which employs a series of optical emitters and detectors arranged about a touch area. The emitters are driven by a series of orthogonal functions, and the system is operable to correlate the signals received at the detectors with the modulation functions to determine the amount of energy received by the detectors from each of the emitters. This system means that all or many emitters can be modulated simultaneously, so the scanning process is accelerated. Also, the energy estimates arrived at by correlation with the modulating functions are largely unaffected by external interference signals as well by each other. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the correlation processing makes use of many detector samples and tends to yield results which have higher resolution than the sample values themselves, due to the averaging of noise over the sample set.

Abstract: A touch sensitive optical control device comprising a set of light emitters 14, 22 and light detectors 18, 24 arranged relative to a touchable surface 30 such that light transmitted by the emitters is received by the detectors along multiple intersecting beams which pass transversely of the surface and touching the surface at a beam interrupts the light transmitted along the beam. Candidate touch points T1, T2, F1, F2 are defined at the intersections of interrupted beams and are confirmed or not as actual touch points by examining test beams 40, 42, 54, 56 near to or coincident with the candidate touch point.

Abstract: A touch sensitive optical control device comprising a set of light emitters 14, 22 and light detectors 18, 24 arranged relative to a touchable surface 30 such that light transmitted by the emitters is received by the detectors along multiple intersecting beams which pass transversely of the surface and touching the surface at a beam interrupts the light transmitted along the beam. Candidate touch points T1, T2, F1, F2 are defined at the intersections of interrupted beams and are confirmed or not as actual touch points by examining test beams 40, 42, 54, 56 near to or coincident with the candidate touch point.

Abstract: An optical control system is described which provides for more efficient operation of an optical device. The system is operable to provide an integrated output from the detection system. Accordingly, by controlling the operating time of the detection system of the optical device it is possible to match the dynamic range of the integrated output to the operational input range of an ADC means to provide a digital output value, thereby minimizing the quantization noise of the ADC means.

Abstract: 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. The coupler may be side coupled or edge coupled to the waveguide. For both the side coupled or edge coupled cases, the coupler may also be configured to reorient beams to accommodate any orientation of emitters and detectors with respect to the waveguide. The coupler may also be configured to translate beams laterally or vertically to accommodate any position of emitters and detectors. The coupler, and touch-sensitive device more generally, are also configured to prevent ambient light entering the waveguide from hitting the emitters and detectors. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams.

Abstract: A touch sensitive optical control device comprising a set of light emitters 14, 22 and light detectors 18, 24 arranged relative to a touchable surface 30 such that light transmitted by the emitters is received by the detectors along multiple intersecting beams which pass transversely of the surface and touching the surface at a beam interrupts the light transmitted along the beam. Candidate touch points T1, T2, F1, F2 are defined at the intersections of interrupted beams and are confirmed or not as actual touch points by examining test beams 40, 42, 54, 56 near to or coincident with the candidate touch point.

Abstract: An optical control system is described, which employs a series of optical emitters and detectors arranged about a touch area. The emitters are driven by a series of orthogonal functions, and the system is operable to correlate the signals received at the detectors with the modulation functions to determine the amount of energy received by the detectors from each of the emitters. This system means that all or many emitters can be modulated simultaneously, so the scanning process is accelerated. Also, the energy estimates arrived at by correlation with the modulating functions are largely unaffected by external interference signals as well by each other. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the correlation processing makes use of many detector samples and tends to yield results which have higher resolution than the sample values themselves, due to the averaging of noise over the sample set.

Abstract: 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. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams. Touch event templates are used to determine the actual touch events based on which optical beams have been disturbed.

Abstract: 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. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams. Line images of the touch events are captured, which are then used to determine the touch events.

Abstract: 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. 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. To determine whether a candidate touch point is an actual touch event, multiple beams that would be affected are considered together.

Abstract: An optical control system is described, which employs a series of optical emitters and detectors arranged about a touch area. The emitters are driven by a series of orthogonal functions, and the system is operable to correlate the signals received at the detectors with the modulation functions to determine the amount of energy received by the detectors from each of the emitters. This system means that all or many emitters can be modulated simultaneously, so the scanning process is accelerated. Also, the energy estimates arrived at by correlation with the modulating functions are largely unaffected by external interference signals as well by each other. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the correlation processing makes use of many detector samples and tends to yield results which have higher resolution than the sample values themselves, due to the averaging of noise over the sample set.

Abstract: An optical control system is described which provides for more efficient operation of an optical device. The system is operable to provide an integrated output from the detection system. Accordingly, by controlling the operating time of the detection system of the optical device it is possible to match the dynamic range of the integrated output to the operational input range of an ADC means to provide a digital output value, thereby minimising the quantisation noise of the ADC means.

Abstract: A touch sensitive optical control device comprising a set of light emitters 14, 22 and light detectors 18, 24 arranged relative to a touchable surface 30 such that light transmitted by the emitters is received by the detectors along multiple intersecting beams which pass transversely of the surface and touching the surface at a beam interrupts the light transmitted along the beam. Candidate touch points T1, T2, F1, F2 are defined at the intersections of interrupted beams and are confirmed or not as actual touch points by examining test beams 40, 42, 54, 56 near to or coincident with the candidate touch point.

Abstract: An optical control system is described, which employs a series of optical emitters and detectors arranged about a touch area. The emitters are driven by a series of orthogonal functions, and the system is operable to correlate the signals received at the detectors with the modulation functions to determine the amount of energy received by the detectors from each of the emitters. This system means that all or many emitters can be modulated simultaneously, so the scanning process is accelerated. Also, the energy estimates arrived at by correlation with the modulating functions are largely unaffected by external interference signals as well by each other. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the correlation processing makes use of many detector samples and tends to yield results which have higher resolution than the sample values themselves, due to the averaging of noise over the sample set.