Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an imaging window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window, so that the radiation path is optically separated from the view path of the optical sensor.

Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an imaging window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The imaging window has an inside face shaped to form a shallow convex surface. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a simplified optical position sensing assembly, which includes a unitized optical assembly formed as a single component and a unitized optical circuit. The unitized optical assembly is attached or mounted to the unitized optical circuit. The unitized optical assembly may include a body and a single-element lens. The single-element lens can be injection-molded within a first cavity of the body so as to form a single component. An illumination window may be received within a second cavity extending from the back to the front of the body. The unitized optical circuit can include an energy source and a sensor directly connected thereto. The present invention also relates to an optical position sensing system incorporating such a simplified optical position sensing assembly and methods for manufacturing a unitized optical assembly.

Abstract: According to the invention, an optical position sensing system is disclosed. The system may include a surface having a perimeter and a plurality of position sensing components. Each position sensing component may be located at a different point on the perimeter and include an optical sensor, a primary radiation source, and a supplemental radiation source. The supplemental radiation source may include retroreflective material or a discrete radiation source.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for an optical touch system can comprise an elongated member defining a top face extending in a plane. A first mounting portion extends perpendicular to a first end of the elongated member and a second mounting portion extends perpendicular a second end. The elongated member defines a first side face perpendicular to a top face and each mounting portion defines a second side face perpendicular to the top face. The mounting assembly is directly mounted to a panel with the top face of the elongated member overlaying at least a portion of the front face of the panel, the first side face overlaying at least a portion of the top edge, the top face of each mounting portion overlaying at least a portion of the front face along the side edges, and each second side face overlaying at least a portion of a respective side edge.

Abstract: An optical unit includes a body, at least one lens, and a sensor. An optical member can be used to reflect and/or refract light within the body and onto the sensor, with the result that the overall length of the optical unit can be reduced. When positioned at a corner or another location relative to a touch area, the optical unit will have a wider view than a unit with a longer overall length. An integrated optical unit can be used at one or more locations to provide stereo imaging. The integrated optical unit can include optics that route light to and/or from the optical unit through a single aperture of the optical unit but along different optical paths. The light routed along different paths can be routed to a single sensor within the optical unit so that the sensor can image different fields of view of the touch area.

Abstract: Displays, such as LCD displays, can include integrated optical components such as energy emitters, detectors, reflective material, etc. for position detection based on energy traveling over a touch surface. A display device comprising a panel can accommodate at least one optical component to direct light over the touch surface and/or to receive light directed over the touch surface. The touch surface may be part of the display or a layer atop the display. The device with integrated component(s) can be included in a display, which includes a display bezel. Embodiments may use a frame structure to position an optical component close to the top surface of the display and may be mounted to a flat panel atop the panel bezel and beneath the display bezel and/or a transparent member can interface with a support member which supports optical component(s) that direct and/or receive light traveling over the transparent member.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting an optical member to a panel can comprise a mounting portion configured to contact a top surface of the panel when mounted to the panel and a receiving portion to receive optical hardware such as an optical detector so that a field of view of the optical detector substantially encompasses the top surface of the panel when the mounting assembly is mounted thereto. The assembly can include an attachment member to attach the mounting portion to the panel and to limit axial movement along or about an axis parallel to an edge of the panel when the mounting assembly is mounted to the panel. The body of the mounting portion may also be shaped to limit axial movement, such as by including a lip in contact with edges of the panel and/or a base portion that contacts the top surface of the panel when mounted.

Abstract: A touch screen which uses light sources at one or more edges of the screen which directs light across the surface of the screen and at least two cameras having electronic outputs located at the periphery of the screen to receive light from said light sources. A processor receives the outputs of said cameras and employs triangulation techniques to determine the location of an object proximate to said screen. Detecting the presence of an object includes detecting at the cameras the presence or absence of direct light due to the object, using a screen surface as a mirror and detecting at the cameras the presence or absence of reflected light due to an object. The light sources may be modulated to provide a frequency band in the output of the cameras.

Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an imaging window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The imaging window has an inside face shaped to form a shallow convex surface. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window.

Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an illumination window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window, so that the radiation path is optically separated from the view path of the optical sensor.

Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a display surrounded by a bezel, which may have high performance prismatic retroreflective film applied to it. The prismatic film may have a plurality of metallized and canted cube corner, with cant angles of greater than 5 degrees. The system also includes least one position sensing component, including at least one radiation source and an optical sensor. An optical position sensing component may include a plurality of radiation source, to improve performance of more diffuse retroreflective film. The position of the radiation source(s) may be varied with respect to the aperture to achieve further performance enhancements. Supplemental radiation sources may be positioned around the bezel so as to provide supplemental backlighting. Each of the plurality of supplemental radiation sources can be individually activated and deactivated, so as to selectively provide said supplemental backlighting to selected areas within the bezel.

Abstract: Position sensing systems and methods for enhancing user interaction with an edge of a display. Position sensing components generate signals for determining touch point locations. A distance between the touch point and a nearest edge of the display is calculated. If the distance is not less than a threshold value, a cursor is displayed on the display at a default cursor position closely tracking the touch point. If the distance is less than the threshold value a cursor offset position is calculated and the cursor is displayed at the cursor offset position. The cursor offset position is offset in at least one dimension relative to the default cursor position and may be calculated by applying a geometric transformation to coordinates of the default cursor position. Optionally, the cursor offset position may result in the cursor being “forced” over an item displayed at the edge of the display.