Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, and an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface. Using these values, the processor is configured to identify the type of object.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the panel. The light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light that travels above the touch surface, wherein the light detectors are arranged to receive detection light from the emitted light. The plurality of light emitters and detectors are arranged above the touch surface and are connected to a substrate extending in a direction parallel with a normal axis of a plane in which the panel extends. A method of assembling a touch sensing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly for holding and controlling curvature of a glass plate for an optical touch sensitive system is described. The assembly comprising a first frame element extending in a first plane and configured to extend at least partially around a panel; at least one second frame element extending in a second plane and forming a support portion for the plate, and at least one spacing element positioned at least partially between the support portion and the first frame element. The spacing element us configured to control a curvature of the first frame element and wherein the at least one second frame element is configured to engage the plate at the support portion, is attached to the first frame element, and is tiltable, by controlling the curvature of the first frame element with said spacing element, to control a curvature of the plate.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the panel. The light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light that travels above the touch surface, wherein the light detectors are arranged to receive detection light from the emitted light. The plurality of light emitters and detectors are arranged above the touch surface and are connected to a substrate extending in a direction parallel with a normal axis of a plane in which the panel extends. A method of assembling a touch sensing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is provided comprising: a light transmissive panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the light transmissive panel, a plurality of optical components arranged along the perimeter of the light transmissive panel, wherein the light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light and the optical components are configured to direct the emitted light to a path across the light transmissive panel. Optionally, optical components comprise a light guide arranged to receive light from the light emitters through a first surface and couple out light travelling in the light guide to the touch surface through a second surface. The second surface may be diffusively transmissive. The light guide may further comprise a reflective surface configured to internally reflect light travelling in the light guide from the first surface to the diffusive surface.

Abstract: A touch system is described having a method of determining touch of one or more objects on a touch surface of a touch-sensitive apparatus, wherein the method operates in a time sequence of frames, each frame comprising the steps of: for a current frame, processing an output signal of the touch sensitive apparatus to generate one or more touch traces, each touch trace having one or more characteristics; and outputting a confirmed touch signal for each touch trace having a touch trace matching at least one of said one or more characteristics in a first number of frames preceding the current frame, wherein the first number of frames is determined in dependence on said one or more characteristics.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a touch surface, and a touch sensor configured to determine a first set of coordinates on the touch surface of an object in contact with the touch surface. The touch sensing apparatus is configured to determine a virtual brush angle associated with the object, determine a movement of the object to a second set of coordinates determine an updated virtual brush angle for the object in dependence on a position of the second set of coordinates relative to the first set of coordinates, and output the second set of coordinates and the updated virtual brush angle. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of predicting the behaviour of one or more objects on a touch surface of a touch-sensitive apparatus comprises outputting an object position value of a first time series describing a position of the one or more objects on the touch surface. The method further comprises outputting an object position value of a second time series describing a position of the one or more objects on the touch surface. The object position value of the second time series is outputted before the corresponding object position value of the first time series. The method yet further comprises predicting the behaviour of the one or more objects based at least on the object position values of the second time series.

Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to process the transmission values to determine an object reference point on the touch surface where the light is attenuated or occluded by an object and determine, from a set of light paths unaffected by an object, a set of object boundary light paths comprising one or more light paths passing closest to the object reference point. The characteristics of the object may then be determined in dependence on the set of object boundary light paths.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a touch sensing apparatus, comprising: a light transmissive element (10) that defines a touch surface; a set of emitters (30a) arranged around the periphery of the touch surface to emit beams of light into the light transmissive element, wherein a first portion of the beams (50) of light propagate inside the light transmissive element while illuminating the touch surface such that an object touching the touch surface causes an attenuation of the propagating light, and wherein a second portion of the beams (90) of light pass out of the light transmissive element and are reflected to travel above the touch surface, a set of light detectors (30b) arranged around the periphery of the touch surface to receive light from the set of emitters from the transmissive element and from above the touch surface, wherein each light detector is arranged to receive light from more than one emitter.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed, comprising a light transmissive panel that defines a touch surface, an opposite rear surface, and panel sides extending between the touch surface and rear surface. The panel sides define a perimeter of the light transmissive panel. The touch sensing apparatus comprises a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along the perimeter and adjacent the panel sides, a light guide arranged along the perimeter and having a first reflective surface comprising a diffusive light scattering element.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the panel. The light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light that travels above the touch surface, wherein the light detectors are arranged to receive detection light from the emitted light. The plurality of light emitters and detectors are arranged above the touch surface and are connected to a substrate extending in a direction parallel with a normal axis of a plane in which the panel extends. A method of assembling a touch sensing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly for holding and controlling curvature of a glass plate for an optical touch sensitive system is described. The assembly comprising a first frame element extending in a first plane and configured to extend at least partially around a panel; at least one second frame element extending in a second plane and forming a support portion for the plate, and at least one spacing element positioned at least partially between the support portion and the first frame element. The spacing element us configured to control a curvature of the first frame element and wherein the at least one second frame element is configured to engage the plate at the support portion, is attached to the first frame element, and is tiltable, by controlling the curvature of the first frame element with said spacing element, to control a curvature of the plate.

Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, and an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface. Using these values, the processor is configured to identify the type of object.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical touch apparatus is described wherein, the optical touch apparatus comprising a panel, a plurality of emitters and a plurality of detectors arranged with respect to the panel, the plurality of detectors configured to receive light from the plurality of emitters thereby defining detection samples of light transmitted between pairs of emitters and detectors. The optical touch apparatus being further configured to operate in an ambient light evaluation mode comprising the steps of: generating a first set of samples over a first integration time and a second set of samples over a second integration time using at least one detector, and applying a filter to at least the first and second set of samples to generate a residual ambient light value indicative of ambient light noise, wherein the touch apparatus is configured to perform the following steps: operating according to the ambient light evaluation mode for a plurality of repetitions.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the panel. The light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light that travels above the touch surface, wherein the light detectors are arranged to receive detection light from the emitted light. The plurality of light emitters and detectors are arranged above the touch surface and are connected to a substrate extending in a direction parallel with a normal axis of a plane in which the panel extends. A method of assembling a touch sensing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of light emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the panel. The light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light that travels above the touch surface, wherein the light detectors are arranged to receive detection light from the emitted light. The plurality of light emitters and detectors are arranged above the touch surface and are connected to a substrate extending in a direction parallel with a normal axis of a plane in which the panel extends. A method of assembling a touch sensing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to process the transmission values to determine an object reference point on the touch surface where the light is attenuated or occluded by an object and determine, from a set of light paths unaffected by an object, a set of object boundary light paths comprising one or more light paths passing closest to the object reference point. The characteristics of the object may then be determined in dependence on the set of object boundary light paths.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a touch sensing apparatus, comprising: a light transmissive element (10) that defines a touch surface; a set of emitters (30a) arranged around the periphery of the touch surface to emit beams of light into the light transmissive element, wherein a first portion of the beams (50) of light propagate inside the light transmissive element while illuminating the touch surface such that an object touching the touch surface causes an attenuation of the propagating light, and wherein a second portion of the beams (90) of light pass out of the light transmissive element and are reflected to travel above the touch surface, a set of light detectors (30b) arranged around the periphery of the touch surface to receive light from the set of emitters from the transmissive element and from above the touch surface, wherein each light detector is arranged to receive light from more than one emitter.

Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus can determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor can operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface, and an occlusion compensation value for compensating the occlusion affect from other objects on the touch surface. Using these values, the processor can identify the type of object.