Abstract: A folded optical element waveguide that allows a minimum width bezel to be used around the perimeter of a light-based touch screen display. The apparatus and method includes a touch screen and a waveguide substrate provided adjacent the touch screen. The waveguide substrate includes a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical elements provided adjacent the touch screen. The waveguides include an internally reflective surface to reflect light perpendicular to the surface of the touch screen. The emitting and detecting waveguides are thus folded and provided around the side edges of the display. As a result, the width of the bezel around the display can be minimized.

Abstract: A folded optical element waveguide that allows a minimum width bezel to be used around the perimeter of a light-based touch screen display. The apparatus and method includes a touch screen and a waveguide substrate provided adjacent the touch screen. The waveguide substrate includes a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical elements provided adjacent the touch screen. The waveguides include an internally reflective surface to reflect light perpendicular to the surface of the touch screen. The emitting and detecting waveguides are thus folded and provided around the side edges of the display. As a result, the width of the bezel around the display can be minimized.

Abstract: An optical based input touch display device with high resolution shadow detection using the linear splitting of waveguides among transmit and receive lenses and grey-scale calculations for shadow edge and center detection is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light source and a transmit waveguide optically coupled to the light source. The transmit waveguide includes a plurality of transmit waveguide grooves coupled to a plurality of groups of shared transmit lenses respectively. The plurality of groups of transit lenses, which are configured to generate a plurality of collimated light beams from the light source. A receive waveguide is also provided having a plurality of receive waveguide grooves coupled to a plurality of groups of shared receive lenses. The plurality of groups of receive lenses are configured to receive the plurality of collimated light beams. A photodiode array including a plurality of photodiodes are optically coupled to the plurality of receive waveguide grooves respectively.

Abstract: A touch screen or pen-based data entry apparatus and method. The data entry apparatus creates a continuous sheet or “lamina” of light in the free space adjacent a touch screen. An optical position detection device, optically coupled to the lamina of light, is provided to detect data entries to the input device by determining the location of interrupts in the lamina caused when data is entered to the input device. During the method of operation, a user makes a data entry to the device by touching the screen at a predetermined location using an input device, such as a finger, pen or stylus. During the act of touching the screen, the lamina of light in the free space adjacent the screen is interrupted. The optical position detection device detects the position of the input based on the location of the interrupt. Based on the determined position, the data entry is determined.

Abstract: Optical transmission structures include a waveguide and an optical lens wherein the optical lens has a sufficiently large thickness to allow the formation of a curved front lens surface that collimates transmitted light rays so that they travel within a plane that is coplanar to a working surface. The present invention also relates to a technique for manufacturing the optical transmission structure, which involves the use of a photopolymer material. The optical transmission structure can be implemented in various systems such as a system for optical data input.

Abstract: A waveguide system wherein a top cladding layer leaves portions of an underlying core channel exposed to ambient air. The ends of core channels are exposed so that light can exit out of or enter into each of the core channels. Openings are formed in the top cladding layer to expose a curved section of a core channel to the ambient air. The low index of refraction of the ambient air allows the curved section to have a reduced turn radius and thereby allows the waveguide system to have a smaller footprint. A via in the top cladding layer provides access to an underlying core channel so that optical communication with the underlying core can be established. An optical computer input device formed of waveguide systems having top cladding layers that leave portions of an underlying core channel exposed.

Abstract: Optical transmission structures include a waveguide and an optical lens wherein the optical lens has a sufficiently large thickness to allow the formation of a curved front lens surface that collimates transmitted light rays so that they travel within a plane that is coplanar to a working surface. The present invention also relates to a technique for manufacturing the optical transmission structure, which involves the use of a photopolymer material. The optical transmission structure can be implemented in various systems such as a system for optical data input.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an inexpensive, simple to make, self-aligning molded waveguide made of an optically transparent material and that can be used to generate a grid or lamina of light for use with touch screen displays. The molded waveguide substrate includes a plurality of lenses and a plurality of waveguide grooves corresponding to the plurality of integral lenses respectively. After the substrate is molded, the grooves are filled with an optically transparent material to optically couple and align the plurality of lenses and the plurality of grooves respectively. In one application, the molded waveguide substrate is positioned adjacent a touch screen device. A light transmitter and an imaging device are optically coupled to the molded waveguide substrate, and a processing device is coupled to the imaging device.

Abstract: Flexible optical waveguide substrates that can be used with touch screen displays. The waveguide substrates include a flexible base material. A first optical layer having a first index of refraction value is formed on the flexible base material. A second optical layer is then formed on the first optical layer, the second optical layer being patterned to form a plurality of optical elements and waveguides respectively. The second optical layer also has a second index of refraction value higher than the first index of refraction value. Lastly, a third optical layer is formed on the second optical layer. The third optical layer has a third index of refraction value lower than the second index of refraction value. The high N second layer is therefore sandwiched between the lower N first and third layers, creating an internally reflective surface wherever the high N and low N materials are in contact. The base material and first, second and third optical layers thus form a flexible waveguide substrate.