Abstract: An optical assembly including a reflectance-based sensor emitting light into a detection plane and detecting reflections of the emitted light, reflected by an object located in the detection plane, a light redirector positioned away from the sensor redirecting light emitted by the sensor into one or more spatial planes parallel to the detection plane and, when the object is located in the one or more spatial planes, redirecting light reflected by the object into the detection plane, and a processor controlling light emitted by the sensor and receiving outputs from the sensor, and configured such that when an object passes through one or more of the spatial planes, the processor identifies both the spatial planes through which the object passes, and the location of the object within the spatial planes through which it passes, based on the received outputs and the position of the light redirector relative to the sensor.

Abstract: Generating interactive in-air images, by emitters emitting light pulses along an in-air detection plane, light detectors, lenses configured such that there is a particular angle of entry at which each detector receives maximal light intensity when pulses enter a lens corresponding to the detector at the particular angle of entry, and there are target positions in the detection plane, associated with emitter-detector pairs, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, when an object is located at the target position, then pulses emitted by the emitter are reflected by the object into the lens corresponding to the detector at the particular angle of entry, a projector projecting an image that appears, to a user suspended in the detection plane, and a processor identifying locations of the object in the detection plane and mapping the identified locations to corresponding locations in the image, to register user interactions with the image.

Abstract: An optical assembly including a reflectance-based sensor emitting light into a detection plane and detecting reflections of the emitted light, reflected by an object located in the detection plane, a light redirector positioned away from the sensor redirecting light emitted by the sensor into one or more spatial planes parallel to the detection plane and, when the object is located in the one or more spatial planes, redirecting light reflected by the object into the detection plane, and a processor controlling light emitted by the sensor and receiving outputs from the sensor, and configured such that when an object passes through one or more of the spatial planes, the processor identifies both the spatial planes through which the object passes, and the location of the object within the spatial planes through which it passes, based on the received outputs and the position of the light redirector relative to the sensor.

Abstract: An interactive mid-air display including a display that presents a graphical user interface (GUI), optics projecting and rotating the GUI above the display such that the GUI is visible in-air in a plane rotated away from the display, a sensor including light emitters projecting beams towards the projected GUI, light detectors detecting reflections of the beams by objects interacting with the projected GUI, and a lens structure maximizing detection at each detector for light entering the lens structure at a respective location at a specific angle ?, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, maximum detection of light corresponds to the object being at a specific location in the projected GUI, in accordance with the locations of the emitter and detector and the angle ?, and a processor mapping detections of light for emitter-detector pairs to corresponding locations in the projected GUI, and translating the mapped locations to coordinates on the display.

Abstract: A sensor including optics configured in accordance with a display that presents a GUI, the optics projecting the GUI above the display such that the GUI is visible in-air, a reflectance sensor including light emitters projecting light beams towards the projected GUI, light detectors detecting reflections of the beams by objects interacting with the projected GUI, and a lens maximizing detection of light at each detector for light entering the lens at a respective location along the lens at a specific angle ?, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, maximum detection of light projected by the emitter of the pair, reflected by an object and detected by the detector of the pair, corresponds to the object being at a specific 2D location in the projected GUI, and a processor mapping detections of light for emitter-detector pairs to their corresponding 2D locations, and translating the mapped locations to display coordinates.

Abstract: A touch system with a curved touch surface, including light emitters projecting light beams over and across the curved surface, such that at least some of the light beams are incident upon and reflected by the curved surface, light detectors detecting reflections, by a reflective object touching the curved surface, lenses mounted such that (i) there is a particular angle of entry at which each light detector receives a maximal light intensity, and (ii) there are target positions, associated with emitter-detector pairs, on the curved surface, whereby light beams emitted by the light emitter of that pair are reflected by the object into the lens corresponding to the light detector of that pair at the particular angle of entry, and a processor calculating a location of the object touching the curved surface by determining an emitter-detector pair that detects a maximal amount of light, and identifying the associated target position.

Abstract: A flexible touch surface, emitters projecting light beams across the surface such that the beams are incident upon and reflected by the surface when crossing the surface, detectors detecting reflections, by an object on the surface, of projected beams, lenses oriented such that there is a particular angle of entry at which each detector receives a maximal light intensity when beams enter a lens corresponding to the detector at the angle of entry, and such that there are target positions on the surface whereby for each emitter-detector pair, when the object is located at a target position associated with the pair, then light beams emitted by the emitter of the pair are reflected by the object into the lens corresponding to the detector of the pair at the angle of entry, and a processor synchronously co-activating emitter-detector pairs and calculating a location of the object on the surface.