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: 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-sensitive apparatus includes a light-transmissive panel having a front surface, an opposite rear surface, and a side edge connecting the front and rear surfaces, and a light-transmissive sheet laminated over the front surface of the light-transmissive panel. The light-transmissive sheet has a portion extending beyond the side edge of the light-transmissive panel to cover a light emitter and detector. The touch-sensitive apparatus further includes a shielding element on a lower surface of the light-transmissive sheet, the shielding element covering at least said light emitter and detector, and the shielding element blocking light having a wavelength range in which the light emitter outputs light. The lower surface of the light-transmissive sheet is in optical contact with the front surface of the light-transmissive panel.

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 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-sensitive apparatus comprises a first subset of components on a first end of the touch surface, and a second subset of components on a second end which is opposite to and parallel with the first end. The components include emitters and detectors, each emitter being operable for propagating a diverging energy beam (e.g. radiation) across the touch surface inside the panel, and each detector being operable for detecting transmitted energy from at least two emitters. The components in at least one of the first and second subsets are systematically arranged in spatially separate groups along at least one of the first and second ends, so as to achieve a reduced spacing and/or an increased uniformity of the transmission paths along a center line between the first and second ends compared to an equidistant arrangement of all components.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a light transmissive panel (1), an illumination arrangement and a detection arrangement. The illumination arrangement is configured to couple light into the panel (1) via an incoupling site (5B) such that the light propagates by total internal reflection (TIR) in opposite top and bottom surfaces (4, 5) of the panel and such that an object touching the top or bottom surface (4, 5) causes a change in the propagating light. The detection arrangement comprises a light detector arranged to detect the change in the propagating light. A compact and robust incoupling site (5B) is defined by a sheet-like micro-structured surface portion (22) which is fixedly arranged on one of the top and bottom surfaces (4, 5) and configured to transmit light having an angle of incidence that enables light propagation by TIR inside the panel (1).

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by light frustration (FTIR) and comprises a light transmissive panel that defines a front surface and a rear surface, a light emitter optically connected to the panel so as to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel, and a light detector optically connected to the panel to receive propagating light from the emitter. The emitter is a VCSEL array including a number of VCSELs driven to collectively form one light emitter, and a light coupling mechanism connecting the emitter to the panel is configured to give light from a plurality of the VCSELs in the VCSEL array substantially the same spread in the panel.

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-sensitive apparatus comprises a first subset of components on a first end of the touch surface, and a second subset of components on a second end which is opposite to and parallel with the first end. The components include emitters and detectors, each emitter being operable for propagating a diverging energy beam (e.g. radiation) across the touch surface inside the panel, and each detector being operable for detecting transmitted energy from at least two emitters. The components in at least one of the first and second subsets are systematically arranged in spatially separate groups along at least one of the first and second ends, so as to achieve a reduced spacing and/or an increased uniformity of the transmission paths along a center line between the first and second ends compared to an equidistant arrangement of all components.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a first subset of components on a first end of the touch surface, and a second subset of components on a second end which is opposite to and parallel with the first end. The components include emitters and detectors, each emitter being operable for propagating a diverging energy beam (e.g. radiation) across the touch surface inside the panel, and each detector being operable for detecting transmitted energy from at least two emitters. The components in at least one of the first and second subsets are systematically arranged in spatially separate groups along at least one of the first and second ends, so as to achieve a reduced spacing and/or an increased uniformity of the transmission paths along a center line between the first and second ends compared to an equidistant arrangement of all components.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical component for transferring light between an opto-electronic device and a light transmissive panel which defines two opposing boundary surfaces, the optical component having a shape formed from a geometric shape having a base surface, a lateral front surface and an axis, wherein the geometric shape is truncated by a plane intersecting the front surface, the base surface, and the axis, forming a back surface. The base surface is configured for mounting the optical component to the light transmissive panel and for coupling light into the light transmissive panel. The front surface being configured for coupling light from the front surface, through the base surface, and into the light transmissive panel for the light to propagate by total internal reflection within the light transmissive panel.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by light frustration (FTIR) and comprises a light transmissive panel (1) with a front surface and a rear surface. Light emitters (2) and light detectors (3) optically face the rear surface along a perimeter of a touch-sensitive region (4) on the panel (1). At least one diffusively reflecting element (40) is arranged on the front surface (5) along the perimeter of the touch-sensitive region (4). The light emitters (2) are arranged to emit a respective beam of light onto the diffusively reflecting element (40), so as to generate propagating light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel (1) across the touch-sensitive region (4), and the light detectors (3) are arranged to receive detection light generated as the propagating light impinges on the diffusively reflecting element (40), so as to define a grid of propagation paths (D) across the touch-sensitive region (4) between pairs of light emitters (2) and light detectors (3).

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by light frustration and comprises a light transmissive panel with a front surface and a rear surface. Light emitters and light detectors optically face the rear surface along a perimeter of a touch-sensitive region on the panel. At least one non-imaging, diffusively transmitting optical element is arranged on the rear surface along the perimeter of the touch-sensitive region. The light emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of light onto the non-imaging optical element so as to generate, by diffuse transmission, propagating light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel across the touch-sensitive region, and the light detectors are arranged to receive detection light generated, by diffuse transmission, as the propagating light impinges on the non-imaging optical element, so as to define a grid of propagation paths across the touch-sensitive region between pairs of light emitters and light detectors.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive aparatus operates by light frustration (FTIR) and comprises a light transmissive panel (1) with a front surface (5) and a rear surface (6). Light emitters (2) are optically coupled to the panel (1) at entry ports along a periphery region of the panel (1), and light detectors (3) are optically coupled to the panel (1) at exit ports along the periphery region for detecting light transmitted inside the panel (1). At least one optical sheet (20) is provided on the rear surface (6) in the periphery region. In an outcoupling installation, the light detectors (3) are arranged at the respective optical sheet (20) to receive, on a respective light-sensitive surface (3A); light from the optical sheet (20), and each light detector (3) is arranged with the light-sensitive surface (3A) essentially perpendicular to the rear surface (6).

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a first subset of components on a first end of the touch surface, and a second subset of components on a second end which is opposite to and parallel with the first end. The components include emitters and detectors, each emitter being operable for propagating a diverging energy beam (e.g. radiation) across the touch surface inside the panel, and each detector being operable for detecting transmitted energy from at least two emitters. The components in at least one of the first and second subsets are systematically arranged in spatially separate groups along at least one of the first and second ends, so as to achieve a reduced spacing and/or an increased uniformity of the transmission paths along a center line between the first and second ends compared to an equidistant arrangement of all components.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus is configured to propagate energy inside a panel (1) so as to define a grid of transmission paths across a touch surface (4) of the panel (1). The apparatus comprises a first subset of components on a first end of the touch surface (4), and a second subset of components on a second end which is opposite to and parallel with the first end. The components include emitters and detectors, each emitter being operable for propagating a diverging energy beam (e.g. radiation) across the touch surface (4) inside the panel (1), and each detector being operable for detecting transmitted energy from at least two emitters. The components in at least one of the first and second subsets are systematically arranged in spatially separate groups along at least one of the first and second ends, so as to achieve a reduced spacing and/or an increased uniformity of the transmission paths along a center line between the first and second ends compared to an equidistant arrangement of all components.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a light transmissive panel (1), an illumination arrangement and a detection arrangement. The illumination arrangement is configured to couple light into the panel (1) via an incoupling site (5B) such that the light propagates by total internal reflection (TIR) in opposite top and bottom surfaces (4, 5) of the panel and such that an object touching the top or bottom surface (4, 5) causes a change in the propagating light. The detection arrangement comprises a light detector arranged to detect the change in the propagating light. A compact and robust incoupling site (5B) is defined by a sheet-like micro-structured surface portion (22) which is fixedly arranged on one of the top and bottom surfaces (4, 5) and configured to transmit light having an angle of incidence that enables light propagation by inside the panel (1).