Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing an object-detecting backlight unit for a display device. An object-detecting backlight unit includes two or more light sources configured to provide light to a display to form an image, and a light sensor configured to receive reflected light when an object is near the display and determine that the reflected light originated from a region of the display. The reflected light is caused by light from the image reflecting off of the object back towards the display. The backlight unit is configured to detect a position of the object based on the region of the display from which the reflected light originated.

Abstract: An optical system includes an illumination source, a volume hologram, and an image-forming optic. The illumination source is configured to emit coherent light, and the volume hologram is configured to receive and diffract the coherent light. The image-forming optic is arranged opposite the volume hologram and configured to receive the coherent light diffracted by the volume hologram and to spatially modulate the coherent light to form an image.

Abstract: A holographic interaction device is described. In one or more implementations, an input device includes an input portion comprising a plurality of controls that are configured to generate signals to be processed as inputs by a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the controls. The input device also includes a holographic recording mechanism disposed over a surface of the input portion, the holographic recording mechanism is configured to output a hologram in response to receipt of light, from a light source, that is viewable by a user over the input portion.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards lenses for curved surfaces, including multi-element lens assemblies. In one or more implementations, an object-side meniscus lens is coupled to an image/curved surface side subassembly including a biconvex lens. The subassembly may comprise a single biconvex lens or a biconvex lens coupled to a negative meniscus lens.

Abstract: A transmission optic having a transparent sheet with opposing front and back faces and an end face adjacent the front and back faces. The separation between the back face and a nearest point on the front face varies as a conic function of distance along the front face from that point to the end face.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the molding of an item having a non-uniform thickness and an undercut structure. One disclosed embodiment provides an injection molding device for molding a part having a non-uniform thickness and an undercut structure, the injection molding device comprising a pair of opposing end walls, a first mold surface being stationary with respect to the pair of opposing end walls, and a second mold surface being movable toward the first mold surface such that a first end of the second mold surface is movable a larger travel distance toward the first mold surface than a second end during a molding process. Further, the pair of opposing end walls comprises a slider with an undercut mold surface that is movable in a direction transverse to a direction in which the second mold surface is movable toward the first mold surface.

Abstract: Optical touch detection is provided by an interactive display device including an elastomer layer, a reflector configured to transmit light having a first characteristic and to reflect light having a second characteristic, and a display positioned to output modulated light having the first characteristic through the elastomer layer and the reflector as a display image. The interactive display device further comprises a test light source positioned to output light having the second characteristic through the elastomer layer for reflection off of the reflector, and a sensor configured to receive light having the second characteristic reflected from the reflector.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the molding of an item having a non-uniform thickness and an undercut structure. One disclosed embodiment provides an injection molding device for molding a part having a non-uniform thickness and an undercut structure, the injection molding device comprising a pair of opposing end walls, a first mold surface being stationary with respect to the pair of opposing end walls, and a second mold surface being movable toward the first mold surface such that a first end of the second mold surface is movable a larger travel distance toward the first mold surface than a second end during a molding process. Further, the pair of opposing end walls comprises a slider with an undercut mold surface that is movable in a direction transverse to a direction in which the second mold surface is movable toward the first mold surface.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing an object-detecting backlight unit for a display device. An object-detecting backlight unit includes two or more light sources configured to provide light to a display to form an image, and a light sensor configured to receive reflected light when an object is near the display and determine that the reflected light originated from a region of the display. The reflected light is caused by light from the image reflecting off of the object back towards the display. The backlight unit is configured to detect a position of the object based on the region of the display from which the reflected light originated.

Abstract: Fabric enclosure backlighting techniques are described. In one or more implementations, one or more translucent portions are formed within a plurality of layers of a fabric enclosure assembly. In one approach, regions within one or multiple layers are laser etched to form the translucent portions within the fabric enclosure assembly. A light source is then arranged to selectively transmit light through the layers via the translucent portions to provide backlight for one or more elements integrated with fabric enclosure assembly. The one or more elements may include representations of input keys and/or graphics associated with the fabric enclosure assembly. The backlight may be used to view the one or more elements in low light and/or provide backlight effects such as borders, side lighting, labels, and so forth.

Abstract: A video-conferencing system includes a display panel configured to form a display image for viewing by a local video conferencer, a camera configured to acquire a facial image of the local video conferencer and having an aperture oriented toward the display panel, and an array of partly reflective facets aligned in parallel against a plane disposed parallel to and forward of the display panel, each facet positioned to transmit a portion of the display image from the display panel through that facet to the local video conferencer, and to reflect a portion of the facial image of the local video conferencer to the aperture.

Abstract: A light guide of the tapered-waveguide type includes an input slab for expanding a projected image between an input end and an output end; and a tapered output slab arranged to receive rays from the said output end of the input slab, and to emit them at a point on its face that corresponds to the angle at which the ray is received. The taper is calculated so that all rays injected into the input end undergo the same number of reflections before leaving the output face. The thickness of the input slab light guide is greater in the transverse direction away from the center line, so that light travelling at the critical angle from the input face of the slab waveguide towards the output waveguide bounces the same number of times in the input slab, regardless of its fan-out angle, in order to further reduce image distortion.

Abstract: A light guide device can provide a backlight for an LCD or a projection display. The light guide device includes a light-input end and an opposing end, opposing left and right sides which join the light-input end and the opposing end, and opposing front and back surfaces which join the light-input end and the opposing end. A birefringent film is provided on the opposing left and right sides of the light guide which switches a polarization of incident light. Incident light is provided at the light-input end having a right-handed circular polarization, in addition to light having a left-handed circular polarization. Light emitted from the front surface passes through a linear polarizer which selectively passes light to allow privacy of viewing by a user. The incident light can be provided at the light-input end using one or more cuboid rods, slab light guides, or discrete light sources.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein related to the avoidance of undesirable optical effects in a liquid crystal display used with a touch-sensitive display input device. For example, one embodiment provides a user interface comprising a body, a light source disposed within the body, and a liquid crystal display configured to create an image displayable on one or more display surfaces coupled to the body. The user interface device further includes a light delivery system positioned optically between the light source and the liquid crystal display to deliver light produced by the light source to the liquid crystal display. The light delivery system comprises a light exit surface spaced from the liquid crystal display to form a gap positioned between the light exit surface of the light delivery system and the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to scanning the direction of light emitted from optical collimators. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a system for scanning collimated light, the system comprising an optical wedge, a light injection system, and a controller. The optical wedge comprises a thin end, a thick end opposite the thin end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the thick end and the thin end, and a back surface opposite the viewing surface. The thick end of the optical wedge further comprises an end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure. The light injection system is configured to inject light into the thin end of the optical wedge, and the controller is configured to control the location along the thin end of the optical wedge at which the light injection system injects light.

Abstract: A transmission optic having a transparent sheet with opposing front and back faces and an end face adjacent the front and back faces. The separation between the back face and a nearest point on the front face varies as a conic function of distance along the front face from that point to the end face.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An ink management system for supplying or receiving liquid at a controlled pressure, comprising: a closed reservoir; a weir disposed in the reservoir, configured to separate the reservoir into a first and a second chamber; the first chamber having an inlet for receiving liquid from a first remote location; and the weir being disposed such that the level of liquid in the first chamber can be maintained at a constant height; wherein the reservoir is sealed from the surrounding atmosphere and the system further comprises a pumped outlet disposed in the second chamber and arranged to remove liquid and gas contained within the reservoir.

Abstract: Optical touch detection is provided by an interactive display device including an elastomer layer, a reflector configured to transmit light having a first characteristic and to reflect light having a second characteristic, and a display positioned to output modulated light having the first characteristic through the elastomer layer and the reflector as a display image. The interactive display device further comprises a test light source positioned to output light having the second characteristic through the elastomer layer for reflection off of the reflector, and a sensor configured to receive light having the second characteristic reflected from the reflector.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.