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 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).

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

Abstract: A light conversion sheet for application on top of a solar cell panel. The light conversion sheet has a front surface configured to face the sun and a back surface configured to face a solar cell, and comprises a photo luminescent layer, configured to emit light at a photo luminescent wavelength upon absorption of light of shorter wavelengths; and a spectrally selective mirror arranged between the photo luminescent layer and the front surface, configured to reflect light of the photo luminescent wavelength.

Abstract: A coupling element (14) for use in a touch-sensitive apparatus is arranged to transfer light between an electro-optical device (2) and a panel (4) for light transmission. The electro-optical device (2) is an emitter or a detector and has an operative solid angle given by orthogonal device divergence angles. The coupling element (14) is an optical component with a first light transmission surface (21) for facing the electro-optical device (2), and a second light transmission surface (22) for mounting on the panel (4). The coupling element (14) has an optical structure (23) that directs the light between the first and second light transmission surfaces (21, 22) by one or more reflections while expanding one device divergence angle (?x) into a component divergence angle at the second light transmission surface (22). Thereby, the component divergence angle defines a divergence (?p) in the plane of the panel (4) with respect to light propagating by internal reflections inside the light transmissive panel (4).

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 (FTIR) and comprises a light transmissive panel (1) that defines a front surface (5) and a rear surface (6), light emitters optically connected to the panel (1) so as to generate light that propagates by total internal reflection inside the panel, and light detectors (3) optically connected to the panel (1) so as to define a grid of propagation paths inside the panel (1) between pairs of light emitters and light detectors (3). Each light detector (3) is optically connected to the panel (1) via an angular filter (20). The filter (20) is applied to an outcoupling region on at least one of the front and rear surfaces (5, 6) and is configured to transmit light only within a confined range of angles with respect to the normal of the outcoupling region. The confined range extends from a lower angle limit ?min to an upper angle limit ?max.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus 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 laminated optical element is provided for a touch-sensitive apparatus which operates by light frustration (FTIR), and comprises: a light-transmissive panel (1) that defines a front surface (5) and an opposite, rear surface (6); a light-coupling mechanism for light input to and output from the panel, arranged along a perimeter of a touch-sensitive region (4) of the optical element; a shielding element (70) applied at the front surface (5) over the light-coupling mechanism; and a light-transmissive sheet (60) disposed overlapping the shielding element and covering the front surface of the panel within the shielding element, wherein a lower surface of the light-transmissive sheet is in optical contact with the front surface of the panel, so as to allow light within a predetermined wavelength range to propagate between at least first and second positions of the light-coupling mechanism by total internal reflection in an upper surface of the light-transmissive sheet.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus 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) and light detectors are optically coupled to the panel (1) to define a grid of light propagation paths inside the panel (1) between pairs of light emitters (2) and light detectors. A light in coupling structure comprises a diffusively reflective element (20) on the rear surface (6) and a specularly reflective element (22) on the front surface (5). Each light emitter (2) is arranged to project a beam of light onto a transmissive surface portion (24) on the rear surface (6), such that at least a portion of the beam of light enters the light transmissive panel (1) through the transmissive surface portion (24), is specularly reflected against the specularly reflective element (22) and impinges on the diffusively reflective element (20) from inside the light transmissive panel (1).

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 apparatus for determining a location of at least one object on a touch surface. The touch-sensitive apparatus extends in a direction of depth and comprises a light transmissive panel, a display arranged behind the light transmissive panel, and a first compartment and second compartment arranged behind the display. Light from a light emitter arrangement in the first compartment is introduced into the light transmissive panel for propagation by internal reflection. The light is thereafter coupled out to be received by a light detection arrangement in the second compartment. The first and second compartments are separated, such that light from the light emitter arrangement is prevented from reaching the light detection arrangement without first having propagated in the light transmissive panel.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) to detect touches on a surface of a light transmissive panel. An illumination arrangement is controlled to propagate light by internal reflection from an elongated incoupling site on the panel to an elongated outcoupling site on the panel, and a detection arrangement is controlled to detect light reaching the outcoupling site. The illumination arrangement is controlled to sweep a first set of individual beams of light along different subsets of the incoupling site to generate a full beam sweep along the incoupling site. Thereby, the individual beams are be controlled to generate a “sub-sweep” of the incoupling site, which enables a compact design of the illumination arrangement and/or use of comparatively simple sweep generating devices and/or identical re-direction components in the illumination arrangement.

Abstract: A coupling element (14) for use in a touch-sensitive apparatus is arranged to transfer light between an electro-optical device (2) and a panel (4) for light transmission. The electro-optical device (2) is an emitter or a detector and has an operative solid angle given by orthogonal device divergence angles. The coupling element (14) is an optical component with a first light transmission surface (21) for facing the electro-optical device (2), and a second light transmission surface (22) for mounting on the panel (4). The coupling element (14) has an optical structure (23) that directs the light between the first and second light transmission surfaces (21, 22) by one or more reflections while expanding one device divergence angle (?x) into a component divergence angle at the second light transmission surface (22). Thereby, the component divergence angle defines a divergence (?p) in the plane of the panel (4) with respect to light propagating by internal reflections inside the light transmissive panel (4).

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

Abstract: A miniaturized optical component (36) for a camera pen has the shape of a plate and comprises at least two non-overlapping radiation-transmitting sections: an imaging section (36?) configured to transmit an image of an object plane, and an illuminating section (36?) configured to transmit illuminating radiation towards the object plane. Passive optical elements may be incorporated in the component to provide the imaging and illuminating sections, e.g. an image-generating surface structure, an illumination-controlling surface structure, a radiation filter, a stray light shield, and an aperture stop. These optical elements may be provided as well-defined surface structures and layers on a plate substrate. The optical component may be manufactured as a wafer structure comprising a plurality of these optical components.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus operates by FTIR (Frustrated Total Internal Reflection) to detect touches on a surface of a light transmissive panel. An illumination arrangement is controlled to propagate light by internal reflection from an elongated incoupling site on the panel to an elongated outcoupling site on the panel, and a detection arrangement is controlled to detect light reaching the outcoupling site. The illumination arrangement is controlled to sweep a first set of individual beams of light along different subsets of the incoupling site to generate a full beam sweep along the incoupling site. Thereby, the individual beams are be controlled to generate a “sub-sweep” of the incoupling site, which enables a compact design of the illumination arrangement and/or use of comparatively simple sweep generating devices and/or identical re-direction components in the illumination arrangement.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus for determining a location of at least one object on a touch surface. The touch-sensitive apparatus extends in a direction of depth and comprises a light transmissive panel, a display arranged behind the light transmissive panel, and a first compartment and second compartment arranged behind the display. Light from a light emitter arrangement in the first compartment is introduced into the light transmissive panel for propagation by internal reflection. The light is thereafter coupled out to be received by a light detection arrangement in the second compartment. The first and second compartments are separated, such that light from the light emitter arrangement is prevented from reaching the light detection arrangement without first having propagated in the light transmissive panel.

Abstract: A digital pen is provided with an optical system with at least one sensor for capturing images of a patterned surface and at least one light source for illuminating the patterned surface when images are captured by the at least one sensor. In order to solve the problem that the sensor is sometimes blinded by specularly reflected light when the digital pen is used on a glossy surface, the optical system is adjustable between at least two image capturing states in which images are captured with a different geometrical arrangement of the at least one sensor and the at least one light source. As a supplement or alternative, the digital pen may illuminate the patterned surface with linearly polarized light having a first polarization direction and further be provided with a linear polarizer in front of the image sensor, which polarizer has a second different polarization direction, preventing specularly reflected light from reaching the sensor.

Abstract: A modular unit is designed for an electronic pen. The modular unit comprises a carrier (70) with a receiver for a writing implement, a printed circuit board (72), a two-dimensional radiation sensor (78) mounted on the printed circuit board, and an imaging unit (82) which defines an image plane. The carrier (70), the printed circuit board (72), and the imaging unit (82) are joined together with the imaging unit (82) facing the radiation sensor (78) to locate the image plane at the radiation sensor (78). The modular unit may comprise an analysis system dedicated to a particular optical analysis application, such as position determination based on images of a position-coding pattern. A radiation source, such as an LED or a laser diode, may be arranged on the printed circuit board or mounted in a holder on the imaging unit. The imaging unit (82) may be implemented as a boresight unit for controlling the spatial origin of radiation transmitted towards the radiation sensor (78).