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US 12,650,742 B2Granted
Interactive display surfaces
AssigneeTouchwood Labs, Inc.
InventorsGaurav Asthana, Matthew Dworman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Touch responsive displays that may be integrated into a wide variety of non-transparent surfaces to provide on-demand human computer interfaces that blend with the environment, i.e., remain invisible unless activated, effectively adding digital user interfaces (UI) to non-technology products and surfaces. The interactive display devices are frameless assemblies of a sensor layer, a light layer, and a support layer housing a microcontroller, wherein the device is configured to be positioned beneath a non-transparent surface layer with the sensor or light layer arranged below the surface layer.
Claims21
An interactive display device comprising:
- a non-transparent surface layer;
- a light layer arranged on an underside of the non-transparent surface layer and comprising a plurality of light elements configured to render digital information and sense for touch and proximity inputs;
- a support layer arranged beneath the light layer and forming the bottom surface of the device;
- and
- a microcontroller supported in a recess within the support layer or mounted on a surface of the device, the microcontroller having a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions, a memory storing the computer-executable instructions, and a wireless transceiver circuit in communication with the processor,
- wherein the light layer and the plurality of light elements are not visible through the non-transparent surface layer when the light layer is inactive and the digital information from the plurality of light elements become visible through the non-transparent surface layer when the light layer is active, and
- wherein each light element of the plurality of light elements individually comprises photodiodes, wherein a photodiode having the longest wavelength is configured to operate in sensing mode (sensing photodiode) and remaining photodiodes are configured to operate in emitting mode (emitting photodiodes),
- wherein the emitting photodiodes are configured to render the digital information,
- wherein the sensing photodiode senses light intensity emitted by the emitting photodiodes that is reflected back to the sensing photodiode by the underside of the non-transparent surface layer thereby providing touch and proximity sensing, and differentiating between the presence and absence of objects placed a top surface of the non-transparent surface layer opposite from the underside thereof, wherein the objects are conductive or non-conductive,
- wherein the processor is configured:
- to receive input signals from the sensing photodiode in each of the individual light elements to determine the presence and position of objects proximate to or placed on the top surface of the non-transparent surface layer and generate responsive output signals to the emitting photodiodes in each of the individual light elements corresponding to digital information to be rendered on the light layer and visible through the non-transparent surface layer,
- monitor operation of the plurality of light elements and detect electrical interference generated by active light elements,
- use an AI model to distinguish between genuine touch inputs and the electrical interference caused by the active light elements,
- relay information about the active light elements to the touch sensor to dynamically adjust a sensitivity or calibration settings of the touch sensor to isolate the electrical interference from the genuine touch inputs.
11 more elements
An interactive display device comprising:
- a touch sensor layer;
- a light layer comprising a plurality of light elements configured to render digital information and sense for proximity inputs;
- a substantially transparent insulation layer arranged between the touch sensor and light layers, wherein the insulation layer is a solid layer having no apertures;
- a support layer arranged beneath the light layer and forming the bottom surface of the device;
- and
- a microcontroller supported in a recess within the support layer or mounted on a surface of the device, the microcontroller having a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions, a memory storing the computer-executable instructions, and a wireless transceiver circuit in communication with the processor,
- wherein the touch sensor layer comprises a conductive material arranged on a top surface of the insulation layer,
- wherein the device is configured to be positioned directly beneath a non-transparent surface layer with the touch sensor layer proximate to a bottom surface of the non-transparent surface layer,
- wherein the light layer and the plurality of light elements are not visible through the non-transparent surface layer when the light layer is inactive and light from the plurality of light elements become visible through the non-transparent surface layer when the light layer is active,
- wherein each light element of the plurality of light elements individually comprises photodiodes, wherein a photodiode having the longest wavelength is configured to operate in sensing mode (sensing photodiode) and remaining photodiodes are configured to operate in emitting mode (emitting photodiodes),
- wherein the emitting photodiodes are configured to render the digital information, and
- wherein the sensing photodiode senses light intensity emitted by the emitting photodiodes that is reflected back to the sensing photodiode by the underside of the non-transparent surface layer thereby providing touch and proximity sensing, and differentiating between the presence and absence of objects placed a top surface of the non-transparent surface layer opposite from the underside thereof, wherein the objects are conductive or non-conductive,
- wherein the processor is configured:
- to receive input signals from the sensing photodiode in each of the individual light elements to determine the presence and position of objects proximate to or placed on the top surface of the non-transparent surface layer and generate responsive output signals to the emitting photodiodes in each of the individual light elements corresponding to digital information to be rendered on the light layer and visible through the non-transparent surface layer,
- monitor operation of the plurality of light elements and detect electrical interference generated by active light elements,
- use an AI model to distinguish between genuine touch inputs and the electrical interference caused by the active light elements,
- relay information about the active light elements to the touch sensor to dynamically adjust a sensitivity or calibration settings of the touch sensor to isolate the electrical interference from the genuine touch inputs.
14 more elements
An interactive display device comprising:
- a touch sensor layer;
- a light layer comprising a plurality of light elements configured to render digital information and sense for proximity inputs;
- a substantially transparent insulation layer arranged between the touch sensor and light layers, wherein the insulation layer is a solid layer having no apertures;
- and
- a support layer arranged beneath the light layer and forming the bottom surface of the device;
- wherein the touch sensor layer comprises a conductive material arranged on a top surface of the insulation layer,
- wherein the device is configured to be positioned directly beneath a non-transparent surface layer with the touch sensor layer proximate to a bottom surface of the non-transparent surface layer,
- wherein the light layer and the plurality of light elements are not visible through the non-transparent surface layer when the light layer is inactive and light from the plurality of light elements become visible through the non-transparent surface layer when the light layer is active,
- wherein each light element of the plurality of light elements individually comprises photodiodes, wherein a photodiode having the longest wavelength is configured to operate in sensing mode (sensing photodiode) and remaining photodiodes are configured to operate in emitting mode (emitting photodiodes),
- wherein the emitting photodiodes are configured to render the digital information, and
- wherein the sensing photodiode senses light intensity emitted by the emitting photodiodes that is reflected back to the sensing photodiode by the underside of the non-transparent surface layer thereby providing touch and proximity sensing, and differentiating between the presence and absence of objects placed a top surface of the non-transparent surface layer opposite from the underside thereof, wherein the objects are conductive or non-conductive,
- wherein the touch sensor layer comprises a capacitive touch sensor having a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the conductive material and spaced apart at predetermined intervals, and an electronic input-output control system configured to receive an input signal from the capacitive touch sensor and generate an output signal responsive thereto that is receivable by a processor, wherein the conductive material comprises at least one of metal nanowires or traces arranged in a grid, and wherein the touch sensor is configured to generate the input signal related to a touch position on the touch sensor layer, and
- wherein the conductive material in the touch sensor layer provides a (i) heating mode that generates heat through Joule heating when a current is applied, wherein the amount of heat generated is controlled by adjusting the current supplied to the nanowires, and (ii) and a touch sensing mode configured to detect touch inputs by forming a capacitive network with a plurality of electrodes, wherein the capacitance is sensitive to proximity or contact of a conductive object.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.