Touch display with switchable infrared illumination for touch position determination and methods thereof

A method of operating an electronic touch display, the method comprising:

• detecting a touch event on a display device in response to at least one of a plurality of light sensors that are coupled to the display device indicating detection of a user object touching the display device;
• in response to detecting the touch event, turning on an infrared light source that is coupled to the display device and configured to emit infrared light through the display device to illuminate the adjacent user object;
• and
• identifying a user touch position on the display device in response to signal levels from a plurality of the light sensors sensing infrared light from the infrared light source which is reflected by the user object to the plurality of the light sensors.

A communications terminal comprising:

• a controller that is configured to generate an alert signal in response to an incoming wireless call and/or incoming wireless message to the communications terminal;
• a display device;
• a plurality of light sensors spaced apart and coupled to the display device;
• an infrared light source coupled to the display device and configured to emit infrared light through the display device to illuminate an adjacent user object that is touching the display device;
• a switch circuit that is configured to turn on the infrared light source in response to at least one of the light sensors indicating detection of the user object touching the display device and/or in response to the alert signal;
• and
• a touch position circuit that is configured to identify a user touch position on the display device in response to signal levels from a plurality of the light sensors sensing infrared light from the infrared light source which is reflected by the user object to the plurality of the light sensors.