# US 2014/0192023 A1 · Proximity and touch sensing surface for integration with a display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192023 A1 - Document ID: US20140192023A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/025,660 - Filed: 2013-09-12 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: David Hoffman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192023A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0423: {using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror} - G06F 3/042: by opto-electronic means - G06F 3/0421: {by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen} - G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup - G06F 2203/04106: Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection - G06F 2203/04109: FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system and method for hover detection and touch detection in a display. In one embodiment, a first set of infrared (IR) emitters illuminates the interior of a transparent layer and the IR light is confined to the interior of the layer by total internal reflection, unless an object, such as a finger, touches the surface of the layer. Additional IR emitters at a different wavelength illuminate the volume outside of the display for hover detection. Two sets of wavelength-selective IR sensors, such as quantum dot sensors, are embedded in the display and are used to localize one or more fingers touching, or hovering near, the display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for sensing proximity to, and touching of, a transparent layer having two principal surfaces, the layer forming the outer surface of a display, the system comprising: a first emitter of light, configured to emit light at a first infrared wavelength into a region between the two principal surfaces; a plurality of second emitters of light, configured to emit light at a second infrared wavelength differing from the first infrared wavelength and to illuminate a volume exterior to the display; a plurality of first sensors in the interior of the display, configured to sense light at the first infrared wavelength; and a plurality of second sensors, configured to sense light at the second infrared wavelength. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a processing unit configured to: receive signals from the plurality of first sensors; determine whether an object is in contact with the layer; and identify a region of the layer in which the object is in contact with the layer when an object is in contact with the layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a processing unit configured to: receive signals from the plurality of second sensors; determine whether an object is in the volume exterior to the display; and estimate the position of the object within the volume exterior to the display when an object is in the volume exterior to the display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the illumination of each of the plurality of second emitters of light. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to: turn on a first subset of the plurality of second emitters of light at the beginning of a time interval; turn off the first subset of the plurality of second emitters of light at the end of the time interval; and estimate the position of the object within the volume exterior to the display from changes, in the signals received from the plurality of second sensors, at the beginning and end of the time interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to: turn on a first subset of the plurality of second emitters of light during a first time interval; turn on a second subset of the plurality of second emitters of light during a second time interval; and estimate the position of the object within the volume exterior to the display from the signals received from the plurality of second sensors during the first time interval and from the signals received from the plurality of second sensors during the second time interval. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to turn on subsets of the plurality of second emitters to create a raster pattern of illumination. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to turn on subsets of the plurality of second emitters to create a horizontal sweep of illumination; and turn on subsets of the plurality of second emitters to create a vertical sweep of illumination. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to estimate the position of the object within the volume exterior to the display; and turn on a subset of the plurality of second emitters, the subset being near the estimated position of the object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor of the plurality of first sensors comprises a quantum dot detector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first sensors comprises an optical filter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor of the plurality of first sensors comprises: a first quantum dot detector having a first cutoff frequency; and a second quantum dot detector having a second cutoff frequency. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor of the plurality of second sensors comprises a quantum dot detector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second sensors comprises an optical filter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor of the plurality of second sensors comprises: a first quantum dot detector having a first cutoff frequency; and a second quantum dot detector having a second cutoff frequency. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a processing unit configured to: receive signals from the plurality of second sensors; and determine where an object exterior to the display is from the point spread function of light reflected from the object and sensed by the plurality of second sensors. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second emitters of light are configured to be turned off when the system is operating in a low-power mode. ### Claim 18 A method for sensing proximity to, and touching of, a transparent layer having two principal surfaces, the layer forming the outer surface of a display, the method comprising: emitting light at a first infrared wavelength, by a first emitter of light, into a region between the two principal surfaces; emitting light at a second infrared wavelength differing from the first infrared wavelength, by a plurality of second emitters of light, illuminating a volume exterior to the display; sensing light at the first infrared wavelength, by a plurality of first sensors in the interior of the display; and sensing light at the second infrared wavelength, by a plurality of second sensors.