# US 2014/0192026 A1 · Multi-transducer waveguide arrays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192026 A1 - Document ID: US20140192026A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,697 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Daniel H. Scharff; Joel C. Kent - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192026A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0436: {in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Systems and related methods providing for touch sensors having segmented reflective arrays including waveguide cores are discussed herein. A touch sensor may include a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves. The substrate may include two or more segmented reflective arrays. A segmented reflective array may include a major reflective array configured to propagate surface acoustic waves and a waveguide core configured to concentrate acoustic energy of the surface acoustic waves. Two segmented reflective arrays may further include adjacent portions that define an overlap region of the substrate. In some embodiments, the segmented reflective array may further include a beam dump configured to decrease intensity of surface acoustic wave propagation past the end of the segmented reflective array. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic touch apparatus, comprising: a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves, the substrate having: a first segmented reflective array, comprising: a first major reflective array configured to propagate a first portion of surface acoustic waves in a first direction defining a first beginning and a first end of the first major reflective array; and a first waveguide core configured to concentrate acoustic energy of the first portion of surface acoustic waves; a second segmented reflective array, comprising: a second major reflective array configured to propagate a second portion of surface acoustic waves in a second direction defining a second beginning and a second end of the second major reflective array; and a second waveguide core configured to concentrate acoustic energy of the second portion of surface acoustic waves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first end of the first major reflective array extends beyond the second end of the second major reflective array, thereby defining a first adjacent portion of the first major reflective array; the second end of the second major reflective array extends beyond the first end of the first major reflective array, thereby defining a second adjacent portion of the second major reflective array; and the first adjacent portion and the second adjacent portion define an overlap region of the substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first adjacent portion includes the first waveguide core; and the second adjacent portion includes the second waveguide core. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first direction is antiparallel to the second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a beam dump disposed at the first end of the first major reflective array configured to decrease intensity of surface acoustic wave propagation in the first direction past the first end of the first major reflective array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 5, wherein the beam dump comprises a solid waveguide core deflector configured to redirect surface acoustic waves away from a transducer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 5, wherein the beam dump comprises a reflector grating configured to dampen surface acoustic waves propagating in the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 5, wherein the beam dump comprises an acoustically absorptive layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first waveguide core is defined at least partially by a solid core waveguide in the first adjacent portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first waveguide core is defined at least partially by waveguide reflector elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first major reflective array defines a first non-adjacent portion of the first major reflective array having a major width dimension; the first adjacent portion defines an adjacent width dimension smaller than the major width dimension; and the first major reflective array defines a first transition portion between the first non-adjacent portion and the first adjacent portion having a transition width dimension that tapers from the major width dimension to the adjacent width dimension in the first direction along the first major reflective array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first waveguide core comprises a solid core waveguide in the first transition portion and the first adjacent portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the solid core waveguide defines a first waveguide width dimension in the first adjacent portion and a second waveguide width dimension in the first transition portion; and the first waveguide width dimension is larger than the second waveguide width dimension. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second waveguide width dimension increases in the first direction within the first transition portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the solid core waveguide defines a waveguide centerline; and the solid core waveguide is positioned relative to the first major reflective array such that the waveguide centerline is within a center third of the transition width dimension. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the first major reflective array includes reflector elements each having a reflector angle; and a reflector angle of a first reflector element in the first transition portion is different from a reflector angle of a second reflector element in the first adjacent portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the second major reflective array defines a second non-adjacent portion of the second major reflective array having the major width dimension; the second adjacent portion defines the adjacent width dimension; and the second major reflective array defines a second transition portion between the second non-adjacent portion and the second adjacent portion having a second transition width dimension that tapers from the major width dimension to the adjacent width dimension in the second direction along the second major reflective array. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The acoustic touch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first adjacent portion and the second adjacent portion collectively define a collective adjacent width dimension that is the same as or smaller than the major width dimension. ### Claim 19 An acoustic touch apparatus, comprising: a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves, the substrate having: at least eight acoustic wave transducers; and at least eight segmented reflective arrays, each segmented reflective array including: a major reflective array configured to propagate surface acoustic waves; and a waveguide core configured to concentrate acoustic energy of the surface acoustic waves. ### Claim 20 An acoustic touch apparatus, comprising: a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves, the substrate having: at least six acoustic wave transducers; and at least six reflective arrays, wherein at least four of the at least six reflective arrays are segmented reflective arrays that each includes: a major reflective array configured to propagate surface acoustic waves; and a waveguide core configured to concentrate acoustic energy of the surface acoustic waves.