Dual mode touch system
AssigneeSMART Technologies ULC
InventorsChi-Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Boone, Roberto A. L. Sirotich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for detecting a pointer includes a waveguide and a touch surface over the waveguide on which pointer contacts are to be made. At least one reflecting device extends along a first side of the waveguide and touch surface. The reflecting device defines an optical path between the interior of the waveguide and the region of interest above the touch surface. At least one imaging device looks across the touch surface and into the waveguide. The imaging device captures images of the region of interest and within the waveguide including reflections from the reflecting device.
Claims34
An apparatus for detecting a pointer comprising:
- a waveguide defining a touch surface and being formed of material that fluoresces in response to a beam of radiation output by a pointer that is directed into said waveguide via said touch surface resulting in a region of illumination being produced internally in said waveguide;
- a first reflective surface extending along a first side of said waveguide;
- and
- at least one imaging device looking internally into said waveguide and capturing images including said region of illumination and reflections of said region of illumination appearing in said first reflective surface.
A tablet for a touch system comprising:
- a waveguide defining a touch surface and being formed of material that fluoresces to produce a region of illumination therein in response to a beam of radiation directed into said waveguide via said input surface;
- a first reflective surface extending along a first side of said waveguide;
- and
- at least one lens through which an imaging device looks into said waveguide, wherein said at least one lens is defined by at least one shaped portion of said waveguide, said shaped portion being a smoothly curved cutout provided in said waveguide, said cutout including a highly polished surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.