Planar waveguide lens design

An input device for an electronic device comprising:

• at least one light source;
• at least one light detector to detect light intensity at a plurality of light detecting elements;
• an input area defining a plane;
• and
• a waveguide structure including a plurality of waveguides with associated slab regions composed of a first material with first refractive index, each slab region providing a planar extension of its associated waveguide, wherein:
• each of said associated slab regions has a substantially straight end face, and at least one converging lens located within;
• said light source couples light into a first set of waveguides with associated first set of slab regions of said waveguide structure;
• said first set of waveguides directs the light into said associated first set of slab regions;
• said converging lenses focus the light in the plane of the input area to produce a first grid of light beams;
• said first grid of light beams traverses the input area in a first direction and is directed to the light detecting elements of said light detector by a second set of waveguides with associated second set of slab regions of said waveguide structure;
• said light source couples light into a third set of waveguides with associated third set of slab regions of said waveguide structure;
• said third set of waveguides directs the light into said associated third set of slab regions;
• said converging lenses focus the light in the plane of the input area to produce a second grid of light beams;
• said second grid of light beams traverses the input area in a second direction, different to the first direction, and is directed to the light detecting elements of said light detector by a fourth set of waveguides with associated fourth set of slab regions of said waveguide structure;
• and
• each light beam is focused to a point located within said input area.

An input device for an electronic device, said input device comprising:

• an input area;
• a slab waveguide formed from a first material, said slab waveguide having a first end and a second end and having a converging lens located therein;
• an optical waveguide having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end being in optical communication with said first end of said slab waveguide, wherein said second end of said slab waveguide is straight and substantially parallel to a side of said input area;
• and
• an optical source in optical communication with said distal end of said optical waveguide, the arrangement being such that, in use, light from said optical source is guided in said optical waveguide to said slab waveguide, focused in the plane of said input area by said converging lens, and launched across said input area from said second end of said slab waveguide, wherein said converging lens is configured to focus said light to a point within said input area.

An input device for an electronic device, said input device comprising:

• an input area;
• a plurality of slab waveguides formed from a first material, each said slab waveguide having a first end and a second end and having a converging lens located therein;
• a like plurality of optical waveguides each having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal ends being in optical communication with said first ends of corresponding slab waveguides, wherein said second ends of said slab waveguides are straight and substantially parallel to a side of said input area;
• and
• an optical source in optical communication with said distal ends of said optical waveguides, the arrangement being such that, in use, light from said optical source is guided in said optical waveguides to said slab waveguides, focused in the plane of said input area by said converging lenses, and launched across said input area from said second ends of said slab waveguides, wherein each said converging lens is configured to focus said light to a point within said input area.

An input device for an electronic device, said input device comprising:

• an input area;
• a slab waveguide formed from a first material, said slab waveguide having a first end and a second end and having a converging lens located therein;
• an optical waveguide having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end being in optical communication with said first end of said slab waveguide, wherein said second end of said slab waveguide is straight and substantially parallel to a side of said input area;
• an optical source adapted to launch light across said input area towards said second end of said slab waveguide;
• and
• a detector in optical communication with said distal end of said optical waveguide, wherein said converging lens is configured to collect light emanating from a focal point within said input area and focus said light into said optical waveguide, and said optical waveguide guides said light to said detector.

An input device for an electronic device, said input device comprising:

• an input area;
• a plurality of slab waveguides formed from a first material, each said slab waveguide having a first end and a second end and having a converging lens located therein;
• a like plurality of optical waveguides each having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal ends being in optical communication with said first ends of corresponding slab waveguides, wherein said second ends of said slab waveguides are straight and substantially parallel to a side of said input area;
• an optical source adapted to launch light across said input area towards said second ends of said slab waveguides;
• and
• a multi-element detector in optical communication with said distal ends of said optical waveguides, wherein each said converging lens is configured to collect light emanating from a focal point within said input area and focus said light into a corresponding optical waveguide, and said optical waveguides guide said light to elements of said multi-element detector.