Angularly-selective sensor-in-pixel image detection

An image-producing display panel configured for use with a multi-touch input display system, the image-producing display panel comprising:

• a display surface;
• a sensor layer comprising an array of sensor pixels configured to capture an image of an object touching the display surface;
• and
• an angularly-selective layer positioned between the display surface and the sensor layer, the angularly-selective layer comprising an array of angularly-selective pixel filters, each angularly-selective pixel optically aligned with a corresponding sensor pixel to filter light incident within a field of view of that sensor pixel, each angularly-selective pixel filter being configured to transmit to a first sensor pixel incidence infrared light having an incidence angle within a first, lower range of incidence angles with respect to a surface normal of the angularly-selective layer, and to reflect from a second sensor pixel incident infrared light having an incidence angle within a second, higher range of incidence angles with respect to the surface normal of the angularly-selective layer.

A method for capturing an image of an object touching a display surface of a display screen included in a display system using a sensor layer included in an image-producing display panel of the display system, the method comprising:

• edge-illuminating the display screen with infrared light from a local light source;
• receiving infrared light emitted by the local light source, reflected from the object, and transmitted through a reflection emission surface and toward an angularly-selective layer positioned between the sensor layer and the reflection emission surface;
• transmitting through the angularly-selective layer a greater portion of the infrared light having a first range of incidence angles with respect to a surface normal of the angularly-selective layer such that the first portion of infrared light reaches a first sensor pixel of the sensor layer, and reflecting a lesser portion of the infrared light having the first range of incidence angles;
• and
• reflecting from the angularly-selective layer a greater portion of the infrared light having a second range of incidence angles with respect to the surface normal of the angularly-selective layer, and transmitting a lesser portion of the infrared light having the second range of incidence angles.