Photon Sensor Lens Array for Contactless Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
User interface systems with touch-sensitive surfaces face issues such as rapid dirt accumulation, hygiene concerns, and operational impairment when users wear gloves, and existing contactless detection systems either alter the display quality or increase bulk.
Innovation Solution
A user interface system integrating rows of photon sensors with lenses that cover the display device, where each lens has a non-planar surface with a central portion covering at least one pixel and peripheral portions covering photon sensors, allowing for contactless actuation member detection without compromising display quality or increasing thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the detection device covers the display screen or is integrated to it, then contactless detection is enabled, but the display quality is altered and the detection surface becomes visible to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device is segmented into multiple photodetector elements arranged in rows, with each photodetector covered by a corresponding lens. This segmentation allows the detection function to be distributed across multiple points rather than requiring a continuous opaque layer, maintaining display quality while enabling contactless detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Lenses are introduced as intermediary elements between the photodetectors and the external environment. The lenses focus light onto the photodetectors while being transparent to the display pixels, allowing the detection device to function without obstructing the display quality or becoming visible to users.
2Manufacturing precision
If light-emitting diodes and photodetectors are arranged on the screen sides, then display quality is maintained, but the bulk and thickness of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The photodetectors and lenses are merged into a single integrated layer structure that can be positioned close to the display screen. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate components on opposite sides of the display, significantly reducing the overall system thickness while maintaining display quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device is repositioned from a three-dimensional arrangement with components on opposite sides of the display to a two-dimensional integrated layer. This dimensional change allows the photodetectors and lenses to be placed within the same plane as the display pixels, reducing the thickness requirement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective detection of actuation member position variations without disturbing the display operation or altering the image quality, suitable for various display types and detection devices, including those using organic or inorganic semiconductor materials.
Implementation Method 1
lenses, each lens covering, except for the central portion of the lens, at least partially a row of photon sensors
Implementation Method 2
rows of photon sensors for the detection of an actuation member
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface system having rows of photon sensors for detecting an actuating body and lenses, each lens at least partially covering, with the exception of the central portion of the lens, a row of photon sensors.