Touch Panel Scanline Broadening With Diffusive Light Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensitive panels face issues with detectability, accuracy, jitter, and object size classification due to suboptimal scanline width and component count, leading to increased complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a diffusive light scattering element and an angular filter structure in the light path to control and tailor light propagation, allowing for broader scanlines and reduced component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If more emitters and detectors are added to improve detection accuracy for small objects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of existing components by introducing a diffusive light scattering element that modifies the light path characteristics. This transforms narrow scanlines into broader scanlines, improving detection accuracy without adding more emitters or detectors, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusive light scattering element acts as an intermediary component between the emitters and the touch surface. It modifies the light propagation characteristics to broaden scanlines, enabling improved detection accuracy with the same number of optical components, thereby avoiding increased device complexity
2Device complexity
If the number of optical components is reduced to lower system cost, then device complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy and resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the light path by incorporating a diffusive light scattering element, which broadens the scanline width. This parameter change enables the system to maintain or improve detection accuracy while using fewer optical components, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If scanline width is increased to improve detectability and accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but the number of optical components must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusive light scattering element serves as an intermediary that broadens scanlines by modifying light propagation. This allows the system to achieve increased scanline width and improved measurement precision without increasing the number of optical components, resolving the identified technical contradiction
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
Improves detectability, accuracy, and resolution while minimizing the number of optical components, resulting in a more compact and cost-effective touch-sensing apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a diffusive light scattering element arranged in the light path
Implementation Method 2
the emitted light enters the light guide component at a first surface and exits the light guide component at a second surface
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a panel that defines a touch surface, a plurality of emitters and detectors arranged along a perimeter of the light transmissive panel, and a light directing arrangement arranged adjacent the perimeter. The emitters are arranged to emit a respective beam of emitted light and the light directing arrangement is arranged to direct the light along a light path from the emitters to the touch surface. A diffusive light scattering element is arranged in the light path.