EP0365232A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Integrated liquid crystal display and optical touch panel
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A flat panel liquid crystal display (12) with an integrated touch panel has a multitude of pixels (28) arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows. The pixels (28) of the first column (54) and last column (66), and of the first row (60) and of the last row (72) are controlled in conjunction with emitters (52, 58) and detectors (64, 70) with associated mirrors (74, 80, 82, 84) to create a sequence of light beams that extend across the display panel (12) in both the X and Y directions. Whenever a stylus (86) is placed near the display panel, two orthogonal light beams are interrupted corresponding to the X and Y positions of the stylus (86) relative to the display panel (12).
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Meadows
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/0412; G06F3/042; G06F3/0421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A display panel having means for identifying a location on a display surface thereof having first and second opposed side margins, comprising light emitting means for emitting a light beam in a direction transverse to the display surface, first light directing means positioned adjacent the first side margin and receiving the light beam for directing it across and proximal to the display surface, and light detecting means positioned adjacent the second side margin and receiving the light beam directed by the first light reflecting means for detecting the presence of the light beam incident to the light detecting means, thereby to indicate whether the light beam is interrupted at a location along a path the light beam travels between the first and second side margins of the display surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A display panel having means for identifying a location on a display surface thereof having first and second opposed side margins, comprising light emitting means for emitting a light beam in a direction transverse to the display surface, first light directing means positioned adjacent the first side margin and receiving the light beam for directing it across and proximal to the display surface, and light detecting means positioned adjacent the second side margin and receiving the light beam directed by the first light reflecting means for detecting the presence of the light beam incident to the light detecting means, thereby to indicate whether the light beam is interrupted at a location along a path the light beam travels between the first and second side margins of the display surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A display panel according to Claim 1, wherein the display surface is operable for displaying an image formed by a flat panel display device having at least one row of display elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A display panel according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first light directing means includes a light-reflective surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A display panel according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the light emitting means is positioned behind the display surface and adjacent the first side margin and wherein first light directing means is positioned in front of the display surface, the light emitting means directing the light beam through the display surface toward the first light directing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A display panel according to any preceding Claim, wherein the light detecting means is positioned behind the display surface and adjacent the second side margin and a second light directing means is positioned in front of the display surface and adjacent the second side margin, the second light directing means directing the light beam through the display surface toward the light detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A display panel according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the display surface is operable for displaying an image and comprises a liquid crystal display device having an array of display elements that are switchable between first and second optical states.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A display panel, according to Claim 6, wherein said array of display elements includes a first group of elements positioned on one side of the array to selectively transmit the light emitted by the light emitting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A display panel according to Claim 7, wherein the first group of elements is controllable for selectively transmitting the light through one of the elements in the first group and for simultaneously not transmitting the light through remaining elements in the first group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A display panel according to Claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the array of display elements includes a second group of elements positioned on another side of the array, and wherein the apparatus further comprises second reflection means receiving the light detected across the array of display elements by the first reflection means for directing the light toward the second group of elements, each element of the second group of elements being controllable for selectively transmitting toward the detection means the light reflected by the second reflection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A display panel according to Claim 9, wherein the first and second groups of elements are controllable for selectively transmitting the light through corresponding ones of the elements in the first and second groups and for simultaneously not transmitting the light through remaining elements in the first and second groups.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
An integrated display and optical touch panel apparatus, comprising: (a) a display panel having a plurality of elements arranged in a matrix of multiple columns and multiple rows; (b) emitter means associated with a first column of elements for projecting light toward those elements,the first column of elements being controllable for assuming a transparent state and an opaque state, the light propagating through any one of the first column of elements that is in the transparent state; (c) reflection means for directing across the surface of the display panel light propagating through any element in the first column of elements; and (d) detection means for detecting the light reflected by the reflection means and for providing a signal indicative thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
An integrated display and optical touch panel apparatus, comprising: (a) a display panel having a plurality of elements arranged in a matrix of multiple columns and multiple rows; (b) emitter means associated with a first column of elements for projecting light toward those elements,the first column of elements being controllable for assuming a transparent state and an opaque state, the light propagating through any one of the first column of elements that is in the transparent state; (c) reflection means for directing across the surface of the display panel light propagating through any element in the first column of elements; and (d) detection means for detecting the light reflected by the reflection means and for providing a signal indicative thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein the detection means includes a second reflection means for redirecting the light reflected by the reflection means toward a second column of elements, the second column of elements being controllable for assuming a transparent state and an opaque state, the light redirected by the second reflection means propagating through an element in the second column whenever that element is in the transparent state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein the reflection means and second reflection means are mirrors mounted on opposing sides of the panel, the mirrors defining an optical path along which light passing through a first pixel in the transparent state that is in the first column is directed to a second pixel that is in the second column of elements, wherein the first and second pixel are in the same row.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of Claim 11, further including column control means for controlling the first column of elements so that only one element is in a transparent state at any time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of Claim 11, further including: second emitter means associated with a first row of elements for projecting light toward those elements, the first row of elements being controllable for assuming a transparent state and an opaque state, the light propagating through any one of the first row of elements that is in the transparent state; third reflection means for directing across the surface of the display panel light propagating through any element in the first row of elements; second detection means for detecting the light reflected by the second reflection means and for providing a signal indicative thereof; and row control means for controlling the first row of elements so that only one element is in a transparent state at any time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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