System for Providing a Frustrated Total Internal Reflection Touch Interface

Abstract

A system for providing a touch interface on a display are described. The system include providing an emitter on a first side of the display and providing a detector on a second side of the display. The emitter provides an electromagnetic signal to the display. The electromagnetic signal has a path from the emitter to the detector through the display in the absence of a user's touch such that the electromagnetic signal is detected by the detector in the absence of the user's touch. The path includes at least one total internal reflection in the display. The emitter and the detector are configured such that the user's touch at any of the at least one total internal reflection alters the path such that a portion of the electromagnetic signal does not reach the detector.

1 . A system for providing a touch interface including a display comprising:
 an emitter on a first side of the display, the emitter providing an electromagnetic signal to the display, wherein the display is transparent; and   a detector on a second side of the display, the display providing the electromagnetic signal a path from the emitter to the detector through the display in the absence of a detectable touch such that the electromagnetic signal is detected by the detector in the absence of the detectable touch, the path including at least one total internal reflection in the display;   wherein the emitter and the detector are configured such that the detectable touch when at any of the at least one total internal reflection is detectable such that a portion of the electromagnetic signal transmitted along the path does not reach the detector.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further including:
 a barrier corresponding to the emitter, the barrier residing between the emitter and the display, the barrier for blocking a zero mode path between the emitter and the detector for the electromagnetic signal.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  further including:
 a detector barrier corresponding to the detector, the detector barrier residing between the detector and the display, the detector barrier for blocking a zero mode path between the emitter and the detector for the electromagnetic signal.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the display includes a third side having an interface between the display and air. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second side is opposite to the first side. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the detector indicating that the portion of the electromagnetic signal failed to reach the detector corresponds to the detectable touch. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first side and the second side of the display includes at least one beveled edge. 
   
   
       8 . A system for providing a touch interface having a display comprising:
 a plurality of emitters on a first side of the display, each of the plurality of emitters providing an electromagnetic signal to the display, wherein the display is transparent;   a plurality of detectors on a second side of the display, the electromagnetic signal having a path from each of the plurality of emitters to a corresponding detector of the plurality of detectors through the display in the absence of a detectable touch such that the electromagnetic signal is detected by the corresponding detector in the absence of the detectable touch, the path including at least one total internal reflection in the display;   a plurality of barriers corresponding to the plurality of emitters, the plurality of barriers residing between the plurality of emitters and the display, each of the plurality of barriers for blocking a zero mode path between the emitter and the corresponding detector for the electromagnetic signal;   a plurality of detector barriers corresponding to the plurality of detectors, the plurality of detector barriers residing between the plurality of detectors and the display, each of the plurality of detector barriers for blocking the zero mode path between the emitter and the corresponding detector for the electromagnetic signal   wherein the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors are configured such that the detectable touch at any of the at least one total internal reflection is detectable as a portion of the electromagnetic signal transmitted along the path does not reach the corresponding detector.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first plurality of emitters on a third side of the display, each of the first plurality of emitters providing a first electromagnetic signal to the display;   a first plurality of detectors on a fourth side of the display, the fourth side opposing the third side, the first electromagnetic signal having a first path from each of the first plurality of emitters to a corresponding first detector of the first plurality of detectors through the display in the absence of the detectable touch such that the first electromagnetic signal is detected in the absence of the detectable touch, the path including at least one additional total internal reflection in the display;   a first plurality of barriers corresponding to the first plurality of emitters, the first plurality of barriers residing between the first plurality of emitters and the display, the first plurality of barriers for blocking a first zero mode path between the first plurality of emitters and the first plurality of detectors for the first electromagnetic signal,   a first plurality of detector barriers corresponding to the first plurality of detectors, the first plurality of detector barriers residing between the first plurality of detectors and the display, each of the first plurality of detector barriers for blocking the zero mode path between the first emitter and the first corresponding detector for the electromagnetic signal   wherein the first plurality of emitters and the first plurality of detectors are configured such that the detectable touch at one of the at least one additional total internal reflections is detectable as the first electromagnetic signal transmitted along the path does not reach the corresponding first detector.