TH76179A - Optical touch switches with highly tactile sensing surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

------06/03/2020------(OCR) Page 1 of 1. Abstract of the Invention. This invention relates to an optical touch switch, which is operated by touch and consists of a light source to illuminate the optical touch switch and provide light for detecting the force of a finger applied to the switch's contact surface; a device to control the direction and shape of the beam; at least one photoreceptor for detecting the light; a positional filter to control the size and direction of the beam and eliminate optical noise; a photofrequency filter to reduce optical noise; and an electronic circuit to detect changes in the electrical signal level obtained from the photoreceptor and to control the machine or electrical device to the desired operation. The optical touch switch structure according to the invention uses a transmitting, reflecting, and mixed architecture to detect changes in the amount of light when an obstruction, such as a finger, blocks the light movement. The beam above the contact area is rectangular in shape, parallel to the contact support, and covers the entire area of the contact area, resulting in a high ratio of the contact area to the optical system area. And because the beam in the touch sensing area floats above the area, less force is required to operate the switch, and the switch is also more sensitive to touch. ------------ DC60 (19/01/48) This invention relates to an optical touch switch, which is operated by touch, and consists of a light source to illuminate the optical touch switch and provide light for detecting the force of a finger acting on the switch's contact surface; a device to control the direction and shape of the beam; at least one photoreceptor to detect the light; a positional optical filter to control the size of the beam, the direction of the beam, and eliminate optical noise; an optical frequency filter to reduce optical noise; and an electronic circuit to detect changes in the electrical signal level obtained from the photoreceptor and to control the machine or electrical device to operate as desired. The structure of the optical touch switch according to the invention uses a transmitting, reflecting, and mixed architecture to detect changes in the amount of light when an obstruction, such as a finger, blocks the movement of the light. The beam above the touch sensing area is rectangular in shape, parallel to the contact support, and covers the entire area of the touch sensing region, resulting in a ratio of the touch sensing area. Due to the high area of the optical system, and because the beam above the touch sensing area floats above it, less force is required to activate the switch, resulting in higher touch sensitivity. This invention relates to an optical touch switch that operates by contact, comprising a light source to illuminate the optical touch switch and provide light for detecting the force of a finger applied to the switch's contact surface; a device to control the direction and shape of the beam; at least one photoreceptor for detecting the light; a positional filter to control the beam size, direction, and eliminate optical noise; a photofrequency filter to reduce optical noise; and an electronic circuit to detect changes in the electrical signal level obtained from the photoreceptor and to control the desired operation of the machine or electrical device. The optical touch switch structure described in the invention uses a transmitting, reflecting, and combined architecture to detect changes in the amount of light when an obstruction, such as a finger, blocks the light's movement. The beam above the touch sensing area is rectangular in shape, parallel to the contact support, and covers the entire area of the touch sensing region, resulting in a high ratio of the touch sensing area. In high-area light systems, because the light beam in the touch-sensitive area floats above it, less force is required to activate the switch, and the switch becomes more sensitive to touch.

Claims (20)

------06/03/2020------(OCR) Page 1 of 3 pages. Claims 1. An optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area, comprising a light source and photoreceiver, an imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement, a light absorber, a contact surface area, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal obtained from the photoreceiver to control the operation of the desired electrical machine or equipment. Such optical touch switch device is characterized by having at least one light source placed on both opposite edges of the contact surface area and several photoreceivers arranged in line with the light source, with an imaging system for controlling the beam size placed in front of the light source and photoreceivers on both sides, and light absorbers placed on the remaining sides of the contact surface area. 2. The optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area as described in Claims 1 includes at least two spherical lenses, each placed between the photoreceiver and the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement on each side to properly strike the photoreceiver. 3. The optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area described in Claim 1, the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement is a cylindrical lens.4. The optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area consists of a light source and photoreceiver, an imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement, a photoabsorber, a contact surface area, a reflective mirror, a spherical lens, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal obtained from the photoreceiver to control the operation of the desired machine or electrical equipment. Such optical touch switch device is characterized by having at least one light source placed at one edge of the contact surface area, with at least one photoreceiver on the same side as the light source. Between the photoreceiver and the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement is a spherical lens, and on the opposite side of the light source and photoreceiver of the contact surface area is a reflective mirror placed behind another imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement, with reflective mirrors on the remaining two sides. 5. The optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 4 has a flat reflective mirror. 6. The optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 4 has a cylindrical lens for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement. 7. The optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area consists of a light source and a light receiver, an imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement, a light absorber, a contact surface area, a reflective mirror, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal obtained from the light receiver to control the operation of the desired machinery or electrical equipment. Such optical touch switch device is characterized by at least one light source placed in the center of one edge of the contact surface area, with several light receivers placed on the same side as the light source, and an imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement placed in front of the light source and light receivers. On the opposite side of the contact surface area from the light source and light receivers, there is another reflective mirror placed behind the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement. The reflective mirror is perforated with another light-receiving device placed inside the hole, and there are reflective mirrors on the two remaining sides of the contact sensing area. 8. In the optical touch switch device with a large contact sensing surface as described in Reputation 7, the reflective mirror on the opposite side of the light source is a spherical curved mirror. 9. In the optical touch switch device with a large contact sensing surface as described in Reputation 7, the reflective mirror on the opposite side of the light source is a parabolic curved mirror. 10. In the optical touch switch device with a large contact sensing surface as described in Reputation 7, the reflective mirror on the opposite side of the light source is an elliptical curved mirror. 11. In the optical touch switch device with a large contact sensing surface as described in Reputation 7, the reflective mirror on the opposite side of the light source is a flat mirror. 12. In the optical touch switch device with a large contact sensing surface as described in Reputation 7, the reflective mirror on the opposite side of the light source is a flat mirror separated into two pieces with a light-receiving device in the middle. 13. The optical touch switch with a large contact surface area, as described in Claim 7, describes a system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement, consisting of a cylindrical lens (Page 3 of 3, page 14). This optical touch switch with a large contact surface area comprises a light source and photoreceiver, an imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement, a beam divider, a reflector, a contact surface area, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal from the photoreceiver to control the operation of the desired machinery or electrical equipment. Such optical touch switch is characterized by having at least one light source placed at one edge of the contact surface area, with a beam divider positioned between the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement and the light source. On the other side, several photoreceivers are arranged, with the imaging system for controlling the beam size positioned in front of these photoreceivers, and reflectors placed on either side of the remaining contact surface area.15. 15. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 14, the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of the beam is a cylindrical lens.16. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 14, the beam splitter is a grating.17. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 14, the beam splitter is an optical fiber.18. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 14, the beam splitter is a light waveguide.19. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 1, Reputation 4, Reputation 7, and Reputation 14, any one of these devices also includes an optical frequency filter in front of the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of the beam.20. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 1, Reputation 4, Reputation 7, and Reputation 14, any one of these devices also includes... A photoelectric filter is positioned behind the imaging system to control the beam size and direction of beam movement. It is placed at the focal point of the imaging system to control the beam size and direction of beam movement. 1. An optical touch switch is a device with a large contact surface area, comprising a light source and light receiver, a photoelectric control system for adjusting the beam size and direction, a light absorber, the contact area, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal obtained from the light receiver to control the operation of the desired machinery or electrical equipment. Such optical touch switches are characterized by at least one light source placed on both opposite edges of the contact area, and several light receivers aligned with the light source. A photoelectric control device for adjusting the beam size is placed in front of the light source and receivers on both sides, and light absorbers are placed on the remaining sides of the contact area. These light receivers are connected to an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal. 2. An optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 1 consists of at least two spherical lenses, each positioned between a photoreceptor and an imaging system to control the size and direction of the beam in each direction so that it falls appropriately on the photoreceptor. 3. In the optical contact switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 1, the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement is a cylindrical lens. 4. An optical touch switch with a large contact surface area consists of a light source and photoreceiver, an imaging system for controlling beam size and direction, a light absorber, the contact area, a reflector, a spherical lens, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal from the reflector to control the operation of the desired machinery or electrical equipment. Such an optical touch switch is characterized by at least one light source placed at one edge of the contact area, with at least one photoreceiver on the same side as the light source. Between the photoreceiver and the imaging system for controlling beam size and direction, a spherical lens is placed on the opposite side of the light source and photoreceiver. A reflector is placed behind the imaging system for controlling beam size and direction, and further reflectors are positioned on the remaining sides of the contact area. These photoreceivers are connected to an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal. 5. An optical touch switch device with a touch-sensitive surface area as described in claim 4, a reflective flat mirror. 6. In the optical contact switching device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 4, the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement is a cylindrical lens. 7. An optical touch switch with a large contact surface consists of a light source and light receivers, an imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction, a light absorber, the contact area, a reflector, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal from the receiver to control the operation of the desired machine or electrical device. Such an optical touch switch has the following characteristics: at least one light source is placed in the center of one edge of the contact area; several light receivers are placed on the same side as the light source, with the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction positioned in front of the light source and receivers; on the opposite side of the contact area from the light source and receivers, there is a reflector placed behind the imaging system, and another reflector is placed in a hole; and there are additional reflectors on the remaining sides of the contact area. All of these light receivers are connected to an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal. 8. An optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 7, a reflective mirror located opposite the spherical light source. 9. In an optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 7, the reflective mirror located on the opposite side of the light source is a parabolic mirror. 10. An optical touch switch device with a large contact-sensing surface as described in claim 7, the reflective mirror located on the opposite side of the light source is an elliptical curved mirror. 11. An optical touch switch device with a large contact-sensing surface as described in claim 7, the reflective mirror located on the opposite side of the light source is a flat mirror. 12. An optical touch switch device with a large contact-sensing surface as described in claim 7, the reflective mirror located on the opposite side of the light source is a flat mirror separated into two pieces with a photoreceptor in the middle. 13. In the optical contact switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 7, the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement is a cylindrical lens. 14. An optical contact switch with a large contact surface area, comprising a light source and photodetector, a time divider for controlling beam size and direction, a reflector, a contact area, and an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal from the photodetector to control the operation of the desired machinery or electrical equipment. Such an optical contact switch is characterized by at least one light source placed at one upper edge of the contact area, with a time divider positioned between the optical control system for beam size and direction control and the light source. On the other side, several photodetectors are arranged, with the optical control system for beam size control positioned in front of them, and reflectors placed on the other two sides of the contact area. These photodetectors are connected to an electronic control circuit for detecting changes in the electrical signal. 15. The optical contact switch device with a large contact surface area as described in claim 14, the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement is a cylindrical lens. 16. An optical contact switching device with a large contact sensing surface as described in claim 14, the beam divider is a grating. 17. An optical contact switching device with a large contact sensing surface as described in claim 14, a beam divider, is an optical fiber. 18. An optical contact switching device with a large contact sensing surface as described in claim 14, the beam divider is an optical waveguide. 19. One of the optical touch switch devices with a large contact surface area as described in Reputation 1, Reputation 4, Reputation 7, and Reputation 14 also includes an optical frequency filter located in front of the imaging system for controlling the beam size and direction of beam movement. 20. An optical touch switch device with a large contact surface area, as described in one of the claims 1, 4, 7, and 14, also includes a positional optical filter placed behind the imaging system to control the beam size and direction of the beam, positioned at the focal point of the imaging system.