US 11,720,210 B2
Optical input devices
David Lomas, Blunsdon (GB)
Assigned to Uniphy Limited, Leeds (GB)
Filed by Uniphy Limited, Leeds (GB)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/672,903.
Application 17/672,903 is a continuation of application No. 16/514,260, filed on Jul. 17, 2019, abandoned.
Application 16/514,260 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/GB2018/050119, filed on Jan. 17, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1700809 (GB), filed on Jan. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0171496 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 3/042 (2006.01); G06F 3/02 (2006.01); G06F 3/03 (2006.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 3/0421 (2013.01) [G06F 3/02 (2013.01); G06F 3/0312 (2013.01); G06F 3/0362 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04109 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical input device comprising:
at least one optically clear plate;
at least one light source positioned at a peripheral edge of said optically clear plate, said light source being arranged and configured to transmit frequency modulated light into said optically clear plate along planar length of the optically clear plate, at an angle such that said modulated light is contained within said optically clear plate by way of total internal reflection thereof;
at least one sensor configured to receive some or all of said modulated light;
at least one input mechanism embedded within said optically clear plate and arranged such that some or all of said modulated light falls on or passes through a side wall of said input mechanism before being transmitted to said at least one sensor, wherein said input mechanism is configured to be mechanically moveable relative to said optically clear plate;
a display screen communicably coupled to said at least one sensor; and
a processing module for receiving signals from said at least one sensor and for generating data representative of information to be displayed on said display screen; wherein the optical input device is configured such that both mechanical movement of said input mechanism relative to said optically clear plate and application of pressure to said optically clear plate generate respective changes in said modulated light received by said at least one sensor; and wherein a change in the modulated light received by said at least one sensor causes said processing module to generate data representative of a change in information to be displayed on said display screen.