Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Moisture-insensitive optical touch sensors
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Application No.: US17404783Application Date: 2021-08-17
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Publication No.: US11775021B2Publication Date: 2023-10-03
- Inventor: Yakov G. Soskind , Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost , Patrick B. Wright , Giovanni Gozzini
- Applicant: Apple Inc.
- Applicant Address: US CA Cupertino
- Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Cupertino
- Agency: Treyz Law Group, P.C.
- Agent Kendall P. Woodruff
- Main IPC: G06F1/16
- IPC: G06F1/16 ; G06F3/042 ; G01L1/24

Abstract:
An electronic device may have an optical touch sensor that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. The display may present images through a display cover layer. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a user's finger when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. A metasurface grating may be used to couple light from the light source into the display cover layer at an angle such that total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture. Additional metasurface gratings may be formed on the display cover layer to redirect light propagating within the display cover layer away from edges that might otherwise defeat total internal reflection.
Public/Granted literature
- US20230057534A1 Moisture-Insensitive Optical Touch Sensors Public/Granted day:2023-02-23
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