Transmissive body

1. A transmissive body, comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit optical signals in planar form in a first plane;

(b) a pair of collimation and redirection elements disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element and then redirect said collimated optical signal,

wherein said transmissive element is disposed to receive said optical signal from an optical source and transmit said optical signal to said collimation and redirection element in a first plane, and said pair of collimation and redirection elements are disposed to produce a corresponding pair of substantially collimated signals in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane,

wherein said transmissive element is configured to receive optical signals from more than one optical source, and

wherein said pair of substantially collimated planar signals propagate in substantially perpendicular directions.

2. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein said redirection elements are disposed to redirect said substantially collimated signals into a planar waveguide integrated with said transmissive element.

3. The transmissive body according to claim 2 , wherein said transmissive element is flexible.

4. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein said transmissive element is substantially planar.

5. The transmissive body according to claim 4 , wherein said substantially collimated planar signals are redirected into a plane substantially coplanar with said transmissive element.

6. The transmissive body according to claim 4 , wherein said substantially collimated planar signals are redirected into one or more planes substantially parallel to and spaced from said transmissive element.

7. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein said substantially collimated planar signals are correspondingly redirected back towards said more than one optical source.

8. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of said collimation elements and/or said redirection elements are in the form of a mirror or a lens.

9. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein said more than one optical source are point sources.

10. The transmissive body according to claim 9 , wherein said point sources provide a diverging optical signal.

11. The transmissive body according to claim 10 , wherein said collimation elements include one or more substantially parabolic reflectors or one or more substantially elliptical lenses.

12. The transmissive body according to claim 11 , wherein each of said one or more substantially parabolic reflectors is shaped and positioned to have a focus which is substantially coincident with said point sources.

13. The transmissive body according to claim 11 , wherein each of said one or more substantially elliptical lenses is shaped and positioned such that a focus of said lens is substantially coincident with said point sources.

14. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein said collimation elements and said redirection elements are both optically downstream of said transmissive element.

15. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein only a portion of said substantially collimated planar signals are redirected.

16. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , further comprising a display positioned between said substantially collimated planar signals and said transmissive element.

17. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein said display includes a planar portion as said transmissive element.

18. The transmissive body according to claim 1 , wherein said transmissive body is formed from a unitary piece of plastic material substantially transparent to light of the infrared or visible region of the spectrum and optionally opaque to ambient visible light.

19. The transmissive body according to claim 18 wherein said unitary piece of plastic material is formed by injection molding.

20. The transmissive body according to claim 18 , wherein said unitary piece of plastic material is formed by injection molding.

21. A transmissive body, comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit in a first plane an optical signal in planar form;

(b) a pair of collimation elements disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element; and

(c) a pair of redirection elements disposed to redirect said collimated optical signals to produce a corresponding pair of substantially collimated signals in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane,

wherein said transmissive element is configured to receive said optical signal from a single optical source, and

wherein said pair of substantially collimated planar signals propagate in substantially perpendicular directions.

22. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said transmissive body is formed of one of: a.) a unitary body comprising all three of said collimation, redirection and transmissive elements, b.) a pair of bodies wherein one of said bodies comprises any two of said collimation, redirection and transmissive elements and the other of said bodies comprises the remaining element, and c.) a triad of bodies, each said body comprising one of said collimation, redirection and transmissive elements.

23. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said pair of substantially collimated planar signals propagate in mutually spaced apart substantially parallel planes.

24. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said pair of substantially collimated planar signals are coplanar.

25. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said redirection elements are disposed to redirect said substantially collimated signals into a planar waveguide integrated with said transmissive element.

26. The transmissive body according to claim 25 , wherein said transmissive element is flexible.

27. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said transmissive element is substantially planar.

28. The transmissive body according to claim 27 , wherein said substantially collimated planar signals are redirected into a plane substantially coplanar with said transmissive element.

29. The transmissive body according to claim 27 , wherein said substantially collimated planar signals are redirected into one or more planes substantially parallel to and spaced from said transmissive element.

30. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said substantially collimated planar signals are correspondingly redirected back towards said optical source.

31. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein one or more of said collimation elements and/or said redirection elements are in the form of a mirror or a lens.

32. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said optical source is a point source.

33. The transmissive body according to claim 32 , wherein said point source provides a diverging optical signal.

34. The transmissive body according to claim 33 , wherein said collimation elements include one or more substantially parabolic reflectors or one or more substantially elliptical lenses.

35. The transmissive body according to claim 34 , wherein each of said one or more substantially parabolic reflectors is shaped and positioned to have a focus which is substantially coincident with said point source.

36. The transmissive body according to claim 34 , wherein each of said one or more substantially elliptical lenses is shaped and positioned such that a focus of said lens is substantially coincident with said point source.

37. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said collimation elements and said redirection elements are both optically downstream of said transmissive element.

38. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein only a portion of said substantially collimated planar signals are redirected.

39. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , further comprising a display positioned between said substantially collimated planar signals and said transmissive element.

40. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , further comprising a display positioned on a side of said transmissive element opposite to said substantially collimated planar signals.

41. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , further comprising a display, wherein said display includes a planar portion as said transmissive element.

42. The transmissive body according to claim 21 , wherein said transmissive body is formed from a unitary piece of plastic material substantially transparent to light of the infrared or visible region of the spectrum and optionally opaque to ambient visible light.

43. The transmissive body according to claim 42 , wherein said unitary piece of plastic material is formed by injection molding.

44. A input and display device comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit an optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

(b) a collimation and redirection element disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element and then redirect said collimated optical signal; and

(c) a display positioned on a side of said transmissive element opposite to said substantially collimated planar signals,

wherein said transmissive element is disposed to receive said optical signal from an optical source and transmit said optical signal to said collimation and redirection element in a first plane, and said collimation and redirection element is disposed to produce a substantially collimated signal in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane.

45. A transmissive body comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit an optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

(b) a collimation and redirection element disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element and then redirect said collimated optical signal; and

(c) at least one light detecting element configured to receive at least a portion of said substantially collimated planar signal for detecting an input,

wherein said transmissive element is disposed to receive said optical signal from an optical source and transmit said optical signal to said collimation and redirection element in a first plane, and said collimation and redirection element is disposed to produce a substantially collimated signal in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane,

wherein said collimation and redirection element is a unitary piece of plastic material substantially transparent to light of the infrared or visible region of the spectrum and optionally opaque to ambient visible light.

46. The transmissive body according to claim 45 , wherein said unitary piece of plastic material is formed by injection molding.

47. The transmissive body according to claim 45 , wherein said transmissive element is glass.

48. The transmissive body according to claim 45 , wherein said at least one light detecting element includes at least one optical waveguide in optical communication with at least one photo-detector.

49. An assembly for an input device and for illuminating a display, said assembly comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit an optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

(b) a collimation and redirection element disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element and then redirect said collimated optical signal; and

(c) a distribution element adjacent said transmissive element for receiving and distributing light from a light source to said display thereby illuminating said display; and

(d) a cladding layer disposed between said transmissive element and said distribution element for reducing leakage of said light from said distribution element into said transmissive element, and for reducing leakage of said optical signal from said transmissive element into said distribution element,

wherein said transmissive element is disposed to receive said optical signal from an optical source and transmit said optical signal to said collimation and redirection element in a first plane, and said collimation and redirection element is disposed to produce a substantially collimated signal in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane.

50. The assembly according to claim 49 , wherein said distribution element is positioned such that said light source for supplying said light to said distribution element and said optical source for supplying said optical signal to said transmissive element are positioned on the same side of said transmissive element.

51. The assembly according to claim 49 , wherein said distribution element is positioned such that said light source for supplying said light to said distribution element and said optical source for supplying said optical signal to said transmissive element are positioned on mutually opposed sides of said transmissive element.

52. The assembly according to claim 49 , wherein said optical signal includes one or more predetermined wavelengths from the infrared region of the spectrum and said light includes one or more predetermined wavelengths from the visible region of the spectrum.

53. The assembly according to claim 49 , wherein said optical signal and said light each include one or more predetermined wavelengths from the visible region of the spectrum.

54. The assembly according to claim 49 , wherein said display is positioned above said transmissive element.

55. The assembly according to claim 49 , wherein said light source for supplying said light is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp or an array of LEDs, and said optical source for supplying said optical signal is an LED or a group of LEDs.

56. An assembly for an input device and for illuminating a display, said assembly comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit an optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

(b) a collimation and redirection element disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element and then redirect said collimated optical signal; and

(c) a distribution element adjacent said transmissive element for receiving and distributing light from a light source to said display thereby illuminating said display; and

wherein said display is positioned beneath said transmissive element, and

wherein said transmissive element is disposed to receive said optical signal from an optical source and transmit said optical signal to said collimation and redirection element in a first plane, and said collimation and redirection element is disposed to produce a substantially collimated signal in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane.

57. An assembly for an input device and for illuminating a display, comprising:

(a) a transmissive element disposed to receive, confine and transmit an optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

(b) a collimation and redirection element disposed to substantially collimate said optical signal received from said transmissive element and then redirect said collimated optical signal;

(c) one or more light sources for producing light, said light sources positioned beneath said transmissive element to thereby illuminate said display through said transmissive element; and

(d) a cladding layer disposed between said one or more light sources and said transmissive element for reducing leakage of light from said transmissive element into said one or more light sources, or for reducing interaction between said optical signal in said transmissive element and said one or more light sources,

wherein said transmissive element is disposed to receive said optical signal from an optical source and transmit said optical signal to said collimation and redirection element in a first plane, and said collimation and redirection element is disposed to produce a substantially collimated signal in a substantially planar form in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane.

58. The assembly according to claim 57 , wherein said one or more light sources are LEDs.

59. The assembly according to claim 58 wherein said LEDs produce one or more predetermined wavelengths from the visible region of the spectrum.

60. The assembly according to claim 57 , wherein said display is positioned above said transmissive element.

61. A method for producing an optical signal in substantially collimated planar form, said method comprising the steps of:

providing optical signals from a pair of optical sources;

providing pairs of collimation elements and redirection elements;

receiving, confining and transmitting said optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

substantially collimating said optical signal received in said first plane with the collimation elements; and

redirecting said collimated optical signal in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane with the redirection elements,

wherein said pairs of collimation elements and redirection elements provide a pair of substantially collimated planar signals propagating in substantially perpendicular directions.

62. The method according to claim 61 , further comprising the step of: redirecting said substantially collimated planar signals back towards said optical sources.

63. A method for producing an optical signal in substantially collimated planar form, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an optical signal from a single optical source;

providing pairs of collimation elements and redirection elements;

receiving, confining and transmitting said optical signal in planar form in a first plane;

substantially collimating said optical signal received in said first plane with the collimation elements; and

redirecting said collimated optical signal in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane with the redirection elements with the redirection elements,

wherein said pairs of collimation elements and redirection elements provide a pair of substantially collimated planar signals propagating in substantially perpendicular directions.

64. The method according to claim 63 , wherein said optical source is a point source providing a diverging optical signal and said collimation element includes one or more substantially parabolic reflectors or one or more substantially elliptical lenses.

65. The method according to claim 64 , wherein each of said one or more substantially parabolic reflectors is shaped and positioned such that its focus is substantially coincident with said point source.

66. The method according to claim 64 , wherein each of said one or more substantially elliptical lenses is shaped and positioned such that a focus of said lens is substantially coincident with said point source.

67. The assembly according to claim 63 , wherein said optical source is an LED.

68. A transmissive body for an input device and for illuminating a display, said body comprising:

a transmission and distribution element disposed to receive, confine and transmit a first portion of a light signal in a substantially planar form in a first plane;

a touch surface transparent to said light signal positioned above said transmission and distribution element;

a redirection element disposed to receive said light signal in said first plane and to redirect said substantially planar light signal in a second plane substantially parallel with said first plane into an input device,

wherein said transmission and distribution element simultaneously distributes a second portion of said light signal to said display thereby illuminating said display,

wherein said display is positioned beneath said transmission and distribution element.

69. The transmissive body according to claim 68 , wherein said redirection element is disposed to redirect said substantially planar light signal into a planar waveguide integrated with said transmissive element.

70. The transmissive body according to claim 69 , wherein said transmissive and distribution element is flexible.

71. The transmissive body according to claim 68 , wherein said transmissive and distribution element is substantially planar.

72. The transmissive body according to claim 71 , wherein said redirection element redirects said substantially planar light signal into one or more planes substantially parallel to and spaced from said transmissive element.

73. The transmissive body according to claim 68 , wherein said substantially planar light signal is redirected back towards an optical source providing said light signal.

74. The transmissive body according to claim 73 , wherein said optical source is a point source.

75. The transmissive body according to claim 74 , wherein said point source provides a diverging optical signal.

76. The transmissive body according to claim 68 , wherein said redirection element is in the form of a mirror or a lens.

77. The transmissive body according to claim 68 , wherein only a portion of said substantially planar light signal is redirected.

78. The transmissive body according to claim 68 , wherein said transmissive and distribution element is formed from a unitary piece of plastic material substantially transparent to light of the infrared region of the spectrum.