Touch panel display system with illumination and detection provided from a single edge

1. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, the diffusing reflector having a reflective quality that causes at least a portion of the energy escaping from the interior volume of the touch panel in a direction to reflect across the front surface of the touch panel in various other directions; and

at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of at least a portion of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.

2. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the touch panel is positioned in front of a display screen so that objects on the display screen can be seen through the touch panel.

3. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of: non-visible light energy, visible light energy, microwave energy, and acoustic energy.

4. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source comprises a plurality of energy emitters positioned at spaced intervals along the first edge of the touch panel.

5. The touch panel display system of claim 4 , wherein the energy emitters are embedded at least partially within the first edge of the touch panel.

6. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the diffusing reflector comprises a reflective component applied to an edge of a translucent or transparent bezel.

7. The touch panel display system of claim 6 , wherein the reflective component comprises white paint.

8. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector positioned and configured to guide the energy emitted by the energy source into the interior volume of the touch panel.

9. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector configured and positioned to guide the energy outward from within the interior volume of the touch panel toward the front surface of the touch panel.

10. The touch panel, display system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector positioned and configured to guide the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel toward the detector.

11. The touch panel display system of claim 9 , wherein the first detector and the second detector are optical imaging devices of sufficient sensitivity to detect variations in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.

12. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflective component applied to at least one edge of the touch panel for controlling the direction of the energy propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel.

13. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector comprises a first detector and a second detector spaced apart from each other along the first edge of the touch panel.

14. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface.

15. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the touch panel comprises a transparent material selected from the group consisting of: glass, plastic and thermoplastic.

16. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel and not across the front surface of the touch panel.

17. The touch panel display system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel and not the energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel.

18. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having at least a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, the diffusing reflector having a reflective quality that causes at least a portion of the energy escaping from the interior volume of the touch panel in a direction to reflect across the front surface of the touch panel in various other directions;

a first detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect at least a portion of the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; and

a second detector positioned along the first edge of the touch pad, spaced apart from the first detector, and configured to detect at least a portion of the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.

19. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the touch panel is positioned in front of a display screen so that objects on the display screen can be seen through the touch panel.

20. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of: non-visible light energy, visible light energy, microwave energy, and acoustic energy.

21. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the energy source comprises a plurality of energy emitters positioned at spaced intervals along the first edge of the touch panel.

22. The touch panel display system of claim 21 , wherein the energy emitters comprise infrared light emitting diodes.

23. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , further comprising a reflector positioned and configured to guide the energy emitted by the energy source into the interior volume of the touch panel.

24. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , further comprising a reflector configured and positioned to guide the energy outward from within the interior volume of the touch panel toward the front surface of the touch panel.

25. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , further comprising a first reflector positioned and configured to guide the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel toward the first detector; and

a second reflector positioned and configured to guide the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel toward the second detector.

26. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the first detector and the second detector are optical imaging devices of sufficient sensitivity to detect variations in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.

27. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , further comprising a reflective component applied to at least one edge of the touch panel for controlling the direction of the energy propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel.

28. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the first detector and the second detector are positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel and not the energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel.

29. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the touch panel comprises a transparent material selected from the group consisting of: glass, plastic and thermoplastic.

30. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface.

31. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the diffusing reflector comprises a reflective component applied to an edge of a translucent or transparent bezel.

32. The touch panel display system of claim 31 , wherein the reflective component comprises white paint.

33. The touch panel display system of claim 18 , wherein the energy source is positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel and not across the front surface of the touch panel.

34. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to diffusively reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and

at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel;

wherein the at least one detector comprises a first detector and a second detector spaced apart from each other along the first edge of the touch panel; and

wherein the first detector and the second detector are optical imaging devices of sufficient sensitivity to detect variations in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.

35. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to diffusively reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and

at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel;

wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface.

36. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having at least a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a diffusing reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, and configured to diffusively reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from within the interior volume;

a first detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; and

a second detector positioned along the first edge of the touch pad, spaced apart from the first detector, and configured to detect the energy diffusively reflected across the front surface of the touch panel;

wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is diffusively reflected across the front surface.

37. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and

at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface of the touch panel;

wherein the at least one detector comprises a first detector and a second detector spaced apart from each other along the first edge of the touch panel, the first detector and the second detector comprising optical imaging devices of sufficient sensitivity to detect variations in the intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface of the touch panel.

38. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, in proximity to the front surface, and configured to reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from the interior volume of the touch panel; and

at least one detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface of the touch panel;

wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface.

39. A touch panel display system, comprising:

a touch panel having at least a front surface, a rear surface, an interior volume, and a first edge and a second edge disposed on opposite sides of the touch panel;

an energy source positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to emit energy that is propagated within the interior volume of the touch panel;

a reflector positioned along the second edge of the touch panel, and configured to reflect across the front surface at least a portion of the energy that escapes from within the interior volume;

a first detector positioned along the first edge of the touch panel and configured to detect the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel; and

a second detector positioned along the first edge of the touch pad, spaced apart from the first detector, and configured to detect the energy reflected across the front surface of the touch panel;

wherein a touch on or near the front surface of the touch panel results in a variation in the intensity levels of the energy that is reflected across the front surface.