Patent ID: 7444887
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: G01L,G06F

Abstract:
1. A touch sensor using optical fibers, the sensor comprising: an elastic member having thereon a plurality of pressure sensing points; a plurality of optical fibers one ends of which are disposed at positions in the elastic member corresponding to the respective pressure sensing points, each optical fiber comprising a core and a clad surrounding the core; a light source that emits lights toward the other ends of the plurality of optical fibers; a transmissive body having substantially the same refractive index as the core and containing therein the other ends of the optical fibers and the light source; an image-taking device that takes an image showing a change in luminance at the other ends of the plurality of optical fibers; an antireflection member that prevents light reflection into the transmissive body at an end face of the transmissive body; a light-shielding member that prevents incidence of external lights at an end face of the transmissive body; and a force detecting system that detects a force applied to the elastic member, on the basis of the change in luminance at the other ends of the optical fibers shown in the image taken by the image-taking device.