Abstract:
An optical touch screen apparatus and method for manufacturing an optical touch screen apparatus are disclosed. The optical touch screen apparatus may comprise a touch screen plate having at least one pair of grooves formed on a front surface thereof; at least one pair of circuit boards disposed on the front surface of the touch screen plate, wherein each of the grooves respectively partially receives each of the circuit boards; an infrared emitting device for emitting an infrared beam, wherein the infrared emitting device is mounted on the first of the circuit boards; and an infrared receiving device for receiving the infrared beam, wherein the infrared receiving device is mounted on the second of the circuit boards and in optical communication with the infrared emitting device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 96145467 filed Nov. 29, 2007, the entire text of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The various embodiments described herein relate to an information display apparatus, and more particularly to a touch screen apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Touch panels are usually used for input and output interfaces of information apparatuses, e.g., automatic teller machines (ATMs), cashers, and interactive multimedia stations. Touch panels may be categorized as pressure-sensitive touch panels, resistance type touch panels, surface sound wave type touch panels, capacitance touch panels, and infrared touch panels. 
         [0004]    For optical touch panels such as infrared touch panels, a number of infrared emitting devices and a number of infrared receiving devices are mounted on the printed circuit board thereof. The shape of the printed circuit board is rectangular, and the inner area of the printed circuit board is removed. Along one pair of opposite strips of the printed circuit board, the infrared emitting devices and the infrared receiving devices are mounted and aligned to each other, and along the other pair of opposite strips of the printed circuit board, the infrared emitting devices and infrared receiving devices are mounted and aligned to each other. The aligned infrared emitting devices and infrared receiving devices define a matrix of intersecting light beams that coincide with the graphical icons and the computer-generated graphics at the infrared touch panel. When the intersecting beams are disrupted by an object (e.g., the finger of a user), the position at which the disruption occurs may be precisely calculated. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a printed circuit board  100  of an infrared touch screen panel according to the prior art. The printed circuit board  100  may be a rectangular printed circuit board, wherein an inner area  104  is removed to provide a touch screen area. The infrared touch panel is constructed from a number of infrared emitting devices  108 ,  112  and a number of infrared receiving devices  116 ,  120  mounted on the printed circuit board  100 . The infrared emitting devices  108  and the infrared receiving devices  116  are aligned to each other along one pair of opposite strips of the printed circuit board  100 , and the infrared emitting devices  112  and the infrared receiving devices  120  are aligned to each other along the other pair of opposite strips of the printed circuit board  100 . The aligned infrared emitting devices and infrared receiving devices  108 ,  116  and the aligned infrared emitting devices and infrared receiving devices  112 ,  120  define a matrix of intersecting light beams. The above components are further assembled with the frame (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), the touch panel plate (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), and the flat display panel (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to provide an infrared touch panel. In this conventional technology, the inner area  104  is to be removed from the printed circuit board  100 . Thus, the material of the printed circuit board  100  is wasted considerably because of the removed inner area  104 , and the manufacturing cost is relatively high. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The various embodiments described herein may provide an optical touch screen apparatus with a relatively lower manufacturing cost. Moreover, the various embodiments may provide an optical touch screen apparatus with a more precise assembly. 
         [0007]    A first general aspect of the various embodiments provides an optical touch screen apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a touch screen plate; at least one pair of circuit boards disposed on a front surface of the touch screen plate; a light emitting device for emitting a light beam, the light emitting device being mounted on a first one of circuit boards; and a light receiving device for receiving the light beam, the light receiving device being mounted on a second one of circuit boards and in optical communication with the light emitting device. 
         [0008]    The apparatus may further comprise at least one pair of grooves formed on the front surface of the touch screen plate, wherein each of the at least one pair of grooves respectively receives a portion of each of the at least one pair of circuit boards for positioning the at least one pair of circuit boards on the touch screen plate. A portion of each of the at least one pair of circuit boards may be affixed to each of the at least one pair of grooves by a glue material. 
         [0009]    The touch screen plate may have a rectangular shape, and the at least one pair of circuit boards may be disposed near a pair of edges of the touch screen plate. The at least one pair of circuit boards may be a pair of circuit boards that defines a touch screen area, wherein each of the at least one pair of circuit boards may be of a “L” shape. The at least one pair of circuit boards may be two pairs of circuit boards that define a touch screen area, wherein each circuit board of the two pairs of circuit boards may be of a rectangular shape. 
         [0010]    The apparatus further may comprise a control circuitry for receiving and controlling signals from the light emitting device and the light receiving device. The apparatus further may comprise a connection circuitry for electrically connecting the light emitting device, the light receiving device, and the control circuitry. The connection circuitry may be formed by an indium tin oxide (ITO) process. The ITO process may comprise forming an ITO layer on the touch screen plate and patterning the ITO layer to form the connection circuitry. 
         [0011]    The touch screen plate may be formed of a transparent material. The transparent material may be selected from a group comprising a glass material and a plastic material. 
         [0012]    The direction that the light receiving device receives the light beam from the light emitting device may be substantially parallel to the front surface of the touch screen plate. The at least one pair of circuit boards may be affixed to the front surface of the touch screen plate by a glue material. 
         [0013]    A second general aspect of the various embodiments provides an information display apparatus for displaying content in accordance with information input thereto. The apparatus may comprise the above optical touch screen apparatus and a display panel disposed behind the optical touch screen apparatus. 
         [0014]    A third general aspect of the various embodiments provides a method for manufacturing an optical touch screen apparatus. The method may comprise providing a touch screen plate; providing at least one pair of circuit boards, wherein a light emitting device is mounted on a first one of the at least one pair of circuit boards for emitting a light beam, and wherein a light receiving device is mounted on a second one of the at least one pair of circuit boards for receiving the light beam; and disposing the at least one pair of circuit boards on a front surface of the touch screen plate, wherein the light receiving device is in optical communication with the light emitting device. 
         [0015]    The foregoing and other features of the various embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The various embodiments described herein will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a printed circuit board of a conventional infrared touch screen panel according to the prior art; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an infrared touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an infrared touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates an infrared touch panel according to another exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  provides a flow chart illustrating a process for manufacturing an infrared display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an optical touch screen apparatus  200  (e.g., an infrared touch screen apparatus) and a frame  240  according to an exemplary embodiment. The infrared touch screen apparatus  200  may comprise a touch screen plate  228 ; one pair of circuit boards  204 ,  208 ; and one pair of circuit boards  212 ,  216 . Each of the circuit boards  204 ,  208 ,  212 , and  216  may be of a rectangular shape. The touch screen plate  228  may be of a rectangular shape. The pair of circuit boards  204 ,  208  may be disposed on a front surface  260  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the touch screen plate  228 , along one pair of opposite edges of the touch screen plate  228 . The pair of circuit boards  212 ,  216  may be disposed on the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228 , along the other pair of opposite edges of the touch screen plate  228 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the infrared touch screen apparatus  200  and the frame  240  according to an exemplary embodiment. One pair of grooves  428 ,  432  may be formed on the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228 , along one pair of opposite edges of the touch screen plate  228 , for respectively receiving a portion of the circuit boards  204 ,  208 . Another pair of grooves (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) may be formed on the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228 , along the other pair of opposite edges of the touch screen plate  228 , for respectively receiving a portion of the circuit boards  212 ,  216 . The circuit boards  204 ,  208  may be affixed to the grooves  428 ,  432  by use of a glue material. The circuit boards  212 ,  216  may be affixed to the grooves (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) by use of a glue material. Alternatively, the step of forming grooves may be omitted, in which case the circuit boards  204 ,  208 ,  212 ,  216  may be directly affixed to the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228  by direct use of a glue material. The touch screen plate  228  may be made of a transparent material, such as a glass material or a plastic material. Through the above arrangement, the circuit boards  204 ,  208 ,  212 , and  216  may be firmly positioned on the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228 . Moreover, there is no need to remove a central area of the touch screen plate  228 , so the manufacturing cost thereof is relatively low. 
         [0024]    The infrared touch screen apparatus  200  also may comprise a plurality of light emitting devices, such as infrared emitting devices  220 , and a plurality of light receiving devices, such as infrared receiving devices  224 . The infrared emitting devices  220  may be disposed on the circuit board  204  for respectively emitting a beam (e.g., an infrared beam). The infrared receiving devices  224  may be disposed on the circuit board  208  for receiving the beam and may be in optical communication with the infrared emitting devices  220 . The light-emitting direction of the infrared emitting devices  220  may be substantially parallel to the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228 . The light-receiving direction of the infrared receiving devices  224  may be substantially parallel to the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228 . Similarly, the infrared touch screen apparatus  200  also may comprise a plurality of infrared emitting devices disposed on the circuit board  212  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a plurality of infrared receiving devices disposed on the circuit board  216  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ). The infrared emitting devices and the infrared receiving devices may form an infrared matrix in a conventional way known in the art, and thus the functionality of an infrared touch panel may be achieved. Since grooves may be formed on the front surface  260  of the touch screen plate  228  in order to affix the circuit boards  204 ,  208 ,  212 , and  216  as previously discussed, the assembly of all of the infrared receiving devices and all of the infrared emitting devices is relatively precise compared to the prior art. 
         [0025]    The infrared touch screen apparatus  200  further may comprise a control circuitry  460 . The control circuitry  460  may be disposed on an integrated circuit chip implemented in a conventional way known in the art for receiving and controlling the signals from the infrared emitting devices and the infrared receiving devices. A circuit board  424  may be disposed under a rear surface  264  of the touch screen plate  228  for carrying the integrated circuit chip having the control circuitry  460 . 
         [0026]    The infrared touch screen apparatus  200 , the circuit board  424 , and a flat display panel  420  (e.g., a LCD panel) may be assembled in the frame  240 . The flat display panel  420  may be disposed under the rear surface  264  of the touch screen plate  228 . 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the infrared touch screen apparatus  200  further may comprise a connection circuitry  280 . The connection circuitry  280  may connect the infrared emitting devices, the infrared receiving devices, and the control circuitry  460 . The connection circuitry  280  may be manufactured in a conventional way known in the art. For example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) process may be used. The ITO process may comprise forming an ITO layer on the touch screen plate  228  and patterning the ITO layer to form the connection circuitry. 
         [0028]    The infrared touch screen apparatus  200  further may comprise an input/output circuitry  236 . The input/output circuitry  236 , implemented in a conventional way known in the art, may be connected to an outside system in order to permit such outside system to control the input/output signals pertaining to the infrared touch screen apparatus  200 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of an optical touch screen apparatus  400  (e.g., an infrared touch screen apparatus) and the frame  240  according to another exemplary embodiment. The infrared touch screen apparatus  400  may comprise a touch screen plate  328  and one pair of circuit boards  304 ,  312 . The touch screen plate  328  may be of a rectangular shape. The pair of circuit boards  304 ,  312  may be of a “L” shape and may be disposed on a front surface of the touch screen plate  328 . There may be one pair of “L”-shaped grooves (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) formed on the front surface of the touch screen plate  328  for receiving a portion of the circuit boards  304 ,  312 . The circuit boards  304 ,  312  may be affixed to the “L”-shaped grooves by use of a glue material. Alternatively, the step of forming “L”-shaped grooves may be omitted, in which case the circuit boards  304 ,  312  may be directly affixed to the front surface of the touch screen plate  328  by direct use of a glue material. The touch screen plate  328  may be made of a transparent material, such as a glass material or a plastic material. Through the above arrangement, the circuit boards  304 ,  312  may be firmly positioned on the front surface of the touch screen plate  328 . 
         [0030]    In this exemplary embodiment, a plurality of infrared emitting devices  320  may be disposed on the circuit board  304  for respectively emitting an infrared beam. A plurality of infrared receiving devices  324  may be disposed on the circuit board  312  for respectively receiving the infrared beam and may be respectively in optical communication with the infrared emitting devices  320 . The infrared emitting devices  320  and the infrared receiving devices  324  may form an infrared matrix in a conventional way known in the art, and thus the functionality of an infrared touch panel may be achieved. The light-emitting direction of the infrared emitting devices  320  may be substantially parallel to the front surface of the touch screen plate  328 . The light-receiving direction of the infrared receiving devices  324  may be substantially parallel to the front surface of the touch screen plate  328 . 
         [0031]    The infrared touch screen apparatus  400  further may comprise a control circuitry (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). The control circuitry may be disposed on an integrated circuit chip implemented in a conventional way known in the art for receiving and controlling the signals from the infrared emitting devices  304  and the infrared receiving devices  320 . A circuit board may be disposed under a rear surface of the touch screen plate  328  for carrying the integrated circuit chip. 
         [0032]    The infrared touch screen apparatus  400  further may comprise a connection circuitry  380 . The connection circuitry  380  may connect the infrared emitting devices  320 , the infrared receiving devices  324 , and the control circuitry. The connection circuitry  380  may be manufactured in a conventional way known in the art. For example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) process may be used. The ITO process may comprise forming an ITO layer on the touch screen plate  328  and patterning the ITO layer to form the connection circuitry. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  also provides an input/output circuitry  336 . The input/output circuitry  336 , implemented in a conventional way known in the art, may be connected to an outside system for allowing the outside system to control the input/output signals pertaining to the infrared touch screen apparatus  400   
         [0034]      FIG. 5  provides a process for manufacturing an infrared display apparatus (e.g., infrared display panel) according to an exemplary embodiment. The process comprises the following: 
         [0035]    (1) Providing a touch screen plate (step  504 ). As previously described, at least one pair of grooves may be formed on a front surface of the touch screen plate. A connection circuitry may also be formed on the front surface of the touch screen plate. The connection circuitry may electrically connect infrared emitting devices, infrared receiving devices, and control circuitry. 
         [0036]    (2) Providing at least one pair of circuit boards (step  508 ). As previously described, a plurality of infrared emitting devices may be mounted on one of the at least one pair of circuit boards for respectively emitting an infrared beam. A plurality of infrared receiving devices may be mounted on the other of the at least one pair of circuit boards for receiving the infrared beam. 
         [0037]    (3) Disposing the at least one pair of circuit boards on the front surface of the touch screen plate (step  512 ). As previously described, in later steps, the infrared receiving devices may be in optical communication with the infrared emitting devices. The aforementioned grooves on the front surface of the touch screen plate may be used to respectively receive a portion of each of the at least one pair of circuit boards so that the circuit boards may be respectively positioned on the touch screen plate. A glue material may be used to firmly affix a portion of each circuit board in each groove. Alternatively, the circuit boards may be directly affixed to the front surface of the touch screen plate by a glue material, without forming grooves. The number of the circuit boards may be two, and each circuit board may be a flat board of a “L” shape. The number of the circuit boards may be four, and each circuit board may be a flat board of a rectangular shape. The circuit boards thus may define a rectangular touch screen area on the touch screen plate. Since grooves may be formed on the front surface of the touch screen plate in order to affix the circuit boards as previously described, the assembly of the infrared receiving devices and the infrared emitting devices may be more precise compared to the prior art. 
         [0038]    (4) Assembling all components to form the infrared monitor (step  516 ). More particularly, a frame, the circuit boards, a flat display panel, inside circuits, outside circuits, and an infrared touch screen apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may be assembled to manufacture the information display apparatus (e.g., an infrared monitor). 
         [0039]    While various exemplary embodiments have been described above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the various embodiments set forth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims.