Patent ID: 7924272

Claim:
A touch panel system comprising: a display configured to display an image viewable via a touchable surface of the touch panel system; at least one infrared source integrated in the touch panel system, the at least one infrared source configured to turn on in response to contact with the touchable surface and to direct infrared radiation towards and through the touchable surface for illuminating one or more objects that are in contact with or adjacent to the touchable surface with infrared radiation; and a touch panel having integrated therein infrared sensors that are distributed throughout the touch panel parallel to the touchable surface, wherein: the infrared sensors are sensitive to infrared radiation incident on the infrared sensors, the infrared sensors are in an off state when infrared radiation is not incident on the infrared sensors, one of more infrared sensors turn from the off state to an on state in response to infrared radiation directed by the at least one infrared source towards and through the touchable surface which is reflected from above the touchable surface by the one or more objects, and detection of an infrared image based on output of the one or more infrared sensors does not conflict with the image visibly displayed on the display of the touch panel system.