A touchless user interface based on a near-infrared-sensitive transparent optical imager

This paper introduces a touchless user interface built upon a visually transparent near-infrared (NIR)-sensitive organic photodetector array. The system overcomes limitations of existing NIR camera-based interfaces by offering improved field of view and reduced calibration needs. Optical transparency is achieved through a printed copper grid as the bottom transparent conductive electrode and an array of patterned organic photodetector subpixels. Electro-optical modeling optimizes the image sensor design, resulting in high photodetectivity and visible light transmittance. The imager functions effectively as a touchless interface using penlight or gesture control.

Takeshi Kamijo, Albert J. J. M. van Breemen, Xiao Ma, Santhosh Shanmugam, Thijs Bel, Gerard de Haas, Bart Peeters, Razvan Petre, Daniel Tordera, Roy Verbeek, Hylke B. Akkerman, Luis Moreno Hagelsieb, Florian de Roose, Itai Lieberman, Fujito Yamaguchi, René A. J. Janssen, Eric A. Meulenkamp, Auke Jisk Kronemeijer, Gerwin H. Gelinck