Flexible large area photodetectors for human machine interfaces

Two different position sensitive devices for large-area detection of light points and objects are presented. The core of the system consists of a luminescent foil, where impinging laser light is absorbed and the fluorescence light is coupled out via attached silicon photodiodes. Due to a direct relation between the signal amplitude and the distance to the photodiodes, this detector can be used for pinpointing laser spots over large areas. When clamping small stripes of the detector inside a rectangular frame, the foil can be used for object tracing over large-areas as well.