Light sensitive display

• US 20040113877A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Planar Systems Incorporated (Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, Green, Pat, Boer, Willem den
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/92
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1362 Active matrix addressed cells G02F1/134336, G02F1/134363 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0809 Several active elements per pixel in active matrix panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

A light sensitive display.

Claims

10. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) a light valve including a front polarizing element, a rear polarizing element, and light rotating material located between said first polarizing element and said rear polarizing element; and

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located between said rear polarizing element and said light rotating material.

11. The display of claim 10 wherein said display is an active matrix liquid crystal device.

12. The display of claim 10 wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, and a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

13. The display of claim 10 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines at least one of regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements and regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

14. The display of claim 10 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements.

15. The display of claim 10 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

16. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) a light valve including a front electrode layer, a rear electrode layer, and light rotating material located between said first electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(b) said front and rear electrode layer defining a plurality of pixels within said light rotating material; and

(c) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said light sensitive display located at least partially between said pixels.

17. The display of claim 16 wherein said display is a reflective liquid crystal device.

18. The display of claim 16 wherein said plurality of light sensitive elements located said at least partially between said pixels, with respect to a perpendicular direction to the front of said display.

19. The display of claim 16 wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, and a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

20. The display of claim 16 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines at least one of regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements and regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

21. The display of claim 16 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements.

22. The display of claim 16 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

23. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) a light valve including a front polarizing element, a rear polarizing element, and light rotating material located between said first polarizing element and said rear polarizing element; and

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located between said front polarizing element and said light rotating material.

24. The display of claim 23 wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, and a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

25. The display of claim 23 further comprising a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines at least one of regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements and regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

26. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) a front polarizing element located toward the front of said liquid crystal device relative to said front electrode layer;

(e) a rear polarizing element located toward the rear of said liquid crystal device relative to said rear electrode layer;

(f) changing an electrical potential between said rear electrode layer and said front electrode layer to selectively modify portions of said liquid crystal material to change the polarization of the light incident thereon; and

(g) a plurality of light sensitive elements located at least partially between said pixel electrodes, with respect to a perpendicular direction to the front of said device, and between said liquid crystal material and said rear polarizing element.

27. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display, wherein said light sensitive elements are transistors.

28. The display of claim 27 wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.

29. The display of claim 27 wherein said light valve includes liquid crystal material.

30. The display of claim 27 wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, and a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

31. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements and regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

32. The display of claim 31 wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.

33. The display of claim 32 wherein said liquid crystal display is active matrix.

34. The display of claim 32 wherein said liquid crystal display is passive.

35. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements.

36. The light sensitive display of claim 35 said light in excess results from an optical pointing device.

37. The light sensitive display of claim 36 wherein said optical pointing device is a laser pointer.

38. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer; and

(d) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

39. The device of claim 38 wherein a terminal of said first transistor is connected to a terminal of said second transistor with a first conductor.

40. The device of claim 39 wherein said first conductor is capacitively coupled to another line with a capacitor.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein said another line has a voltage potential less than said first conductor.

42. The device of claim 38 wherein said device is an active matrix liquid crystal device.

43. A display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light; and

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, and a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein said device is at least one of multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display, patterned vertical alignment liquid crystal display, in-plane switching liquid crystal display, super-twisted nematic type liquid crystal display, plasma display, electroluminescent display, liquid crystal on silicon display, and reflective liquid crystal device.

45. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a backlight within said display;

(c) at least one light sensitive element located within said display; and

(d) modifying the intensity of said backlight based upon said light sensitive element.

46. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines at least one of;

(i) regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements, and

(ii) regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements;

(d) a plurality of pixel electrodes within said display wherein data provided to said pixel electrodes is modified in a manner in a manner consistent with the size of said pixel electrodes within said display.

47. The display of claim 46 wherein the data corresponding with said pixel electrodes having a size decreased by said light sensitive elements is modified.

48. The display of claim 47 wherein said data corresponding with said pixel electrodes having a decreased size is increased.

49. The display of claim 47 wherein said data corresponding with said pixel electrodes having a decreased size remains unchanged while the data corresponding with a plurality of other pixel electrodes is modified.

50. The display of claim 49 wherein said data corresponding with said other pixel electrodes is decreased.

51. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display wherein each of said light sensitive elements corresponds with a selected one of said pixel electrodes; and

(e) a plurality of elongate conductors each of which is electrically interconnected with a respective one of said light sensitive elements wherein said elongate conductors are arranged in a manner consistent with the pattern of said pixel electrodes.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 12^th pixel of said display.

53. The device of claim 52 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 9^th pixel of said display.

54. The device of claim 53 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 6^th pixel of said display.

55. The device of claim 54 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 3^rd pixel of said display.

56. The device of claim 52 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

57. The device of claim 53 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

58. The device of claim 54 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

59. The device of claim 55 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

60. The device of claim 51 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged over a majority of said device.

61. The device of claim 51 wherein at least one of said plurality of elongate conductors is free from being operationally interconnected with any of said light sensitive elements.

62. The device of claim 51 wherein at least one of said plurality of elongate conductors is free from being operationally interconnected with readout electronics.

63. The device of claim 51 wherein the spacing between at least one pair of pixel electrodes having at least one said elongate conductors there between is substantially the same as the spacing between another pair of pixel electrodes free from having one of said elongate conductors there between.

64. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display wherein each of said light sensitive elements corresponds with a selected one of said pixel electrodes;

(e) a plurality of elongate conductors each of which is electrically interconnected with a respective one of said light sensitive elements; and

(f) said plurality of elongate conductors each of which is also electrically interconnected with at least a respective one of said pixel electrodes.

65. The device of claim 64 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 12^th pixel of said display.

66. The device of claim 65 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 9^th pixel of said display.

67. The device of claim 66 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 6^th pixel of said display.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 3^rd pixel of said display.

69. The device of claim 64 wherein data is simultaneously provided to a respective pair of light sensitive elements and pixel electrodes.

70. The device of claim 64 wherein data is provided to a respective pair of light sensitive elements and pixel electrodes during a scan time of a scanning electrode.

71. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display wherein each of said light sensitive elements corresponds with a selected one of said pixel electrodes; and

(e) wherein data is provided to a respective pair of light sensitive elements and pixel electrodes during a scan time of a scanning electrode.

72. The device of claim 71 further comprising a plurality of elongate conductors each of which is electrically interconnected with a respective one of said light sensitive elements.

73. The device of claim 72 further comprising said plurality of elongate conductors each of which is also electrically interconnected with at least a respective one of said pixel electrodes.

74. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light during a frame;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements for said frame and determines at least one of;

(i) regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements;

(ii) regions of said display where light in excess of said ambient light reaches said light sensitive elements;

(d) wherein said determination is further based upon data from a previous frame.

75. The display of claim 74 wherein said previous frame is the immediately proceeding frame.

76. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light during a current frame;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements for said current frame and determines a location where said display has been touched;

(d) wherein said determination is further based upon data from a previous frame.

77. The display of claim 76 wherein said previous frame is the immediately proceeding frame.

78. The display of claim 76 wherein said determination is made based upon a change in the data provided to one of said light sensitive elements during said previous frame and the data readout from said one of said light sensitive elements during said current frame.

79. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines a location where said display has been touched;

(d) wherein said determination is further based upon data provided to said light sensitive elements prior to said receiving said information from said light sensitive elements.

80. The display of claim 79 wherein said display is selectively illuminated during a time between said receiving said information and providing said data.

81. The display of claim 79 wherein said determination is made based upon a change in the data provided to one of said light sensitive elements during a previous frame and the data readout from said one of said light sensitive elements during a current frame.

82. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) at least one light sensitive element located within said display; and

(d) modifying the intensity of a portable external light source directed at said display based upon said at least one light sensitive element.

83. The display of claim 82 wherein said display is sized to fit in the palm of the hand.

84. The display of claim 82 wherein said portable external light source is electrically connected to said display.

85. The display of claim 84 wherein said light source is a generally elongate device.

86. The display of claim 82 wherein said portable external light source is operably interconnected to said display via a wireless communication link.

87. The display of claim 82 wherein said portable external light source selectively provides light based upon ambient light conditions.

88. The display of claim 87 wherein said portable external light source provides light if the ambient light conditions below a threshold.

89. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) at least one light sensitive element located within said display; and

(d) modifying the intensity of a portable external light source directed at said display based upon ambient lighting conditions.

90. The display of claim 89 wherein said display is sized to fit in the palm of the hand.

91. The display of claim 89 wherein said portable external light source is electrically connected to said display.

92. The display of claim 89 wherein said portable external light source is operably interconnected to said display via a wireless communication link.

93. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) at least one light sensitive element located within said display; and

(d) modifying the intensity of an external light source directed at said display based upon the addressing of said display.

94. The display of claim 93 wherein said display is sized to fit in the palm of the hand.

95. The display of claim 93 wherein said external light source is electrically connected to said display.

96. The display of claim 93 wherein said external light source is operably interconnected to said display via a wireless communication link.

97. The display of claim 93 wherein said addressing includes the scanning of said display.

98. The display of claim 93 wherein said addressing includes different frames.

99. The display of claim 93 wherein said addressing includes odd and even frames or fields.

100. The display of claim 93 wherein said addressing includes where in said display said light source is directed.

101. The display of claim 100 wherein said where in said display is the top and bottom of said display.

102. The display of claim 100 wherein said addressing is further based upon data provided to said light source from said display.

103. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) changing an electrical potential between said rear electrode layer and said front electrode layer to selectively modify portions of said liquid crystal material to change the polarization of the light incident thereon;

(e) a light guide together with an associated light source located in front of said front electrode layer to provide light thereto;

(f) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display; and

(g) wherein the total internal reflections of said light guide is disrupted by contacting said display with a pointing device, where the pointing device has an index of refraction within 0.5 of the index of refraction of said light guide.

104. The device of claim 103 wherein the index of refraction of said light guide is between 1.4 and 1.6

105. The device of claim 104 wherein the index of refraction of said light guide is between 1.45 and 1.50.

106. The device of claim 104 wherein the index of refraction of said pointing device is between 1.2 and 1.9.

107. The device of claim 106 wherein the index of refraction of said pointing device is between 1.4 and 1.6.

108. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) changing an electrical potential between said rear electrode layer and said front electrode layer to selectively modify portions of said liquid crystal material to change the polarization of the light incident thereon;

(e) a light guide together with an associated light source located in front of said front electrode layer to provide light thereto;

(f) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display; and

(g) a processor determining the location of touching of said display by sensing a light inhibited region by said light sensitive elements wherein light has been inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements with an interior region to said inhibited region having greater illumination.

109. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) changing an electrical potential between said rear electrode layer and said front electrode layer to selectively modify portions of said liquid crystal material to change the polarization of the light incident thereon;

(e) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display; and

(f) a processor determining the location of touching of said display by sensing a light inhibited region by said light sensitive elements wherein light has been inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements with an interior region to said inhibited region having greater illumination.

110. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a processor that receives information from said light sensitive elements and determines regions of said display where ambient light is inhibited from reaching said light sensitive elements, wherein data from said light sensitive elements is temporally analyzed.

111. The display of claim 110 wherein said temporal analysis determines whether a pointing device is “

hovering”

with respect to said display or touching said display.

112. The display of claim 110 wherein said temporal analysis determines whether a pointing device remains stationary for a period of time.

113. The display of claim 110 wherein said temporal analysis determines whether a pointing device approaches the display and thereafter recedes from the display.

114. The display of claim 113 wherein the general time between approaching and receding is used as a basis for said pointing device touching said display.

115. The display of claim 110 wherein said temporal analysis determines whether a pointing device approaches said display and said pointing device maintains the same general size, where the general time when the shadow maintains the same size is used as a basis for said pointing device touching said display.

116. The display of claim 110 wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.

117. The display of claim 110 wherein said liquid crystal display is active matrix.

118. The display of claim 110 wherein said liquid crystal display is passive.

119. A light sensitive display comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a sampling circuit that reads data from said plurality of light sensitive elements at a rate corresponding with the refresh rate of the corresponding portion of said display, wherein the display includes at least two different refresh rates.

120. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) changing an electrical potential between said rear electrode layer and said front electrode layer to selectively modify portions of said liquid crystal material to change the polarization of the light incident thereon;

(e) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(f) a light guide together with an associated light source located in front of said front electrode layer to provide light thereto, wherein said light has a color spectrum less than ambient light; and

(g) a color filter positioned between said light guide and at least one of said light sensitive elements, wherein said color reduces the transmission of said ambient light to an extent greater than said light from said light source.⁷

1. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) changing an electrical potential between said rear electrode layer and said front electrode layer to selectively modify portions of said liquid crystal material to change the polarization of the light incident thereon; and

(e) a plurality of light sensitive elements located together with said rear electrode layer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said light sensitive elements include a transistor.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said light sensitive elements includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, and a second transistor that is inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein at least one of said first transistor and said second transistor is a thin-film transistor.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said thin-film transistor is amorphous silicon.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein a terminal of said first transistor is connected to a terminal of said second transistor with a first conductor.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said first conductor is capacitively coupled to a common line.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said common line has a voltage potential less than said first conductor.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is an active matrix liquid crystal device.

121. The device of claim 120 wherein said ambient light is white light.

122. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said ambient light less than 75%.

123. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said ambient light less than 60%.

124. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said ambient light less than 50%.

125. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said ambient light less than 40%.

126. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said ambient light less than 30%.

127. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said light from said light source greater than 25%.

128. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said light from said light source greater than 40%.

130. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said light from said light source greater than 60%.

131. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said light from said light source greater than 70%.

128-1. The device of claim 120 wherein said color filter has a transmission of said light from said light source greater than 50%.

132. A light sensitive display system comprising:

(a) said display selectively causing pixels to provide light during subsequent frames;

(b) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(c) a first amount of additional light provided to said light sensitive elements during at least one of said subsequent frames;

(d) a second amount of said additional light selectively provided to said light sensitive elements during at least one other of said subsequent frames, wherein said first and second additional light are different; and

(e) said display system determining the location of said additional light on said display based upon sensing a portion of said first and second additional light.⁸

133. The display of claim 132 wherein said first amount of said additional light is greater than said second amount of said additional light.

134. The display of claim 132 wherein said subsequent frames are sequential frames.

135. A method of sensing with a display comprising:

(a) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display;

(b) modifying an amount of additional light provided to said light sensitive elements during multiple frames; and

(c) system determining the location of said additional light on said display based upon sensing said additional light.⁹

136. The display of claim 135 wherein said first amount of said additional light is greater than said second amount of said additional light.

137. The display of claim 135 wherein said multiple frames are non-sequential.

138. The display of claim 135 wherein said multiple frames are sequential.

139. The display of claim 135 wherein said modifying includes providing no-light.

140. A liquid crystal device comprising:

(a) a front electrode layer;

(b) a rear electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes, wherein a first plurality of said pixel electrodes is associated with blue, a second plurality of said pixel electrodes is associated green, and a third plurality of said pixel electrodes is associated with red;

(c) a liquid crystal material located between said front electrode layer and said rear electrode layer;

(d) a plurality of light sensitive elements located within said display wherein each of said light sensitive elements corresponds with a selected one of said pixel electrodes, wherein at least one of;

(i) a greater number of said light sensitive elements are associated with said blue pixel electrodes, than said green pixel electrodes;

(ii) a greater number of said light sensitive elements are associated with said blue pixel electrodes, than said red pixel electrodes;

(iii) a greater number of said light sensitive elements are associated with said blue pixel electrodes, than non-blue said pixel electrodes.¹⁰