Light sensitive display

• US 20080049153A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, Green, Pat, den Boer, Willem
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/12
• 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

1. 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;

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

(e) a readout system determining when the position of at least one of said plurality of light sensitive elements that has been inhibited from sensing ambient light, whereby said readout system distinguishes between ambient surroundings and said at least one of said plurality of light sensitive elements said inhibited from sensing said ambient light.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein said display is sized to fit in the palm of the hand.

3. The display of claim 1 wherein said portable external light source is electrically connected to said display.

4. The display of claim 3 wherein said light source is a generally elongate device.

5. The display of claim 1 wherein said portable external light source is operably interconnected to said display via a wireless communication link.

6. The display of claim 1 wherein said portable external light source selectively provides light based upon ambient light conditions.

7. The display of claim 6 wherein said portable external light source provides light if the ambient light conditions below a threshold.

8. 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;

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

(e) a readout system determining when the position of at least one of said plurality of light sensitive elements that has been inhibited from sensing ambient light, whereby said readout system distinguishes between ambient surroundings and said at least one of said plurality of light sensitive elements said inhibited from sensing said ambient light.

9. The display of claim 8 wherein said display is sized to fit in the palm of the hand.

10. The display of claim 8 wherein said portable external light source is electrically connected to said display.

11. The display of claim 8 wherein said portable external light source is operably interconnected to said display via a wireless communication link.

12. 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;

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

(e) a readout system determining when the position of at least one of said plurality of light sensitive elements that has been inhibited from sensing ambient light, whereby said readout system distinguishes between ambient surroundings and said at least one of said plurality of light sensitive elements said inhibited from sensing said ambient light.

13. The display of claim 12 wherein said display is sized to fit in the palm of the hand.

14. The display of claim 12 wherein said external light source is electrically connected to said display.

15. The display of claim 12 wherein said external light source is operably interconnected to said display via a wireless communication link.

16. The display of claim 12 wherein said addressing includes the scanning of said display.

17. The display of claim 12 wherein said addressing includes different frames.

18. The display of claim 12 wherein said addressing includes odd and even frames or fields.

19. The display of claim 12 wherein said addressing includes where in said display said light source is directed.

20. The display of claim 19 wherein said where in said display is the top and bottom of said display.

21. The display of claim 19 wherein said addressing is further based upon data provided to said light source from said display.

22. 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;

(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.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the index of refraction of said light guide is between 1.4 and 1.6

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the index of refraction of said light guide is between 1.45 and 1.50.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the index of refraction of said pointing device is between 1.2 and 1.9.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the index of refraction of said pointing device is between 1.4 and 1.6.