Light sensitive display

• US 20080055497A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, Green, Pat, Boer, Willem
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,930 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 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;

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

(g) 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 device of claim 1 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 12^th pixel of said display.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 9^th pixel of said display.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 6^th pixel of said display.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged at least within every 3^rd pixel of said display.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein data is simultaneously provided to a respective pair of light sensitive elements and pixel electrodes.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein data is provided to a respective pair of light sensitive elements and pixel electrodes during a scan time of a scanning electrode.

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

(f) 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 device of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of elongate conductors each of which is electrically interconnected with a respective one of said light sensitive elements.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising said plurality of elongate conductors each of which is also electrically interconnected with at least a respective one of said pixel electrodes.

11. 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;

(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.

12. The display of claim 11 wherein said previous frame is the immediately proceeding frame.

13. 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;

(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.

14. The display of claim 13 wherein said previous frame is the immediately proceeding frame.

15. The display of claim 13 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.

16. 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;

(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.

17. The display of claim 16 wherein said display is selectively illuminated during a time between said receiving said information and providing said data.

18. The display of claim 16 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.