Light sensitive display

• US 20080165311A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, Green, Pat, Boer, Willem den
• Application Number:
  US11/977,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165311A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/116
• 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 includes a first transistor that senses ambient light, a second transistor that is selectively inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor;

(e) a readout system that determines 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 a terminal of said first transistor is connected to a terminal of said second transistor with a first conductor.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said first conductor is capacitively coupled to another line with a capacitor.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said another line has a voltage potential less than said first conductor.

5. A display comprising:

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

(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 selectively inhibited from sensing ambient light with respect to said first transistor;

(c) a readout system that determines 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.

6. The device of claim 5 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.

7. 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 together with a rear electrode layer;

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

8. 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 relative to ambient surroundings, and

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

(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.

9. The display of claim 8 wherein the data corresponding with said pixel electrodes having a size decreased by said light sensitive elements is modified.

10. The display of claim 9 wherein said data corresponding with said pixel electrodes having a decreased size is increased.

11. The display of claim 9 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.

12. The display of claim 11 wherein said data corresponding with said other pixel electrodes is decreased.

13. 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 wherein said elongate conductors are arranged in a manner consistent with the pattern of said pixel electrodes;

(f) a readout system that determines 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 device of claim 13 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 12^th pixel of said display.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 9^th pixel of said display.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 6^th pixel of said display.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged at least within every 3^rd pixel of said display.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein there are at least four elongate conductors.

22. The device of claim 13 wherein said elongate conductors are said arranged over a majority of said device.

23. The device of claim 13 wherein at least one of said plurality of elongate conductors is free from being operationally interconnected with any of said light sensitive elements.

24. The device of claim 13 wherein at least one of said plurality of elongate conductors is free from being operationally interconnected with readout electronics.

25. The device of claim 13 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.