DIFFUSER AND FILTER STRUCTURES FOR LIGHT SENSORS

• US 20120170284A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina
• Granted Patent: US 9,891,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/355
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0474 Diffusers cavities G01J2001/0481
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

An electronic device may have a display. The display may have a central active area and a peripheral inactive area. A cover layer such as a layer of cover glass may be used to cover the display. The inner surface of the cover layer in the inactive area may be coated with an opaque masking layer such as black ink. Light for an ambient light sensor or other component may pass through an opening in the black ink. A layer of ink or other structures may be mounted within the opening to serve as a filter structure. A light diffusing structure such as a clear member with a textured surface may be used to diffuse light that is passing through the opening in the black ink and the filter to the light sensor. Integral filter-diffuser structures and structures with concave surfaces for focusing incoming light onto the light sensor may be used.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a transparent planar member;

an opaque masking layer on the transparent member; and

a light diffuser attached to the transparent planar member in alignment with at least one opening in the opaque masking layer.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a light sensor operable to receive light through the opening and the light diffuser.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 further comprising a light filter in the opening.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the light filter is configured to block at least some visible light and wherein the light received through the opening by the light sensor comprises visible light.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein the transparent planar member comprises a cover layer for the display.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of glass.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the light diffuser comprises a transparent structure with at least one textured surface.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the light diffuser comprises a concave surface.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein the light diffuser is part of an integral filter-diffuser structure with a non-flat spectral transmittance characteristic.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 further comprising:

a light sensor; and

a layer of filtering ink in the opening, wherein the filtering ink is interposed between the transparent planar member and the light diffuser and wherein the filtering ink is configured to pass at least some light to the light sensor.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a light sensor, wherein the opening comprises one of a plurality of perforations that are clustered to form a window in the opaque masking layer through which light passes to the light sensor.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display mounted in the housing, wherein the display has a transparent cover layer;

a light diffuser mounted within the electronic device; and

a light sensor that receives light through the transparent cover layer and the light diffuser.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the display has a rectangular active area and a peripheral inactive area, wherein an inner surface of the transparent cover layer in the peripheral inactive area is coated with an opaque masking layer, wherein the opaque masking layer has at least one hole, and wherein the light sensor is configured to receive light through the hole and the light diffuser.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the light diffuser comprises a textured surface.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 further comprising a layer of ink in the hole, wherein the ink has a non-flat spectral transmittance characteristic, and wherein the light is received through the ink, the hole, and the textured surface of the light diffuser.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 further comprising adhesive that attaches the light diffuser to the layer of ink.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16 wherein the light-diffuser has a planar untextured surface that is attached to the layer of ink with the adhesive and wherein the textured surface of the light diffuser faces the light sensor.

18. Apparatus, comprising:

a display with a cover layer;

an opaque masking layer on peripheral portions of the cover layer;

a light sensor that receives light through an opening in the opaque masking layer; and

a light diffuser interposed between the opening and the light sensor through which the light sensor receives the light.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 further comprising a filter interposed between the light sensor and the opening.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the filter comprises ink with a non-flat spectral transmittance characteristic.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the light diffuser has a concave surface that faces the light sensor.