PROXIMITY AND AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR WITH IMPROVED SMUDGE REJECTION
First Claim
1. An apparatus to sense proximity,and to sense ambient light, the apparatus comprising:
- an emitter of an IR proximity signal;
a detector configured to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light;
an IR cut filter disposed over the detector, the IR cut filter having a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the IR cut filter having an opening in the film centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated proximity and ambient light sensor assembly includes an emitter of an IR proximity signal, and a detector configured to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light. The assembly includes an IR cut filter that has a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, and an opening in the film centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector. The opening allows IR light to reach the detector from within a narrow angle, but absorbs undesirable emitted IR light that is reflected by oily build-up or “smudge” left on a cover of the device. The film allows visible light to pass for a wider angle to better determine average ambient light.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus to sense proximity,and to sense ambient light, the apparatus comprising:
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an emitter of an IR proximity signal; a detector configured to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light; an IR cut filter disposed over the detector, the IR cut filter having a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the IR cut filter having an opening in the film centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electronic device comprising:
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a radiation passing layer having a top surface and a bottom surface; an integrated visible light and proximity sensor having a radiation emitter and a visible light and emitted radiation detector, both positioned below the radiation passing layer; a radiation shield positioned between the emitter and the detector, and extending to the bottom surface of the radiation passing layer; and a radiation absorbing film being a separate piece and of a different material than the shield and positioned over the detector to reject IR light but pass visible light to the detector, the radiation absorbing film having an opening centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic device comprising:
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a wireless telephony handset housing having an infrared light passing layer whose top face is part of an exterior face of the housing and whose bottom face is inside the housing; an integrated visible light and proximity sensor having an infrared emitter and a visible light and infrared detector both positioned below the bottom face of the light passing layer, inside the housing; an internal frame member surrounding the detector, the frame member to block infrared radiation between the emitter and the detector; and an IR cut filter between a top surface of the frame member and the bottom surface of the light passing layer, the IR cut filter having a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the IR cut filter having an opening in the film centered directly over the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for manufacturing an electronic device, comprising:
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applying a film across a top surface of the frame member and covering an integrated visible light and IR proximity signal detector, the film rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the film having an opening centered directly over the detector, the hole passes IR and visible light to the detector; and
thenpositioning a radiation passing layer into an exterior housing of a mobile device and fixing the radiation passing layer above the film, wherein an internal frame member in the housing lies between a proximity infrared emitter and the detector.
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Specification