Electronic Devices with Light Sensors

• US 20140166867A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shiu, Boon W., DiVincent, Michael, Lee, David Lin
• Granted Patent: US 9,664,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/239
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0425 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0444 using means for replacing an element by another, e.g. for replacing a filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

Electronic devices may be provided with light sensors. Light sensors may be proximity sensors or ambient light sensors. Proximity sensors may include a light-emitting component and a light-sensitive component. The electronic device may include an enclosure formed from housing structures and some or all of a display for the device. The enclosure may include openings such as openings formed from clusters of smaller openings. Each light sensor may receive light through one of the clusters of openings. The light sensor may receive the light directly through the openings or may receive light that passes through the openings and is guided to the light sensor by light guiding structures. The light guiding structures may include fiber optic structures or light-reflecting structures. Fiber optic structures may fill or partially fill the openings. Light reflecting structures may be machined cavities in an internal support structure.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure having an opening;

an internal support structure within the enclosure, wherein internal support structure includes a light-reflecting cavity adjacent to the opening; and

a light sensor mounted in the light-reflecting cavity, wherein the light-reflecting cavity reflects light that enters the enclosure through the opening onto the light sensor.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises an ambient light sensor.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the proximity sensor comprises a light-emitting component and a light-sensitive component.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a housing sidewall member and wherein the opening comprises an opening in the housing sidewall member.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the housing sidewall member comprises aluminum.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the opening comprises a patterned cluster of openings.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the patterned cluster of openings comprises a central opening and a plurality of peripheral openings that surround the central opening.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9, further comprising transparent material in each of the patterned cluster of openings.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the transparent material comprises fiber optic structures in the openings.

7. The electronic device defined in 1 wherein the internal support structure comprises aluminum.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 7 wherein the light-reflecting cavity comprises a machined cavity in the internal support structure.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a housing;

a printed circuit board in the housing;

a first plurality of light sensors mounted on a first surface of the printed circuit board; and

a second plurality of light sensors mounted on a second surface of the printed circuit board.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein display comprises a cover layer having a plurality of openings and wherein each of the first plurality of light sensors is mounted adjacent to at least one of the plurality of openings in the cover layer.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the cover layer comprises glass.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the housing comprises an additional plurality of openings and wherein each of the second plurality of light sensors receives light through at least one of the additional plurality of openings in the housing.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 16, further comprising:

an internal support structure having a plurality of cavities, wherein each of the plurality of cavities is adjacent to at least one of the additional plurality of openings in the housing.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein each of the second plurality of light sensors is mounted within a corresponding one of the plurality of cavities.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure having a front surface, a rear surface, a sidewall surface, and clusters of openings in each of the front surface, the rear surface, and the sidewall surface; and

a plurality of light sensors, wherein each light sensor receives light through a corresponding one of the clusters of openings in the enclosure.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 19 wherein the each cluster of openings comprises a central opening and a plurality of peripheral openings that surround the central opening.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 20 wherein the central opening has a diameter, wherein the plurality of peripheral openings each have a common diameter, and wherein the diameter of the central opening is larger than the common diameter of the peripheral openings.

22. The electronic device defined in claim 19, further comprising a display having a rigid cover layer, wherein the front surface of the enclosure is formed from the rigid cover layer.

23. The electronic device defined in claim 22, further comprising a peripheral housing member, wherein the sidewall surface of the enclosure is formed from the peripheral housing member.