Electronic device having a light emitting/detecting display screen

• US 7,362,320 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoberock, Tim M., Huffman, John W., Luque, Phillip R., Payne, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/454,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-175, 345/207, 345/199, 345/179, 345/82, 345 76- 83
• US Class Current: 345/207
• 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 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, media, and arrangements enable the implementation of one or more features in electronic devices that have (e.g., display) screens that are capable of light emission and detection. These features include, for example, scanning, (simulated) touch-screen sensitivity, and ambient light determination and compensation. The display screens may be comprised of light emitting/detecting elements, such as diodes, that can emit light for visual display and can detect light for receiving light information data. In certain described implementations, a method for implementing a feature using a display screen with emitting/detecting elements includes the actions of: activating multiple elements of an array of elements to emit light; activating multiple elements of the array of elements to detect light; producing detected light data representing the light detected by the multiple elements that are activated to detect light; and processing the detected light data to implement the feature.

Claims

1. A computer capable of implementing a scanning feature, the computer comprising:

a display screen including an array of elements, each individual element of the array of elements capable of emitting light and detecting light;

wherein the computer is adapted to use the elements of the array of elements to display graphical images; and

wherein the computer is adapted to use the elements of the array of elements to emit light onto a scanning target and to detect light reflected from the scanning target in order to produce a scanned image of the scanning target,

wherein the computer is further adapted to produce the scanned image using a plurality of element state configurations for the array of elements,

wherein a first of the element state configurations for the array of elements includes activation of a first set of pairs of the elements, and wherein a second of the element state configurations for the array of elements includes at least one of a switched emitting and detecting state of the first set of pairs of the elements and activation of a second set of pairs of the elements.

2. An electronic device capable of implementing a scanning feature, the electronic device comprising:

a display screen including a plurality of light emitting/detecting elements, each individual light emitting/detecting element capable of light emission and light detection;

wherein the electronic device is configured to;

display graphical images using the light emitting/detecting elements; and

illuminate a scanning target using the light emission capability of a first set of the light emitting/detecting elements;

collect light detection data representative of at least part of the scanning target using the light detection capability of a second set of the light emitting/detecting elements; and

process the light detection data to produce an image of at least a portion of the scanning target.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein each individual light emitting/detecting element includes a single diode adapted to emit light at one moment and detect light at another moment.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein each light emitting/detecting element is associated with another light emitting/detecting element to form a pair of elements, and wherein each light emitting/detecting element of each pair of elements operates in an emitting state at one moment and a detecting state at another moment.

5. A method comprising actions of:

displaying graphical images using an array of light emitting/detecting elements, each individual light emitting/detecting element capable of light emission and light detection;

activating a first plurality of the light emitting/detecting elements in a first emission/detection element state configuration to produce detected light data of a target document;

activating a second plurality of the light emitting/detecting elements in a second emission/detection element state configuration to produce additional detected light data of the target document; and

combining the detected light data and the additional detected light data to produce at least part of a scanned image of the target document.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the actions of:

recording the detected light data; and

recording the additional detected light data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the actions of activating comprise the action of logically organizing a plurality of light emitting/detecting elements into a plurality of light emitting/detecting element pairs, wherein each light emitting/detecting element of each of the light emitting/detecting element pairs is selectively activated to emit light and to detect light.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the action of combining comprises at least one action selected from the group comprising:

amalgamating the detected light data and/or the additional detected light data, averaging the detected light data and/or the additional detected light data, and interpolating the detected light data and/or the additional detected light data.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the first emission/detection element state configuration includes activation of a first set of pairs of the light emitting/detecting elements, and wherein the second emission/detection element state configuration includes at least one of a switched emitting and detecting state of the first set of pairs of the light emitting/detecting elements and activation of a second set of pairs of the light emitting/detecting elements.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein each individual light emitting/detecting element includes a single diode adapted to emit light at one moment and detect light at another moment.

11. A display comprising:

an array of elements, each individual element of the array of elements capable of emitting light and detecting light; and

at least one processor configured to execute instructions for;

activating elements in the array of elements to display graphical images; and

activating elements in the array of elements to emit light onto a scanning target; and

activating elements in the array of elements to detect light reflected from the scanning target in order to produce a scanned image of the scanning target,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute instructions for producing the scanned image using a plurality of element state configurations for the array of elements,

wherein a first of the element state configurations for the array of elements includes activation of a first set of pairs of the elements, and wherein a second of the element state configurations for the array of elements includes at least one of a switched emitting and detecting state of the first set of pairs of the elements and activation of a second set of pairs of the elements.

12. A display comprising:

an array of elements, each individual element of the array of elements capable of emitting light and detecting light; and

at least one processor configured to execute instructions for;

activating elements in the array of elements to display graphical images; and

activating elements in the array of elements to emit light onto a scanning target; and

activating elements in the array of elements to detect light reflected from the scanning target in order to produce a scanned image of the scanning target,

wherein each element of the array of elements is associated with another element of the array of elements to form a pair of elements, and wherein each element of each pair of elements operates in an emitting state at one moment and a detecting state at another moment.

13. The display of claim 12, wherein each individual element of the array of elements includes a single diode adapted to emit light at one moment and detect light at another moment.

14. A computer capable of implementing a scanning feature, the computer comprising:

a display screen including an array of elements, each individual element of the array of elements capable of emitting light and detecting light;

wherein the computer is adapted to use the elements of the array of elements to display graphical images; and

wherein the computer is adapted to use the elements of the array of elements to emit light onto a scanning target and to detect light reflected from the scanning target in order to produce a scanned image of the scanning target,

wherein each element of the array of elements is associated with another element of the array of elements to form a pair of elements, and wherein each element of each pair of elements operates in an emitting state at one moment and a detecting state at another moment.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein each individual element of the array of elements includes a single diode adapted to emit light at one moment and detect light at another moment.