Light sensitive display

• US 7,852,417 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, Green, Pat, den Boer, Willem
• Primary Examiner(s): Dudek; James A
• Application Number:
  US11/977,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12
• US Class Current: 349/12
• 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 display device including a viewing surface comprising:

a stack of layers configured to display an image;

a light guide adjacent to the viewing surface;

a light source for establishing internally reflected light within the light guide;

a plurality of light sensitive elements formed within the stacked structure, the plurality of light sensitive elements configured to detect a diffusion of the light from the light guide due to contact of an object on the light guide; and

a layer included in the stacked structure, the layer including a non-continuous opening configured to direct the diffusion of the light towards the plurality of light sensitive elements to a greater extent than collimated light.

2. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein the non-continuous opening comprises a central material disposed adjacent to a given light sensitive element.

3. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source is configured to provide the light comprising a range of wavelengths less than white light.

4. The display device as recited, in claim 3 wherein the display device further comprises a layer configured to pass the range of wavelengths to the plurality of light sensitive elements and block wavelengths other than the range of wavelengths.

5. The display device as recited in claim 3 wherein the range of wavelengths corresponds to a single color.

6. The display device as recited in claim 3 wherein the range of wavelengths comprises to 600-700 nm.

7. The display device as recited in claim 3 wherein the range of wavelengths comprises to 400-500 nm.

8. The display device as recited in claim 3 wherein the range of wavelengths comprises to 530-580 nm.

9. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein the object is one of a stylus and a finger.

10. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein the object has an index of refraction within a range of 0.5 to 0.25 of an index of refraction of the light guide.

11. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein a surface characteristic of the object is at least one of white, shiny, and reflective.

12. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source is configured to switch between the light source providing a first light and the light source providing a second light different than the first light.

13. The display device as recited in claim 3 wherein the light source is configured to switch between providing the light comprising the range of wavelengths less than white light and providing a light corresponding to white light.

14. The display device as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source is configured to switch between the light source providing a first light comprising a first range of wavelengths and providing a second light comprising a second range of wavelengths.

15. The display device as recited in claim 13 wherein the light source is configured to switch in response to a state of a switch on the device.

16. The display device as recited in claim 13 wherein the light source is configured to switch automatically.

17. The display device as recited in claim 14 wherein the light source is configured to switch in response to a state of a switch on the device.

18. The display device as recited in claim 14 wherein the light source is configured to switch automatically.