Light sensitive display

• US 7,880,819 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, Green, Pat, den Boer, Willem
• Primary Examiner(s): Dudek; James A
• Application Number:
  US11/977,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 345/180, 345/182, 345/183
• 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 system comprising:

a display comprising

a stack of layers configured to display an image, and

multiple elements included in the stack of layers, wherein each of the multiple elements is configured to sense light; and

an optical pointing device comprising

a light source configured to emit light, and

a light detector configured to sense light,

wherein the optical pointing device is configured to control emission of light by the light source based on output from the light detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to inhibit the emission of light by the light source when the output from the light detector indicates an intensity of sensed light that exceeds a threshold value.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system is configured to determine a location of an object based on output from the multiple elements indicating a region of sensed light intensity below a threshold level of sensed light intensity.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to initiate the emission of light by the light source when the output from the light detector indicates an intensity of sensed light that falls within a threshold value.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the system is configured to determine a location of an object based on output from the multiple elements indicating a region of sensed light intensity above a threshold level of sensed light intensity.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify an intensity of light emitted by the light source based on the output from the light detector.

7. An optical pointing device comprising:

a light source configured to emit light; and

a light detector configured to sense light,

wherein the optical pointing device is configured to control emission of light by the light source based on output from the light detector.

8. The optical pointing device of claim 7, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to inhibit the emission of light by the light source when the output from the light detector indicates an intensity of sensed light that exceeds a threshold value.

9. The optical pointing device of claim 7, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to initiate the emission of light by the light source when the output from the light detector indicates an intensity of sensed light that falls within a threshold value.

10. The optical pointing device of claim 7, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify an intensity of light emitted by the light source based on the output from the light detector.

11. The optical pointing device of claim 7, wherein the optical pointing device comprises a light pen.

12. The optical pointing device of claim 7, wherein the optical pointing device comprises a laser pointer.

13. A system comprising:

a display comprising

a stack of layers configured to display an image, and

multiple elements included in the stack of layers, wherein each of the multiple elements is configured to sense light; and

an optical pointing device configured to emit light,

wherein the system is configured to control emission of light by the optical pointing device based on feedback associated with output from the multiple elements.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to inhibit the emission of light by the optical pointing device when the output from the multiple elements indicates an intensity of sensed light that exceeds a threshold value.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to initiate the emission of light by the optical pointing device when the output from the multiple elements indicates an intensity of sensed light that falls within a threshold value.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify an intensity of light emitted by the optical pointing device based on the feedback.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify the intensity of light in a step-wise manner.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify the intensity of light in a linear manner.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify the intensity of light in a non-linear manner.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the optical pointing device is configured to modify the intensity of light continuously.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical pointing device is interconnected to the display by a wire communications link.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical pointing device is interconnected to the display by a wireless communications link.