Integrated ambient light sensor and distance sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated proximity and light sensor, comprising:
- a projecting light-emitting device (“
PLD”
), an indicating light emitting device (“
ILD”
), and a light sensing integrated circuit (“
LSIC”
) configured as a single package; and
a light isolation partition that optically isolates the PLD from the LSIC,wherein the LSIC controls the PLD and the ILD to emit light therefrom,and wherein the LSIC is configured to detect an ambient light level and also to detect a reflection of the light projected by the PLD from a surface for proximity detection, further wherein the LSIC turns off the ILD to detect the ambient light level and/or for proximity detection.
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Abstract
An integrated proximity and light sensor includes an indicating light-emitting device (“ILD”), a projecting light-emitting device (“PLD”), and a light sensing integrated circuit (“LSIC”) configured as a single package. The LSIC controls each of the ILD and the PLD to emit light therefrom and the LSIC is configured to detect an ambient light level and also to detect a reflection of the light projected by the PLD from a surface for proximity detection.
27 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An integrated proximity and light sensor, comprising:
-
a projecting light-emitting device (“
PLD”
), an indicating light emitting device (“
ILD”
), and a light sensing integrated circuit (“
LSIC”
) configured as a single package; anda light isolation partition that optically isolates the PLD from the LSIC, wherein the LSIC controls the PLD and the ILD to emit light therefrom, and wherein the LSIC is configured to detect an ambient light level and also to detect a reflection of the light projected by the PLD from a surface for proximity detection, further wherein the LSIC turns off the ILD to detect the ambient light level and/or for proximity detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating an integrated proximity and light sensor, comprising the steps of:
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utilizing a controller programmed to operate the integrated proximity and light sensor in at least two modes including an ambient light sensing mode and a proximity sensing mode, wherein the proximity sensing mode further includes the steps of; turning on a projecting light-emitting device (“
PLD”
);detecting light while the PLD is on to obtain first data; turning off the PLD; detecting light while the PLD is off to obtain second data; and determining the proximity of a surface as a function of the difference between the first data and the second data; and wherein the controller is further programmed to turn on an indicating light-emitting device (“
ILD”
) and to turn off the ILD periodically when the integrated proximity and light sensor is sensing ambient light and/or proximity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification