Apparatus with optical functionality and associated methods

• US 8,384,031 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Rueger, Timothy T., Hong, William, Andreas, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaworecki, Mark R
• Application Number:
  US12/982,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 250/338.1, 250/339.02, 250/339.05, 250/339.11, 250/339.14, 250/340
• US Class Current: 250/340
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/46 Indirect determination of position data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7803 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7835 using coding masks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4913 Circuits for detection, sampling, integration or read-out
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4972 Alignment of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor integrated circuit (IC). The at least one integrated photodetector that is adapted to sense light, and an integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is coupled to the at least one integrated photodetector, and is adapted to convert an output signal of one or more of the at least one integrated photodetector to one or more digital signals. The sensor integrated circuit (IC) further includes an integrated controller that is adapted to facilitate operation of the sensor integrated circuit (IC).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor integrated circuit (IC), comprising;

at least one integrated photodetector adapted to sense light;

an integrated current-input incremental-mode analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the at least one integrated photodetector, and adapted to convert an output signal of one or more of the at least one integrated photodetector to one or more digital signals; and

an integrated controller adapted to facilitate operation of the sensor integrated circuit (IC).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated photodetector comprises a visible ambient light sensor (ALS).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated photodetector comprises an infrared ambient light sensor (ALS).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated photodetector comprises a proximity sensor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated photodetector couples to the integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) via an analog multiplexer (MUX).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an integrated programmable light emitting diode (LED) driver coupled to the integrated controller.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the integrated programmable light emitting diode (LED) driver drives at least one light emitting diode (LED) external to the sensor integrated circuit (IC).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the at least one light emitting diode (LED) comprises an infrared light emitting diode (LED).

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a host processor adapted to communicate with the integrated controller.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the host processor communicates with the integrated controller via host interface circuitry integrated in the sensor integrated circuit (IC).

11. A method of sensing light by using a sensor integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising:

sensing light by using at least one integrated photodetector adapted to sense light;

converting an output signal of one or more of the at least one integrated photodetector to one or more digital signals by using an integrated current-input incremental-mode analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the at least one integrated photodetector to; and

using an integrated controller adapted to facilitate operation of the sensor integrated circuit (IC).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein sensing light by using at least one integrated photodetector adapted to sense light further comprises using a visible ambient light sensor (ALS).

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein sensing light by using at least one integrated photodetector adapted to sense light further comprises using an infrared ambient light sensor (ALS).

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein sensing light by using at least one integrated photodetector adapted to sense light further comprises using a proximity sensor.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one integrated photodetector couples to the integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) via an analog multiplexer (MUX).

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising using an integrated programmable light emitting diode (LED) driver coupled to the integrated controller.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein using the integrated programmable light emitting diode (LED) driver comprises driving at least one light emitting diode (LED) external to the sensor IC.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein driving the at least one light emitting diode (LED) comprises driving an infrared light emitting diode (LED).

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising communicating with a host processor adapted to communicate with the integrated controller.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein communicating with the host processor further comprises using host interface circuitry integrated in the sensor IC.