Reflective proximity sensor with improved smudge resistance and reduced crosstalk

• US 8,507,863 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Holenarsipur, Prashanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kiho
• Application Number:
  US13/350,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 2503381-3385
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An electronic device includes a protective layer above a proximity sensor having a radiation emitter and a radiation detector. A groove, which may be wedge shaped, is formed in the bottom surface of the protective layer. A radiation barrier, which may be reflective or absorptive material, is placed in the groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer. A light blocking coating may be applied to the bottom surface and the groove of the protective layer to prevent the passage of visible radiation and permit the passage of infrared radiation. A radiation shield may be positioned between the emitter and the detector directly below the radiation barrier. Alignment features may be formed on the mating surfaces of the radiation barrier and radiation shield to align the protective layer with respect to the radiation shield and proximity sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a proximity sensor having a radiation emitter and a radiation detector;

a protective layer positioned above the proximity sensor, the protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface adjacent the proximity sensor;

a groove formed in the bottom surface of the protective layer; and

a radiation barrier in the groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the groove formed in the bottom surface of the protective layer is wedge shaped.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the radiation barrier in the groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer is a reflective material.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the radiation barrier in the groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer is an absorptive material.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the radiation emitter and the radiation detector are both directed toward the top surface of the protective layer.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a light blocking coating applied to the bottom surface of the protective layer to prevent the passage of visible radiation and permit the passage of infrared radiation.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the light blocking coating is further applied to the groove between the protective layer and the radiation barrier in the groove.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a radiation shield positioned between the emitter and the detector of the proximity sensor and directly below the radiation barrier, and having a top surface adjacent to the bottom surface of the protective layer.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein:

the radiation barrier has a top surface adjacent to the protective layer and a bottom surface in which a first alignment feature is formed; and

the radiation shield has a second alignment feature formed in the top surface, the second alignment feature engaging the first alignment feature in the bottom surface of the radiation barrier to align the protective layer with respect to the radiation shield.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the radiation barrier is aligned with respect to the proximity sensor and the second alignment feature engaging the first alignment feature in the bottom surface of the radiation barrier further aligns the protective layer with respect to the proximity sensor.

11. A method of improving smudge resistance and reducing crosstalk in a reflective proximity sensor, the method comprising:

positioning a protective layer above a proximity sensor having a radiation emitter and a radiation detector directed toward the protective layer, the protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface adjacent the proximity sensor;

forming a groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer; and

placing a radiation barrier in the groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the radiation barrier is a reflective material.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the radiation barrier is an absorptive material.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising applying a light blocking coating to the bottom surface of the protective layer to prevent the passage of visible radiation and permit the passage of infrared radiation.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising applying the light blocking coating to the groove between the protective layer and the radiation barrier in the groove.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising positioning a radiation shield between the emitter and the detector of the proximity sensor and directly below the radiation barrier, with a top surface of the radiation shield adjacent to the bottom surface of the protective layer.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

forming a first alignment feature in a bottom surface of the radiation barrier;

forming a second alignment feature in the top surface of the radiation shield; and

aligning the protective layer with respect to the radiation shield by engaging the first alignment feature with the second alignment feature.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising aligning the protective layer with respect to the proximity sensor by engaging the first alignment feature with the second alignment feature.

19. An apparatus for improving smudge resistance and reducing crosstalk in a reflective proximity sensor, the apparatus comprising:

a protective layer positioned above a proximity sensor having a radiation emitter and a radiation detector directed toward the protective layer, the protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface adjacent the proximity sensor; and

first means for blocking radiation placed in a groove in the bottom surface of the protective layer directly above the means for blocking radiation positioned between the emitter and the detector of the proximity sensor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for preventing the passage of visible radiation and permitting the passage of infrared radiation applied to the bottom surface of the protective layer.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising the means for preventing the passage of visible radiation and permitting the passage of infrared radiation applied to the groove between the protective layer and the first means for blocking radiation.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising second means for blocking radiation positioned between the emitter and the detector of the proximity sensor, directly below the first means for blocking radiation, and adjacent to the bottom surface of the protective layer.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for aligning the protective layer with respect to the means for blocking radiation positioned between the emitter and the detector of the proximity sensor.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for aligning the protective layer with respect to the proximity sensor.