Proximity and ambient light sensor with improved smudge rejection

• US 8,805,302 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pantfoerder, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US13/111,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20120295665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/575.8, 455/90.3, 455/95, 345/98, 345/173, 345/156, 345/175, 348/340, 348/374, 348/164, 250/227.22, 250/227.11, 250/221, 250/227.24, 250/339.05, 250/201.1
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0214 Constructional arrangements for removing stray light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/029 Multi-channel photometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0437 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators, spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0488 with spectral filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/0257 portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An integrated proximity and ambient light sensor assembly includes an emitter of an IR proximity signal, and a detector configured to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light. The assembly includes an IR cut filter that has a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, and an opening in the film centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector. The opening allows IR light to reach the detector from within a narrow angle, but absorbs undesirable emitted IR light that is reflected by oily build-up or “smudge” left on a cover of the device. The film allows visible light to pass for a wider angle to better determine average ambient light.

Claims

1. An apparatus sense proximity, and to sense ambient light, the apparatus comprising:

an emitter of an IR proximity signal;

a detector configured to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light; and

an IR cut filter disposed over the detector, the IR cut filter having a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the IR cut filter having an opening in the film centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the film comprises a radiation absorbing layer that absorbs 850-900 nano-meter wavelength light and does not absorb 400-650 nano-meter wavelength light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector uses a single continuous detector surface or a single photodiode to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a radiation passing cover disposed over the IR cut filter, the cover having a surface exposed to a user'"'"'s touch such that an oil smudge can develop on the cover over a location between the emitter and the detector, where the smudge can cause internal reflection of the IR proximity signal, from the emitter towards the detector, within the radiation passing cover, wherein the film is to absorb the internal reflection.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a radiation shield positioned between the emitter and the detector, and extending to the bottom surface of the IR cut filter; and

a frame positioned adjacent the detector, opposite the radiation shield;

the frame extending to the bottom surface of the IR cut filter, the IR cut filter positioned over the detector and extending from the radiation shield to the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the opening in the film defines a first view angle of the detector for detecting target reflections of the IR proximity signal, the shield and frame define a second view angle of the sensor for detecting an ambient visible light signal, and the second view angle is at least two times larger than the first view angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the opening has a size selected no that the detector receives the IR proximity signal from the emitter when reflected from within a first predetermined angle between an axis tangential to the midpoint of the detector and an edge of the opening, wherein the film passes visible light to the detector from angles;

1) between the first angle and the shield, and

     2) between the first angle and the frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a wireless telephony device housing the emitter, detector and IR cut filter;

wherein the cover includes a touch screen input for the wireless telephony device, adjacent the emitter and the detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor coupled to the detector and configured to process the passed IR proximity signal when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and process the passed ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a radiation passing layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;

an integrated visible light and proximity sensor having a radiation emitter, and a visible light and emitted radiation detector;

the emitter and the detector positioned below the radiation passing layer;

a radiation shield positioned between the emitter and the detector, and extending to the bottom surface of the radiation passing layer; and

a radiation absorbing film being a separate piece than and of a different material than the shield;

the film the positioned over the detector to re fight but pass visible light to the detector, the radiation absorbing film having an opening centered over a midpoint of the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising:

a frame positioned adjacent the detector, opposite the radiation shield, and extending to the bottom surface of the radiation passing layer, the radiation absorbing film being a separate piece and of a different material than the frame, the a radiation absorbing film extending from the radiation shield to the frame.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the radiation absorbing film is separate from but has been adhered to a top surface of the shield and a top surface of the frame.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the detector has a single continuous detector surface or a single photodiode, and wherein the opening is directly above a center of the surface or the photodiode.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a wireless telephony handset housing having an infrared light passing layer having a top face that is part of an exterior face of the housing and having a bottom face that is inside the housing;

an integrated visible light and proximity sensor having an infrared emitter, and a visible light and infrared detector;

the emitter and the detector positioned below the bottom face of the light passing layer, inside the housing;

an internal frame member surrounding the detector, the frame member to block infrared radiation between the emitter and the detector; and

an IR cut filter between a top surface of the frame member and the bottom surface of the light passing layer, the IR cut filter having a film disposed over the detector that rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the IR cut filter having an opening in the film centered directly over the detector that passes IR and visible light to the detector.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the film comprises a radiation absorbing layer that absorbs 850-900 nano-meter wavelength light and does not absorb 400-650 nano-meter wavelength light.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the detector has a single continuous detector surface or a single or a single photodiode to detect the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, and to detect ambient light when the apparatus is sensing ambient light.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the film is flat, the frame member has a T-shape, and the filter is over the T-shape.

18. The device of claim 14, the top face having a surface exposed to a user'"'"'s touch such that an oil smudge can develop on the surface over a location between the emitter and the detector, where the smudge can cause internal reflection of the IR proximity signal, from the emitter towards the detector, within the radiation passing cover, wherein the film is to absorb the internal reflection.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the opening in the film defines a first view angle of the detector for detecting target reflections of the IR proximity signal, the frame define a second view angle of the sensor for detecting an ambient visible light signal, and the second view angle is at least two times larger than the first view angle.

20. A method for manufacturing an electronic device, comprising:

applying a film across a top surface of a frame member and covering an integrated visible light and IR proximity signal detector, the film rejects IR light but passes visible light to the detector, the film having an opening centered directly over the detector, the passes IR and visible light to the detector; and

then

positioning a radiation passing layer into an exterior housing of a mobile device and fixing the radiation passing layer above the film, wherein an internal frame member in the housing lies between a proximity infrared emitter and the detector.