Infrared sensors for electronic devices
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a light source operable at wavelengths longer than 3 microns;
a light detector operable at wavelengths longer than 3 microns;
control circuitry that modulates the light source to produce modulated light at wavelengths longer than 3 microns that reflects from external objects and is detected by the light detector to produce a proximity sensor signal,wherein the light detector comprises an array of multiple heat sensing elements and wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect motion of the external object by processing signals from the multiple heat sensing elements; and
a silicon lens that gathers light for the light detector.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device may be provided with proximity sensor capabilities for monitoring for the presence of nearby external objects. The electronic device may make temperature measurements such as measurements involving the monitoring of nearby objects for emitted blackbody light indicative of whether or not the external object is a heat-emitting object such as a human body part. The same sensor that is used in gathering temperature readings may be used in gathering proximity sensor data or separate temperature sensor and proximity sensor detector structures may be used. Motion sensor capabilities may be provided using sensor structures having an array of heat sensing elements. Signals from the array of heat sensing elements may be used in making temperature measurements and in gathering proximity sensor readings. Sensor structures may operate at wavelengths longer than 3 microns such as wavelengths from 3-5 microns or 10-15 microns.
10 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a light source operable at wavelengths longer than 3 microns; a light detector operable at wavelengths longer than 3 microns; control circuitry that modulates the light source to produce modulated light at wavelengths longer than 3 microns that reflects from external objects and is detected by the light detector to produce a proximity sensor signal, wherein the light detector comprises an array of multiple heat sensing elements and wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect motion of the external object by processing signals from the multiple heat sensing elements; and a silicon lens that gathers light for the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; a display mounted in the housing; a light sensor that is mounted under an inactive area in the display and that is configured to detect light at a wavelength longer than 3 microns; and control circuitry configured to measure blackbody light signals at wavelengths longer than 3 microns using the light sensor, wherein the light sensor comprises an array of multiple heat sensing elements and wherein the control circuitry is configured to gather signals from a first subset of the multiple heat sensing elements to make a temperature measurement, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to gather signals from a second subset of the multiple heat sensing elements to make motion detector measurements. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring for external objects within the vicinity of an electronic device, comprising:
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modulating a light source in the electronic device to emit modulated light; monitoring for reflections of the emitted modulated light using a mid-infrared light detector, wherein the mid-infrared light detector comprises a bolometer having an array of heat sensing elements; and detecting motion in the external objects using the array of heat sensing elements, wherein detecting motion in the external objects comprises detecting a hand gesture command from a user'"'"'s hand using the array of heat sensing elements. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification