Display device control based on integrated ambient light detection and lighting source characteristics

• US 9,530,358 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gardner, William Bryson Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/771,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20130161489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/064 by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3225 using an active matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for a display device including one or more methods for modifying the display brightness by automatically adapting to ambient lighting conditions.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display having an array of display pixels;

a light source comprising at least first and second lighting elements for providing backlight illumination to the display during an illumination interval;

at least one light sensor configured to receive light through at least a portion of the display and to generate a sensor signal based on an amount of light received, wherein the at least one light sensor is interposed between the first and second lighting elements; and

a processor configured to receive the sensor signal during a sensing interval, wherein the sensing interval is synchronized with respect to the illumination interval, wherein the illumination interval comprises a delay period during which power is not applied to the light source and wherein the sensing interval begins a predetermined period of time after the delay period begins.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the array of display pixels is located in an active area of the display and wherein the at least one light sensor is located behind the active area.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises at least first and second display layers and wherein the at least one light sensor is interposed between the first and second display layers.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the display comprises a color filter layer and wherein the at least one light sensor is integrated with the color filter layer.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one light sensor comprises a plurality of light sensors located behind at least a portion of the display.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the sensor signal is based on an amount of received ambient light and wherein the processor is configured to adjust an amount of power applied to the light source based on the amount of received ambient light.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one light sensor comprises at least one of a photodiode and a phototransistor.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second lighting elements comprise light-emitting diodes.

9. An electronic device comprising:

an organic light-emitting diode display comprising a layer of colored display elements; and

at least one light sensor integrated with the layer of colored display elements in the organic light-emitting diode display, wherein the layer of colored display elements comprises a first colored display element and a second colored display element, and wherein the at least one light sensor is interposed between the first and second colored display elements.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the at least one light sensor comprises an array of light sensors integrated with the organic light-emitting diode display.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the at least one light sensor is configured to receive ambient light and to generate a sensor signal based on the amount of received ambient light, the electronic device further comprising:

a processor configured to receive the sensor signal.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the organic light-emitting diode display comprises an array of display pixels located in an active area of the organic light-emitting diode display and wherein the at least one light sensor is located in the active area.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 9, wherein the colored display elements are colored sub-pixels and wherein the at least one light sensor is interposed between a first colored sub-pixel and a second colored sub-pixel.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display having an array of display pixels;

a color filter layer;

an array of light sensors integrated with the color filter layer, wherein the array of light sensors is configured to receive light and to generate sensor signals based on the amount of received light;

a light source configured to provide backlight illumination to the display during an illumination interval; and

a processor configured to receive the sensor signals during a sensing interval, wherein the sensing interval is synchronized with respect to the illumination interval.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the color filter layer comprises red, green, and blue color filters and wherein the array of light sensors are integrated with the red, green, and blue color filters.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the sensor signals are based on an amount of received ambient light and wherein the processor is configured to adjust an amount of power applied to the light source based on the amount of received ambient light.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the illumination period comprises a delay period during which power is not applied to the light source and wherein the sensing interval begins a predetermined period of time after the delay period begins.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 13, wherein the color filter layer comprises a plurality of color filters, and wherein the light sensors in the array of light sensors are formed between the color filters in the color filter layer.