Electronic devices with light sensors and displays

• US 9,620,571 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2016
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina, Drzaic, Paul S., de Jong, Erik G., Rothkopf, Fletcher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US15/087,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20160218156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 2502141, 257290-292
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/11 characterised by the electroluminescent [EL] layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/818 Reflective anodes, e.g. ITO combined with thick metallic layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/828 Transparent cathodes, e.g. comprising thin metal layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/844 Encapsulations
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/86 Arrangements for improving contrast, e.g. preventing reflection of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/865 comprising light absorbing layers, e.g. light-blocking layers
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/13 comprising photosensors that control luminance
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/60 OLEDs integrated with inorganic light-sensitive elements, e.g. with inorganic solar cells or inorganic photodiodes

Abstract

An electronic device is provided with a display and a light sensor that receives light that passes through the display. The display includes features that increase the amount of light that passes through the display. The features may be translucency enhancement features that allow light to pass directly through the display onto a light sensor mounted behind the display or may include a light-guiding layer that guides light through the display onto a light sensor mounted along an edge of the display. The translucency enhancement features may be formed in a reflector layer or an electrode layer for the display. The translucency enhancement features may include microperforations in a reflector layer of the display, a light-filtering reflector layer of the display, or a reflector layer of the display that passes a portion of the light and reflects an additional portion of the light.

Claims

1. An electronic device having a display and a light sensor mounted beneath the display, the display comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode layer formed on the substrate;

a layer of organic emissive material formed on the first electrode layer;

a second electrode layer formed on the layer of organic emissive material such that the layer of organic emissive material is interposed between the first and second electrode layers, wherein the second electrode layer comprises conductive traces having modified portions that are aligned with the light sensor to allow for light to pass through the second electrode layer onto the light sensor; and

a layer of light absorbing material interposed between the first electrode layer and the light sensor, wherein the layer of light absorbing material comprises openings that are aligned with the modified portions of the conductive traces such that the light passes through the openings and between the modified portions of the conductive traces onto the light sensor.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the second electrode layer comprises an array of thin-film transistors.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the modified portions of the conductive traces comprise thinned portions over the light sensor, wherein the light passes between the thinned portions onto the light sensor.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 2, wherein the modified portions of the conductive traces comprise curved portions, wherein the light passes between the curved portions onto the light sensor.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 4, wherein the curved portions do not overlap the light sensor.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the first electrode layer comprises a cathode layer.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the second electrode layer comprises an anode layer.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is interposed between the layer of organic emissive material and the light sensor.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the layer of organic emissive material is interposed between the substrate and the light sensor.

10. An organic light-emitting diode display comprising:

a cathode layer;

an electrode layer comprising an array of thin-film transistors, an anode layer, and conductive traces;

a layer of organic emissive material interposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, wherein the layer of organic emissive material emits light through the cathode layer to display images on the display; and

a layer of masking material interposed between the cathode layer and a light sensor mounted beneath the organic light-emitting diode display, wherein the conductive traces in the electrode layer comprise modified portions that are aligned with the light sensor, wherein the layer of masking material comprises openings that are aligned with the light sensor, and wherein the light sensor receives light through the modified portions and the openings.

11. The organic light-emitting diode display defined in claim 10, wherein the conductive traces have a constant thickness and wherein the modified portions are thinned portions that are thinned relative to the constant thickness.

12. The organic light-emitting diode display defined in claim 11, wherein spacing between the thinned portions is increased relative to the spacing between portions of the conductive traces having the constant thickness.

13. The organic light-emitting diode display defined in claim 12, wherein the thinned portions overlap the light sensor and the openings in the layer of masking material.

14. The organic light-emitting diode display defined in claim 10, wherein the conductive traces extend along straight paths and wherein the modified portions are curved portions that curve away from the straight paths.

15. The organic light-emitting diode display defined in claim 14, wherein the curved portions do not overlap the light sensor.

16. The organic light-emitting diode display defined in claim 10, wherein the light received by the light sensor comprises ambient light.

17. An electronic device, comprising:

a light sensor; and

a display formed over the light sensor, the display comprising;

a substrate layer,

a first electrode layer;

a second electrode layer comprising at least one thin-film transistor and at least one feature configured to allow light from outside the display to pass through the display and reach the light sensor;

a layer of organic emissive material interposed between the first and second electrode layers; and

a layer of light blocking material interposed between the first electrode layer and the light sensor, wherein the layer of light blocking material comprises an opening that is aligned with the at least one feature in the second electrode layer and the light sensor such that the light from outside the display passes through the at least one feature and the opening to reach the light sensor.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17, wherein the first electrode layer comprises a cathode, wherein the second electrode layer further comprises an anode and a plurality of conductive traces, and wherein the at least one feature comprises a modified portion of at least one of the plurality of conductive traces.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 17, wherein the display further comprises:

a polarizer, wherein the layer of organic emissive material is interposed between the polarizer and the substrate;

a first barrier layer interposed between the substrate and the second electrode layer; and

a second barrier layer interposed between the first electrode layer and the polarizer.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 17, wherein the display further comprises:

a polarizer, wherein the substrate is interposed between the polarizer and the layer of organic emissive material;

a first barrier layer interposed between the substrate and the first electrode layer; and

a second barrier layer interposed between the layer of light-blocking material and the second electrode layer.