Electronic device having light sensor package with diffuser for reduced light sensor directionality

• US 9,891,100 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ruh, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Que T
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENNETT, JENNIFER D
• Application Number:
  US14/051,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20150102212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 250216, 250214 AL, 250239, 359599, 359707, 348602, 348603, 356218, 340600
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0403 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements; Scanning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0474 Diffusers cavities G01J2001/0481
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0231 the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape macroscopic prism arrays G02B5/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0203 Containers; Encapsulations , e.g. encapsulation of photodiodesfor photovoltaic devices H01L31/048; for organic photosensitive devices H10K30/80
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02327 the optical elements being integrated or being directly associated to the device, e.g. back reflectors optical coatings H01L31/0216

Abstract

An electronic device display may have a display cover layer. The cover layer may have a border that has an opaque masking material with an opening defining a light window for an ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor may have a photodetector mounted in a light sensor housing. A molded clear plastic light diffuser may be used to diffuse light for the ambient light sensor that is passing through the light window. The light diffuser may reduce directionality in the ambient light sensor. The light diffuser may have an array of molded protrusions such as flat-topped cones. Alignment features may be formed in the light sensor housing and the light diffuser. Clips and other molded structures for attaching the light sensor to a mounting bracket or other structures may be molded into the light diffuser and light sensor housing.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a light sensor housing;

a photodetector in the light sensor housing;

a plastic light diffuser that diffuses light entering the light sensor housing and that has first and second opposing surfaces, wherein the plastic light diffuser comprises an array of light scattering features formed on the first surface and mounting clips that extend from the second surface, and wherein the array of light scattering features and the mounting clips are integrally formed as a single plastic member; and

a support structure, wherein the plastic diffuser is interposed between the light sensor housing and the support structure, and wherein the support structure comprises openings through which the mounting clips extend to attach the plastic light diffuser to the support structure.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the array of light scattering features comprises flat-topped protrusions.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the flat-topped protrusions include flat-topped cones.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the array of light scattering features includes depressions in the plastic light diffuser.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the plastic light diffuser comprises a compression-molded clear polymer film.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the plastic light diffuser comprises injection-molded clear plastic.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensor housing comprises a first shot of injection molded plastic and wherein the plastic light diffuser comprises a second shot of injection molded plastic that is overmolded over the first shot of injection molded plastic.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the plastic light diffuser has alignment features selected from the group consisting of:

alignment protrusions and alignment recesses.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the light sensor housing has a first set of alignment features and wherein the plastic light diffuser has a mating second set of alignment features to align the light diffuser to the light sensor housing.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a metal bracket and wherein the mounting clips are received in the openings to attach the plastic light diffuser to the metal bracket.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a display having a display cover layer coated with an opaque masking layer that has a light window;

an ambient light sensor aligned with the light window; and

a molded light diffuser for the ambient light sensor that diffuses light passing to the ambient light sensor through the light window, wherein the molded light diffuser has a planar surface through which the light enters the molded light diffuser and a second surface opposite the planar surface that has an array of molded protrusions comprising flat-topped cones with circular bases through which the light exits the molded light diffuser, wherein each flat-topped cone with a circular base has an angled surface and a flat surface, wherein a first portion of the light that enters the molded light diffuser along an axis exits the molded light diffuser along the axis through the flat surface, and wherein a second portion of the light that enters the molded light diffuser at an angle to the axis is redirected towards the ambient light sensor by the angled surface as the second portion exits the molded light diffuser.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11, wherein a first angled surface of a first flat-topped cone with a circular base in the array meets a second angled surface of a second flat-topped cone with a circular base in the array at a point on the second surface.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 11, wherein the molded light diffuser comprises mounting clips that extend from the planar surface, and wherein the array of molded protrusions and the mounting clips are integrally formed as a single plastic member.

14. A light sensor, comprising:

a light sensor housing;

a photodetector in the light sensor housing, wherein the light sensor housing comprises a rear portion on which the photodetector is mounted and housing walls that extend from the rear portion to surround the photodetector; and

a molded light diffuser that diffuses light passing to the photodetector, wherein the molded light diffuser has a first surface with molded flat-topped protrusions through which the light exits the molded light diffuser and a second surface opposite the first surface that defines a first plane through which the light enters the molded light diffuser, wherein each molded flat-topped protrusion has an angled surface and a flat surface, wherein a first portion of the light that enters the molded light diffuser along an axis exits the molded light diffuser along the axis through the flat surface, and wherein a second portion of the light that enters the molded light diffuser at an angle to the axis is redirected towards the photodetector by the angled surface as the second portion exits the molded light diffuser.

15. The light sensor defined in claim 14 wherein the molded flat-topped protrusions comprise flat-topped cones.

16. The light sensor defined in claim 15 wherein the light diffuser includes molded clips.

17. The light sensor defined in claim 14, wherein the molded light diffuser comprises alignment holes in the first surface and the light sensor housing comprises alignment protrusions that extend into the alignment holes to mount the molded light diffuser to the light sensor housing.