Matrix arrangement of photodetector for use as a proximity sensor and ambient light sensor
First Claim
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1. An optical sensor, comprising:
- a light source;
a photodetector comprising a plurality of pixels which are used for both proximity light sensing and ambient light sensing; and
a controller configured to implement a proximity sensing phase where pixels used for proximity light sensing are utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is ON and then implement an ambient light sensing phase where pixels used for ambient light sensing are utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is OFF, wherein the pixels used for the proximity light sensing are different from the pixels used for ambient light sensing, and wherein the pixels used for the proximity light sensing are connected to a different set of capacitors and switches than the pixels used for ambient light sensing.
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Abstract
An optical sensor and optical system are disclosed. The optical sensor is disclosed to include a light source, a photodetector having a proximity sensing portion and an ambient light sensing portion, and a controller configured to implement a proximity sensing phase where the proximity sensing portion of the photodetector is utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is ON and then implement an ambient light sensing phase where the ambient light sensing portion of the photodetector is utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is OFF.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical sensor, comprising:
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a light source; a photodetector comprising a plurality of pixels which are used for both proximity light sensing and ambient light sensing; and a controller configured to implement a proximity sensing phase where pixels used for proximity light sensing are utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is ON and then implement an ambient light sensing phase where pixels used for ambient light sensing are utilized to obtain an incident light reading when the light source is OFF, wherein the pixels used for the proximity light sensing are different from the pixels used for ambient light sensing, and wherein the pixels used for the proximity light sensing are connected to a different set of capacitors and switches than the pixels used for ambient light sensing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical system, comprising:
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at least one optical element that focuses light passing therethrough; and a photodetector comprising an array of photo-sensitive unit segments, wherein the photo-sensitive unit segments in the array include a set of ambient light sensor unit segments and a set of proximity sensor unit segments that are intermixed among one another such that no two adjacent pixels are of the same type, and wherein an overall area of the array is larger than a focus area of the at least one optical element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensor, comprising:
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a photodetector comprising an array of photo-sensitive unit segments, the array including a proximity sensing portion and an ambient light sensing portion, wherein photo-sensitive unit segments belonging to the proximity sensing portion are intermixed among photo-sensitive units belonging to the ambient light sensing portion such a diagonal route across the array includes photo-sensitive unit segments of a single type; and a controller that implements two distinct sensing phases that include a proximity sensing phase and an ambient light sensing phase, wherein the proximity sensing portion of the photodetector is used during the proximity sensing phase, and wherein the ambient light sensing portion of the photodetector is used during the ambient light sensing phase. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification