PROXIMITY SENSOR DEVICE, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SENSING OBJECT PROXIMITY

• US 20100149113A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: HANSSON, Bjorn
• Application Number:
  US12/334,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20100149113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9638 using a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0267 by controlling user interface components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A proximity sensor device, a portable electronic apparatus and a method of sensing object proximity are disclosed. The proximity sensor device comprises a light source and a layer optically coupled to the light source. Light output by the light source is transmitted in the layer. The layer comprises an output coupler configured to couple at least a portion of the light transmitted in the layer out of the layer.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor device, comprising:

a light source configured to output light; and

a layer optically coupled to said light source to receive said light output by said light source and configured to transmit said light output by said light source in said layer, said layer comprising;

an output coupler configured to couple at least a portion of said light transmitted in said layer out of said layer.

2. The proximity sensor device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electro-optical sensor configured to detect a reflected portion of said light coupled out of said layer.

3. The proximity sensor device of claim 2,

wherein said layer further comprises:

an input coupler configured to couple light into said layer;

wherein said electro-optical sensor is optically coupled to said layer to receive at least a portion of said light coupled into said layer.

4. The proximity sensor device of claim 3,

wherein said input coupler and said output coupler are integrally formed as a grating coupler.

5. The proximity sensor device of claim 4,

wherein said layer further comprises:

a beam splitter configured to direct said light output by said light source to said grating coupler and to direct said light coupled into said layer to said electro-optical sensor.

6. The proximity sensor device of claim 2, further comprising:

a processor coupled to said electro-optical sensor and configured to determine based on an output signal of said electro-optical sensor whether an object is located in proximity to said layer.

7. The proximity sensor device of claim 1,

wherein said light source is configured to output said light with a wavelength in the infrared spectral range.

8. The proximity sensor device of claim 1,

wherein said layer defines a plane, and

wherein said output coupler is configured to direct said light out of said plane.

9. The proximity sensor device of claim 1,

wherein said layer is a layer of a touch-sensitive sensor panel.

10. The proximity sensor device of claim 9, further comprising:

a display panel arranged to co-extend with said layer, wherein said layer is transmissive in the visible spectral range.

11. A proximity sensor device, comprising:

a layer configured to transmit light therein, wherein said layer comprises;

a plurality of output couplers, wherein each output coupler of said plurality of output couplers is respectively configured to couple light out of said layer; and

at least one input coupler, wherein each input coupler of said at least one input coupler is respectively configured to couple light into said layer;

at least one light source optically coupled to said layer and configured to output light to said layer; and

at least one electro-optical sensor optically coupled to said layer and configured to detect at least a portion of said light coupled into said layer by said at least one input coupler.

12. The proximity sensor device of claim 11, further comprising:

a processor coupled to said at least one electro-optical sensor and configured to determine at which input coupler said light is coupled into said layer.

13. The proximity sensor device of claim 11,

wherein said plurality of output couplers and said at least one input coupler are configured as an array of input/output grating couplers.

14. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a proximity sensor device, said proximity sensor device comprising;

a light source configured to output light; and

a layer optically coupled to said light source to receive said light output by said light source and configured to transmit said light output by said light source in said layer, wherein said layer comprises an output coupler configured to couple at least a portion of said light transmitted in said layer out of said layer.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14,

wherein said layer is integrated in an outer shell of said electronic apparatus.

16. A method of sensing proximity of an object, said method comprising:

transmitting light in a layer;

coupling at least a portion of said light out of said layer;

detecting a reflected portion of said light coupled out of said layer; and

determining whether said object is located in proximity to said layer based on said detected reflected portion.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

coupling said reflected portion back into said layer.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining a location at which said reflected portion is coupled back into said layer.