Dual purpose ambient light sensor

• US 7,750,282 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Martinez, Jose N., Mahowald, Peter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Legasse, Jr; Francis M
• Application Number:
  US12/124,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.AL, 250/214.1, 250/214.R, 250/227.11, 250/208.2, 250/205, 250/214.B, 340/691.1, 340/815.45, 345/156, 345/102, 345/157, 345168-173, 345/207, 345901-905
• US Class Current: 250/214.0AL
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A dual purpose ambient light sensor. More particularly, an ambient light sensor may be provided on an electronic device to aid in controlling the brightness of the illuminators of the device. The ambient light sensor may be mounted in such a way as to detect ambient light when the electronic device is opened or closed so that the device may control the brightness of the illuminators of the device, whether the illuminators are mounted on the outer or inner shell of the device. Further, when the display is closed, the sensitivity of the ambient light sensor may be adjusted appropriately to account for the lesser amount of light that may reach the sensor. Finally, a spacer or light pipe may be provided to allow ambient light to reach the sensor to provide an accurate ambient light reading when the device is in the closed position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the brightness of a plurality of illuminators of an electronic device, the electronic device configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the apparatus comprising:

an ambient light sensor configured on a surface of the electronic device such that the ambient light sensor is exposed when the electronic device is in the open configuration and when the electronic device is in the closed configuration the ambient light sensor is covered; and

a control circuit operative to receive an output from the ambient light sensor and configured to control the brightness of a first illuminator in response to ambient light when the electronic device is in the open position and the brightness of a second illuminator in response to ambient light when the electronic device is in the closed position, wherein the first illuminator is configured on the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a spacer located between a top piece of the electronic device and a bottom piece of the electronic device and at least partially defining a path for at least some ambient light to reach the ambient light sensor when the electronic device is in the closed position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a light pipe configured to channel at least some ambient light to the ambient light sensor when the electronic device is in the closed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a translucent window permitting ambient light to pass to the ambient light sensor when the electronic device is in the closed position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device chosen from the group comprising:

a computer;

a mobile telephone;

a computer display;

a digital music player;

a medical or health device; and

an auto-mounted device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further operative to scale an output from the ambient light sensor when the electronic device is in the closed position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second illuminator is an indicator light.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control circuit adjusts the sensitivity of the ambient light sensor when the apparatus is in the closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the translucent window defines a portion of at least a first edge and second edge of the device;

the first edge is exposed when the electronic device is in both the open and closed positions; and

the second edge is exposed only when the electronic device is in the open position.

10. A method for controlling the brightness of at least one illuminator of an electronic device, the electronic device configured to provide an open position and a closed position, the method comprising:

sensing ambient light using an ambient light sensor configured on a surface of the electronic device such that the ambient light sensor is exposed when the electronic device is in the open configuration and when the electronic device is in the closed configuration the ambient light sensor is covered;

using the output of the ambient light sensor to control the brightness of the at least one illuminator when the electronic device is in the open position;

providing a path for at least some ambient light to reach the ambient light sensor when the electronic device is in the closed position; and

adjusting the sensitivity of the ambient light sensor when the electronic device is in the closed position by scaling the output of the ambient light sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the operation of providing a spacer located between a top piece of the electronic device and a bottom piece of the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the path comprises a light pipe angled to transmit at least some ambient light from an exterior of the electronic device to the ambient light sensor.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the operation of providing a translucent window configured to surround the ambient light sensor.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the ambient light sensor is hidden from view when the electronic device is in the closed position.

15. A computer system, the computer system configured to provide an open position and a closed position, the computer system comprising:

a display located on an inner surface of the computer system such that the display is exposed when the computer system is in the open configuration and enclosed by the computer system when the computer system is in the closed configuration;

at least a first illuminator located on an outer surface of the computer system; and

an ambient light sensor located on the inner surface of the computer system such that the ambient light sensor is exposed when the computer system is in the open configuration and when the computer system is in the closed configuration the ambient light sensor is covered, the ambient light sensor configured to control the brightness of the display when the computer system is in the open position and the brightness of the first illuminator when the computer system is in the closed position.

16. The computer system of claim 15 wherein an output of the ambient light sensor is scaled when the computer system is in the closed position.

17. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

a top piece;

a bottom piece; and

at least one spacer located between the top piece and the bottom piece and configured to control the amount of ambient light that reaches the ambient light sensor.

18. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

a light pipe configured to control the amount of ambient light that reaches the ambient light sensor.

19. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

a translucent window configured to surround the ambient light sensor;

wherein the translucent window controls the amount of ambient light that reaches the ambient light sensor.

20. The computer system of claim 15 wherein the sensitivity of the ambient light sensor is adjusted when the computer system is in the closed position.