Light sensitive display with pressure sensor

• US 8,570,449 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Abileah, Adiel, den Boer, Willem, Tuenge, Richard T., Larsson, Terrance S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Bumsuk
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, CHARLES S
• Application Number:
  US12/566,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 345/174, 345/173, 349/12
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133565 inside the LC elements, i.e. between the cell substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136213 Storage capacitors associated with the pixel electrode

Abstract

A system comprising a display having a stack of layers configured to display an image, multiple elements included in the stack of layers and a pressure sensor. Each of the multiple elements is configured to sense light. The pressure sensor is distinct from the multiple elements and is configured to sense a pressure applied to the display.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a display comprising a stack of layers configured to display an image;

multiple elements included in the stack of layers, wherein each of the multiple elements is configured to sense light;

a pressure sensor distinct from the multiple elements and configured to sense a pressure applied to the display; and

a processor configured to detect an object based on output from the multiple elements and output from the pressure sensor.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the object has touched the display based on

output from the multiple elements indicating a region of sensed light intensity below a threshold level of sensed light intensity, and

output from the pressure sensor exceeding a threshold level.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the object is hovering over the display based on

output from the multiple elements indicating a region of sensed light intensity below a threshold level of sensed light intensity, and

output from the pressure sensor falling within a threshold level.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises pressure sensitive tape.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensitive tape is located directly between a pair of layers of the display.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensitive tape is located directly between the display and a support for the display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises an accelerometer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a piezoelectric device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a resistive sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises an inductive sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a laser vibrometer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a light emitting diode vibrometer.

14. A display comprising:

a stack of layers configured to display an image;

multiple elements included in the stack of layers, wherein each of the multiple elements is configured to sense light;

a pressure sensor distinct from the multiple elements and configured to sense a pressure applied to the display; and

a processor configured to detect an object based on output from the multiple elements and output from the pressure sensor.

15. The display of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the object has touched the display based on

output from the multiple elements indicating a region of sensed light intensity below a threshold level of sensed light intensity, and

output from the pressure sensor exceeding a threshold level.

16. The display of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the object is hovering over the display based on

output from the multiple elements indicating a region of sensed light intensity below a threshold level of sensed light intensity, and

output from the pressure sensor falling within a threshold level.

17. The display of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor comprises pressure sensitive tape.

18. The display of claim 17, wherein the pressure sensitive tape is located directly between a pair of layers of the display.

19. The display of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor comprises an accelerometer.