Diffuser and filter structures for light sensors

• US 9,891,098 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shedletsky, Anna-Katrina
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, DON J
• Application Number:
  US12/982,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20120170284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: 2502081, 250216, 250226, 250574, 250237 G, 250237 R, 250239, 2502141, 345169, 345175-176, 359308-310, 359502, 359588, 359590, 359608, 359609, 359707-712, 359722-723, 257431-435
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0474 Diffusers cavities G01J2001/0481
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13318 Circuits comprising a photodetector
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

An electronic device may have a display. The display may have a central active area and a peripheral inactive area. A cover layer such as a layer of cover glass may be used to cover the display. The inner surface of the cover layer in the inactive area may be coated with an opaque masking layer such as black ink. Light for an ambient light sensor or other component may pass through an opening in the black ink. A layer of ink or other structures may be mounted within the opening to serve as a filter structure. A light diffusing structure such as a clear member with a textured surface may be used to diffuse light that is passing through the opening in the black ink and the filter to the light sensor. Integral filter-diffuser structures and structures with concave surfaces for focusing incoming light onto the light sensor may be used.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a transparent planar member having a central region that emits light and a peripheral region that surrounds the central region;

an opaque masking layer on the transparent planar member in the peripheral region;

a light diffuser attached to the transparent planar member in alignment with at least one opening in the opaque masking layer in the peripheral region;

a light sensor aligned with the opening in the opaque masking layer, wherein the light diffuser is interposed between the transparent planar member and the light sensor and is configured to diffuse light that passes through the opening, and wherein the light sensor receives the diffused light; and

a layer of filtering ink in the opening, wherein the filtering ink is interposed between the transparent planar member and the light diffuser and wherein the filtering ink is configured to pass at least some light to the light sensor.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the layer of filtering ink is configured to block at least some visible light and wherein the light received through the opening by the light sensor comprises visible light.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein the transparent planar member comprises a cover layer for the display.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the cover layer comprises a layer of glass.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the light diffuser comprises a transparent structure with at least one textured surface.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the light diffuser comprises a concave surface.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein the light diffuser is part of an integral filter-diffuser structure with a non-flat spectral transmittance characteristic.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the opening comprises one of a plurality of perforations that are clustered to form a window in the opaque masking layer through which light passes to the light sensor.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a display mounted in the housing, wherein the display has a rectangular active area and a peripheral inactive area, wherein the display has a transparent cover layer, wherein a portion of the transparent cover layer is coated with an opaque masking layer having a hole, and wherein the opaque masking layer is coated on an inner surface of the transparent cover layer in the peripheral inactive area;

a layer of visible-light-blocking ink coated on the inner surface of the transparent cover layer in the hole;

a light diffuser mounted within the electronic device;

a light sensor, wherein the light diffuser is interposed between the layer of visible-light-blocking ink in the hole and the light sensor, and wherein the light diffuser reduces a directionality of the light; and

an infrared-light-blocking filter interposed between the light sensor and the light diffuser, wherein the light sensor receives light through the layer of visible light-blocking ink in the hole, the light diffuser, and the infrared-light-blocking filter.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the light diffuser comprises a textured surface.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 further comprising adhesive that attaches the light diffuser to the layer of visible-light-blocking ink.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the light-diffuser has a planar untextured surface that is attached to the layer of visible-light-blocking ink with the adhesive and wherein the textured surface of the light diffuser faces the light sensor.

13. Apparatus, comprising:

a display with a cover layer, wherein the display includes an active area and an inactive area;

an opaque masking layer on peripheral portions of the cover layer;

a light sensor that is mounted under the inactive area on a printed circuit board and that receives light through an opening in the opaque masking layer;

a light diffuser interposed between the opening and the light sensor through which the light sensor receives the light;

light-blocking structures mounted on the printed circuit board that surround the light sensor, wherein the light blocking structures comprise an opening in which the light sensor is mounted and through which the light sensor receives the light;

a first filter layer interposed between the cover layer and the light sensor, wherein the first filter layer blocks infrared light;

a second filter layer interposed between the diffuser and the light sensor, wherein the second filter layer blocks infrared light; and

a third filter layer interposed between the second filter layer and the light sensor, wherein the third filter layer blocks visible light, and wherein the light sensor receives light through the first, second, and third filter layers.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein the light diffuser has a concave surface that faces the light sensor.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 13, wherein the light diffuser receives the light and redirects the light onto the light sensor.