Ambient Light Sensor Direction Detection Spatial Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ambient light sensors are unable to determine the direction of ambient light and face challenges in performance, cost, manufacturability, and reliability.
Innovation Solution
An ambient light sensor design featuring a spatial array of light detectors with an optically opaque or transmissive cover and light blocking element, coupled with analog-to-digital converters and control logic circuitry, which processes digital values to determine the direction of ambient light by varying light incidence on each detector based on its position relative to the light beam or shadow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a spatial array of light detectors is used to determine light direction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor divides the light detection function into multiple spatially separated light detectors arranged in an array. Each detector independently measures light intensity from different positions, and the control logic circuitry processes these segmented measurements to determine light direction through mathematical calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-point light intensity measurement to two-dimensional spatial array measurement. By adding the spatial dimension with multiple detectors positioned at different coordinates, the system can determine not only light intensity but also light direction through the spatial distribution of detected light.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light detectors are arranged in a spatial array, then light direction can be determined, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic circuitry receives light intensity measurements from all light detectors and uses mathematical algorithms to calculate light direction. The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the processed information from multiple detectors is continuously refined to compensate for minor positioning variations and achieve accurate direction determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from single-point intensity to multi-point spatial distribution. By measuring light intensity at multiple positions simultaneously and analyzing the spatial pattern, the system can determine direction while being more tolerant of manufacturing variations through statistical and mathematical processing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an optically opaque cover with aperture is used, then light blocking capability is improved, but light transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with non-uniform optical properties: most areas are optically opaque for light blocking, while specific localized regions contain apertures that are optically transmissive. This local quality differentiation allows the cover to simultaneously block unwanted light while transmitting necessary light through designated pathways to the light detectors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of ambient light direction, improving performance, manufacturability, and reliability while maintaining lower costs, and can be integrated into various devices for applications such as orientation control and power management.
Implementation Method 1
each of the light detectors having a position in the array and being configured to generate analog output signals when at least a portion of the transmitted light beam falls thereon
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of an ambient light sensor configured to determine the direction of a beam of light incident thereon are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ambient light sensor is provided that comprises a plurality of light detectors arranged in a spatial array upon a light sensing surface. Each of the light detectors in the array is configured to generate an analog output voltage in response to the beam of ambient light falling thereon. The amount of light incident on the individual light detectors in the spatial array varies according to the position of each such sensor with respect to direction of the beam of ambient light. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is operably coupled to the plurality of light detectors and is configured to receive the analog output signals generated thereby as inputs thereto, and to provide digital output values representative of the analog signals. Control logic circuitry is operably coupled to the ADC and configured to receive the digital output values therefrom, and is further configured to process such digital output values to determine the direction of the beam of light incident upon the spatial array.