Ambient Light Sensor Infrared Interference Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ambient light sensors face challenges in improving detection accuracy and performance, which affects the user experience of electronic devices by not accurately adjusting display settings to ambient light conditions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a white light filtering unit and a transparent light filtering unit in the ambient light sensor, along with a pixel unit array, allows for the detection and correction of infrared light signals, enhancing the detection accuracy and performance by distinguishing between different light sources and adjusting display settings accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If color light sensors are used to sense colored light and full spectrum light, then the sensor can generate multiple color channel signals, but the detection accuracy is reduced due to infrared light interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-channel signal generationVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor divides the detection function into separate pixel units: color pixels for color channel detection and clear pixels for full spectrum detection. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each pixel type's function, enabling accurate infrared component calculation through the clear channel while maintaining color detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The clear channel acts as an intermediary that detects the total light intensity including infrared components. By comparing the clear channel signal with color channel signals, the system can calculate and remove the infrared component, thereby improving detection accuracy without losing multi-channel functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If infrared blocking filters are added to block infrared light, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidfilter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding complex infrared blocking filters to existing color pixels, the invention extracts the infrared detection function to separate clear pixels that are inherently insensitive to color. This approach eliminates the need for modifying color pixel structures with additional filters, maintaining simplicity while achieving accurate infrared component measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The clear pixels serve multiple functions: they detect total light intensity, provide a reference for infrared component calculation, and enable color temperature determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated infrared sensors, simplifying the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution improves the detection accuracy and performance of ambient light sensors, enabling more precise adjustments to display settings, thereby enhancing the user experience by accurately adapting to ambient light conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a first filter unit array 210 corresponding to the pixel unit array 220, the first filter unit array 210 including a color light filtering unit 201, a white light filtering unit 202 and a transparent light filtering unit 203, the white light filtering unit 202 being configured to pass a visible light signal and block an infrared light signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the transparent light filtering unit 203 being configured to pass the visible light signal and the infrared light signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared transmission: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

a pixel unit array 220 located under the first filter unit array 210, the pixel unit array 220 including a plurality of pixel units, the plurality of pixel units being configured to receive a light signal after passing through the first filter unit array 210

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4230973B1Ambient light sensor and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 SHENZHEN GOODIX TECH CO LTD
  • EP4230973B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4230973B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4230973B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present application provides an ambient light sensor and an electronic device, which may improve detection accuracy and detection performance of the ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor includes: a light filtering unit array including a plurality of light filtering units, the plurality of light filtering units including a color light filtering unit, a white light filtering unit and a transparent light filtering unit, the white light filtering unit being configured to pass a visible light signal and block an infrared light signal, and the transparent light filtering unit being configured to pass the visible light signal and the infrared light signal; a pixel unit array including a plurality of pixel units, the plurality of pixel units being configured to receive a light signal after the ambient light passes through the plurality of light filtering units for an ambient light detection. A detection result of the ambient light sensor may be corrected or optimized according to a signal amount of the infrared light signal, thereby improving the detection accuracy and detection performance of the ambient light sensor.