Ambient Light Sensor Side Placement for Full-Screen Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of arranging ambient light sensors in electronic devices with large screen-to-body ratios, which affects display regions and requires complex software processing and additional painting to conceal components, is addressed.

Innovation Solution

The ambient light sensor is positioned within a cavity of the electronic device, with the ambient light sensor, the transparent cover plate and the first subregion, the ambient light sensor, the ambient light sensor is positioned within a side of the electronic device, allowing external light to pass through a non-light-emitting first subregion of the display module, simplifying software processing and reducing the need for additional painting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the ambient light sensor is arranged on the display screen with large screen-to-body ratio, then the display region is maximized, but the sensor arrangement is limited and requires additional painting to conceal components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay regionVSAvoidsensor arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The ambient light sensor is moved from the traditional front display area to the side surface of the electronic device. This spatial relocation allows the sensor to receive ambient light through the side surface while maintaining a large front display area, eliminating the need for black painting on the display screen and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If the ambient light sensor is positioned to detect external light through the display module, then software matting algorithms are required for processing, but this increases computing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight detection accuracyVSAvoidsoftware processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ambient light sensor is extracted from the traditional position behind the display module and relocated to the side surface. This extraction allows the sensor to directly detect external ambient light without interference from display module components, eliminating the need for complex software matting algorithms and reducing computing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If the first subregion is designed with light transmittance to allow external light passage, then all functional layers do not need to be removed, but this requires precise control of light transmittance properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing difficultyVSAvoidlight transmittance control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side surface of the electronic device is designed with specific light transmittance properties to allow ambient light to reach the sensor. This localized optical property control on the side surface enables light passage without requiring removal of display functional layers, maintaining manufacturing ease while achieving the desired optical effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 arrangement improves the field of view and reliability of the ambient light sensor, reduces processing complexity, and enhances the screen-to-body ratio by minimizing the black border, thus improving the display capability and overall appearance of the electronic device.

Implementation Method 1

The ambient light sensor converts a detected optical signal into an electrical signal and transmits the electrical signal to a main board electrically connected to the ambient light sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4661379A1Electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4661379A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4661379A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4661379A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device may include any one of a handheld device, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device, connected to a wireless modem, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, and the like. In embodiments of this application, a software matting algorithm does not need to be used when a main board processes an electrical signal transmitted by an ambient light sensor so that a computing method is simple. In addition, a corresponding location of a transparent cover plate does not need to be painted with black ink, thereby simplifying a processing process of the electronic device and reducing use costs.