Display Light Sensor Integration via Translucency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of displays and light sensors in electronic devices often results in increased size and thickness due to the need for additional space to accommodate light sensors, which receive light through a transparent portion of the device enclosure.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of displays with translucency enhancement features and/or light-guiding features that allow light originating outside the device to pass through the display onto the light sensor, thereby eliminating the need for additional space and reducing the device's size and thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light sensor is accommodated through a transparent portion of the device enclosure, then the light sensor can receive ambient light effectively, but the device size and thickness increase due to additional space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display and light sensor into a single integrated structure where the display serves dual functions: displaying information to the user and allowing ambient light to pass through to the light sensor. This merging eliminates the need for separate transparent portions in the device enclosure, thereby reducing device thickness while maintaining light sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the information display interface and the light transmission medium for the ambient light sensor. By making the display multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated light sensor openings or transparent sections, thus reducing overall device complexity and thickness.
2Ease of manufacture
If additional space is provided within the device enclosure for the light sensor, then the light sensor can be properly accommodated, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light sensor is nested within the display structure itself, positioned behind the display layers. This nesting arrangement allows the light sensor to be accommodated within the existing display volume without requiring additional external space, thereby maintaining compact device dimensions while enabling proper light sensor functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the light sensor from a traditional side-mounted location to a position behind the display, utilizing the depth dimension of the display structure. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the light sensor to be integrated within the display assembly without increasing the device's planar area.
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 enables the integration of light sensors within the display itself, reducing the overall size and thickness of electronic devices while maintaining effective light sensing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The display includes translucency enhancement features and/or light-guiding features that allow light that originates outside the device to pass through the display onto the light sensor
Implementation Method 2
The translucency enhancement features may include a translucent reflective layer that reflects display light generated by the display while passing at least some ambient light
Implementation Method 3
The light-guiding features may include a light-guiding layer in the display that guides light to a light sensor that is mounted along an edge of the light-guiding layer
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided with a display and a light sensor that receives light that passes through the display. The display includes features that increase the amount of light that passes through the display. The features may be translucency enhancement features that allow light to pass directly through the display onto a light sensor mounted behind the display or may include a light-guiding layer that guides light through the display onto a light sensor mounted along an edge of the display. The translucency enhancement features may be formed in a reflector layer or an electrode layer for the display. The translucency enhancement features may include microperforations in a reflector layer of the display, a light-filtering reflector layer of the display, or a reflector layer of the display that passes a portion of the light and reflects an additional portion of the light.