公开(公告)号：US20240247929A1

公开(公告)日：2024-07-25

申请号：US18505965

申请日：2023-11-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ruonan Yang ,  David D. Dashevsky ,  Dong Zheng

IPC: G01B11/26 ,  G06F1/16

CPC classification number: G01B11/26 ,  G06F1/1681

Abstract: An electronic device can include housing with first and second housing portions configured to rotate relative to one another about a hinge, a hinge angle encoder that rotates with the hinge, an emitter that emits light towards the hinge angle encoder, and a sensor die that receives light reflecting back from the hinge angle encoder. The hinge angle encoder may include an absorptive polarizing filter layer and a reflective diffuser layer. A pixelated polarizer may be formed overlapping an array of photodetectors in the sensor die. The electronic device may include processing circuitry configured to compute a hinge angle by which the first and second housing portions are rotated based on one or more intensity values acquired using the array of photodetectors.

公开(公告)号：US11295664B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-05

申请号：US16815875

申请日：2020-03-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Tong Chen ,  Dong Zheng ,  Graeme M. Williams ,  Mark T. Winkler ,  Warren S. Rieutort-Louis ,  Yuchi Che

IPC: G09G3/3225

Abstract: In some embodiments, a device includes a light-emitting display, and an optical emitter positioned behind the light-emitting display. The optical emitter is configured to emit light through the light-emitting display. A processor is configured to synchronize a first illumination timing of the optical emitter and a second illumination timing of the light-emitting display. In some embodiments, a device includes an optical transceiver processor and a display processor. The display processor is configured to output timing information to a light-emitting display and to the optical transceiver processor, and the optical transceiver processor is configured to cause an optical transceiver to emit or receive light in synchronization with the timing information output by the display processor.

公开(公告)号：US20210287602A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-16

申请号：US16815875

申请日：2020-03-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Tong Chen ,  Dong Zheng ,  Graeme M. Williams ,  Mark T. Winkler ,  Warren S. Rieutort-Louis ,  Yuchi Che

IPC: G09G3/3225

Abstract: In some embodiments, a device includes a light-emitting display, and an optical emitter positioned behind the light-emitting display. The optical emitter is configured to emit light through the light-emitting display. A processor is configured to synchronize a first illumination timing of the optical emitter and a second illumination timing of the light-emitting display. In some embodiments, a device includes an optical transceiver processor and a display processor. The display processor is configured to output timing information to a light-emitting display and to the optical transceiver processor, and the optical transceiver processor is configured to cause an optical transceiver to emit or receive light in synchronization with the timing information output by the display processor.

公开(公告)号：US10817018B1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-27

申请号：US16398093

申请日：2019-04-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Guocheng Shao ,  Dong Zheng ,  Christopher M. Dodson ,  Kenneth J. Vampola ,  Koorosh Aflatooni

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  G09G3/34 ,  H04N5/378 ,  H01L27/146

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels that display images for a user. The electronic device may have an ambient light sensor for gathering ambient light information. A subset of the pixels in the array of pixels may overlap the ambient light sensor so that ambient light passing through the subset of pixels may be measured. Each pixel may have an emission enable transistor coupled in series with a light-emitting diode. Control circuitry in the electronic device may disable the subset of pixels to reduce stray light during ambient light measurements while enabling remaining pixels in the array of pixels to display an image. Ambient light sensor circuitry may gather ambient light sensor measurements over one or more periods by using transfer transistors to transfer change from the photodetectors to charge storage capacitors formed from floating diffusions in a common substrate.

公开(公告)号：US09129548B2

公开(公告)日：2015-09-08

申请号：US13678349

申请日：2012-11-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dong Zheng

IPC: G06F3/038 ,  G09G3/36 ,  G09G5/10 ,  G01J3/51 ,  G01J1/42

CPC classification number: G09G5/10 ,  G01J1/4204 ,  G01J1/4228 ,  G01J3/513 ,  G01J2001/4242 ,  G02F1/13318 ,  G02F2201/58 ,  G09G2320/0626 ,  G09G2360/144

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with a brightness that is adjusted based on ambient light data from one or more ambient light sensors. An ambient light sensor may include at least one silicon-based photosensor. The silicon-based photosensor may generate a corresponding raw sensor reading. Processing circuitry associated with the ambient light sensor may analyze the raw sensor reading to determine the type of light source that is present by comparing measurements from at least two different photosensors, by determining the color temperature of the light source, and/or by determining the modulation frequency of the light source. A compensation factor may then be selected by referring to a lookup table. The processing circuitry may compute a compensated sensor reading based on the raw sensor reading and the selected compensation factor. The brightness of the display may be adjusted based on the compensated sensor reading computed in this way.

Abstract translation: 电子设备可以具有基于来自一个或多个环境光传感器的环境光数据调整的亮度的显示器。 环境光传感器可以包括至少一个硅基光电传感器。 硅基光电传感器可以产生相应的原始传感器读数。 与环境光传感器相关联的处理电路可以分析原始传感器读数以通过比较来自至少两个不同光电传感器的测量来确定所存在的光源的类型，通过确定光源的色温，和/或通过确定 光源的调制频率。 然后可以通过参考查找表来选择补偿因子。 处理电路可以基于原始传感器读数和所选择的补偿因子来计算补偿的传感器读数。 可以基于以这种方式计算的补偿传感器读数来调整显示器的亮度。

公开(公告)号：US09116043B2

公开(公告)日：2015-08-25

申请号：US13845641

申请日：2013-03-18

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dong Zheng

IPC: G01J1/42 ,  G09G5/10 ,  G01J1/10

CPC classification number: G01J1/4204 ,  G01J1/10 ,  G09G5/10 ,  G09G2360/144

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with a brightness that is adjusted based on data gathered from one or more ambient light sensors (ALSs). In one suitable arrangement, an ALS may include a photodiode, a temperature sensor, a scaler, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a subtractor. The subtractor may have a first input coupled to the photodiode via the ADC, a second input coupled to the temperature sensor via the scaler, and an output on which a leakage-compensated sensor output is provided. In another suitable arrangement, the ALS may include first and second photodiodes, a light blocking layer formed over the second photodiode, a scaler, and a subtractor. The subtractor may have a first input coupled to the first photodiode, a second input coupled to the second photodiode via the scaler, and an output on which a leakage-compensated sensor output is provided.

Abstract translation: 电子设备可以具有基于从一个或多个环境光传感器（ALS）收集的数据来调整亮度的显示器。 在一种合适的布置中，ALS可以包括光电二极管，温度传感器，缩放器，模数转换器（ADC）和减法器。 减法器可以具有经由ADC耦合到光电二极管的第一输入，经由定标器耦合到温度传感器的第二输入，以及在其上提供泄漏补偿传感器输出的输出。 在另一合适的布置中，ALS可以包括第一和第二光电二极管，形成在第二光电二极管上的遮光层，缩放器和减法器。 所述减法器可以具有耦合到所述第一光电二极管的第一输入端，经由所述定标器耦合到所述第二光电二极管的第二输入端以及设置有泄漏补偿传感器输出端的输出端。

公开(公告)号：US08987652B2

公开(公告)日：2015-03-24

申请号：US13738908

申请日：2013-01-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dong Zheng

IPC: H01J40/14 ,  G09G3/34

CPC classification number: G09G3/3406 ,  G09G3/36 ,  G09G2320/0626 ,  G09G2360/144 ,  H04N5/58

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided that has a display. The display may produce stray light when producing images for a user. The electronic device may have an ambient light sensor for measuring ambient light levels. Ambient light data may be used in adjusting display brightness. The display may be periodically disabled to prevent the stray light from interfering with the ambient light sensor. An integrating analog-to-digital converter may be used in gathering sensor data from the ambient light sensor. Control circuitry may be configured to remove background signals from ambient light sensor data. The background signals may be associated with leakage current that arises due to offset voltages in an operational amplifier in the integrating analog-to-digital converter. The operational amplifier may have an analog autozeroing capability or control circuitry may be used to subtract background data from ambient light sensor data.

Abstract translation: 可以提供具有显示器的电子设备。 当为用户制作图像时，显示器可能产生杂散光。 电子设备可以具有用于测量环境光水平的环境光传感器。 环境光数据可用于调整显示亮度。 可以周期地禁用显示器，以防止杂散光干扰环境光传感器。 集成模数转换器可用于从环境光传感器收集传感器数据。 控制电路可以被配置为从环境光传感器数据中去除背景信号。 背景信号可能与由积分模数转换器的运算放大器中的偏移电压引起的漏电流相关联。 运算放大器可以具有模拟自动调零能力，或者可以使用控制电路从环境光传感器数据中减去背景数据。

公开(公告)号：US20230288252A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-14

申请号：US18162393

申请日：2023-01-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Michael D Eaton ,  Anand K Chamakura ,  Dong Zheng

IPC: G01J1/44 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G09G3/20

CPC classification number: G01J1/44 ,  G01J1/4204 ,  G09G3/20 ,  G01J2001/444 ,  G09G2330/06 ,  G09G2360/144 ,  G09G2320/0626

Abstract: An electronic device may have an ambient light sensor for gathering ambient light measurements. The ambient light sensor may include multiple channels for measuring different wavelengths of ambient light. An additional, modified, channel may be formed in the ambient light sensor to measure radio-frequency signals that may interfere with the ambient light measurements due to electromagnetic interference. Alternatively, circuitry separate from the ambient light sensor, such as an antenna, may measure the radio-frequency signals. If the radio-frequency signals exceed a threshold, the ambient light sensor measurements taken in the presence of the radio-frequency signals may be discarded or corrected. If the radio-frequency signals do not exceed a threshold, the ambient light sensor measurements may be kept. Therefore, the ambient light measurements that are kept and relied upon by the electronic device may be free from electromagnetic interference.

公开(公告)号：US20220311211A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-29

申请号：US17211761

申请日：2021-03-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Stephen N. Sweet ,  Dong Zheng

IPC: H01S5/068 ,  H01S3/13

Abstract: A method of operating a laser includes generating a first signal having a first frequency, and generating a second signal having a second frequency. The first frequency varies in accord with an amplitude of a drive current provided to a laser. The method further includes incrementing or decrementing a count responsive to a relationship between the first frequency and the second frequency; determining the count satisfies a threshold count; and modifying operation of the laser when the count satisfies the threshold count.

公开(公告)号：US20210004053A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-07

申请号：US17030220

申请日：2020-09-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Guocheng Shao ,  Dong Zheng ,  Christopher M. Dodson ,  Kenneth J. Vampola ,  Koorosh Aflatooni

IPC: G06F1/16 ,  G09G3/34 ,  H04N5/378

Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels that display images for a user. The electronic device may have an ambient light sensor for gathering ambient light information. A subset of the pixels in the array of pixels may overlap the ambient light sensor so that ambient light passing through the subset of pixels may be measured. Each pixel may have an emission enable transistor coupled in series with a light-emitting diode. Control circuitry in the electronic device may disable the subset of pixels to reduce stray light during ambient light measurements while enabling remaining pixels in the array of pixels to display an image. Ambient light sensor circuitry may gather ambient light sensor measurements over one or more periods by using transfer transistors to transfer change from the photodetectors to charge storage capacitors formed from floating diffusions in a common substrate.