Patent Grant
12131693
This disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices including optically transparent substrates.
Portable electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are ubiquitous in modern society. Using a mobile telephone as an example, these devices were once used only for making voice calls while “on the go.” Today, however, “smart” devices include powerful processors that allow users to perform activities such as sending and receiving text and multimedia communications, executing and managing financial transactions, consuming video or other multimedia content, and connecting with servers across the Internet.
There is a tension in the design of electronic devices between maximizing the size of a display upon which information is presented and keeping the overall size of the device such that it can economically and reasonably be held in the hand of a user. This is especially true with reference to smaller, handheld devices such as smartphones, media players, and gaming devices. It would be advantageous to have an improved electronic device that allowed for a larger display, yet without sacrificing features and functionality.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.
Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present disclosure, it should be observed that some of the embodiments described below reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to causing a first set of pixel structures to project light through an optically transparent substrate to project the light with a first luminous intensity, while a second set of pixel structures projects other light through both the optically transparent substrate and an optically pellucid electrical conductor with a second luminous intensity. Any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code that include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations are included, and it will be clear that functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
It will be appreciated that embodiments of the disclosure described herein may be comprised of one or more conventional processors and unique stored program instructions that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of a display operable project light with different luminous intensities, and optionally different colors, through different parts of an optically transparent substrate as described herein. The non-processor circuits may include, but are not limited to, a display driver, optical switches, light emitting devices, clock circuits, power source circuits, and user input devices. As such, these functions may be interpreted as steps of a method to cause more—and optionally differently colored—light through portions of an optically transparent substrate coupled to an optically pellucid electrical conductor than through other portions of the optically transparent substrate where no optically pellucid electrical conductor is present. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ASICs with minimal experimentation.
Embodiments of the disclosure are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.
As used herein, components may be “operatively coupled” when information can be sent between such components, even though there may be one or more intermediate or intervening components between, or along the connection path. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10 percent, in another embodiment within 5 percent, in another embodiment within 1 percent, and in another embodiment within 0.5 percent. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. Also, reference designators shown herein in parenthesis indicate components shown in a figure other than the one in discussion. For example, talking about a device (10) while discussing figure A would refer to an element, 10, shown in figure other than figure A.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide for an electronic device having at least one optically transparent substrate. In one or more embodiments, an optically pellucid electrical conductor is coupled to a portion of the optically transparent substrate, with the area to which the optically pellucid electrical conductor is coupled to the optically transparent substrate defining a subarea of the optically transparent substrate.
In one or more embodiments, one or more processors are operable an array of pixel structures that comprise electroluminescent elements that are selectively operable to project light through the optically transparent substrate. In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors compensate for the fact that the optically pellucid electrical conductor has a reduced light transmission function compared to the optically transparent substrate by causing a first set of pixel structures projecting light through only the optically transparent substrate to project that light with a first luminous intensity, while a second set of pixel structures projects other light through both the optically transparent substrate and the optically pellucid electrical conductor with a second luminous intensity, where the first luminous intensity is different from the second luminous intensity. In one or more embodiments, the second luminous intensity is greater than the first luminous intensity.
Advantageously, the one or more processors can cause more light to pass through the subarea where the optically pellucid electrical conductor is disposed than through other portions of the optically transparent substrate where the optically pellucid electrical conductor is absent. Since the optically pellucid electrical conductor absorbs more light than does the optically transparent substrate, this compensation reduces or eliminates the visibility of the optically pellucid electrical conductor. Since the optically pellucid electrical conductor becomes completely or nearly invisible to the user, embodiments of the disclosure allow a designer to place electrical components, including antennas, switches, signal conductors, and so forth, directly atop a display. This frees up other areas in which such electrical components would be placed, thereby allowing the overall display to be larger without compromising device features or functionality.
Embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to optically transparent substrates that are used atop displays, however. In another embodiment, such as where an optically transparent substrate is used for the rear surface of the electronic device, embodiments of the disclosure provide different compensation mechanisms to reduce or eliminate the visibility of the optically pellucid electrical conductor.
Illustrating by example, in another embodiment an electronic device includes an optically transparent substrate disposed along a surface of the electronic device. An optically pellucid electrical conductor is coupled to the optically transparent substrate at a first subarea, with portions of the optically transparent substrate where the optically pellucid electrical conductor is not coupled to the optically transparent substrate defining a second subarea of the optically transparent substrate that is complementary to the first subarea.
In one or more embodiments, a housing is coupled to or otherwise abuts the optically transparent substrate. In one or more embodiments, the housing comprises a first reflective material reflecting light through the first subarea, i.e., through both the optically transparent substrate and the optically pellucid electrical conductor. In one or more embodiments, the housing comprises a second reflective material reflecting other light through the second subarea of the optically transparent substrate, i.e., through only the optically transparent substrate. As such, in one or more embodiments, the second subarea is complemental to the first subarea, with “complemental” taking the ordinary English meaning of referring to members of a set that are not members of a given subset, e.g., the second subarea comprising portions of the optically transparent substrate that are not portions of the first subarea.
In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material is more reflective than the second reflective material. Accordingly, more light is reflected through the first subarea than the second subarea. In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material also reflects a different color than does the second reflective material. Accordingly, a different color of light is reflected through the first subarea than through the second subarea. By changing the luminous intensity and/or color of light reflecting through both the optically transparent substrate and the optically pellucid electrical conductor compared with the optically transparent substrate alone, the optical spectrum observed by the human eye at the first subarea is nearly or exactly identical to that observed at the second subarea. This causes the optically pellucid electrical conductor to look substantially or completely invisible.
Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that large electrical conductors, such as antennas, are traditionally placed at the top, bottom, or sides of electronic devices adjacent to a display due to the fact that these conductors are typically manufactured from opaque metals. This not only requires the display to be smaller than the major faces of the electronic device, but can also cause other cosmetic issues such as large opaque bezels surrounding or intruding upon the visible display area. Moreover, when non-display surfaces of electronic devices, such as the rear major face, are constructed using an optically transparent substrate, similar cosmetic issues can occur, as portions of the optically transparent substrate where the electrical conductor is placed can look darker and/or off color compared to portions where the optically pellucid electrical conductor is absent.
While optically pellucid electrical conductors, such as indium-tin oxide (In.sub.2 O.sub.3-SnO.sub.2), can be used to mitigate such effects, embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that the problem remains due to the fact that the optical transmission characteristics of optically pellucid electrical conductors such as indium-tin-oxide are not perfect. While an optically transparent substrate may transmit ninety percent or more light at substantially all wavelengths, an optically pellucid electrical conductor such as indium-tin-oxide may transmit only eighty percent of the light at certain wavelengths. Moreover, the amount of light transmitted by an optically pellucid electrical conductor may vary as a function of wavelength, with some colors being absorbed more than other colors and so forth.
Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously solve this problem by allowing electrical conductors constructed in the form of optically pellucid electrical conductors to be coupled to optically transparent substrates directly above a display or other major surface of an electronic device. Since the luminous intensity of light passing through both the optically transparent substrate and the optically pellucid electrical conductor will be slightly less than that passing through only the optically transparent substrate, embodiments of the disclosure compensate for the optical attenuation of the optically pellucid electrical conductor by either changing the amount and/or of light emitted from electroluminescent elements of a display beneath the optically pellucid electrical conductor or by providing a reflective material beneath the optically pellucid electrical conductor having a different reflection and/or color coefficient to cause the light being emitted through both the optically pellucid electrical conductor and the optically transparent substrate to have substantially or actually the same color and luminous intensity as that passing through the optically transparent substrate alone. Advantageously, a user viewing the optically transparent substrate to which the optically pellucid electrical conductor is coupled will not notice the presence of the optically pellucid electrical conductor.
Turning now to
This illustrative electronic device 100 is shown in
In one or more embodiments, the fascia comprises an optically transparent substrate 103. Illustrating by example, in one or more embodiments the optically transparent substrate 103 may be manufactured from an optically transparent material such as glass, soda glass, reinforced glass, plastic, or a thin film sheet. In one or more embodiments the optically transparent substrate 103 functions as a fascia by defining a cover for a major surface of the housing 101, which may or may not be detachable. In one or more embodiments the optically transparent substrate 103 is optically transparent, in that light can pass through the optically transparent substrate 103 so that objects behind the optically transparent substrate 103 can be distinctly seen. In one or more embodiments, the optically transparent substrate 103 can comprise reinforced glass strengthened by a process such as a chemical or heat treatment. The optically transparent substrate 103 may also include a ultra-violet barrier. Such a barrier is useful both in improving the visibility of display 102 and in protecting internal components of the electronic device 100.
Printing may be desired on the front face of the optically transparent substrate 103 for various reasons. For example, a subtle textural printing or overlay printing may be desirable to provide a translucent matte finish atop the optically transparent substrate 103. Such a finish is useful to prevent cosmetic blemishing from sharp objects or fingerprints.
In one or more embodiments, an optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is coupled to the optically transparent substrate 103. The optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 can define any of a number of electrical conductors or electrical conductor components. Illustrating by example, in one embodiment the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 comprises an antenna. In another embodiment, the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 comprises one or more signal conductors. In still other embodiments, the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 comprises one or more switches. In still other embodiments the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 defines a user interface component, such as a capacitive sensor. Still other examples of conductors that can be defined by the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The portion of the optically transparent substrate 103 to which the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is coupled delineates different, complemental subareas of the optically transparent substrate 103 in one or more embodiments. Illustrating by example, portions of the optically transparent substrate 103 to which the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is coupled define a first subarea of the optically transparent substrate 103 in one embodiment. By contrast, portions of the optically transparent substrate 103 to which the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is not coupled, i.e., portions of the outer surface of the optically transparent substrate 103 where the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is absent, define a second subarea that is complemental to the first subarea. In the illustrative embodiment of
Beneath the optically transparent substrate 103 is disposed the display 102. The display 102 is supported by the housing 101 of the electronic device 100. In this illustrative embodiment, the display 102 is disposed between the housing 101 and the optically transparent substrate 103. In one or more embodiments, the display 102 comprises a plurality of pixel structures, where each pixel structure comprises a plurality of electroluminescent elements.
For illustrative purposes, the display 102 of
However, it should be noted that the use of an AMOLED display is optional. Embodiments of the disclosure work equally well with other display types. For example, in another embodiment the display 102 comprises a traditional organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. In still other embodiments, the display 102 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD). Other displays suitable for use with embodiments of the disclosure will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In one embodiment, the display 102 comprises a plurality of layers. Beginning at the top, an optional polarizer 104 is disposed beneath the optically transparent substrate 103. In this illustrative embodiment, the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 and the polarizer 104 are positioned on opposite sides of the optically pellucid electrical conductor 103. Light propagating from the environment through the optically transparent substrate 103 passes through the polarizer 104 and is accordingly polarized. In one or more embodiments, the polarizer 104 is about fifty micrometers in thickness. The polarizer 104 can optionally be coupled to the fascia 103 with an optically transparent adhesive in one or more embodiments.
Beneath the polarizer 104 is a first substrate 105. In one or more embodiments, the first substrate 105 is optically transparent. The first substrate 105 has a thickness of about 100 micrometers in one embodiment.
In one or more embodiments the display 102 is optionally a touch-sensitive display. Illustrating by example, in one or more embodiments the first substrate 105 has an electrode structure 106 disposed thereon. In one or more embodiments, the electrode structure 106 comprises one or more optically transparent electrodes. These optically transparent electrodes can be manufactured by depositing indium-tin-oxide, often in the shape of pixels, to apply selective electric fields to the pixels of the organic light emitting diode layer 107 disposed beneath the first substrate 105, thereby presenting images to a user on the display 102. One or more processors (shown below in
Beneath the first substrate 105 is disposed an organic light emitting diode layer 107. In one or more embodiments, the organic light emitting diode layer 107 comprises one or more pixel structures, with one illustrative pixel structure 114 being shown adjacent to the display 102 in
As shown in this illustrative example, in one or more embodiments each pixel structure 114 comprises three electroluminescent elements 115,116,117. In another embodiment, each pixel structure 114 comprises four electroluminescent elements. Other numbers of electroluminescent elements defining a pixel structure will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The electroluminescent elements 115,116,117, when stimulated by an electric field, emit light through carrier injection and recombination. When a cathode and anode apply an electric field to the electroluminescent elements 115,116,117, the electric field causes electrons and holes to be injected into an electron transport layer and a hole transport layer of the electroluminescent elements 115,116,117. The electrons and holes migrate to a light-emitting layer and meet to create “excitons” that emit visible light through radiative relaxation.
In this illustrative embodiment, each pixel structure 114 comprises a first electroluminescent element 115, a second electroluminescent element 116, and a third electroluminescent element 117. In one embodiment, the first electroluminescent element 115 emits a first color of light, while the second electroluminescent element 116 emits a second color of light. A third electroluminescent element 117 emits a third color of light. The three colors combine to create a desired color for the presentation of images.
In one embodiment, the first electroluminescent element 115 comprises a red electroluminescent element, while the second electroluminescent element 116 comprises a green electroluminescent element. The third electroluminescent element 117 then comprises a blue electroluminescent element. In some embodiments the third electroluminescent element 117 may be larger than the first electroluminescent element 115 and the second electroluminescent element 116 because blue electroluminescent elements sometimes have a shorter lifespan than do red or green electroluminescent elements.
The pixel structure 114 of
In one embodiment, the one or more pixel structures 114 are arranged along the first substrate 105. In another embodiment, the one or more pixel structures 114 are arranged along a second substrate 108, which is disposed beneath the first substrate 105. Other configurations will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
In one or more embodiments, the pixel structures 114 are arranged in an array 118 on one of the first substrate 105 or the second substrate 108. In one or more embodiments, the array 118 of pixel structures has a pitch of between 60 and 100 micrometers.
Beneath the organic light emitting diode layer 107 is a second substrate 108. In one embodiment, the second substrate 108 has a thickness of about 100 micrometers. In one embodiment, the second substrate 108 includes an electrode structure 109 deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the electrode structure 109 comprises a plurality of transistors deposited along the second substrate 108 as a thin film transistor layer. The thin film transistor layer can be deposited directly upon the second substrate 108 in one embodiment. Alternatively, a lamination adhesive can couple the thin film transistor layer to the second substrate 108.
Features can be incorporated into the housing 101 beneath the optically transparent substrate 103. Examples of such features include a fingerprint reader 110 or touch sensitive surface. Other examples of such features include a microphone or speaker port. Still others will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Turning now to
The one or more processors 201 can include a microprocessor, a group of processing components, one or more ASICs, programmable logic, or other type of processing device. The one or more processors 201 can be operable with the various components of the electronic devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The one or more processors 201 can be configured to process and execute executable software code to perform the various functions of the electronic devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
A storage device, such as memory 207, can optionally store the executable software code used by the one or more processors 201 during operation. The memory 207 may include either or both static and dynamic memory components, may be used for storing both embedded code and user data. The software code can embody program instructions and methods to operate the various functions of the electronic device devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, and also to execute software or firmware applications and modules. The one or more processors 201 can execute this software or firmware, and/or interact with modules, to provide device functionality.
In this illustrative embodiment, the schematic block diagram 200 also includes an optional communication circuit 204 that can be configured for wired or wireless communication with one or more other devices or networks. The networks can include a wide area network, a local area network, and/or personal area network. Examples of wide area networks include GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA-2000, iDEN, TDMA, 2.5 Generation 3GPP GSM networks, 3rd Generation 3GPP WCDMA networks, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, and 3GPP2 CDMA communication networks, UMTS networks, E-UTRA networks, GPRS networks, iDEN networks, and other networks.
The communication circuit 204 may also utilize wireless technology for communication, such as, but are not limited to, peer-to-peer or ad hoc communications such as HomeRF, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g or n); and other forms of wireless communication such as infrared technology. The communication circuit 204 can include wireless communication circuitry, one of a receiver, a transmitter, or transceiver, and one or more antennas.
In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 201 cause elective actuation of the pixel structures (114) of the display 102 through one or more display drivers 203,205. The display drivers 203,205 can cause the electroluminescent elements (115,116,117) of the pixel structures (114) to selectively emit light with different luminous intensity and different colors. For simplicity, the display drivers 203,205 of
The one or more processors 201 can also be operable with other components 202. The other components 202 can include an acoustic detector, such as a microphone. The other components 202 can also include one or more proximity sensors to detect the presence of nearby objects. The other components 202 may include video input components such as optical sensors, mechanical input components such as buttons, touch pad sensors, touch screen sensors, capacitive sensors, motion sensors, and switches. Similarly, the other components 202 can include output components such as video, audio, and/or mechanical outputs. Other examples of output components include audio output components such as speaker ports or other alarms and/or buzzers and/or a mechanical output component such as vibrating or motion-based mechanisms. The other components 202 may further include an accelerometer to show vertical orientation, constant tilt and/or whether the device is stationary.
The one or more processors 201 can be responsible for performing the primary functions of the electronic devices configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. For example, in one embodiment the one or more processors 201 comprise one or more circuits operable with one or more user interface devices, which can include the display 102, to present presentation information to a user. The executable software code used by the one or more processors 201 can be configured as one or more modules that are operable with the one or more processors 201. Such modules can store instructions, control algorithms, and so forth.
In some embodiments, higher function features can be included as well. Illustrating by example, as will be described below some embodiments include one or more sensors operable with the one or more processors 201 that determine a location of a person gazing toward the display 102 so that light can be projected through a optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) at an angle, rather than with an orthogonal angle of incidence to further reduce the visibility of the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) when the person is viewing the display 102 at an angle. Accordingly, some of these optional sensors will now be described. It should be noted that these higher function sensors can be used alone or in combination, depending upon the application.
In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 201 are operable with a gaze detector 206. The gaze detector 206 can comprise sensors for detecting the user's gaze point. The gaze detector 206 can optionally include sensors for detecting the alignment of a user's head in three-dimensional space relative to the electronic device (100). Electronic signals can then be processed for computing the direction of user's gaze in three-dimensional space relative to the electronic device (100).
In one or more embodiments, the gaze detector 206 can further be configured to detect a gaze cone corresponding to the detected gaze direction, which is a field of view within which the user may easily see without diverting their eyes or head from the detected gaze direction. The gaze detector 206 can be configured to alternately estimate gaze direction by inputting images representing a photograph of a selected area near or around the eyes. It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that these techniques are explanatory only, as other modes of detecting gaze direction can be substituted in the gaze detector 206 of
The one or more processors 201 may also be operable with a face analyzer 208. The face analyzer 208 can include its own image/gaze detection-processing engine as well. The image/gaze detection-processing engine can process information to detect a user's gaze point. The image/gaze detection-processing engine can optionally also work with the depth scans to detect an alignment of a user's head in three-dimensional space. Electronic signals can then be delivered from an optional imager 209 or depth imager 210 for computing the direction of user's gaze in three-dimensional space. The image/gaze detection-processing engine can further be configured to detect a gaze cone corresponding to the detected gaze direction, which is a field of view within which the user may easily see without diverting their eyes or head from the detected gaze direction. The image/gaze detection-processing engine can be configured to alternately estimate gaze direction by inputting images representing a photograph of a selected area near or around the eyes. It can also be valuable to determine if the user wants to be authenticated by looking directly at device. The image/gaze detection-processing engine can determine not only a gazing cone but also if an eye is looking in a particular direction to confirm user intent to be authenticated.
To help determine at what angle a user is viewing the display 102, the one or more processors 201 can also be operable with an orientation detector 211. One or more motion detectors can be configured to function as the orientation detector 211. The orientation detector 211 can determine an orientation and/or movement of the electronic device (100) in three-dimensional space. Illustrating by example, the orientation detector 211 can include an accelerometer, gyroscopes, or other device to detect device orientation and/or motion of the electronic device (100). Using an accelerometer as an example, an accelerometer can be included to detect motion of the electronic device (100). Additionally, the accelerometer can be used to sense some of the gestures of the user, such as one talking with their hands, running, or walking.
The orientation detector 211 can determine the spatial orientation of an electronic device (100) in three-dimensional space by, for example, detecting a gravitational direction. In addition to, or instead of, an accelerometer, an electronic compass can be included to detect the spatial orientation of the electronic device relative to the earth's magnetic field. Similarly, one or more gyroscopes can be included to detect rotational orientation of the electronic device (100).
It is to be understood that
Turning now to
Beneath the optically transparent substrate 103 is the display 102. As previously described, in one or more embodiments the display 102 comprises a plurality of layers. These layers include the optional polarizer 104, a first substrate 105, and an electrode structure 106 disposed along the first substrate 105.
An organic light emitting diode layer 107 is then disposed between the first substrate 105 and the second substrate 108. The organic light emitting diode layer 107 comprises an array 311 of pixel structures 306,307,308,309,310. The array 311 of pixel structures 306,307,308,309,310 is shown in
Beneath the organic light emitting diode layer 107 is a second substrate 108. In one embodiment, the second substrate 108 includes an electrode structure 109 deposited thereon. In one embodiment, the electrode structure 109 comprises a plurality of transistors that, in conjunction with the electrode structure 106 disposed along the first substrate 105, can selectively actuate the electroluminescent elements of the array 311 of pixel structures 306,307,308,309,310.
As shown in
As shown in
Embodiments of the disclosure contemplate that the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113, in most if not all cases, will be more optically lossy than will the optically transparent substrate 103 due to its higher electrical conductivity. Using indium-tin-oxide as an example of an optically pellucid electrical conductor 113, in many cases this material can absorb up to ten percent or more light than will soda glass or reinforced glass of the optically transparent substrate 103. This phenomenon is illustrated in the light transmission functions shown in
Turning now to
In
Those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will recognize that blue light 405 generally has a wavelength range of between 450 and 490 nanometers, while green light 406 has a wavelength range of between 520 and 560 nanometers. Red light 407 has a longer wavelength, which is generally between about 635 and 700 nanometers. Those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will also understand that red light 407, green light 406, and blue light 405 can be combined to form other colors as well. For example, red light 407 and green light 406 can be combined to create yellow light, which has a wavelength of between 560 and 590 nanometers, and so forth.
By comparing the light transmission functions 401,402,403, it becomes clear that an optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) generally absorbs more light than does an optically transparent substrate (103). Moreover, it is clear that an optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) can absorb more of one particular color than another. Illustrating by example, in
It should be noted that the light transmission functions 401,402,403 of
Accordingly, the light transmission functions 401,402,403 of
From the light transmission functions 401,402,403 of
When this occurs, this causes the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) to be visibly perceptible by a person. Where more blue light 405 is absorbed than green light 406, and where more green light 406 is absorbed than red light 407, light passing through the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) can appear dimmer and more “yellowish” than light passing through the optically transparent substrate (103).
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution to this problem. In one or more embodiments one or more processors (201) operable with the display (102) cause a first set of pixel structures projecting light through the optically transparent substrate (103) and the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) to project the light with a first luminous intensity, while a second set of pixel structures projecting other light through only the optically transparent substrate (103) project the other light with a second luminous intensity. In one or more embodiments, the first luminous intensity is different from the second luminous intensity. In one or more embodiments the first luminous intensity is greater than the second luminous intensity.
This results in electroluminescent elements of pixel structures positioned beneath the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) being driven so as to emit light with a higher luminous intensity, and optionally a different composite color, than electroluminescent elements of pixel structures positioned beneath portions of the optically transparent substrate (103) where the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) is absent. This operation compensates for the optical attenuation caused by the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113).
Advantageously, when using embodiments of the disclosure a uniform luminous intensity emanates from the display plane defined by the optical transmission area of the optically transparent substrate (103), thereby reducing or eliminating the visible perceptibility of the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113). As such, embodiments of the disclosure result in the user being able to look at the display (102) without noticing the presence of the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113).
Embodiments of the disclosure are also operable to correct color distortion, e.g., the “yellowish” issue referenced above, in addition to compensating for the lossy nature of the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113). In one or more embodiments, the electroluminescent elements of pixel structures positioned beneath portions of the optically transparent substrate (103) where the optically pellucid electrical conductor (113) is coupled thereto can be driven with a specific combination to omit less of a particular color, e.g., yellow light, so that color distortion is reduced or eliminated.
Turning now to
As before, the optically transparent substrate 103 defines an optical transmission area 302. The display 102, disposed beneath the optically transparent substrate 103, comprises an array 311 of pixel structures 306,307,308,309,310. Each pixel structure 306,307,308,309,310 includes a plurality of electroluminescent elements such as those described above with reference to
Since the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is optically lossier than the optically transparent substrate 103, as demonstrated above with reference to
In one or more embodiments, the signals 509 cause the first set 501 of pixel structures to project different colors of light with different luminous intensity. Recall from above that in the example described with reference to
Illustrating by example, in one embodiment where each pixel structure of the first set 501 of pixel structures comprises at least one green electroluminescent element, a red electroluminescent element, and a blue electroluminescent element, as was the case above in
In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 201 also cause a second set 504 of pixel structures projecting other light 505 through the second subarea 305 of the optical transmission area 302 that is complemental to the first subarea 304 to project the other light 505 with a second luminous light intensity 506. This can be done by delivering signals 514 to the second set 504 of pixel structures causing those pixel structures to light 505 through the second subarea 305 to project the light 505 with the second luminous intensity 506. In one or more embodiments the signals 514 include not only second luminous intensity 506 information, but color instructions 515 as well.
In one or more embodiments, the first luminous intensity 503 is different from the second luminous intensity 506. In this illustrative example, where the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is lossier than the optically transparent substrate 103, the first luminous intensity 503 is greater than the second luminous intensity 506. Accordingly, the one or more processors 201 cause the first set 501 of pixel structures to project more light than the second set 504 of pixel structures in this embodiment. The fact that more light passes through the first subarea 304, i.e., through the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113, than passes through the second subarea 305 results in light 507 emanating from the display plane 508 defined by the optical transmission area 302 to be uniform such that visible perception of the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 by a user becomes difficult or impossible.
Where color instructions 515 are included, they will frequently be different from the color instructions 512,513 for the first set 501 of pixel structures due to the fact that the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 attenuates different wavelengths by different amounts. For instance, in one or more embodiments the first set 501 of pixel structures project a first color of light (which would be a combination of colors resulting from color instructions 512,513), while the second set 504 of pixel structures project a second color of light (identified by color instructions 515). In one or more embodiments, the first color of light is different from the second color of light.
Illustrating by example, if the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 had a transmission function similar to light transmission function (402) or light transmission function (403) of
In
Recall from above, however, that in some embodiments electronic devices configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure could detect a user's gaze point by using sensors such as a gaze detector (206) or face analyzer (208). These sensors can further be used to detecting the alignment of a user's head in three-dimensional space relative to the display 102. Electronic signals can then be processed for computing the direction of user's gaze in three-dimensional space relative to the electronic device (100). These sensors can further determine a gaze cone corresponding to the detected gaze direction, which is a field of view within which the user may easily see without diverting their eyes or head from the detected gaze direction.
In one or more embodiments, where such sensors are included, the one or more processors 201 can cause different sets of pixel structures to project light along an axis defined between those pixel structures and the user's eyes or gaze cone. Turning now to
As before, the system 600 includes the sectional view of the display 102 of
The one or more processors 201 can optionally interact with the display 102 via a display driver in one or more embodiments. In
As before, the optically transparent substrate 103 defines an optical transmission area 302. Also as before, an optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is coupled to the optically transparent substrate 103 at a first subarea 304 of the optical transmission area 302 of the optically transparent substrate 103.
Since the person 603 is no longer viewing the display 102 at an angle that is normal to the major faces of the optically transparent substrate 103, but is instead viewing the display 102 at an acute angle 604, the person 603 sees a different set of pixel structures than they would when viewing the display 102 at a normal angle of incidence. Recall from
To compensate for the change in color and/or light intensity caused by the acute angle 604 at which the person 603 is viewing the display 102, in
In one or more embodiments, the one or more processors 201 cause a fourth set 606 of pixel structures to project light 609 through the second subarea 305 along the axis 608. In one embodiment, due to the longer path length through the optically transparent substrate 103, the one or more processors 201 cause the fourth set 606 of pixel structures to project light 609 through the second subarea 305 along the axis 608 with at least the second luminous intensity (506) that would be used if the person 603 were viewing the display 102 at a normal angle of incidence. In other embodiments, the one or more processors 201 cause the fourth set 606 of pixel structures to project light 607 through the second subarea 305 along the axis 608 with a luminous intensity that is greater than the second luminous intensity (506) that would be used if the person 603 were viewing the display 102 at a normal angle of incidence.
Turning now to
As before, an optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is coupled to the optically transparent substrate 103 at a first subarea of the optical transmission area. In this illustrative embodiment, the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is configured as an antenna.
As shown in
In some optional embodiments, the electronic device 100 can include one or more sensors configured to determine a location of a person viewing the optically transparent substrate 103. Where this is the case optional step 702 comprises determining the location of the person relative to an exterior major face of the optically transparent substrate 103. In one or more embodiments, step 702 further comprises determining an axis defined between the location of the person viewing the display and one or more pixel structures of the display projecting light along that axis.
At step 703, the method 700 delivers corrective signals to various sets of pixel structures of the display 102 to compensate for light losses occurring at various wavelengths through the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113. In one or more embodiments, step 703 comprises causing light passing through a first subarea of an optically transparent substrate 103 defined where the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is coupled to the optically transparent substrate 103 to have a greater luminous intensity than other light passing through a second subarea of the optically transparent substrate 103 that is complemental to the first subarea.
In one or more embodiments, step 703 comprises one or more processors of the electronic device 100 causing a first set of pixel structures projecting the light through the first subarea to project the light with a first luminous intensity and a second set of pixel structures projecting light through the second subarea to project the other light with a second luminous intensity. In one or more embodiments, the first luminous intensity is greater than the second luminous intensity.
In one or more embodiments, step 703 comprises one or more processors of the electronic device 100 causing a first set of pixel structures projecting the light through the first subarea to project the light with a first color, while a second set of pixel structures project light through the second subarea to project the other light with a second color. In one or more embodiments, the first color is different from the second color.
Where step 702 is included in the method 700, i.e., where the method 700 includes one or more sensors of the electronic device 100 determining a location of a person viewing the optically transparent substrate 103, step 703 can include causing the first set of pixel structures to project the light through the first subarea along an axis defined between the optically transparent substrate and the location, while the second set of pixel structures project the other light through the second subarea along the axis. As shown in step 704, the compensation actions of step 703 cause the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 to substantially or completely become invisible to the viewer due to the fact that light emanating from the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 and portions of the optically transparent substrate 103 where the optically pellucid electrical conductor 113 is absent to become substantially uniform in luminous intensity with a consistent color palate.
Turning now to
In this illustrative embodiment, however, the rear surface 801 is not only comprised of the optically transparent substrate 803. To the contrary, a device housing 802 is placed beneath the optically transparent substrate 803. In this example, the device housing 802 abuts the rear major face of the optically transparent substrate 803.
In one or more embodiments, the device housing 802 is painted with a reflective material that reflects a particular color of light. Illustrating by example, if the electronic device 800 is intended to have a red visual appearance, the device housing 802 may be pained with reflective material in the form of one of a flat red paint, matte red paint, gloss, red paint, metallic red paint, and so forth.
Since the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 is lossy, it will absorb certain wavelengths in accordance with a light transmission function, one example of which was shown and described above with reference to
Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously provide a solution to this problem. To address this issue, in one or more embodiments the rear housing 802 of the electronic device 800 is divided into a first subarea and a second subarea. The first subarea is the area at which the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 is coupled to the optically transparent substrate 803. The second subarea is complemental to the first subarea, and is defined by portions of the optically transparent substrate 803 where the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 is absent. Accordingly, portions of the device housing 802 that reflect light through both the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 and the optically transparent substrate 803 would be within the first subarea, while other portions of the device housing 802 that reflect light through only the optically transparent substrate 803, but not the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813, would be within the second subarea. The first subarea and second subarea do not overlap.
In one or more embodiments, the device housing 802 comprises a first reflective material reflecting light through the first subarea and a second reflective material reflecting other light through a second subarea. In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material is more reflective than the second reflective material. In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material reflects a first color of light through the first subarea, while the second reflective material reflects a second color of light through the second subarea, with the first color of light and the second color of light being different. In one or more embodiments, the first color of light comprises more green light and more blue light than the second color of light. Examples of this construction and its compensatory effects will be described below with reference to
Beginning with
The reflective material 901 reflects light 904 through the first subarea 902, i.e., through both the optically transparent substrate 803 and the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813. The reflective material 901 also reflects other light 905 through a second subarea 903 of the optically transparent substrate 803, i.e., only through the optically transparent substrate 803 and not through the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 due to the fact that the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 is not coupled to the optically transparent substrate 803 at the second subarea 903.
Since the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 is lossy, reflected light 906 emanating from the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 has a lower luminous intensity and different color than reflected light 907 emanating from the optically transparent substrate 803 without passing through the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813.
Turning now to
In this illustrative embodiment, the first reflective material 1001 is more reflective than the second reflective material 1002 to compensate for the lossy nature of the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813. In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material 1001 reflects a first color of light through the first subarea 902, while the second reflective material 1002 reflects a second color of light through the second subarea 903. In this illustrative embodiment, the first color of light and the second color of light are different to compensate for the absorption at different wavelengths by the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813. In one embodiment, the first color of light comprises more green light and more blue light than the second color of light.
The first reflective material 1001, which reflects light through the first subarea 902 along an axis 1003 normal to a major surface of the optically transparent substrate 803 in one or more embodiments, can be tuned to the specific material, thickness, and placement of the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813. For example, in this illustration the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 defines a light transmission function 1004 of wavelength that looks similar to the light transmission functions (402,403) of
In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material 1001 defines a light reflection function 1005 of light wavelength. In this illustrative embodiment, the light reflection function 1005 defines a horizontal reflection function of the light reflection function 1005. As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, a horizontal reflection function reflects a first function about a horizontal axis. Here, the horizontal axis is an axis 1006 that is tangential to an apex 1007 of the light transmission function 1004. Accordingly, the first reflective material 1001 reflects the exact complement of light absorbed by the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813, namely, more blue light than green light, and more green light than red light. The result is a luminous output 1008 from the first subarea 902 that is substantially or exactly uniform with the luminous output 1009 from the second subarea 903. This results in the visibility of the optically pellucid electrical conductor 813 being reduced or eliminated.
Turning now to
Turning now to
Beginning at step 1201, the method 1200 comprises providing an electronic device with an optically transparent substrate, an optically pellucid electrical conductor coupled to the optically transparent substrate at a first subarea of the optically transparent substrate, and a housing abutting the optically transparent substrate. At step 1202, the method 1200 comprises coupling a reflective substrate to the housing. Since the housing abuts the optically transparent substrate, this step 1202 couples the reflective substrate to the optically transparent substrate.
In one or more embodiments, the reflective substrate coupled to the housing at step 1202 comprises a first reflective material defining a first reflective coefficient. In one or more embodiments, step 1202 comprises disposing the first reflective material along the housing at regions from which the light reflects through the first subarea.
In one or more embodiments, the reflective substrate coupled to the housing at step 1202 also comprises a second reflective material defining a second reflective coefficient. In one or more embodiments, step 1202 comprises disposing the second reflective material at regions from which the other light reflects through the second subarea.
In one or more embodiments, the first reflective material positioned between the housing and the optically transparent substrate at step 1202 reflects a first color of light through the first subarea. In one or more embodiments, the second reflective material positioned between the housing and the optically transparent substrate at step 1202 reflects a second color of light through the second subarea. In one or more embodiments, the first color of light and the second color of light are different.
Accordingly, step 1203 comprises the reflective material reflecting light through both the first subarea and a second subarea of the optically transparent substrate. Step 1204 comprises the reflective material reflecting a first color of light through the first subarea and the second reflective material reflecting a second color of light through the second subarea, where the first color of light and the second color of light are different. The resulting uniformly reflected light emanating from the first subarea and the second subarea causes the optically pellucid electrical conductor to become less visible or invisible.
Turning now to
At 1301, the one or more processors cause a first set of pixel structures projecting light through the first subarea to project the light with a first luminous intensity. At 1301, the one or more processors cause a second set of pixel structures projecting other light through a second subarea of the optical transmission area that is complemental to the first subarea to project the other light with a second luminous intensity. At 1301, the first luminous intensity is different from the second luminous intensity.
At 1302, the first luminous intensity of 1301 is greater than the second luminous intensity. At 1303, the first set of pixel structures and the second set of pixel structures of 1302 project the light and the other light along an axis normal to a major face of the at least one optically transparent substrate.
At 1304, the one or more processors of 1302 cause the first set of pixel structures to project a first color of light. At 1304, the one or more processors cause the second set of pixel structures to project a second color of light. At 1304, the first color of light is different from the second color of light.
At 1305, each electroluminescent element of 1304 comprises at least one green electroluminescent element, a red electroluminescent element, and a blue electroluminescent element. At 1305, the one or more processors causing green electroluminescent elements of the first set of pixel structures and blue electroluminescent elements of the first set of pixel structures to project more light than green electroluminescent elements of the second set of pixel structures and blue electroluminescent elements of the second set of pixel structures. At 1306, the one or more processors of 1305 cause the blue electroluminescent elements of the first set of pixel structures to project more light than green electroluminescent elements of the first set of pixel structures.
At 1307, the electronic device of 1302 further comprises a polarizer. At 1307, the optically pellucid electrical conductor and the polarizer are positioned on opposite sides of the optically pellucid electrical conductor. At 1308, the display of 1307 comprises a touch-sensitive Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display.
At 1309, the electronic device of 1301 further comprises one or more sensors operable with the one or more processors. At 1309, the one or more sensors determine a location of a person gazing toward the display. At 1309, the one or more processors cause a third set of pixel structures to project the light through the first subarea along an axis defined between the third set of pixel structures and the location with at least the first luminous intensity, while a fourth set of pixel structures project the other light through the second subarea along the axis with at least the second luminous intensity. At 1310, the optically pellucid electrical conductor of 1301 comprises an antenna.
At 1311, a method in an electronic device comprises causing light passing through a first subarea of an optically transparent substrate defined where an optically pellucid electrical conductor is coupled to the optically transparent substrate to have a greater luminous intensity than other light passing through a second subarea of the optically transparent substrate that is complemental to the first subarea. At 1312, the causing of 1311 comprises one or more processors of the electronic device causing a first set of pixel structures projecting the light through the first subarea to project the light with a first luminous intensity and a second set of pixel structures projecting light through the second subarea to project the other light with a second luminous intensity.
At 1313, the method of 1312 further comprises one or more sensors of the electronic device determining a location of a person viewing the optically transparent substrate. At 1313, the one or more processors cause the first set of pixel structures to project the light through the first subarea along an axis defined between the optically transparent substrate and the location and the second set of pixel structures to project the other light through the second subarea along the axis.
At 1314, the causing of 1311 comprises coupling a reflective substrate to the optically transparent substrate. At 1314, the reflective substrate comprises a first reflective material defining a first reflective coefficient disposed at regions from which the light reflects through the first subarea and a second reflective material defining a second reflective coefficient disposed at regions from which the other light reflects through the second subarea.
At 1315, the first reflective material of 1314 reflects a first color of light through the first subarea. At 1315, the second reflective material of 1314 reflects a second color of light through the second subarea. At 1315, the first color of light and the second color of light are different.
At 1316, an electronic device comprises an optically transparent substrate. At 1316, the electronic device comprises an optically pellucid electrical conductor coupled to the optically transparent substrate at a first subarea of the optically transparent substrate. At 1316, the electronic device comprises a housing abutting the optically transparent substrate. At 1316, the housing comprises a first reflective material reflecting light through the first subarea and a second reflective material reflecting other light through a second subarea of the optically transparent substrate that is complemental to the first subarea. At 1316, the first reflective material is more reflective than the second reflective material.
At 1317, the first reflective material of 1316 reflects a first color of light through the first subarea. At 1317, the second reflective material reflects a second color of light through the second subarea. At 1317, the first color of light and the second color of light are different. At 1318, the first color of light of 1317 comprises more green light and more blue light than the second color of light.
At 1319, the optically pellucid electrical conductor of 1316 defines a light transmission function of light wavelength. At 1319, the first reflective material of 1316 defines a light reflection function of the light wavelength. At 1319, the light absorption function defines a horizontal reflection function of the light reflection function. At 1320, the first reflective material of 1316 reflects light through the first subarea along an axis normal to a major surface of the optically transparent substrate.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Thus, while preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is clear that the disclosure is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20200329218 A1 | Oct 2020 | US |
