The invention relates to optical light guide elements for electronic devices and to electronic devices containing optical light guide elements.
Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones, multi-function smart phones, digital media players, digital cameras and navigation devices have display screens that can be used under various lighting environments. Such devices have integrated in them a function that can provide (in real-time) an indication of the current level of visible light in the immediate environment outside the device. This is called an ambient light sensor function (or ALS). The ALS can be used for applications such as automatically managing the brightness of a display screen for better readability or for saving battery energy (depending upon the current ambient light level).
On the market ALS integrated circuit (IC) devices are known that have a built-in solid state light sensor together with associated electronic circuitry that provide, in real-time, a fairly accurate measurement of the ambient visible light that is incident upon the IC device. These IC devices are for the most part manufactured in accordance with a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication process technology.
Typically the light sensor is placed directly under the light-transparent opening in the cover of the electronic device. The incoming light therefore directly impinges on the light sensor. For constructional reasons it may occur that the sensor is not arranged in line with the light-transparent opening, but rather arranged laterally displaced from the light-transparent opening under the cover. For this reason the light which enters through the light-transparent opening has to be guided to the light sensitive surface area of the light sensor. It is well known to guide visible light by means of optical light guide elements such as light pipes made of glass or plastic. However, mobile electronic devices have to be light and small-sized. Therefore, the numerous components within the housing of such an electronic device are normally densely packed and space for additional components is often extremely limited. This means that in such a case there is not a lot of available space for an optical light guide element. However, light guide elements in the state-of-the-art are known for being bulky and for needing a lot of space.
It is therefore an object of the invention to create an optical light guide element of the type initially mentioned, which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above.
This object is achieved by an optical light guide element according to claim 1 and an electronic device according to claim 27. The dependent claims comprise further developments of the invention or alternative solutions for the invention.
The optical light guide element according to the invention has a first end section with a light entrance area designed for facing a light source, particularly a light-transparent opening through which (ambient) light passes. The size and shape of the light entrance area is preferably optimized in order to guarantee an optimum performance with respect to light collection efficiency and angular response. Further, the optical light guide element has a second end section with a light exit area designed for facing a light target area, particularly a light sensor, i.e. an opto-electronic sensor. The light entrance area is defined by a surface area on the optical light guide element which faces the light source or the light-transparent opening. The first end section forms an inclined surface area which forms an acute angle with said surface area of the light entrance area. I.e. the light entrance area lies to some degree opposite to this inclined surface.
The inclined resp. slanted surface area is preferably inclined in a direction parallel to the main direction of the light propagation within the light guide element. I.e. the acute angle is formed by the surface lines of the two surface areas in a cross-sectional view along the main direction of the light propagation. The inclined surface of the first end section practicably corresponds to an inclined front face of the optical light guide element. The main direction of the light propagation within the light guide element is defined by a starting point in the first end section and an end point in the second end section.
Additionally or alternatively to the above described inclined surface area being inclined in a direction parallel to the main direction of the light propagation, the optical light guide can contain an inclined surface area which is inclined in a direction transverse to the main direction of the light propagation. In this case the acute angle is formed by the surface lines of the two surface areas in a cross-sectional view transverse to the main direction of the light propagation.
The acute angle between the inclined surface area and the surface area of the light entrance area is preferably at minimum 10°, advantageously at minimum 20°, and most preferably at minimum 30° (angular degree). Further, the acute angle between the inclined surface area and the surface area of the light entrance area is preferably at maximum 80°, advantageously at maximum 70° and most preferably at maximum 60°. The acute angle is e.g. between 40° and 50° and particularly 45°.
The location and dimension of the light entrance area, the location and dimension of the inclined surface of the first end section and the acute angle between the inclined surface and the light entrance are such that at least some, preferably most of the incoming light is reflected on the inclined surface within the optical light guide element. Once the light has entered the light guide element and e.g. has been reflected by the inclined surface for the first time, it propagates from the first end section towards the second end section of the light guide element. The propagation of the light is caused by alternating reflection or refraction on boundary surfaces which extends between the first end section and the second end section. The boundary surfaces can e.g. lie opposite to each other.
The described inclined surface now has the effect that the incoming light, which is reflected on the inclined surface, receives a distinct component of propagation in direction of the second end section. Hence, light which impinges the light guide element in a steep angle and particularly perpendicularly to the light entrance area, resp. in a steep angle and particularly perpendicular to the main direction of the light propagation within the light guide element is redirected in a direction having a component of propagation in direction of the second end section.
Generally, the incoming light and particularly light which impinges the light entrance area at a steep angle, such that the light is reflected on the inclined surface, receives a distinct component towards the second end section, i.e. in the main direction of light propagation within the light guide element. As a result that light is reflected on the mentioned boundary surfaces at flat angles and few reflections on the boundary layers occur till the light beam has reached the second end section. As a result the losses caused by multiple reflections are reduced and therefore the total loss in light transmission is reduced as well.
The light entrance area is preferably defined by a plane surface which faces the light-transparent opening. The plane is preferably orientated perpendicular to the axis of the light-transparent opening. The plane is preferably smooth and uniform. However, the light entrance area and the light exit area can comprise an optical active structure, particularly microstructure, e.g. a lens or a diffuser. Of course, this optical active structure can also be a separate element arranged between the light source or the light-transparent opening and the entrance area and/or between the light target area or the sensor and the light exit area. The optical structures can be replicated in said areas or surfaces during manufacturing of the light guide element. The above mentioned optical active structures can also be provided on the inclined surfaces. The optical active structures can also comprise a coating on the surfaces of the light guide element, such as anti-reflection coatings, color filters, etc. Such coatings can e.g. be applied on the light entrance surface, the light exit surface and/or on the inclined surface in the first and/or second end section.
The term “opening” in the expression “light-transparent opening” means an aperture through which light can pass. The opening can, but does not have to be a physical opening. Usually the light-transparent opening is covered by light-transmissive element or window, e.g. made of glass or plastic. Hence, the light transparent opening can also be named as a light transparent area.
The inclined surface area of the first end section preferably also forms a plane. The inclined surface area can be smooth and uniform. The inclined surface area can also have a surface finish with a specific roughness.
According to a further development of the invention the light exit area of the optical light guide element is defined by a surface area which faces the light target area, particularly the light sensor. The second end section preferably forms also an inclined surface area which encloses an acute angle with the surface area of the light exit area. I.e. the light exit area lies to some degree opposite to the inclined surface area.
The inclined surface area is preferably inclined in a direction parallel to the main direction of the light propagation within the light guide element. I.e. the acute angle is formed by the two surface lines in a cross-sectional view along the main direction of the light propagation. The inclined surface of the second end section practicably corresponds to an inclined front face of the optical light guide element.
Additionally or alternatively to the above described inclined surface area being inclined in a direction parallel to the main direction of the light propagation, the optical light guide can contain an inclined surface area which is inclined in a direction transverse to the main direction of the light propagation. In this case the acute angle is formed between the surface lines of the two surface areas in a cross-sectional view transverse to the main direction of the light propagation.
The location and dimension of the light exit area, the location and dimension of the inclined surface of the second end section and the acute angle between the inclined surface and the light exit are preferably such that at least some of the light, preferably most of the light propagating within the optical light guide from the first end section towards the second end section is reflected on the inclined surface within the optical light guide element towards the light exit area.
The acute angle between said inclined surface area and the light exit area is preferably at minimum 10°, advantageously at minimum 20° and most preferably at minimum 30°. The acute angle between said inclined surface area and the surface area of the light exit area is preferably at maximum 80°, advantageously at maximum 70°, most preferably at maximum 60°. The acute angle is e.g. between 40° and 50° and particularly 45°.
Also here, the light exit area is preferably defined by a plane surface which faces the light target area. The plane is preferably smooth and uniform. The inclined surface area of the second end section preferably also forms a plane surface. The inclined surface area can be smooth and uniform. The inclined surface area can also have a surface finish with a specific roughness.
In between the inclined walls the light guide element contains other surfaces, e.g. upper, lower and side surfaces.
In a preferred further development of the invention the optical light guide element contains a first surface, preferably an upper surface, which comprises the light entrance area, and further contains a second surface, preferably a lower surface, which extends in a distance to the first surface. The second surface contains the light exit area.
According to another embodiment the light guide element contains a first surface, preferably an upper surface, and a second surface, preferably a lower surface, which extends in a distance to the first surface. Both, the light entrance area and the light exit area are located on the first surface.
According to a further embodiment the light guide element contains a first surface, preferably an upper surface, and a second surface, preferably a lower surface, which extends in a distance to the first surface. The first and second surfaces are connected by side surfaces and a front surface in the second end section. The light entrance area is located on the first surface. The light exit area is located in the second end section on the front surface or on a side surface of the light guide element.
The first and second surface preferably also form a boundary surface along which light beams are reflected while propagating from the first end section towards the second end section. The first and second surfaces preferably run parallel to each other.
The mentioned surfaces are shaped in a way to enable the transport of light by reflection or refraction in a most efficient way towards the light exit area.
The optical light guide element is preferably an elongated element which extends from the light-transparent opening to the light sensor. The light guide element is preferably a straight, flat element, e.g. in the form of a slab. The light guide element can also be a curved element. The surfaces or some surfaces of the light guide element can also be curved.
The optical light guide element has preferably a polygonal shape in a cross section transverse to the main direction of the light propagation within the optical light guide element, i.e. transverse to the longitudinal direction of the light guide element. The polygonal shape can e.g. be rectangular, square or trapezoid or a rhomboid. Further the optical light guide element is preferably rhomboid-shaped in a cross-sectional view along the main direction of the light propagation.
In a specific embodiment of the invention the outer contour of the optical light guide element is completely formed by plane surface areas, which abut against each other in different angles. However, it is also possible that at least at some surface areas which form boundary surfaces on which light beams within the light guide element are reflected or refracted contain optical active structures, particularly microstructures, such as lenses, diffusers, optical coatings or gratings. Further the surface areas can also have a surface finish with a specific roughness.
Furthermore in a further development of the invention at least some of the surface areas which form boundary surfaces at which light beams within the light guide element are reflected contain a reflective layer, e.g. in form of a metallic coating. Such a coating can e.g. be made of aluminum. For example some or all of the surfaces which extend between the first and second end section and on which the light which is reflected on the slanted wall is further reflected can be coated with a reflective layer.
The entrance and exit area can be masked, mainly in order to influence the angular sensitivity. In first variant of the invention the light propagation is based on the principle of TIR (Total Internal Reflection). In this case only the inclined surfaces (front faces) have a reflective coating. The other surfaces remain uncoated.
In a second variant of the invention the light propagation is based on reflection. In this case also other surfaces (first, second, i.e. upper, lower and side surfaces) have a reflective coating. Preferably all sides of the light guide element with exception of the light entrance and exit area have a reflective coating (ASC—All Side Coated). I.e., the light entrance area and the light exit area form a window.
As mentioned at the beginning, the optical light guide element has to be adapted to the limited space available within the housing of the electronic device. The light guide element can have a thickness of preferably at minimum 0.1 mm, advantageously of at minimum 0.2 mm. The thickness can be the distance between a first and second surface. Further said thickness is preferably at maximum 1 mm, advantageously at maximum 0.6 mm and most preferably of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm, particularly 0.4 mm.
Further, the optical light guide element preferably has a length of at minimum 2 mm. Further, said length preferably is at maximum 6 mm, advantageously at maximum 5 mm, and most preferably at maximum 4 mm. The light guide element has e.g. a length of about 3 mm. The light guide element is made of a light-transparent material, such as, but not restricted to, glass or plastic. The light guide elements are preferably manufactured on a wafer-scale basis. Such a wafer is cut into numerous light guide elements which may undergo further process steps, e.g. a finishing step after being cut out from the wafer. Of course, the light guide element can also be produced by injection molding or other techniques.
The above used term “light” means light in the visible or near-visible range of electromagnetic wave range. Hence, the term “light” also comprises by definition near infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) light. Further the term “light” can also mean a specific range of electromagnetic waves in the visible or near visible range.
The present invention also comprises an electronic device, with a housing. The housing has integrated therein a cover with a light-transparent opening for passing light into the housing.
The light sensor is arranged below the cover and is laterally displaced from the light-transparent opening. The light-transparent opening is optically connected to the light sensor by means of the optical light guide element as described above. The light guide is arranged below the cover as well and runs between the light-transparent optical opening and the light sensor. The optical light guide element is preferably arranged in a space below a cover of the housing and above an electronic unit within the housing.
The light sensor is preferably an ambient light sensor which serves to sense the ambient light level outside the electronic device. As the response of many typical CMOS light sensor structures (e.g., CMOS photodiodes) is dominated by infrared (IR) content, rather than visible content, an IR blocking filter (IR cut filter) can be placed in front of the sensor, i.e. between the sensor and the light exit area of the optical light guide element to thereby lessen the sensitivity of the sensor's output to IR content. The filter can also be placed between the opening and the light entrance area of the optical light guide element or the filter can be placed as window across the opening itself. Of course, amongst IR blocking filter, also other filters for blocking electromagnetic waves of a specific range can be applied at the mentioned places.
The electronic device is preferably a mobile electronic device, particularly a hand-held, mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a multi-function smart phone, a digital media player, an organizer, a digital camera or a navigation device e.g. with a display screen.
The optical light guide element is not only applicable for collecting and transporting ambient light, which enters the housing of an electronic device through an opening towards a light sensor which is laterally displaced from this opening. The light guide element is also applicable for collecting and transporting (visible) light within an electronic device from a light source, e.g. an LED, to a light target area, e.g. for illuminating the target area, which can e.g. be a display.
The present invention has the advantage that the optical light guide element can capture and guide light, particularly ambient light, with an angle of incident from −60° to +60° to the light target area or light sensor. Further, the efficiency of an on-axis light source is more than 20-25%. The present solution does not have a significant spectral dependency of response. Further, the light guide element is very flat but is able to transport light very efficiently and uniformly over a distance of e.g. several Millimeters.
The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:
a . . . c: show different views of a first embodiment of an optical light guide element;
a . . . g: show the light path within the optical light guide element according to the first embodiment of light beams which impinge the light entrance area from different angles;
a . . . c: show different views of a second embodiment of an optical light guide element;
The reference symbols used in the drawings, and their meanings, are listed in summary form in the list of reference symbols. In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.
The first embodiment of an optical light guide element 1 according to
The light entrance area 6 can face a light-transparent opening 50 in a cover element 51 which is arranged above the light guide element 1. In the present embodiment the light entrance area 6 is a planar surface which is orientated perpendicular to the axis 25 of the opening 50. Further the light exit area 7 can face a light sensor 52 which is arranged below the light guide element. The light sensor can be part of a circuit board equipped with electronics.
The total length 22 of the light guide element 1 is about 3.5 mm. The width 23 is about 1.2 mm and the height 21 is about 0.4 mm. Hence, the light guide element 1 is quite small in comparison to known light guide elements from the state-of-the-art. The surfaces of the light guide element 1 are at least partly coated with aluminum which forms a reflective surface for the propagating light beams within the light guide element 1.
The width of the light entrance area 6 is such that all the light which impinge the light entrance and which is perpendicular, i.e. on-axis, is reflected on the inclined surface 2 adjacent to the light entrance area 6.
a shows an example with incident light at an angle of 60°.
The series of
The inclined surface 3 in the second end section 9 of light guide element 1 is necessary in order to deflect the light beams with a pronounced component in the main direction of propagation which arrive in the second end section 9 towards the light exit area. Both, inclined surfaces 2, 3 at the first and second end sections 8, 9 form front faces of the light guide element 1.
a to 3c describe a second embodiment of an inventive optical light guide element 31.
The light guide element 31 has a first end section 38 in which the light entrance area 36 is arranged. Opposite to the light entrance area 36 a first inclined surface 32 is arranged. Further, the light guide element 31 has a second end section 39 in which the light exit area 37 is arranged. Opposite to the light exit area 37 a second inclined surface 33 is arranged. The light entrance area 36 and the first inclined surface 32 and the light exit area 37 and the second inclined surface 33, respectively, form an acute angle α, β of 45°.
The light guide element 31 has a first, e.g. upper surface 35 which contains the light entrance area 36 and a second, e.g. lower surface 34 which contains the light exit area 37. The first and second surfaces 35, 34 are planar surfaces which lie in distance and which run parallel to each other. The light guide element 31 further comprises side surfaces 40a, 40b which connect the first and second surfaces 35, 34 and which lie in a distance and opposite to each other. First side surfaces 40a, which are arranged in the first end section 38 and which extends towards the second end section 39 run parallel to each other and are inclined outwards. Second side surfaces 40b which also are inclined outwards are adjoining the first side surfaces 40a and extend towards the second end section 39. Said side surfaces 40b run together towards the second end section 39 and delimit the inclined front face 33 in the second end section 39. As an effect of the inclined side surfaces, the light beams which propagate within the light guide element and which hits the side faces also receive a vertical component of propagation which is directed from the first to the second surface.
While the invention has been described in present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the claims.
The third embodiment of an optical light guide element 61 according to
The fourth embodiment of an optical light guide element 81 according to
The fifth embodiment of an optical light guide element 101 according to
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CH11/00288 | 11/23/2011 | WO | 00 | 7/17/2013 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61418017 | Nov 2010 | US |