Moisture-insensitive optical touch sensors

    公开(公告)号:US11775021B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-10-03

    申请号:US17404783

    申请日:2021-08-17

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    CPC classification number: G06F1/1656 G01L1/246 G06F3/0421 G06F2203/04109

    Abstract: An electronic device may have an optical touch sensor that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. The display may present images through a display cover layer. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a user's finger when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. A metasurface grating may be used to couple light from the light source into the display cover layer at an angle such that total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture. Additional metasurface gratings may be formed on the display cover layer to redirect light propagating within the display cover layer away from edges that might otherwise defeat total internal reflection.

    Displays with optical edge sensors
    23.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11637153B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-04-25

    申请号:US16940192

    申请日:2020-07-27

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A display may have an array of light-emitting pixels that display an image in an active area of the display. These light-emitting pixels may be visible light pixels such as red, green, and blue thin-film organic light-emitting diode pixels. The display may also have a border region that runs along a peripheral edge of the active area. The border region may be free of pixels that display image light, whereas the active area may be free of light detectors. A non-optical touch sensor such as a capacitive touch sensor may overlap the active area to gather touch input from the active area. The non-optical touch sensor may not overlap any portion of the border region. In the border region, an optical sensor formed from infrared light-emitting pixels and infrared light-sensing pixels or other optical sensing circuitry may serve as an optical touch sensor.

    Moisture-Insensitive Optical Touch Sensors

    公开(公告)号:US20230057534A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-02-23

    申请号:US17404783

    申请日:2021-08-17

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An electronic device may have an optical touch sensor that is insensitive to the presence of moisture. The display may present images through a display cover layer. A light source may illuminate an external object such as a user's finger when the object contacts a surface of the display cover layer. This creates scattered light that may be detected by an array of light sensors. A metasurface grating may be used to couple light from the light source into the display cover layer at an angle such that total internal reflection within the display cover layer is sustained across the display cover layer even when the display cover layer is immersed in water or otherwise exposed to moisture. Additional metasurface gratings may be formed on the display cover layer to redirect light propagating within the display cover layer away from edges that might otherwise defeat total internal reflection.

    Organic Photodetectors for In-Cell Optical Sensing

    公开(公告)号:US20220293682A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-09-15

    申请号:US17200683

    申请日:2021-03-12

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display includes an array of OLED pixels and an array of organic photodetector (OPD) pixels. An OLED pixel in the array of OLED pixels includes an OLED hole transport layer (HTL), an OLED electron transport layer (ETL), and an emissive layer positioned between the OLED HTL and the OLED ETL. An OPD pixel in the array of OPD pixels includes the OLED HTL, the OLED ETL, and an electron donor material positioned between the OLED HTL and the OLED ETL, wherein the OLED ETL functions as an electron acceptor material for the OPD pixel. In other embodiments, the OPD pixel may be configured differently.

    System and method for acoustic touch and force sensing

    公开(公告)号:US11347355B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-05-31

    申请号:US15989063

    申请日:2018-05-24

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.

    Composite cover material for sensitivity improvement of ultrasonic touch screens

    公开(公告)号:US11157115B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-10-26

    申请号:US15476244

    申请日:2017-03-31

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to one or more intermediate layers located on a surface of a cover material of an acoustic touch screen. In some examples, the one or more layers can include one or more intermediate layers. The one or more intermediate layers can include a first layer including a plurality of features and a second layer located between the first layer and the cover material. In a touch condition, the touch object can apply a force to the top surface of the acoustic touch sensor. The applied force can create one or more local bends causing the plurality of features to move closer to the cover material and causing one or more surface discontinuities in the cover material. The acoustic waves can undergo reflections (e.g., causing the signal to be attenuated) due to the discontinuities located in the path of the wave propagation.

    Ultrasonic touch detection through display

    公开(公告)号:US10802651B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-10-13

    申请号:US16256942

    申请日:2019-01-24

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: This relates to system architectures, apparatus and methods for acoustic touch detection (touch sensing) and exemplary applications of the system architectures, apparatus and methods. In some examples, the acoustic touch sensing techniques described herein can be used on a glass surface of a display or touch screen. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be configured to be insensitive to contact on the device surface by water, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that are likely to become wet or fully submerged in water.

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