Motorola Corporation

Motorola Mobility LLC

Austin Vincent Harton

Barry W Herold

Jang-Hun (James) Yeh

Francisco Castro

Samuel Anderson

Manuel Oliver

Karl W Wyatt

James J Morikuni

King F Lee

Bei Tang

Paul G Alonas

John Bliss

Robert M Dyas

An optical waveguide () with directional microprisms () and multidirectional light sources ()() are provided for providing overlapping morphing images () and information () on a display () of a touch screen mobile phone or other electronic device (). Microprisms can be patterned in the shape of a particular design, character, icon or other image. The microprisms can include: first microprisms () sensitive to light propagating in only one direction; second microprisms () sensitive to light propagating in a different direction, and a third microprisms () sensitive to light propagation in multiple directions. When light is directed into the waveguide () in a direction to which a portion of the microprisms () are sensitive, a fraction of that light will be directed upward and out of the waveguide () by those microprisms sensitive to light propagated in that direction. Controlling, switching or selectively activating the light sources ()() results in different images () which are displayed and illuminated on the display () of the electronic device ().

Visual morphing using directionally selective microprisms

A photodetector () generates an electrical signal that has a value that changes approximately linearly at a rate that is proportional to an amount of light intensity incident on a photodetector since a most recent reset command was received at a reset input of the photodetector. A measurement circuit () generates a comparison state that is based on a comparison of the value of the photodetector signal to a reference signal in response to one of a plurality a sample pulses. A control circuit () generates the plurality of sample pulses at non-uniform time intervals and generates an elapsed time as an accumulation of the non-uniform time intervals occurring from the reset command to a change of the comparison state. In one embodiment, the reciprocal of an accumulated duration of the non-uniform time intervals is a linear function of a number of time intervals after the reset command.

Light sensing pixel sensor and method

A pixel image sensor having an array of pixel elements arranged in a color mosaic pattern, each pixel element being responsive to light of a particular color. Each pixel element is supplied with a reference voltage signal corresponding to the color of light to which the pixel element is responsive. The reference voltage signal determined the sensitivity of the pixel element. The white balance of the image sensor is adjusted by varying independently the reference voltage signals for each color. The color mosaic pattern of the array may include a pixel element responsive to white light. The output from the white pixel sensors may be used to adjust the color constancy of the image sensor. The image array reduces the need for post-capture processing of the image for white balancing, by incorporating the white balance operation into the capture process.

Digital pixel image sensor with independent color channel reference signals

A time-integrating pixel sensor having a photo-detector, a capacitor, a comparator and a pixel data buffer. In operation, the photo-current from the photo-detector charges the capacitor and produces a photo-voltage. The photo-voltage sensed by the capacitor and a reference voltage is compared with the comparator. If the photo-voltage exceeds the reference voltage, a global code value is latched into the pixel data buffer. The optical power falling on the photo-detector is determined from the latched code value. An array of sensors is incorporated into a semiconductor device together with circuitry to read and decode the pixel data buffers. The reference voltage may be varied in time to increase the dynamic range of the sensor.

Time integrating pixel sensor

A double sampling time-integrating pixel sensor having a photo-detector, a capacitor, a comparator and two pixel data buffers. In operation, the photo-current from the photo-detector charges the capacitor and produces a photo-voltage. The photo-voltage sensed by the capacitor and a first reference voltage are compared by the comparator. When the photo-voltage exceeds the first reference voltage, a first global counter value is latched into the first pixel data buffer. When the photo-voltage exceeds a second reference voltage, a second global counter value is latched into the second pixel data buffer. The optical power falling on the photo-detector is determined from the difference between the second and first counter values. An array of sensors is incorporated into a semiconductor device together with circuitry to read and decode the pixel data buffers.

Digital double sampling in time integrating pixel sensors

The present invention provides a method and multi-channel optical interconnect device (28) including an optical substrate (29) including a first optical channel (30) having a first predetermined thickness, a second optical channel (32) having a second predetermined thickness, and an optically isolating intermediate section (34) connected to the first optical channel (30) and to the second optical channel (32), the optically isolating intermediate section (34) having a third predetermined thickness, wherein the third predetermined thickness is less than either of the first predetermined thickness and the second predetermined thickness for minimizing optical cross-talk between the first optical channel (30) and the second optical channel (32).

Method, multi-channel optical interconnect device, and a multi-channel

An optical isolator (10) includes an opto-electronic emitter (16) and an opto-electronic detector (17) mounted over offset portions (12, 13) of a leadframe (11). The offset portions (12, 13) form angles (14, 15) with other portions (24, 25) of the leadframe (11). An optically transmissive material (22) encapsulates the opto-electronic emitter (16) and the opto-electronic detector (17), and a reflective material (20) is located above the opto-electronic emitter (16) and the opto-electronic detector (17). An optically insulative packaging material (26) encapsulates the optically transmissive material (22).

Optical isolator having leadframe with non-planar mounting portions

An opto-isolator (10) increases optical efficiency by using holographic elements (22,24,26) to direct a beam of light (34) through an optical waveguide (20). An opto-electronic transmitter (12) and receiver (16) are connected to the waveguide to be in alignment with the beam of light reflected by the holographic elements. The transmitter and receiver are disposed on separate leadframe portions (14,18), and the opto-isolator is surrounded by a package (32).

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Oak Park, IL, United States of America

Austin Vincent Harton