Intersil Americas Inc.

Intersil Corporation

Dong Zheng

Joy T Jones

Alexander Kalnitsky

Daryl Chamberlin

Xijian Lin

Gregory Keith Cestra

Phillip J Benzel

Hung Chou

Daryl Chamberlain

Barry Harvey

Brian Ben North

Robert L Lyle, Jr

Theodore D Rees

Perumal Ratnam

D Stuart Smith

Bin Wu

Perumal Ratman

A configurable photo detector circuit comprises a photo detector array including a plurality of photo detectors coupled to a plurality of amplifiers. A method for programming a detection pattern of the configurable photo detector circuit comprises selecting a first detection pattern for the photo detector array, generating first signals to create the first selected detection pattern, and applying the first generated signals to the photo detector circuit to implement the first selected detection pattern.

Configurable photo detector circuit

A photodetector includes one or more first photodiode regions that are covered by an optical filter configured to reject infrared (IR) light and that produce a first current (I). The photodetector also includes one or more second photodiode regions that are covered by a light blocking material configured to reject visible and infrared light and that produce a second current (I). The photodetector also includes one or more third photodiode regions that are not covered by the optical filter and are not covered by the light blocking material and that produce a third current (I). Additionally, the photodetector includes circuitry configured to produce an output indicative of the first current (I) or a scaled version of the first current (I), minus the second current (I) or a scaled version of the second current (I), minus the third current (I) or a scaled version of the third current (I). The optical filter configured to reject IR light can be, e.g., a dielectric reflective optical coating filter, an IR absorption optical coating filter, or a combination thereof.

Photodetectors useful as ambient light sensors having an optical filter rejecting a portion of infrared light

Described herein are light sensors that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Also described herein are systems the incorporate such light sensors. Such a system can include a display, a light source to backlight the display and a controller to control the brightness of the light source based on feedback received from such light sensors. Described herein are also methods for controlling backlighting.

Backlight control using light sensors with infrared suppression

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to circuits, systems and methods that can be used to detect light beam misalignment, so that compensation for such misalignment can be performed. In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a photo-detector (PD) having a plurality of electrically isolated PD segments. Additionally, the circuit has circuitry, including switches, configured to control how currents indicative of light detected by the plurality of electrically isolated PD segments are arithmetically combined. When the switches are in a first configuration, a signal produced by the circuitry is indicative of vertical light beam alignment. When the switches are in a second configuration, the signal produced by the circuitry is indicative of horizontal light beam alignment. The signals indicative of vertical light beam alignment and horizontal light beam alignment can be used detect light beam misalignment, so that compensation for such misalignment can be performed.

Projector systems with light beam alignment

Circuits, systems and methods for vertical and horizontal light beam alignment

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

Light sensors with infrared suppression

In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a photodetector (PD) array including a plurality of electrically isolated PD sections. Additionally, the circuit includes a switching matrix that includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, and that can be selectively configured in a plurality of different switch configurations. Each of the electrically isolated PD sections is adapted to detect light (if any) and provide an electrical output signal, indicative of the light detected by the PD section (if any), to a different one of the inputs of the switching matrix. The switching matrix is adapted to combine the electrical output signals provided by the electrically isolated PD sections in a plurality of different manners, in dependence on which of the plurality of different switch configurations is selected.

Dynamically configurable photodetector arrays

A multi-level signal uses the third/fourth signal level to signal both a word clock edge and a data word boundary. At the receiver, a level detector detects a transition to or from the third/fourth level as a clock signal transition and the word boundary. The bit clock can be recovered using a conventional clock multiplier. Bi-level signaling is used for data between the word boundaries. Additional signal states are available in the multi-level signal by modulating the pulse width at the third/fourth signal level.

Multi-level LVDS data transmission with embedded word clock

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors, that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

A photodiode includes a substrate having a first semiconductor type surface region on at least a portion thereof, and a second semiconductor type surface layer formed in a portion of the surface region. A multi-layer anti-reflective coating (ARC) is on the second semiconductor type surface layer, wherein the multi-layer ARC comprises at least two different dielectric layers. A layer resistant to oxide etch is above a peripheral portion the multi-layer ARC. Further layers are above the layer resistant to oxide etch, and thereby above the peripheral portion the multi-layer ARC. A window extends down to the multi-layer ARC. A photodiode region is formed by a pn-junction of the first semiconductor type surface region and the second semiconductor type surface layer.

Photodiode for multiple wavelength operation

A photodetector integrated circuit (PDIC) capable of being used with at least two different types of optical discs includes a photodetector (PD) array and a switch matrix. The PD array includes a center channel PD and a side channel PD electrically isolated from the center channel PD. The switch matrix, which includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, can be selectively configured in a plurality of different switch configurations. The side channel PD includes a plurality of electrically isolated PD sections. Each electrically isolated PD section of the side channel PD is adapted to detect light and provide an electrical output signal, indicative of the light detected by the PD section, to a different one of the inputs of the switch matrix. The switch matrix is adapted to combine the electrical output signals provided by the electrically isolated PD sections of the side channel PD in a plurality of different manners, in dependence on which of the plurality of different switch configurations is selected.

Dynamically configurable multiple wavelength photodetector array for optical storage applications

An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a utility device, such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp that is powered in accordance with a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, includes an analog sensor which monitors the utility device to derive an output signal representative of the PWM signal. An integrating analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which is coupled to the sensor and has its operation synchronized with an integral multiple of the period of the PWM signal, produces an output representative of an average of the output of the utility device.

Digitally synchronized integrator for noise rejection in system using PWM dimming signals to control brightness of cold cathode fluorescent lamp for backlighting liquid crystal display

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Dong Zheng