Blackberry Corporation

Research in Motion Corporation

Hsin Chin Lee

Antanas Matthew Broga

Michael Lorne Purdy

Amit Pal Singh

Matthew Broga

Choongho Lee

Yu Gao

Bergen Albert Fletcher

ZhongMing Ma

Priyadarshini Krishnaswamy

Antanas Matthew Broda

Ka Ho Liu

A proximity sensor for an electronic device comprises a proximity module, a lens and an optical module secured in an air gap therebetween. The proximity module has an emitter and a detector and is configured to generate a signal that is a function of light emitted by the emitter, and light detected by the detector, some portion of the detected light having been reflected by a target external to the electronic device. A transmissive-reflective surface of the optical module is aligned with the emitter field of view (FOV) and the detector FOV. The optical module guides emitted light through a transmissive portion of the lens to the exterior of the electronic device, and guides target-reflected light collected by the transmissive portion to the detector. The emitter FOV and the detector FOV are substantially aligned with one another.

Proximity sensor having an optical routing module for guiding emitted light and target-reflected light

A backlight module for illuminating a display or keypad is described. The backlight module may be provided in an electronic device along with a light source. In one embodiment, the backlight module comprises: a light diffuser; a light guide located directly below the light diffuser; a prism structure located directly below the light guide, the prism structure having a plurality of prisms extending towards the light guide, wherein an air gap is defined between the prism structure and the light guide; and a reflector located directly below the prism structure.

Backlight module having a prism structure

A keypad with optical sensors is provided. The keypad comprises keycaps, each keycap having a top surface. One or more optical sensors are located beneath top surfaces of adjacent keycaps. One or more light guides extend from a respective optical sensor towards the top surfaces.

Keypad with optical sensors

A light assembly for providing a notification light on an electronic device is described. The light assembly comprises a first light source for providing a background portion for the notification light, a second light source for providing a patterned portion for the notification light, and at least one pattern element to generate the pattern portion.

System and method for displaying visual notifications on an electronic device

A backlight module for illuminating a display is described. The backlight module may be provided in an electronic device along with a light source for illuminating an LCD display. The backlight module includes a diffuser, a light guide having a top surface and a bottom surface, a reflector, and a prism structure positioned between the light guide bottom surface and the reflector. The prism structure has a plurality of prisms extending towards the light guide. The prism structure may include a film or a top portion of the reflector having a plurality of prisms extending towards the light guide.

Backlight module having a prisim reflector

A light guide guides light from a light emitter that is adjacent to an aperture of an electronic device. The light is eventually emitted from the aperture, to thereby provide lighting. The light guide can include a plurality of prisms which can thereby permit reduction in the overall thickness of the electronic device.

Light guide for improving device lighting

Electronic displays encounter visibility issues due to varying ambient light conditions. An ambient light sensor can be provided to sense ambient light and dynamically adjust display brightness to compensate for changes in ambient light. A wave guide for improving angular response in a light sensor is provided.

Wave guide for improving light sensor angular response

A user input device for an electronic device includes an illumination source and image sensor module. A translucent layer is disposed above the illumination source and the image sensor module. The translucent layer includes at least a first set of patterns disposed thereon. A deformable layer is disposed above the translucent layer. The deformable layer includes at least a second set of patterns. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least the portion of the translucent layer. The image sensor module includes a field of view that corresponds to at least a portion of the translucent layer. The image sensor module being configured to detect a third set of patterns when the first set of patterns and the second set of patterns are displaced with respect to each other.

Optical interference based user input device

A display arrangement includes a decoration layer, a light source underneath the decoration layer, and a lens layer arranged between the decoration layer and the light source. The decoration layer includes at least one void formed in the shape of a character when viewed from above. The lens layer is at least semi-transparent to permit transmission of light from the light source through the void. An optical structure is arranged in alignment with the void and is adapted to reduce intensity of the light in a peripheral region of the void so as to reduce a halo effect. The decoration layer may be formed as an external layer of a key or a button of a portable electronic device, or an outer casing of a portable electronic device.

Display arrangement with optical structure for reducing halo effect

A light guide apparatus for an electronic device is described. The light guide apparatus includes a light guide having a first surface and an second surface; a light source, the light guide and the light source being arranged to couple light from the source into the light guide through the second surface of the light guide, the second surface and the light source defining a gap therebetween; and a reflector positioned above the light source and the light guide, and extending over at least a portion of the gap and at least a portion of the front surface of the light guide.

Light guide apparatus having a light source and a reflector

A proximity sensor assembly including a light source, a first detector, and a first light focusing device. The light source is operative to emit light toward a first target area. The first detector is operative to detect light, including light emitted by the light source and reflected from the first target area. The first light focusing device is in a first optical path between the light source and the first detector. The first optical path includes an optical path from the light source and reflected from the first target area.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, Canada

Hsin Chin Lee