Ams Ag

Ams International Ag

Austriamicrosystems Ag

Josef Kriebernegg

Herbert Lenhard

Peter Bliem

Christian Halper

Manuel Hoerbinger

Helmut Theiler

Christian Mautner

Joachim Lechner

Dan Jacobs

Bernhard Greimel-Längauer

Bernhard Greimel-Rechling

Bernhard Greimel-Làngover

Whitney Hernandez

Peter Trattler

David Mehrl

Manfred Lueger

Kerry Glover

Gerhard Eilmsteiner

Franz Lechner

Chandra Nyshadham

Fabien Boitard

Rahul Thottathil

Hafeez Koonari Thoombath

Matt Kroese

Desislava Oppel

A method of operating an optical proximity sensor of a computer device having a display, where the optical proximity sensor is located beneath or otherwise adjacent to the display. The method comprises obtaining a vertical synchronization signal from a display driver, and synchronizing periodic illumination of a light emitter of the optical proximity sensor with the vertical synchronization signal.

Optical proximity sensing with reduced pixel distortion

A proximity sensor () with crosstalk compensation comprises a transmitting circuit () to transmit a signal to be reflected at a target () and a disturbing object (), and a receiving circuit () to receive a reflected signal (RS) having a useful component (RSI) and a noise component (RS). The receiving circuit () comprises an output node (A) to provide an output signal (Vout) in dependence from the distance of the proximity sensor () from the target (). The receiving circuit () comprises a crosstalk compensation circuit () comprising a first charging circuit () to provide a first charge for for coarse crosstalk compensation and a second charging circuit () to provide a second charge for fine crosstalk compensation. A control circuit () sets an amount of the first and the second charge so that the output signal (Vout) of the crosstalk compensation circuit () is dependent on the useful component (RSI) and independent on the noise component (RS) of the reflected signal (RS).

Proximity sensor with crosstalk compensation

A method for light sensing senses the light during a sub-frame of a picture frame operated display. The sensing is performed during an adaptive observation window which is determined in dependence on the duty cycle of the operation of the display. A calculation that uses the light sensed during the observation window and the light sensed during the sub-frame delivers a value indicative of the amount of received ambient light.

Method for sensing ambient light in a display

A method is proposed for sensing light being incident on an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a display and a light sensor arrangement which is mounted behind the display such as to receive incident light through the display. The method comprises the step of repeatedly switching the display on and off depending on a modulation signal, wherein a sub-frame is defined by an on-state and a consecutive off-state of the display. The modulation signal depends on at least one modulation parameter. In a first sub-frame a display brightness is set to a first level depending on a first value of the at least one modulation parameter. Then a first frame count is determined by integrating the incident light by means of the light sensor arrangement during the first sub-frame. In a second sub-frame the display brightness is set to a second level depending on a second value of the at least one modulation parameter. Then a second frame count is generated by integrating the incident light by means of the light sensor arrangement during the second frame. Finally, an ambient light level is determined depending on the first frame count and the second frame count.

Method for sensing light

The proposed concept relates to an optical sensor arrangement comprising an optical sensor with an integrated circuit arranged in or on a substrate. The substrate comprises at least a first surface area and a second surface area. At least one optically active sensor component is arranged on or in the substrate of the first surface area. The optically active sensor component is arranged for emitting and/or detecting light of a desired wavelength range. Optically inactive sensor circuitry is arranged on or in the substrate of the second surface area. A display panel comprises an active display area and a non-active display area, wherein the non-active display area comprises a material which is optically transparent in the desired wavelength range and wherein the non-active display area at least partly frames the active display layer. The optical sensor and the display panel are stacked such that, with respect to a main direction of display emission, the first surface area is arranged below the non-active display area and the second surface area is arranged below the active display area.

Optical sensor arrangement

An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode (), an integrator () with an integrator input () coupled to the photodiode (), a comparator () with a first input () coupled to an integrator output () of the integrator (), and a reference capacitor circuit () that is coupled to the integrator input () and is designed to provide a charge package to the integrator input (). In a start phase (A), charge packages are provided to the integrator input (), until a comparator input voltage (VIN) at the first input () of the comparator () crosses a comparator switching point.

Optical sensor arrangement and method for light sensing

A method is suggested for sensing light being incident on an electronic device. The electronic device comprises a display and a light sensor arrangement mounted behind the display such as to receive incident light through the display. The method comprises periodically switching the display on and off depending on a control signal, wherein a period is defined by a succession of an on-state and an off-state of the display. A sensor signal is generated by integrating the incident light by means of the light sensor arrangement for a total integration time comprising a number of periods. A first signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during an on-state. A second signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during an off-state. A third signal count is determined from the sensor signal being indicative of an amount of integrated incident light during the total integration time. Finally, an ambient light level is determined depending on the first, second and third signal counts.

Method for sensing light being incident on an electronic device

An optical driver arrangement () comprises a comparator () and a pulse generator (). The comparator () comprises a first input () for receiving a sensed output signal (S) derived from a sensor signal (S) generated by a light sensor (), a second input () for receiving a reference signal (S) and a comparator output () for providing a comparator signal (S). The pulse generator () comprises a control input () coupled to the comparator output () and a generator output () for providing a driver signal (S) to a light source (). The driver signal (S) comprises a series of at least one pulse and a parameter of the driver signal (S) is controlled by the comparator signal (S).

Optical driver arrangement and method for generating a driver signal

A control system for a gesture sensing arrangement with at least one sensor operates the sensor in a proximity mode. The control system receives data sets generated by the sensor and based on these data sets determines whether an object is present in a vicinity of the sensor. When an object is detected in the vicinity the control system operates the sensor in a gesture mode. Based on further data generated by the sensor the control system determines an end of a gesture, and operates the sensor in the proximity mode.

Control system for a gesture sensing arrangement and method for controlling a gesture sensing arrangement

A circuit arrangement comprises a first terminal for connection to a voltage source, a second terminal for connection to a first current sink and a third terminal for supplying a potential signal. A first diode string can be connected to the voltage source on the anode side and to the first current sink on the cathode side. The third terminal can be coupled to the cathode side of the first diode string by a resistor. An adjustable reference current sink is coupled to the third terminal, for generating a reference current, and comparison unit coupled to the third terminal on the input side for providing a short-circuit detection signal in dependence on a difference between the potential signal and an adjustable reference voltage. The potential signal can be supplied in dependence on a first short-circuit voltage across the first diode string and in dependence on the reference current.

Circuit arrangement for short-circuit detection in diodes, lighting arrangement and method therefor

An optical sensor arrangement () comprises a light sensor () that is connected to a summation node () and is designed for generating a sensor current (S), a current source (S) connected to the summation node () and designed to provide a source current (S), and an integrator () that is coupled to the summation node () and is designed for generating a first value (VP) of an integrator signal (S) by integrating during a first phase (P) and for generating a second value (VP) of the integrator signal (S) by integrating during a second phase (P). The optical sensor arrangement () comprises a sum and hold circuit () that is coupled to the integrator () and is designed to generate an analog output signal (S) as a function of a difference of the first value (VP) and the second value (VP) of the integrator signal (S).

Optical sensor arrangement and method for generating an analog output signal

A signal transformation arrangement comprises a first input tap () to receive a first input signal (IN_P), a first output terminal () to provide a first output signal (OUT_P) and a first coupling circuit () which couples the first input tap () to a first energy storing device () depending on a first clock signal (CLK) and which couples the first energy storing device () to the first output terminal () depending on a first inverted clock signal (XCLK). The signal transformation arrangement further comprises a second coupling circuit () which couples the first input tap () to a second energy storing device () depending on a second clock signal (CLK) and which couples the second energy storing device () to the first output terminal () depending on a second inverted clock signal (XCLK).

Signal transformation arrangement and method for signal transformation

The oscillator arrangement () comprises a differential amplifier () and also a first and a second terminal (). The first terminal () of the oscillator arrangement () can be coupled via a quartz resonator () to the second terminal () of the oscillator arrangement () and via a first capacitor () to a reference voltage terminal (). The second terminal () of the oscillator arrangement () can be coupled via a second capacitor () to the reference voltage terminal (). The differential amplifier () is connected at a first input () to the first terminal () of the oscillator arrangement () and at an output () to the second terminal () of the oscillator arrangement (). The second input () of the differential amplifier () is connected via a direct voltage source () to the reference voltage terminal ().

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Graz, Austria

Josef Kriebernegg