Apple Inc.

Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd

Richard A Ruh

Prashanth S Holenarsipur

Anant Rai

Serhan O Isikman

Colin M Ely

Milind S Bhagavat

Maegan K Spencer

Robert E Wilson

David Glen Havskjold

Brenton Arthur Baugh

Robert H Yi

James Howard Williams

Jairam Manjunathaiah

Paisith P Boonsom

William N Pickeral

Steven Porter Hotelling

Brian Richards Land

Richard P Howarth

Tang Yew Tan

Richard Hung Minh Dinh

Daniel William Jarvis

Benjamin J Pope

Kelvin Kwong

Ueyn L Block

Alex M Lee

Guocheng Shao

Joel S Armstrong-Muntner

James Joseph Dudley

Xingxing Cai

Stephen N Sweet

Matt Waldon

Akio Yamakawa

Takahiro Atsuta

Yoshimitsu Ohara

Richard Hung-Minh Dinh

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical encoder for an electronic device. The optical encoder includes a spindle and an encoded pattern disposed around a circumference of the spindle. The encoded pattern may include one or more surface features that create a direction-dependent reflective region.

Optical encoder with direction-dependent optical properties comprising a spindle having an array of surface features defining a concave contour along a first direction and a convex contour along a second direction

Watch with rotatable optical encoder having a spindle defining an array of alternating regions extending along an axial direction parallel to the axis of a shaft

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices and methods for sensor signal collection. The electronic devices may include retroreflectors for redirecting scattered light back to the photodetector. The retroreflectors may be positioned at various locations on or in the electronic device, and may employ various geometric elements having retroreflective capability.

Enhanced sensor signal collection and reflection of reflected and/or scattered light

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical encoder for an electronic device. The optical encoder comprises an elongated shaft and a plurality of markings axially disposed around a circumference of the elongated shaft. The optical encoder also includes an optical sensor. In embodiments, the optical sensor includes an emitter and an array of photodiodes. The emitter and the array of photodiodes may be radially aligned with respect to the elongated shaft or axially aligned with respect to the shaft.

Optical encoder with axially aligned sensor

An electronic device is disclosed. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a housing and an input mechanism cooperatively engaged with the housing and configured to rotate in a first direction about a rotation axis. In some examples, the electronic device comprises an input sensor configured to sense an input at the input mechanism based on rotation of the input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises an actuator coupled to the housing and configured to displace the input mechanism. In some examples, the electronic device comprises a force sensor coupled to the input mechanism and configured to sense an input at the input mechanism based on a force applied to the input mechanism along the second axis.

Input mechanism with force and rotation inputs and haptic feedback

In some examples, the apparatus comprises a mechanical input mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, an optical sensor configured to detect a rotation of the shaft and detect a movement of the shaft toward or away from the optical sensor, and an optical sensor configured to detect light incident on the optical sensor, the light having a position and an orientation, the orientation of the light based on at least a position of the rotatable shaft, detect a rotation of the shaft, and detect a movement of the shaft based on at least a change in the orientation of the light. In some examples, a mechanical input mechanism is coupled to a housing and configured to contact a force sensor coupled to the housing in response to a user input. In some examples, the force sensor is configured to detect a position of the shaft and detect an amount of force between the shaft and the force sensor.

Crown with three-dimensional input

An optical encoder having diffuser members, and methods for detecting the rotational movement of the cylinder of the optical encoder are disclosed. The optical encoder may include a rotatable cylinder configured to reflect light. The rotatable cylinder may include an encoding pattern of alternating reflective stripes having distinct light-reflective properties. The optical encoder may also include a light source positioned adjacent the rotatable cylinder, and an array of optical sensors positioned adjacent the rotatable cylinder. The array of optical sensors may receive the reflected light from the rotatable cylinder. The optical encoder may include a diffuser member positioned on the rotatable cylinder, the light source, and the array of optical sensors.

Optical encoder including diffuser members

Optical encoder with direction-dependent optical properties having an optically anisotropic region to produce a first and a second light distribution

In some examples, an optical encoder may consist of a light source that shines light onto a wheel which then reflects the light onto a sensor. Using information encoded in the reflected light, the rotation of the wheel may be determined. In some examples, rotation of the wheel may be determined by detecting an encoding pattern in light reflected from an exterior surface of the wheel. In some examples, the encoding pattern can be a pattern of light and dark stripes. In some examples, a pattern of light stripes can be generated from light reflecting off of reflective portions of the wheel. Some examples of the disclosure relate to using a surface topology for a wheel that can be used to generate an encoding pattern of light and dark stripes in light reflected from the surface of the wheel, even when the surface of the wheel is uniformly reflective.

Optical encoder based on light-steering based contrast generation from a first plurality of primary convex mirror sections and a second plurality of secondary mirror sections

A proximity sensor may be mounted below a display cover layer in an electronic device. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits light and a detector configured to detect reflections of the emitted light from nearby external objects. The light emitted from the light source may pass through a lens along an axis towards external objects. The light source and the detector may be mounted in a proximity sensor housing having openings that are aligned with the light source and the detector. A reflector may be mounted to the proximity sensor in a configuration that bridges the opening over the light source. The reflector may be formed from a strip of metal or a strip of prism structures. Some of the light from the light source reflects from the reflector at a non-zero angle with respect to the axis and enhances proximity sensor performance.

Proximity sensor module with light reflector

An electronic device display may have a display cover layer. The cover layer may have a border that has an opaque masking material with an opening defining a light window for an ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor may have a photodetector mounted in a light sensor housing. A molded clear plastic light diffuser may be used to diffuse light for the ambient light sensor that is passing through the light window. The light diffuser may reduce directionality in the ambient light sensor. The light diffuser may have an array of molded protrusions such as flat-topped cones. Alignment features may be formed in the light sensor housing and the light diffuser. Clips and other molded structures for attaching the light sensor to a mounting bracket or other structures may be molded into the light diffuser and light sensor housing.

Electronic device having light sensor package with diffuser for reduced light sensor directionality

A portable electronic device including a proximity sensing device having an emitter and a detector. The electronic device further including a housing for containing the proximity sensing device which includes an optical interface forming a face of the housing through which radiation between the emitter and the detector pass. The optical interface may include an oleophobic coating which is selectively modified such that optical interference from an optical interface near-field object on the proximity sensing device is reduced without reducing a sensitivity of the proximity sensing device to a target near-field object.

Optical proximity sensor system having reduced sensitivity to distinct near-field optical effects

A proximity sensor may be mounted below a display cover layer in an electronic device. The proximity sensor may have a light source that emits light and a detector configured to detect reflections of the emitted light from nearby external objects. Optical structures may be interposed between the proximity sensor and the window in the display cover layer. The optical structures may include a first portion such as a convex lens that is configured to collimate light from the light source so that the light propagates along a surface normal to the display cover layer. The optical structures may also include a second portion such as a prism structure for deflecting uncollimated light away from the propagation axis of the collimated light.

Proximity sensor with asymmetric optical element

A proximity and light sensing device including a radiation emitter for proximity sensing positioned on a substrate. The device further includes a radiation detector positioned on the substrate, the radiation detector configured to detect radiation from the emitter. An ambient light detector is also positioned on the substrate and around the radiation emitter so as to form a border around the radiation emitter and detect off-axis ambient light rays.

Proximity sensor with combined light sensor having an increased viewing angle

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Monte Soreno, CA, United States of America

Richard A Ruh