Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a Apple’s patent application concerning a new one under-display technology which uses the optical fibers to better capture fingerprint data. This technology also allows devices to communicate better with each other. Let’s find out all the details together.
The new technology under the Apple display
Instead of using optical emitters below the display to capture biometric data and more, Apple’s invention covers the use of fiber optics behind the displays. According to the company, they could capture data a much higher speed and accuracy.
The invention also notes that the use of optical fibers could be used for better transmit data between devices.
Apple states in its patent background that, in some cases, it may be desirable to determine whether an object or user is close to a device, determine the distance between an object or user and a device, or determine a speed or acceleration of a device. object or user with respect to a device.
It may also be desirable capture a two-dimensional image (2D) o three-dimensional (3D) of an object or user who is close to a device. In some cases, the 2D or 3D image can be an image of a fingerprint, a face or a scene in a field of view (FoV).
In some cases, however, it can be useful for transmit The receive wireless information between devices. It can also be useful for acquire images The data relating to the environment of a device. In all these cases, measurements, images or other data can be detected The acquired optically.
Optical emission or reception adjacent to the display using optical fibers
Apple’s invention relates to systems, devices, methods and apparatuses directed at optical sensing using optical fibers The optical fiber bundles and, in particular, al optical detection near the display.
Apple notes that electronic devices often include optoelectronic components to provide illumination, detect the proximity of an object, capture an image, and so on. In contrast to many solutions available on the market, the techniques described in Apple’s patent application are different. These use optical fibers or optical fiber bundles to direct electromagnetic radiation between a optoelectronic component positioned below, partially below, or adjacent to a display, a zone of a optically transmissive component or surface.
The area of the optically transmissive component or surface can be adjacent to the exposure or close to an exposure perimeter. Electromagnetic radiation can be detected in a similar way.
The electromagnetic radiation emitted and detected adjacent to a display, using one or more optical fibers, can be much less attenuated than electromagnetic radiation emitted or detected through a display.
The Apple FIG patent. 1A that you can see above is the front side of an iPhone. In some cases, the # 112 front camera and / or other iPhone sensors may be positioned below, partially below, The adjacent to the display # 104, and the electromagnetic radiation emitted and / or received by the sensor can be routed through an opening (or passages) adjacent to the display.
An optical emitter, detector or transceiver under the display can also be configured such as a proximity sensor, 2D or 3D camera, or other optical tracking system.
The iPhone can also include various input devices, including a virtual button # 118 or other sensors integrated with a stack of displays positioned below the display. In the Apple patent FIG. 2D we can see a # 242 optical fiber, or a # 244 optical fiber bundle which includes the optical fiber.