Optical sensors disposed beneath the display of an electronic device

Abstract

Various embodiments concern sensors and other components that can be disposed beneath a variable transparency layer of a mobile device. By modifying how much voltage is applied to the variable transparency layer, a component, such as a camera, can be readily hidden when not in use. More specifically, the variable transparency layer may be substantially opaque when the camera is not in use and at least partially transparent when the camera is in use and ready to capture an image. The opacity level of the variable transparency layer can be modified by a voltage source that is electrically coupled to the variable transparency layer. The various levels of opacity could also enable the variable transparency layer to act as an electronic aperture for the camera.

1 . A method of modifying the transparency of a variable transparency layer disposed directly above a camera in an electronic user device, the method comprising:
 providing an electronic user device that includes
 a protective substrate, 
 a display assembly located below a first portion of the protective substrate, 
 a processor coupled to the display assembly; 
 a voltage source; 
 a variable transparency layer located below a second portion of the protective substrate, 
 wherein the variable transparency layer is electrically coupled to the voltage source, and 
 wherein opacity level of the variable transparency layer varies in response to a voltage being applied to the variable transparency layer by the voltage source, and 
 a camera disposed directly beneath the variable transparency layer; 
   enabling a user to initiate an application program executed by the processor;   determining whether the user initiated the application program;   in response to said determining,
 causing the voltage source to continually apply a first voltage to the variable transparency layer, wherein application of the first voltage causes the variable transparency layer to become more transparent; 
   receiving an input indicative of a user selection of a camera setting made via the application program;   in response to said receiving,
 causing the voltage source to reduce the first voltage to the variable transparency layer, wherein reduction of the first voltage causes the variable transparency layer to become less transparent; 
   capturing an image using the camera in response to receiving user input at the application program; and   storing the image in a memory that is accessible to the electronic user device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is housed within the electronic user device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is accessible to the electronic user device via a connection across a network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the camera setting is associated with a total range or contrast of the captured image. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the variable transparency layer includes
 a first conductor layer,   a polymer layer below the first conductor layer, wherein liquid crystal droplets are dispersed throughout the polymer layer, and   a second conductor layer,   wherein the first and second conductor layers are electrically coupled to the voltage source.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said causing the voltage source to continually apply the first voltage to the variable transparency layer comprises:
 causing said voltage source to continually apply the first voltage to the first and second conductor layers,   wherein continual application of the first voltage causes the liquid crystal droplets dispersed throughout the polymer layer to become aligned, which causes the variable transparency layer to become more transparent.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 causing the voltage source to cease applying the first voltage, wherein ceasing application of the first voltage causes the liquid crystal droplets to become unaligned, which causes the variable transparency layer to become less transparent.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input is a first input and the variable transparency layer is a first variable transparency layer, the method further comprising:
 receiving a second input made via the application program; and   in response to receiving the second input,
 causing the voltage source to apply a second voltage to a second variable transparency layer, wherein application of the second voltage causes the second variable transparency layer to become more transparent. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second input is a user selection indicative of environmental information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a light emitting diode is disposed directly beneath the second variable transparency layer, the method further comprising:
 causing the light emitting diode to emit light.   
     
     
         11 . An electronic user device comprising:
 a protective substrate disposed within a housing;   a display assembly located below a first portion of the protective substrate;   a processor coupled to the display assembly;   a voltage source;   a variable transparency layer located below a second portion of the protective substrate,
 wherein the variable transparency layer is electrically coupled to the voltage source, and 
 wherein opacity level of the variable transparency layer decreases from substantially opaque to transparent in response to a voltage being applied to the variable transparency layer by the voltage source; and 
   a camera disposed in the housing directly beneath the variable transparency layer.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic user device of  claim 11 , wherein the variable transparency segment layer is substantially opaque when the camera is not in use. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic user device of  claim 11 , wherein the variable transparency layer includes:
 a first conductor layer,   a polymer layer below the first conductor layer, wherein liquid crystal droplets are dispersed throughout the polymer layer, and   a second conductor layer,   wherein the first and second conductor layers are electrically coupled to the voltage source.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic user device of  claim 13 , wherein continual application of the voltage causes the liquid crystal droplets dispersed throughout the polymer layer to become aligned. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic user device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a sensor disposed directly beneath the variable transparency layer,   wherein the processor is configured to adjust the voltage being applied to the variable transparency layer based on information from the sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic user device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is an ambient light sensor, and the information is indicative of an ambient light level. 
     
     
         17 . An electronic user device comprising:
 a protective substrate disposed within a housing;   a display assembly located below a first portion of the protective substrate;   a processor coupled to the display assembly;   a voltage source;   a variable transparency layer integrated into a second portion of the protective substrate,
 wherein the variable transparency layer is electrically coupled to the voltage source, and 
 wherein an opacity level of the variable transparency layer varies in response to a voltage being applied to the variable transparency layer by the voltage source; and 
   a camera disposed in the housing directly beneath the variable transparency layer.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic user device of  claim 17 , wherein the variable transparency layer includes:
 a first conductor layer,   a polymer layer below the first conductor layer, wherein liquid crystal droplets are dispersed throughout the polymer layer, and   a second conductor layer,   wherein the first and second conductor layers are electrically coupled to the voltage source,   wherein simultaneous application of the voltage to the first and second conductor layers causes the liquid crystal droplets dispersed throughout the polymer layer to become aligned, which causes the variable transparency layer to become more transparent.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic user device of  claim 17 , wherein the variable transparency layer includes
 a first conducting oxide layer,   an electrochromic layer below the first conducting oxide layer,   an electrolyte layer below the electrochromic layer,   an ion storage layer below the electrolyte layer, and   a second conducting oxide layer below the ion storage layer,   wherein the first and second conducting oxide layers are electrically coupled to the voltage source,   wherein application of the voltage to the first conducting oxide layer causes ions to be transferred from the ion storage layer to the electrochromic layer, which causes the variable transparency layer to become more opaque, and   wherein application of the voltage to the second conducting oxide layer causes ions to be transferred from the electrochromic layer to the ion storage layer, which causes the variable transparency layer to become more transparent.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic user device of  claim 17 , wherein the protective substrate is glass, plastic, or crystallized aluminum oxide.