Optical Sensor Subsystem Adjacent a Cover of an Electronic Device Housing

Abstract

A watch having a cover is described. An optical sensor subsystem is attached adjacent to or directly on an interior surface of the cover. In some cases, the optical sensor subsystem includes a substrate to which a light emitter and a light receiver are attached. The light receiver is configured to receive light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from the skin of a person that wears the watch. In some cases, the light emitter and light receiver are separated by a light-blocking wall that abuts the interior surface of the cover. In some cases, a light filter is attached adjacent or directly on the interior surface of the cover, between the cover and the light receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic watch, comprising:
 a housing;   a cover attached to the housing;   a substrate;   a set of light emitters adjacent a central portion of the cover and configured to emit light through the cover;   a set of light receivers substantially surrounding the set of light emitters and positioned to receive a reflected portion of the light through the cover; and   a set of light-blocking walls attaching the substrate to the cover;   a lens attached to the cover and positioned between the set of light emitters and the cover;   a light filter attached to the surface of the cover and positioned between at least one of the light receivers and the cover;   a magnet attached to the substrate; and   a processor configured to determine a biological parameter using the reflected portion of the light.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adhesive attaching the set of light-blocking walls to the surface of the cover;   an ink mask on the cover and defining:
 a central aperture; and 
 a set of apertures around the central aperture; 
   a first electrode on the cover and exterior to the watch body;   a second electrode on the cover and exterior to the watch body; wherein:
 the biological parameter is a heart rate; 
 the central aperture and the set of apertures are positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; 
 the set of light emitters comprises:
 a first set of light emitters configured to emit light having a first wavelength; and 
 a second set of light emitters configured to emit light having a second wavelength; 
 
 the set of light emitters and set of light receivers are attached to the substrate and attached to the surface of the cover by the set of light-blocking walls; 
 the lens is aligned with the central aperture; 
 the light filter comprises a light control film covering each of the set of apertures; 
 one of the set of light-blocking walls is positioned around the set of light emitters, and between the set of light emitters and the set of light receivers; and 
 the one of the set of light-blocking walls prevents at least one of the set of light receivers from receiving a non-reflected portion of the light. 
   
     
     
         3 . The electronic watch of  claim 2 , wherein a second of the set of light-blocking walls is positioned around the set of light receivers. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board attached to the substrate and defining a hole; wherein the magnet is positioned in the hole. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic shield attached to the magnet and configured to direct magnetic flux associated with the magnet through the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display at least partially within the housing; and   a crown extending through the housing and configured to provide an input; wherein:   the biological parameter is a heart rate; and   the display is configured to display a graphic of the heart rate in response to the input.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive attaching at least one of the set of light-blocking walls to the surface of the cover. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a crown extending through the housing; and   a display at least partially positioned in the housing; wherein:   the crown is configured to rotate and translate;   the display shows a graphic; and   the display is configured to change the graphic in response to at least one of the crown rotating or translating.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic watch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a crown extending through the housing and configured to provide an input; wherein   the set of light emitter is configured to emit the light through the cover in response to the input.   
     
     
         10 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a cover attached to the housing and defining:
 a first surface interior to the electronic device; and 
 a second surface exterior to the electronic device; 
   an optical sensor subsystem attached to the first surface of the cover and comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a light emitter attached to the substrate; 
 a light receiver attached to the substrate and configured to receive light emitted by the light emitter and reflected from a medium adjacent the second surface of the cover; and 
   a processor operationally connected to the light receiver and configured to determine a heart rate from the light received by the light receiver.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising a crown configured to rotate and translate; wherein the processor is configured to determine the heart rate in response to at least one of the crown rotating or translating. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the optical sensor subsystem further comprises a set of walls; and   the electronic device further comprises an adhesive that bonds the set of walls to the first surface of the cover.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the light receiver is one of a set of light receivers; and   the set of light receivers is attached to the substrate around the light emitter.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first light-blocking wall positioned around the light emitter; and   a second light-blocking wall positioned around the set of light receivers; wherein   the first light-blocking wall and the second light-blocking wall are attached to the substrate and the cover.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the optical sensor subsystem comprises:
 a set of light emitters including the light emitter; and   a set of light receivers including the light receiver; wherein   the light emitter is configured to emit light having a first wavelength;   a second light emitter of the set of light emitters is configured to emit light having a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength; and   the set of light receivers is attached to the substrate around the set of light emitters.   
     
     
         16 . A wearable electronic device, comprising:
 a housing including a cover, the cover comprising:
 a first surface interior to the wearable electronic device; and 
 a second surface exterior to the wearable electronic device; 
   a first electrode and a second electrode on the second surface of the cover;   an ink mask on the cover, the ink mask defining a first aperture and a second aperture that are each located between the first electrode and the second electrode;   a lens on the first surface of the cover and aligned with the first aperture; and   a light filter on the first surface of the cover and aligned with the second aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a light emitter attached to, and positioned within, the housing and aligned with the first aperture;   a light receiver attached to, and positioned within, the housing and aligned with the second aperture; and   a light-blocking wall abutting the first surface of the cover and positioned between the light emitter and the light receiver, the light-blocking wall positioned under the ink mask.   
     
     
         18 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a set of apertures including the second aperture; and   a set of light receivers including the light receiver, the set of light receivers aligned with the set of apertures;   wherein the light filter is positioned to cover each of the set of apertures.   
     
     
         19 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the set of apertures is positioned around the first aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the light filter comprises at least one of: a light control film, a light polarizer, an anti-reflective film, a reflective film, or a light absorber.