# US 10,119,666 B2 · Display backlighting using ambient light

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- Number: US 10,119,666 B2
- Document ID: US10119666B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/146,160
- Filed: 2016-05-04
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-04
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Applicants: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Andrew Keates
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119666B2

## CPC

- F21S 11/002: {characterised by the means for collecting or concentrating the sunlight, e.g. parabolic reflectors or Fresnel lenses}
- F21V 7/0033: {with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following}
- F21V 7/06: with parabolic curvature
- F21V 14/04: by movement of reflectors {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675)}
- G02B 19/0019: {having reflective surfaces only (e.g. louvre systems, systems with multiple planar reflectors)}
- G02B 19/0038: {for use with ambient light (G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence)}
- G02B 26/0833: {the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B)}
- G02B 27/425: {in illumination systems (mask illumination systems in photolithographic systems G03F7/70158)}
- G02B 6/0001: {specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00)}
- G02F 1/133618: {for ambient light}
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

An example optical device for backlighting includes a receiver disposed in a mobile device to receive ambient light. The optical device also includes a concentrator to concentrate the received ambient light received through the receiver. The optical device further includes a channeler to direct the ambient light beneath a surface of the mobile device to a digital display of the mobile device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical device for backlighting, comprising:
a receiver disposed in a mobile device to receive ambient light;
a concentrator to concentrate the received ambient light received through the receiver, wherein the concentrator comprises a first parabolic mirror to reflect the ambient light to a second parabolic mirror, wherein the second parabolic mirror is to reflect the light back through a slot in the first parabolic mirror; and
a channeler to direct the ambient light beneath a surface of the mobile device to a digital display of the mobile device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a portion of the surface of the mobile device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the channeler comprises a diffraction film beneath the display.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the channeler comprises a tilted mirror between two reflective surfaces under the display.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, wherein the channeler comprises a stepped mirror between two reflective surfaces under the display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors to switch between the ambient light and an electrical backlight.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors at the receiver to adjust angles to create a reflex angle between the MEMS mirrors and the ambient light.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical device of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser to allow light to enter a display and prevent light from escaping the display.

### Claim 9

A method for backlighting digital displays, comprising:
detecting a reflex angle at an optical device;
enabling reflex backlighting to illuminate a display of a mobile device using ambient light received via a receiver of the optical device based on the detected reflex angle; and
concentrating, via a concentrator, the ambient light received via the receiver, wherein the concentrator comprises a first parabolic mirror to reflect the ambient light to a second parabolic mirror, wherein the second parabolic mirror is angled to reflect light back through a space between the first parabolic mirror and a neighboring third parabolic mirror.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
detecting a departure from the reflex angle; and
disabling the reflex backlighting based on the detected departure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the reflex backlighting is further enabled or disabled based on a comparison of ambient light with an electronic backlight.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the reflex angle comprises an angle within a predetermined threshold range of angles with respect to a vertical axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the reflex angle is based on a source of light.

### Claim 14

At least one computer readable medium for backlighting a display using ambient light having instructions stored therein that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to:
detect a reflex angle at an optical device;
enable a reflex backlight to illuminate a display of a mobile device using ambient light received via a receiver of the optical device in response to detecting the reflex angle; and
concentrate, via a concentrator, the ambient light received via the receiver, wherein the concentrator comprises a first parabolic mirror to reflect the ambient light to a second parabolic mirror, and wherein the second parabolic mirror is to reflect the light back through a slot in the first parabolic mirror.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions to:
detect a departure from the reflex angle; and
disable a reflex backlight in response to detecting the departure from the reflex angle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions to enable a reflex backlight based on a detected intensity of ambient light as compared to a threshold electronic backlight intensity.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions to switch between an electronic backlight and a reflex backlight based on a detected ambient light intensity.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, comprising instructions to reduce an intensity of an electronic backlight based on a detected ambient light intensity.