# US 11,907,479 B2 · Electronic device and method for operating proximity sensor included in electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,479 B2 - Document ID: US11907479B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/961,111 - Filed: 2022-10-06 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-08 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hyeongsoon Park; Jeonggyu Jo; Hyunwoo Sim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907479B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0421: {by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen} - H03K 17/941: {using an optical detector (H03K17/968 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display} - H10D 30/6758: {characterised by the insulating substrates} - H03K 2217/94108: making use of reflection - H03K 2217/94116: increasing reliability, fail-safe - H10D 30/6731: {Top-gate only TFTs} - H10D 30/6745: {Polycrystalline or microcrystalline silicon} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES ## Abstract An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display including a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs), a proximity sensor disposed under the display and including a plurality of light emitting units, and at least one processor operatively coupled to the display and the proximity sensor. The light generated from the proximity sensor may have a lower energy than the work function of silicon included in the plurality of TFTs of the display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a display including multiple thin film transistors (TFTs) and multiple scan lines arranged in a first direction; a proximity sensor disposed under the display and including multiple light emitters arranged in the first direction; and at least one processor operatively connected to the display and the proximity sensor, wherein light generated by the proximity sensor has an energy lower than a work function of silicon included in the multiple TFTs of the display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein light generated by the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor has an energy lower than a work function of silicon included in the multiple TFTs of the display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the proximity sensor to allow the proximity sensor to generate light in a state where at least a partial area of the display, which the proximity sensor faces, is turned off. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is configured to, in case that at least a partial area of the display, which the proximity sensor faces, is turned off, control the proximity sensor to allow light to be generated by a light emitter, among the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor, which faces the turned-off area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor are arranged in a line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the multiple scan lines of the display are connected to gate electrodes included in the respective multiple TFTs, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate at least one of the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor in conjunction with an operation of the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to operate at least one of the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor in conjunction with electrical signals applied to the multiple scan lines of the display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor comprise a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a third light emitter, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to: in case that at least a partial area of the display, which faces the first light emitter, is turned off according to electrical signals applied to the multiple scan lines of the display, control the first light emitter to generate light, in case that at least a partial area of the display, which faces the second light emitter, is turned off, control the second light emitter to generate light, and in case that at least a partial area of the display, which faces the third light emitter, is turned off, control the third light emitter to generate light. ### Claim 10 A method for operating a proximity sensor included in an electronic device having a display comprising multiple scan lines arranged in a first direction, the method comprising: disposing the proximity sensor under a display of the electronic device, wherein the proximity sensor comprises multiple light emitters arranged in the first direction; and operating the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor in a state where at least a partial area of the display, which faces the proximity sensor, is turned off. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein light generated by the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor has an energy lower than a work function of silicon of a TFT included in the display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor operates in conjunction with an operation of the display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor operates in conjunction with electrical signals applied to multiple scan lines of the display. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the multiple light emitters of the proximity sensor comprise a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a third light emitter, wherein the first light emitter generates light in case that at least a partial area of the display, which faces the first light emitter, is turned off according to electrical signals applied to multiple scan lines of the display, wherein the second light emitter generates light in case that at least a partial area of the display, which faces the second light emitter, is turned off, and wherein the third light emitter generates light in case that at least a partial area of the display, which faces the third light emitter, is turned off.