Touch-enabled field sequential color display using in-cell light sensors

An apparatus comprising:

• a field sequential color (FSC) display, having a display front surface including a viewing area, and including:
• a transparent substrate;
• a display lighting system;
• at least one light sensor;
• a plurality of light modulators for spatial light modulation, wherein:
• each light modulator includes a shutter assembly configured as a micro electromechanical (MEM) device disposed proximate to a rear surface of the transparent substrate;
• each light modulator is configured to be switched between an open position that permits transmittance of light from the display lighting system through a respective aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light transmission through the respective aperture;
• the transparent substrate is disposed substantially parallel to the front surface and between the display backlight system and the front surface;
• the transparent substrate is configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system toward the display front surface and to receive light reflected through the display front surface from an object;
• the at least one light sensor is disposed within the viewing area and proximate to the rear surface of the transparent substrate;
• the light modulators are switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an image;
• the light sensor is configured to output, to the processor, a signal representative of a characteristic of the received, redirected light;
• and
• means for switching the light modulators in accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image, and for recognizing, from the output of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object.

A method comprising:

• switching, with a processor, one or more of a plurality of light modulators for spatial light modulation, wherein:
• a field sequential color (FSC) display, has a display front surface including a viewing area, the FSC display including:
• a transparent substrate;
• a display lighting system;
• at least one light sensor;
• and
• the plurality of light modulators;
• each light modulator includes a shutter assembly configured as a micro electromechanical (MEM) device disposed proximate to a rear surface of the transparent substrate;
• each light modulator is configured to be switched between an open position that permits transmittance of light from the display lighting system through a respective aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light transmission through the respective aperture;
• the transparent substrate is disposed substantially parallel to the front surface and between the display backlight system and the front surface;
• the light modulators are switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an image, and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image;
• the transparent substrate is configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system toward the display front surface and to receive light reflected through the display front surface from an object;
• and
• the at least one light sensor is disposed within the viewing area and proximate to the rear surface of the transparent substrate;
• outputting, from the light sensor to the processor, a signal representative of a characteristic of the received, redirected light;
• switching the light modulators in accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image, and
• recognizing, with the processor, from the output of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object.