Apple inc. (20240159884). Optical Crosstalk Compensation for Optical Sensors simplified abstract

Optical Crosstalk Compensation for Optical Sensors

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Dianbo Guo of San Jose CA (US)

Mengshu Huang of Cupertino CA (US)

Optical Crosstalk Compensation for Optical Sensors - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240159884 titled 'Optical Crosstalk Compensation for Optical Sensors

Simplified Explanation

An optical sensor module described in a patent application includes a housing, an optical emitter, a photodetector, a sensor circuit, and an optical crosstalk compensation circuit. The optical emitter emits electromagnetic radiation towards and through the housing, while the photodetector provides a photocurrent to an output node. The sensor circuit generates a sensor output based on the photocurrent, and the optical crosstalk compensation circuit injects a bias current into the output node or the sensor circuit.

• Optical sensor module components:

   - Housing
   - Optical emitter
   - Photodetector
   - Sensor circuit
   - Optical crosstalk compensation circuit

• Functionality:

   - Emitter emits radiation through housing
   - Photodetector detects radiation from intended and unintended targets
   - Sensor circuit processes photodetector output
   - Crosstalk compensation circuit corrects for interference

• Potential applications of this technology:

   - Object detection
   - Proximity sensing
   - Gesture recognition

• Problems solved by this technology:

   - Minimizing optical crosstalk
   - Improving accuracy of sensor readings

• Benefits of this technology:

   - Enhanced sensor performance
   - Increased reliability in various applications

• Potential commercial applications of this technology:

   - Automotive safety systems
   - Industrial automation
   - Consumer electronics

• Possible prior art:

   - Similar optical sensor modules with crosstalk compensation circuits
   - Photodetector systems for target detection

1. Unanswered Questions

1. 1. How does the optical crosstalk compensation circuit work?

The abstract mentions that the optical crosstalk compensation circuit injects a bias current, but it does not provide details on the specific mechanism or algorithm used for compensation.

1. 1. What is the size and form factor of the optical sensor module?

The abstract does not mention the physical dimensions or design considerations of the sensor module, which could be crucial for integration into different devices or systems.

Original Abstract Submitted

an optical sensor module includes a housing, an optical emitter, a photodetector, a sensor circuit, and an optical crosstalk compensation circuit. the optical emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward and through the housing. the photodetector is configured to provide a photocurrent to an output node. the photocurrent is responsive to a receipt of first portions of the electromagnetic radiation redirected by an intended target and received through the housing, and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation redirected by an unintended target or received directly from the optical emitter. the sensor circuit is connected to the output node and configured to generate a sensor output. the optical crosstalk compensation circuit is configured to inject a bias current into the output node or the sensor circuit.