Patent Description:
To increase a screen-to-body ratio of an electronic device such as a mobile phone, the size of a non-display area of a front surface of the electronic device is usually reduced, and a light-transmissible hole cooperating with a photosensor is defined in the non-display area or a light-transmissible area matching the size of the photosensor is arranged on a screen.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device which comprises a housing comprising a substrate and a circumferential wall extending rearwardly from the edge of the substrate, wherein the substrate and the circumferential wall are enclosed with an accommodation space together, and the circumferential wall is provided with a light-through hole communicating with the accommodation space, a touch display screen covered on the front side of the substrate and a proximity sensor arranged in the accommodation space, the proximity sensor comprising an infrared emitter for emitting infrared light to a front side of the substrate through a light-through hole and an infrared receiver for receiving infrared light emitted from the infrared emitter and reflected back through an external object. In an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application, a proximity sensor emits infrared light to a front side of a substrate through a light-through hole located in a surrounding wall, and receives infrared light reflected by an object. The proximity sensor is covered by a touch display screen, does not occupy the front space of the substrate, avoids interference between the proximity sensor and the touch display screen, and improves the screen occupancy of the electronic device.

<CIT> discloses an electronic device and an input and output module. The input and output module comprise a packaging shell, a structural light projector, a first infrared light source, a second infrared light source arranged around the first infrared light source, a proximity sensor and a light sensor; wherein the packaging shell comprises a package substrate, and the structural light projector, the first infrared light source, the second infrared light source, the proximity sensor and the light sensor are packaged in the packaging shell and loaded on the package substrate; when the second infrared light source is turned off, and the first infrared light source emits an infrared ray to the outside of the packaging shell with a first power, the input and output module is used for infrared distance measurement; when both the first infrared light source and the second infrared light source are turned on and emit infrared rays to the outside of the packaging shell with a second power, the input and output module is used for infrared light supplement; the proximity sensor is used for receiving infrared rays reflected by objects to detect the distance of the objects; and the light sensor is used for receiving visible light in ambient light and detecting the intensity of the visible light. The integration of the input and output module is high and the volume is small. SUMMARY The present invention is defined in the independent claim <NUM> and the preferable features according to the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic device, including: a device body, a screen, and a photo-sensing module. The screen is mounted on a front side of the device body. The photo-sensing module includes a light emitter and a light receiver, the light emitter is obliquely arranged relative to the screen, and a direction of an emitted light from the light emitter is tilted towards the side with the screen relative to the device body.

In the embodiments, the emitted light from the light emitter is emitted from a preset side surface of the device body and tilted towards the side with the screen.

In the embodiments, the electronic device further includes a light guide member, the light guide member has a first refracting surface corresponding to a position of the light emitter and a second refracting surface corresponding to the preset side surface, such that the emitted light enters the light guide member through the first refracting surface and exits out through the second refracting surface in a manner of a refracted light, and an angle between the refracted light and the preset side surface is less than an angle between the emitted light and the preset side surface.

In some embodiments, the light guide member includes a triangular prism.

In the embodiments, the electronic device further includes a light absorber, the light guide member includes a light-leakage surface except the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface, and the light absorber is fitted with the light-leakage surface.

In the embodiments, the light guide member is arranged between the photo-sensing module and the preset side surface, and the light absorber is arranged on an inner side wall of the device body corresponding to the light-leakage surface.

In some embodiments, the light absorber is a black coating or a black member arranged on the inner side wall of the device body.

In some embodiments, an angle between the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface is an acute angle, such that the angle between the refracted light and the preset side surface is less that the angle between the emitted light and the preset side surface.

In some embodiments, the preset side surface is a top side surface of the device body.

In some embodiments, the preset side surface is provided with a light-transmitting area, and the light-transmitting area includes an aperture structure or a structure having a light-transmitting material.

In some embodiments, the light receiver is obliquely arranged relative to the screen, in order to receive a receiving light reflected by an obstacle when the emitted light encounters the obstacle.

In some embodiments, the photo-sensing module further includes a barrier wall, and the barrier wall is arranged between the light emitter and the light receiver.

In some embodiments, the light emitter includes a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).

In some embodiments, the light receiver includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD).

In some embodiments, the photo-sensing module further includes a photosensitive chip, and the light emitter and the light receiver are electrically coupled with the photosensitive chip.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can have following beneficial effects.

According to the present disclosure, the light emitter of the photo-sensing module is tilted relative to the screen, such that a direction of the emitted light emitted from the light emitter is tilted towards the side with the screen relative to the device body. Since the light path of the emitted light is tilted towards the side with the screen, the obstacle approaching the front side of the electronic device can be easily sensed. Therefore, the above structure does not occupy structures in a display area of the screen, thereby raising the screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device and guaranteeing the photo-sensing effect of the photo-sensing module.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present disclosure.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate embodiments consistent with the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail and examples of the embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless specified otherwise, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure, and instead are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with aspects of the present disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

A size of a non-display area of a front surface of an electronic device can usually be reduced, and a light-transmissible hole cooperating with a photosensor is defined in the non-display area or a light-transmissible area matching a size of the photosensor can be arranged on a screen, in order to raise a screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device, such as a mobile phone. However, a display effect of the screen and an aesthetic appearance of the whole device are still affected due to the existing non-display area even with the size reduction. The display effect of the screen is reduced with the light-transmissible area, as light emits out perpendicularly to the light-transmissible area on the screen.

<FIG> is a sectional schematic diagram of an electronic device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> includes a device body <NUM>, a screen <NUM> and a photo-sensing module <NUM>. The screen <NUM> is mounted on a front side <NUM> of the device body <NUM>. The photo-sensing module <NUM> includes a light emitter <NUM> and a light receiver <NUM>. The light emitter <NUM> is obliquely arranged relative to the screen <NUM> at an angle α, and a direction of an emitted light from the light emitter <NUM> is tilted towards a side with the screen relative to the device body <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the angle α is larger than <NUM> degree and less than <NUM> degrees. In some embodiments, the angle α is about <NUM> degrees.

With the arrangement that the light emitter <NUM> of the photo-sensing module <NUM> is tilted relative to the screen <NUM>, the direction of the emitted light from the light emitter <NUM> is tilted towards the side with screen <NUM> relative to the device body <NUM>. Since a light path of the emitted light can be tilted towards the side with the screen <NUM>, it is convenient to sense an obstacle <NUM> approaching the front side of the electronic device <NUM>. Therefore, the above structure does not occupy structures in a display area of the screen <NUM>, thereby raising a screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device <NUM> and guaranteeing a photo-sensing effect of the photo-sensing module <NUM>.

In the above embodiments, the emitted light from the light emitter <NUM> can be emitted from a preset side surface <NUM> of the device body <NUM> and tilted towards the side with the screen <NUM>, such that contact and interference between a light path of the emitted light and the screen <NUM> can be avoided, and an display effect of the screen <NUM> is improved. Alternatively, the light emitted from the light emitter <NUM> can also be emitted from other positions of the screen <NUM> or other positions of the front side of the device body <NUM>, as long as the emitted light can be tilted towards the side with the screen, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

Furthermore, the light receiver <NUM> can also be obliquely arranged relative to the screen <NUM> at an angle α, in order to receive a receiving light reflected by the obstacle <NUM> when the emitted light encounters the obstacle. Alternatively, the light receiver <NUM> can also be arranged in parallel to the screen <NUM> or at another angle relative to the screen <NUM>, as long as the light receiver <NUM> can receive the receiving light, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

In the above embodiments, the light emitter <NUM> of the photo-sensing module <NUM> can emit an emitted light of corresponding type. As illustrated in <FIG>, the light path of the emitted light and a light path of the receiving light forms an overlap area indicated by dashed lines. When the emitted light encounters an obstacle <NUM> in the overlap area, the receiving light reaches the light receiver <NUM> and is received by the light receiver <NUM>. The photo-sensing module <NUM> can monitor strength and a return time of the receiving light, to calculate a distance between the obstacle <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>. When the distance is smaller than a preset value, the electronic device <NUM> can be controlled to turn off the screen to avoid touch on the screen <NUM> by mistake, and power consumption is reduced as well.

For example, the light emitter <NUM> can be a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or an infrared light emitting diode (LED). The light receiver <NUM> can be a photo diode (PD) or a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD which is a photoelectric detection avalanche diode with single photon detection capacity). When the light emitter <NUM> is a VCSEL, the emitted light is laser light. When the light emitter <NUM> is the infrared light emitting diode, the emitted light is infrared light. Particularly, the infrared light can be infrared light of <NUM>/<NUM>. During operation of the light emitter <NUM>, a part of the emitted light is reflected by a side wall of the device body <NUM> or other structure of the electronic device <NUM>, in such case, the light reflected back to the photo-sensing module <NUM> becomes ground noise which affects the sensing effect. Because the VCSEL has a small emitting angle and concentrated emitting energy with less reflected light, the photo-sensing module <NUM> receives less ground noise, while the infrared light emitting diode has large emitting angle with many reflected light paths, the probability of ground noise is large.

The electronic device <NUM> can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, an in-vehicle device, a medical terminal, etc., which is not limited in the present disclosure. In the following, the mobile phone is taken as an example of the electronic device <NUM>, cooperation between the photo-sensing module <NUM> and the device body <NUM> of the mobile terminal is exemplarily illustrated.

In an embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, in order to further change the light path of the emitted light and improving the photo-sensing effect of the photo-sensing module <NUM> of the mobile phone, the mobile phone can further include a light guide member <NUM>. The light guide member <NUM> has a first refracting surface corresponding to a position of the light emitter <NUM> and a second refracting surface corresponding to the preset side surface <NUM>, such that the emitted light enters the light guide member <NUM> through the first refracting surface and exits out through the second refracting surface in a manner of a refracted light. An angle between the refracted light and the preset side surface <NUM> is less than an angle between the emitted light and the preset side surface <NUM>. The light guide member <NUM> causes the emitted light to refract for further tilting towards the side with the screen <NUM>.

When the user operates the mobile phone and the user's face approaches the front side <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the refracted light is easily changed into a reflected light reflected by the user's face based on the angle between the refracted light and the preset side surface <NUM>, and the reflected light is received by the light receiver <NUM>. Therefore, with the light guide member <NUM>, the sensitivity and accuracy of the photo-sensing module <NUM> for sensing the light emitted through the preset side surface <NUM> of the device body <NUM> are improved.

Furthermore, an angle between the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface can be an acute angle β, such that the angle between the refracted light and the preset side surface <NUM> is less that the angle between the emitted light and the preset side surface <NUM>, and meanwhile the light guide member <NUM> occupies less space in the electronic device <NUM>.

Furthermore, the emitted light propagates through a light-leakage surface, i.e. side surface(s) of the light guide member <NUM> except the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface, such that the emitted light exiting through the light-leakage surface not only reduces intensity of light emitted through the preset side surface <NUM>, but also makes the reflected light reach the photo-sensing module <NUM> and cause ground noise interference, as well as light leakage in the electronic device <NUM>. Therefore, the electronic device <NUM> can further include a light absorber <NUM>. In an embodiment, the light absorber <NUM> can be a black coating or a black member fitted with the light-leakage surface, which is not limited in the present disclosure. In another embodiment, the light guide member <NUM> can be a structure arranged between the photo-sensing module <NUM> and the preset side surface <NUM>, and the light guide member <NUM> can partially or fully fill a gap between the photo-sensing module <NUM> and the preset side surface <NUM>.

When the light guide member <NUM> fully fills the gap between the photo-sensing module <NUM> and the preset side surface <NUM>, the light-leakage surface of the light guide member <NUM> is directly fitted with an inner side wall of the device body <NUM>, therefore, the light absorber <NUM> can be directly arranged on the inner side wall of the device body <NUM> corresponding to the light-leakage surface. Similarly, this light absorber <NUM> can be the black coating or the black member arranged on the inner side wall of the device body <NUM>. With the light absorber <NUM>, the intensity of the light emitted through the preset side surface <NUM> is enhanced, the ground noise interference on the photo-sensing module <NUM> due to the reflected light and light leakage in the electronic device <NUM> can be avoided.

It should be noted that, the light guide member <NUM> can be a triangular prism or other lens capable of refracting, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the photo-sensing module <NUM> further includes a barrier wall <NUM>, and the barrier wall <NUM> is arranged between the light emitter <NUM> and the light receiver <NUM>. After being emitted from the light emitter <NUM>, the emitted light may form a reflected light after reaching the inner side wall of the device body <NUM>, the screen <NUM>, or the light guide member <NUM>, therefore, the barrier wall <NUM> arranged between the light emitter <NUM> and the light receiver <NUM> can prevent ground noise caused by the reflected light reaching the photo-sensing module <NUM>.

In addition, the photo-sensing module <NUM> can further include a photosensitive chip <NUM>, the light emitter <NUM> and the light receiver <NUM> are electrically coupled with the photosensitive chip <NUM>, such that the light emitter <NUM> and the light receiver <NUM> are controlled to emit light or calculate and analyze the receiving light.

In the above embodiments, the preset side surface <NUM> of the device body <NUM> can be a top side surface, left side surface, right side surface, or a lower side surface of the device body <NUM>, which can be arranged according to specific usage habits of the electronic device <NUM>, which is not limited in the present disclosure. When the electronic device <NUM> is the mobile phone, the preset side surface <NUM> can be an upper side surface of a middle frame of the mobile phone, that is, the photo-sensing module <NUM> is arranged on a top portion of the mobile terminal, in order to sense and feedback approaching of the user's face during usage.

The various device components, circuits, modules, units, blocks, or portions may have modular configurations, or are composed of discrete components, but nonetheless may be referred to as "modules" or "portions" in general. In other words, the "components," "circuits," "modules," "units," "blocks," or "portions" referred to herein may or may not be in modular forms.

Specifically, when the user gets through by the mobile phone, the user's face approaches the front side <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, the user aligns the user's ear with a receiver on the top portion of the mobile phone and aligns the user's mouth with a microphone on a lower portion of the mobile phone. The area and probability that the light is shielded by the top portion of the mobile phone are large based on the above usage habits, the light sensitivity can be improved with the photo-sensing module <NUM> arranged on the top portion of the mobile phone.

Furthermore, the preset side surface <NUM> is provided with a light-transmitting area, and the light-transmitting area includes an aperture structure or a structure having a light-transmitting material. The aperture structure on the preset side surface <NUM> can raise passing rate of the emitted light, thereby improving the sensing effect of the photo-sensing module <NUM>. With the structure having the light-transmitting material on the preset side surface <NUM>, the whole artistic appearance of the electronic device <NUM> can be improved. For example, when the emitted light is an infrared light of <NUM>/<NUM>, the structure of the light-transmitting area of the preset side surface <NUM> can be made of a light-transmitting material only permitting the infrared light of <NUM>/<NUM> to pass through.

In addition, the screen <NUM> can be a full screen covering the front side <NUM> of the device body <NUM>, in order to improve a display effect.

The light emitter <NUM> of the photo-sensing module <NUM> is tilted relative to the screen <NUM>, such that a direction of the emitted light from the light emitter <NUM> is tilted towards the side with the screen <NUM> relative to the device body <NUM>. Since the light path of the emitted light can be tilted towards the side with the screen <NUM>, the obstacle <NUM> approaching the front side of the electronic device <NUM> can be easily sensed. Therefore, the above structure does not occupy structures in a display area of the screen <NUM>, thereby raising the screen-to-body ratio of the electronic device <NUM> and guaranteeing the photo-sensing effect of the photo-sensing module <NUM>.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or other structure is referred to as being "on" or extending "onto" another element, it can be directly on or extend directly onto the other element or intervening elements can also be present.

Likewise, it will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, or substrate is referred to as being "over" or extending "over" another element, it can be directly over or extend directly over the other element or intervening elements can also be present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements can be present.

Relative terms such as "below" or "above" or "upper" or "lower" or "vertical" or "horizontal" can be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, or region to another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the drawings. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, elements referred to as "first" and "second" can include one or more of the features either explicitly or implicitly.

In the description of the present disclosure, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," and the like can indicate a specific feature described in connection with the embodiment or example, a structure, a material or feature included in at least one embodiment or example. In the present disclosure, the schematic representation of the above terms is not necessarily directed to the same embodiment or example.

Various modifications of, and equivalent acts corresponding to, the disclosed aspects of the example embodiments, in addition to those described above, can be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the following claims, the scope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such modifications and equivalent structures.

It is to be understood that "multiple" mentioned in the present disclosure refers to two or more than two. "And/or" describes an association relationship of associated objects and represent that three relationships can exist. For example, A and/or B can represent three conditions, i.e., independent existence of A, coexistence of A and B and independent existence of B. Character "/" usually represents that previous and next associated objects form an "or" relationship.

Claim 1:
An electronic device (<NUM>), comprising:
a device body (<NUM>),
a screen (<NUM>) mounted on a front side (<NUM>) of the device body (<NUM>),
a photo-sensing module (<NUM>) comprising a light emitter (<NUM>) and a light receiver (<NUM>), the light emitter being a vertical cavity surface emitting laser or an infrared light emitting diode, an optical axis of the light emitter (<NUM>) being obliquely arranged relative to the screen (<NUM>), and a direction of an emitted light from the light emitter (<NUM>) being tilted towards a side with the screen (<NUM>) relative to the device body (<NUM>), wherein the emitted light from the light emitter (<NUM>) is emitted from a preset side surface (<NUM>) of the device body (<NUM>) and tilted towards the side with the screen (<NUM>),
characterized in further comprising
a light guide member (<NUM>) having a first refracting surface and a second refracting surface, wherein the first refracting surface corresponds to a position of the light emitter (<NUM>) and the second refracting surface corresponds to the preset side surface (<NUM>), such that the emitted light enters the light guide member (<NUM>) through the first refracting surface and exits out through the second refracting surface in a manner of a refracted light, and an angle between the refracted light and the preset side surface (<NUM>) is less than an angle between the emitted light and the preset side surface (<NUM>), and
a light absorber (<NUM>), the light guide member (<NUM>) comprising a light-leakage surface except the first refracting surface and the second refracting surface, and the light absorber (<NUM>) being fitted with the light-leakage surface, wherein the light guide member (<NUM>) is arranged between the photo-sensing module (<NUM>) and the preset side surface (<NUM>), and the light absorber (<NUM>) is arranged on an inner side wall of the device body (<NUM>) corresponding to the light-leakage surface,
and wherein
the light guide member (<NUM>) fully fills a gap between the photo-sensing module (<NUM>) and the preset side surface (<NUM>).