Patent ID: 8681137

Claim:
An ambient light sensor, comprising: a substantially optically opaque light sensor cover having an aperture, the aperture being configured to permit a portion of an ambient light beam to pass therethrough as a transmitted light beam; a plurality of light detectors arranged in a array adjacent to the aperture, each of the light detectors having a position in the array and being configured to generate analog output signals when at least a portion of the transmitted light beam falls thereon; at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operably coupled to the plurality of light detectors and configured to receive as inputs thereto the analog output signals, the ADC further being configured to provide as outputs therefrom digital values representative of the analog output signals, and a control logic circuitry operably coupled to the ADC and configured to receive the digital values as inputs thereto; wherein the transmitted light beam transmitted through the aperture has a direction with respect to the plurality of light detectors, each of the plurality of light detectors is configured to receive a varying amount of light according to the position of each of the plurality of light detectors with respect to the transmitted light beam transmitted through the aperture; and wherein the control logic circuitry is configured to process the digital values to determine the direction of the transmitted light beam.