PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9619195-B2
Application Number: US-201314070002-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Invisible light transmission via a display assembly

Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transmitting data using invisible light via a display assembly of an electronic device are provided. This may enable more data to be transmitted simultaneously via a single display assembly of a limited size. For example, a single display assembly may simultaneously transmit a first type of data using visible light that may be comprehensible to a user (e.g., textual information that may be legible to a human) as well as a second type of data using invisible light that may be machine-readable (e.g., a barcode that may be detected by a scanner device but that may not be seen by a human).

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a display assembly comprising:
 a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel matrix; and 
 a variable control component spanning the pixel matrix, wherein the processor is configured to control the variable control component for simultaneously varying:
 a first characteristic of visible light transmitted by a first pixel of a first subplurality of pixels of the plurality of pixels; and 
 a second characteristic of invisible light transmitted by each pixel of a second subplurality of pixels of the plurality of pixels, wherein the second subplurality of pixels only comprises each pixel of the plurality of pixels positioned in a band region along the outer perimeter of the pixel matrix. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the variable control component comprises a backlight component. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the backlight component comprises a visible light source and an invisible light source; 
 the variable control component varies the first characteristic of the visible light by adjusting a characteristic of the visible light source; and 
 the variable control component varies the second characteristic of the invisible light by adjusting a characteristic of the invisible light source. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the backlight component comprises a full spectrum light source; 
 the display assembly further comprises a plurality of electronic switches arranged in a switch matrix; 
 the variable control component varies the first characteristic of the visible light by adjusting a characteristic of the full spectrum light source; and 
 the variable control component varies the second characteristic of the invisible light by adjusting a characteristic of the plurality of electronic switches. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the variable control component comprises a plurality of electronic switches arranged in a switch matrix. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a brightness of the visible light transmitted by the first pixel; and 
 the second characteristic is a brightness of the invisible light transmitted by the second pixel. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a color of the visible light transmitted by the first pixel; and 
 the second characteristic is a brightness of the invisible light transmitted by the second pixel. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the same pixel comprises a plurality of subpixels; 
 a first subpixel of the plurality of subpixels comprises one of a red light subpixel, a green light subpixel, and a blue light subpixel; and 
 a second subpixel of the plurality of subpixels comprises an invisible light subpixel. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pixel comprises a red light subpixel, a green light subpixel, and a blue light subpixel. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first pixel further comprises an invisible light subpixel. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second pixel comprises at least one invisible light subpixel. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is a liquid crystal display assembly. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the display assembly is a plasma display assembly. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that comprises an opening provided through a wall of the housing, wherein:
 the visible light is transmitted by the first pixel through the opening; and 
 the invisible light is transmitted by the second pixel through the opening. 
 
     
     
       15. An electronic device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a display assembly comprising:
 a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel matrix; and 
 a variable control component spanning the pixel matrix, wherein the processor is configured to control the variable control component for simultaneously enabling:
 a first characteristic of a first invisible light to be transmitted by a first pixel of the plurality of pixels; 
 a second characteristic of a second invisible light to be transmitted by a second pixel of the plurality of pixels that is different than the first pixel; and 
 a third characteristic of a first visible light to be transmitted by the first pixel, wherein the combination of the first invisible light and the second invisible light is configured to convey information to a scanner device. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the combination of the first invisible light and the second invisible light comprises one of a linear barcode and a matrix barcode. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a first intensity; and 
 the second characteristic is a second intensity that is different than the first intensity. 
 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a first intensity; and 
 the second characteristic is a second intensity that is equal to the first intensity. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a first intensity; and 
 the third characteristic is a second intensity that is different than the first intensity. 
 
     
     
       20. An electronic device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a display assembly comprising:
 a plurality of pixels arranged in a pixel matrix; and 
 a variable control component spanning the pixel matrix, wherein the processor is configured to control the variable control component for simultaneously enabling:
 a first characteristic of a first invisible light to be transmitted by a first pixel of the plurality of pixels; 
 a second characteristic of a second invisible light to be transmitted by a second pixel of the plurality of pixels that is different than the first pixel; and 
 a third characteristic of a first visible light to be transmitted by the first pixel; and 
 a fourth characteristic of a second visible light to be transmitted by the second pixel. 
 
 
 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the third characteristic is a first intensity; and 
 the fourth characteristic is a second intensity that is different than the first intensity. 
 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the third characteristic is a first visible color; and 
 the fourth characteristic is a second visible color that is different than the first visible color. 
 
     
     
       23. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a brightness of the visible light transmitted by the first pixel; and 
 the second characteristic is a brightness of the invisible light transmitted by the second pixel. 
 
     
     
       24. The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first characteristic is a first intensity; and 
 the second characteristic is a second intensity that is equal to the first intensity.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to the transmission of invisible light and, more particularly, to the transmission of data using invisible light via a display assembly of an electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An electronic device (e.g., a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, etc.) may be provided with one or more display assemblies for providing a first type of visual data that is comprehensible to a user (e.g., textual information that may be legible to a human) as well as a second type of visual data that is machine-readable (e.g., a barcode that may be read by a scanner device and that may be seen but not interpreted by a human). Often times, however, such display assemblies are too small to provide both types of visual data simultaneously. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This document describes systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transmitting data using invisible light via a display assembly of an electronic device. 
     For example, an electronic device may include a processor and a display assembly that includes pixels arranged in a pixel matrix and a variable control component spanning the pixel matrix. The processor is configured to control the variable control component for simultaneously varying a first characteristic of visible light transmitted by a first pixel of the pixels and a second characteristic of invisible light transmitted by a second pixel of the pixels. 
     As another example, an electronic device may include a processor and a display assembly that may include pixels arranged in a pixel matrix and a variable control component spanning the pixel matrix. The processor may be configured to control the variable control component for simultaneously enabling a first characteristic of a first invisible light to be transmitted by a first pixel of the pixels and a second characteristic of a second invisible light to be transmitted by a second pixel of the pixels that is different than the first pixel. 
     As yet another example, a method may include transmitting visible light data via a display assembly of an electronic device and transmitting invisible light data via the display assembly, where the transmitted invisible light data includes information configured to be received and comprehended by a scanner device remote from the electronic device. 
     As yet another example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling an electronic device, including computer-readable instructions recorded thereon may be provided for transmitting visible light data via a display assembly of an electronic device and transmitting invisible light data via the display assembly, where the transmitted invisible light data includes information configured to be received and comprehended by a scanner device remote from the electronic device. 
     As yet another example, a method may include determining with an electronic device a type of scanner for reading data to be provided by the electronic device, choosing with the electronic device a particular protocol of multiple available protocols based on the determined type of scanner, and transmitting invisible light data via a display assembly of the electronic device according to the chosen protocol. 
     As yet another example, a method may include detecting with an electronic device a need for additional light in an environment of the electronic device for a particular operation, determining with the electronic device a desire for limiting the amount of visible light in the environment of the electronic device, and, in response to the detected need and the determined desire, transmitting both invisible light and visible light into the environment via a single display assembly of the electronic device. 
     This Summary is provided merely to summarize some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described in this document. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the features described in this Summary are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The discussion below makes reference to the following drawings, in which like reference characters may refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an illustrative electronic device for transmitting data using invisible light; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , showing visible light data that may be transmitted by a display assembly of the electronic device; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are front views of portions of the display assembly of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , showing invisible light data that may be transmitted by the display assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-2B , taken from line III-III of  FIG. 2 , showing both visible light data and invisible light data that may be transmitted by the display assembly of the electronic device; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cross-sectional views, similar to  FIG. 3 , of various embodiments of a portion of the display assembly of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an illustrative portion of the electronic device of  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
         FIGS. 5-7  are flowcharts of illustrative processes for transmitting invisible light. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Systems, methods, and computer-readable media may be provided to transmit data using invisible light via a display assembly of an electronic device. This may enable more data to be transmitted simultaneously via a single display assembly of a limited size. For example, a single display assembly may simultaneously transmit a first type of data using visible light that may be comprehensible to a user (e.g., textual information that may be legible to a human) as well as a second type of data using invisible light that may be machine-readable (e.g., a barcode that may be detected by a scanner device but that may not be seen by a human). In some embodiments, a single pixel of the display assembly may simultaneously transmit such a first type of data using visible light as well as such a second type of data using invisible light. Alternatively, a single pixel of the display assembly may quickly alternate (e.g., at a refresh rate of the display assembly) between transmitting such a first type of data using visible light and transmitting such a second type of data using invisible light, such that both types of data may be received substantially simultaneously. A display assembly may use various types of display technology to transmit data using invisible light, such as liquid crystal display (“LCD”) technology, plasma display technology, organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) display technology, or any other suitable display technology. Moreover, a display assembly may transmit invisible light data according to a selected one of various suitable communications protocols that may be adequately received and utilized by a remote device (e.g., an invisible light scanner or sensor device). For example, the electronic device may select and use a certain communications protocol for transmitting invisible light data based on a particular type of scanner detected near the electronic device and/or based on the particular type of data to be transmitted by the invisible light. Additionally or alternatively, the invisible light transmitted by a display assembly of an electronic device may be received as data by that same electronic device. For example, invisible light transmitted via a display assembly of an electronic device may be reflected off of a user viewing visible light transmitted by that same display assembly and the reflected invisible light may be received by the electronic device for one or more purposes (e.g., for facial recognition of the user). 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an illustrative electronic device  100  for transmitting data using invisible light via a display assembly in accordance with some embodiments. Electronic device  100  can include, but is not limited to, a music player (e.g., an iPod™ available by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), video player, still image player, game player, other media player, music recorder, movie or video camera or recorder, still camera, other media recorder, radio, medical equipment, domestic appliance, transportation vehicle instrument, musical instrument, calculator, cellular telephone (e.g., an iPhone™ available by Apple Inc.), other wireless communication device, personal digital assistant, remote control, pager, computer (e.g., a desktop, laptop, tablet (e.g., an iPad™ available by Apple Inc.), server, etc.), monitor, television, stereo equipment, set up box, set-top box, boom box, modem, router, printer, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, electronic device  100  may perform a single function (e.g., a device dedicated to displaying light data) and, in other embodiments, electronic device  100  may perform multiple functions (e.g., a device that displays light data, plays music, and receives and transmits telephone calls). 
     Electronic device  100  may be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature electronic device that may be configured to display light data wherever a user travels. Some miniature electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held electronic devices, such as an iPod™. Illustrative miniature electronic devices can be integrated into various objects that may include, but are not limited to, watches, rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, glasses, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, electronic device  100  may not be portable at all, but may instead be generally stationary. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, electronic device  100  may include a processor  102 , memory  104 , communications component  106 , power supply  108 , input component  110 , and output component  112 . Electronic device  100  may also include a bus  116  that may provide one or more wired or wireless communication links or paths for transferring data and/or power to, from, or between various other components of device  100 . In some embodiments, one or more components of electronic device  100  may be combined or omitted. Moreover, electronic device  100  may include any other suitable components not combined or included in  FIG. 1  and/or several instances of the components shown in  FIG. 1 . For the sake of simplicity, only one of each of the components is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Memory  104  may include one or more storage mediums, including for example, a hard-drive, flash memory, permanent memory such as read-only memory (“ROM”), semi-permanent memory such as random access memory (“RAM”), any other suitable type of storage component, or any combination thereof. Memory  104  may include cache memory, which may be one or more different types of memory used for temporarily storing data for electronic device applications. Memory  104  may be fixedly embedded within electronic device  100  or may be incorporated onto one or more suitable types of cards that may be repeatedly inserted into and removed from electronic device  100  (e.g., a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) card or secure digital (“SD”) memory card). Memory  104  may store media data (e.g., music and image files), software (e.g., for implementing functions on device  100 ), firmware, preference information (e.g., media playback preferences), lifestyle information (e.g., food preferences), exercise information (e.g., information obtained by exercise monitoring equipment), transaction information (e.g., credit card information), wireless connection information (e.g., information that may enable device  100  to establish a wireless connection), subscription information (e.g., information that keeps track of podcasts or television shows or other media a user subscribes to), contact information (e.g., telephone numbers and e-mail addresses), calendar information, pass information (e.g., transportation boarding passes, event tickets, coupons, store cards, financial payment cards, etc.), any other suitable data, or any combination thereof. 
     Communications component  106  may be provided to allow device  100  to communicate with one or more other electronic devices or servers using any suitable communications protocol. For example, communications component  106  may support Wi-Fi™ (e.g., an 802.11 protocol), ZigBee™ (e.g., an 802.15.4 protocol), WiDi™, Ethernet, Bluetooth™, Bluetooth™ Low Energy (“BLE”), high frequency systems (e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.6 GHz communication systems), infrared, transmission control protocol/internet protocol (“TCP/IP”) (e.g., any of the protocols used in each of the TCP/IP layers), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (“SCTP”), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”), hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”), BitTorrent™, file transfer protocol (“FTP”), real-time transport protocol (“RTP”), real-time streaming protocol (“RTSP”), real-time control protocol (“RTCP”), Remote Audio Output Protocol (“RAOP”), Real Data Transport Protocol™ (“RDTP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), secure shell protocol (“SSH”), wireless distribution system (“WDS”) bridging, any communications protocol that may be used by wireless and cellular telephones and personal e-mail devices (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”), GSM plus Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (“EDGE”), Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (“OFDMA”), high speed packet access (“HSPA”), multi-band, etc.), any communications protocol that may be used by a low power Wireless Personal Area Network (“6LoWPAN”) module, any other communications protocol, or any combination thereof. Communications component  106  may also include or be electrically coupled to any suitable transceiver circuitry (e.g., a transceiver or antenna via bus  116 ) that can enable device  100  to be communicatively coupled to another device (e.g., a host computer, scanner, accessory device, etc.) and communicate with that other device wirelessly, or via a wired connection (e.g., using a connector port). Communications component  106  may be configured to determine a geographical position of electronic device  100 . For example, communications component  106  may utilize the global positioning system (“GPS”) or a regional or site-wide positioning system that may use cell tower positioning technology or Wi-Fi™ technology. 
     Power supply  108  can include any suitable circuitry for receiving and/or generating power, and for providing such power to one or more of the other components of electronic device  100 . For example, power supply  108  can be coupled to a power grid (e.g., when device  100  is not acting as a portable device or when a battery of the device is being charged at an electrical outlet with power generated by an electrical power plant). As another example, power supply  108  can be configured to generate power from a natural source (e.g., solar power using solar cells). As another example, power supply  108  can include one or more batteries for providing power (e. LY when device  100  is acting as a portable device). For example, power supply  108  can include one or more of a battery (e.g., a gel, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium, nickel hydrogen, lead acid, or lithium-ion battery), an uninterruptible or continuous power supply (“UPS” or “CPS”), and circuitry for processing power received from a power generation source (e.g., power generated by an electrical power plant and delivered to the user via an electrical socket or otherwise). The power can be provided by power supply  108  as alternating current or direct current, and may be processed to transform power or limit received power to particular characteristics. For example, the power can be transformed to or from direct current, and constrained to one or more values of average power, effective power, peak power, energy per pulse, voltage, current (e.g., measured in amperes), or any other characteristic of received power. Power supply  108  can be operative to request or provide particular amounts of power at different times, for example, based on the needs or requirements of electronic device  100  or periphery devices that may be coupled to electronic device  100  (e.g., to request more power when charging a battery than when the battery is already charged). 
     One or more input components  110  may be provided to permit a user or device environment to interact or interface with device  100 . For example, input component  110  can take a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, a touch pad, dial, click wheel, scroll wheel, touch screen, one or more buttons (e.g., a keyboard), mouse, joy stick, track ball, microphone, camera, scanner (e.g., a barcode scanner or any other suitable scanner that may obtain product identifying information from a code, such as a linear barcode, a matrix barcode (e.g., a quick response (“QR”) code), or the like), proximity sensor, light detector, biometric sensor (e.g., a fingerprint reader or other feature recognition sensor, which may operate in conjunction with a feature-processing application that may be accessible to electronic device  100  for authenticating a user), line-in connector for data and/or power, and combinations thereof. Each input component  110  can be configured to provide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections or issuing commands associated with operating device  100 . 
     Electronic device  100  may also include one or more output components  112  that may present information (e.g., graphical, audible, and/or tactile information) to a user of device  100 . For example, output component  112  of electronic device  100  may take various forms, including, but not limited to, audio speakers, headphones, line-out connectors for data and/or power, visual displays (e.g., for transmitting data via visible light and/or via invisible light), infrared ports, flashes (e.g., light sources for providing artificial light for illuminating an environment of the device), tactile/haptic outputs (e.g., rumblers, vibrators, etc.), and combinations thereof. 
     As a specific example, electronic device  100  may include a display assembly output component as output component  112 . Such a display assembly output component may include any suitable type of display or interface for presenting visual data to a user with visible light and data to an electronic device with invisible light. A display assembly output component may include a display embedded in device  100  or coupled to device  100  (e.g., a removable display). A display assembly output component may include, for example, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a light emitting diode (“LED”) display, a plasma display, an organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display (“SED”), a carbon nanotube display, a nanocrystal display, any other suitable type of display, or combination thereof. Alternatively, a display assembly output component can include a movable display or a projecting system for providing a display of content on a surface remote from electronic device  100 , such as, for example, a video projector, a head-up display, or a three-dimensional (e.g., holographic) display. As another example, a display assembly output component may include a digital or mechanical viewfinder, such as a viewfinder of the type found in compact digital cameras, reflex cameras, or any other suitable still or video camera. A display assembly output component may include display driver circuitry, circuitry for driving display drivers, or both, and such a display assembly output component can be operative to display content (e.g., media playback information, application screens for applications implemented on electronic device  100 , information regarding ongoing communications operations, information regarding incoming communications requests, device operation screens, etc.) that may be under the direction of processor  102 . 
     It should be noted that one or more input components and one or more output components may sometimes be referred to collectively herein as an input/output (“I/O”) component or I/O interface (e.g., input component  110  and output component  112  as I/O component or I/O interface  114 ). For example, input component  110  and output component  112  may sometimes be a single I/O component  114 , such as a touch screen, that may receive input information through a user&#39;s touch of a display screen and that may also provide visual information to a user via that same display screen. 
     Processor  102  of electronic device  100  may include any processing circuitry that may be operative to control the operations and performance of one or more components of electronic device  100 . For example, processor  102  may receive input signals from input component  110  and/or drive output signals through output component  112 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , processor  102  may be used to run one or more applications, such as an application  103 . Application  103  may include, but is not limited to, one or more operating system applications, firmware applications, media playback applications, media editing applications, pass applications, calendar applications, state determination applications, biometric feature-processing applications, or any other suitable applications. For example, processor  102  may load application  103  as a user interface program to determine how instructions or data received via an input component  110  or other component of device  100  may manipulate the one or more ways in which information may be stored and/or provided to the user via an output component  112 . Application  103  may be accessed by processor  102  from any suitable source, such as from memory  104  (e.g., via bus  116 ) or from another device or server (e.g., via communications component  106 ). Processor  102  may include a single processor or multiple processors. For example, processor  102  may include at least one “general purpose” microprocessor, a combination of general and special purpose microprocessors, instruction set processors, graphics processors, video processors, and/or related chips sets, and/or special purpose microprocessors. Processor  102  also may include on board memory for caching purposes. 
     Electronic device  100  may also be provided with a housing  101  that may at least partially enclose one or more of the components of device  100  for protection from debris and other degrading forces external to device  100 . In some embodiments, one or more of the components may be provided within its own housing (e.g., input component  110  may be an independent keyboard or mouse within its own housing that may wirelessly or through a wire communicate with processor  102 , which may be provided within its own housing). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , one specific example of electronic device  100  may be a handheld electronic device, such as an iPhone™, where housing  101  may allow access to various input components  110   a - 110   j , various output components  112   a - 112   d , and various I/O components  114   a - 114   d  through which device  100  and a user and/or an ambient environment may interface with each other. Input component  110   a  may include a button that, when pressed, may cause a “home” screen or menu of a currently running application to be displayed by device  100 . Input component  110   b  may be a button for toggling electronic device  100  between a sleep mode and a wake mode or between any other suitable modes. Input component  110   c  may include a two-position slider that may disable one or more output components  112  in certain modes of electronic device  100 . Input components  110   d  and  110   e  may include buttons for increasing and decreasing the volume output or any other characteristic output of an output component  112  of electronic device  100  (e.g., for increasing or decreasing the intensity or brightness of visible light data transmitted by a display output component). Each one of input components  110   a - 110   e  may be a mechanical input component, such as a button supported by a dome switch, a sliding switch, a control pad, a key, a knob, a scroll wheel, or any other suitable form. 
     Electronic device  100  may include various I/O components  114  that may allow for communication between device  100  and other devices. I/O component  114   b  may be a connection port that may be configured for transmitting and receiving data files, such as media files or customer order files, from a remote data source and/or power from an external power source. For example, I/O component  114   b  may be a proprietary port, such as a Lightning™ connector or a 30-pin dock connector from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. I/O component  114   c  may be a connection slot for receiving a SIM card or any other type of removable component. I/O component  114   d  may be a headphone jack for connecting audio headphones that may or may not include a microphone component. Electronic device  100  may also include at least one audio input component  110   g , such as a microphone, and at least one audio output component  112   b , such as an audio speaker. Additionally or alternatively, electronic device  100  may also include at least one tactile output component  112   c  (e.g., a rumbler, vibrator, etc.), a camera and/or scanner input component  110   h  (e.g., a video or still camera, and/or a barcode scanner or any other suitable scanner that may obtain product identifying information from a code, such as a barcode), a biometric input component  110   i  (e.g., a fingerprint reader or other feature recognition sensor, which may operate in conjunction with a feature-processing application that may be accessible to electronic device  100  for authenticating a user), and a light sensor input component  110   j  (e.g., an ambient light sensor). As shown in  FIG. 2 , at least a portion of biometric input component  110   i  may be incorporated into or otherwise combined with input component  110   a  or any other suitable I/O component of device  100 . For example, biometric input component  110   i  may be a fingerprint reader that may be configured to scan the fingerprint of a user&#39;s finger as the user interacts with mechanical input component  110   a  by pressing input component  110   a  with that finger. Moreover, electronic device  100  may include a flash output component  112   d , which may include one or more light sources for providing artificial light for illuminating an environment of device (e.g., such that camera input component  110   h  may accurately capture an image of the environment). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , an output component  112   a  of electronic device  100  may be a display assembly that can be used to transmit light data onto and through a display surface  180  that may be exposed through an opening in housing  101  (e.g., through an opening  191  that may be provided through a front surface wall  190  of housing  101 ). In some embodiments, display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to transmit visible light data to a user, for example, as part of a visual or graphic user interface (“GUI”)  170 , which may allow a user to comprehend visual information provided by electronic device  100 . Such a GUI  170  may include various layers, windows, screens, templates, elements, menus, and/or other informational components of a currently running application (e.g., application  103 ) that may be transmitted as visible light data onto and through all or some of the areas of display surface  180  of display assembly output component  112   a . One or more of user input components  110   a - 110   j  may be used to navigate through GUI  170 . For example, one user input component  110  may include a scroll wheel that may allow a user to select one or more graphical elements or icons  172  of GUI  170 . Icons  172  may also be selected via a touch screen I/O component  114   a  that may include display assembly output component  112   a  and an associated touch input component  110   f . Such a touch screen I/O component  114   a  may employ any suitable type of touch screen input technology, such as, but not limited to, resistive, capacitive, infrared, surface acoustic wave, electromagnetic, or near field imaging. Furthermore, touch screen I/O component  114   a  may employ single point or multi-point (e.g., multi-touch) input sensing. 
     Icons  172  may represent various layers, windows, screens, templates, elements, and/or other components that may be displayed in some or all of the areas of display surface  180  of display assembly output component  112   a  upon selection by the user. Furthermore, selection of a specific icon  172  may lead to a hierarchical navigation process. For example, selection of a specific icon  172  may lead from the displayed screen of visible light data of  FIG. 2  to a new screen of GUI  170  that may include one or more additional icons or other GUI elements of the same application or of a new application associated with that icon  172 . Textual indicators  171  may be displayed on or near each icon  172  to facilitate user interpretation of each graphical element icon  172 . Additionally or alternatively to indicators  171  and icons  172 , GUI  170  may include various other types of visible light data, such as textual information  174  (e.g., textual information that may be read by a user but that may not be specifically associated with a specific icon  172 ), photographic or video information  176  (e.g., icons, pictures, moving picture data, etc.) that may be comprehended but potentially not “read” by a user, and any other suitable type of visual information that may be visibly detected by a user (e.g., a barcode that may be read by a scanner device and that may also be seen but not interpreted by a human). For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , GUI  170  may include textual information  174  as visible light data indicating that a ticket may be redeemed by scanning the display (e.g., by scanning display surface  180  of display assembly output component  112   a ) as well as photographic information  176  as visible light data showing a picture of a traveler that may be allowed to use such a ticket, where such a GUI  170  may be under the control of an airline ticketing application  103 . 
     Moreover, display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to transmit invisible light data onto and through display surface  180 . In some embodiments, display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to transmit invisible light data via one or more regions of display surface  180  simultaneously with or in a rapidly alternating fashion with the visible light data of visual GUI  170  (e.g., icons  172 , textual information  174 , and photographic information  176 ), which may allow an electronic device (e.g., scanner device  300  of  FIG. 3 ) to receive invisible data from device  100  via display assembly output component  112   a  at generally the same time as a user (e.g., user  200  of  FIG. 3 ) may receive visible data from device  100  via display assembly output component  112   a . For example, as shown, a first region  161  of display surface  180  may be a band region adjacent the outer perimeter of display surface  180  and display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to transmit a first type of invisible light data (e.g., invisible light data  162  of  FIGS. 2A and 3 ) onto and through first region  161  of display surface  180 . Additionally or alternatively, as shown, a second region  163  of display surface  180  may be a rectangular region near the middle of display surface  180  and display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to transmit a second type of invisible light data (e.g., invisible light data  164  of  FIGS. 2B and 3 ) onto and through second region  163  of display surface  180 . 
     In some embodiments, invisible light data  162  may be transmitted by display assembly output component  112   a  through first region  161  to provide the data necessary to redeem the ticket described by textual information visible light data  174  of  FIG. 2 . Therefore, in some embodiments, invisible light data  162  may be generated and transmitted under the control of the same application as GUI  170  (e.g., an airline ticketing application  103 ) and/or under the control of a different but concurrently run application as the application controlling GUI  170 . For example, invisible light data  162  may be provided through the entirety of first region  161  (e.g., through each pixel of first region  161 ) in a synchronized on and off pulsing that may be interpreted as data by scanner  300 . For example, invisible light data  162  may be provided through first region  161  to scanner  300  in a Morse-code type of communication protocol (e.g., where a number of pulses per set time period may define the communicated data) and/or in a serial peripheral interface (“SPI”) type communication protocol (e.g., where the specific timing of high to low or low to high pulses may define the communicated data). Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, invisible light data  164  may be transmitted by display assembly output component  112   a  through second region  163  to provide the data necessary to redeem the ticket described by textual information visible light data  174  of  FIG. 2 . Therefore, in some embodiments, invisible light data  164  may be generated and transmitted under the control of the same application as GUI  170  (e.g., an airline ticketing application  103 ) and/or under the control of a different but concurrently run application as the application controlling GUI  170 . For example, invisible light data  164  may be provided in a specific pattern through portions of second region  163  (e.g., various particular pixels of first region  161  may transmit invisible light data  164  to form a barcode representation) that may be interpreted as data by scanner  300 . For example, invisible light data  164  may be provided through second region  163  to scanner  300  as a linear barcode (e.g., as a U.P.C. barcode) and/or as a matrix or two-dimensional barcode (e.g., as a data matrix barcode or a QR code) that may define the data to be communicated when scanned by scanner  300 . In other embodiments, invisible light data  162  and/or invisible light data  164  may be generated and transmitted under the control of any application that may be totally distinct from the application controlling GUI  170 , such that invisible light data  162  and/or invisible light data  164  may be totally distinct from any visible light data provided by GUI  170 . 
     Various different communication protocols may be used to encode data in the generated and transmitted invisible light (e.g., invisible light data  162  and/or invisible light data  164 ) that may be received and utilized by scanner  300  from display assembly output component  112   a . The various communication protocols may vary with respect to which region of display surface  180  may be used to transmit the invisible light data (e.g., first region  161 , second region  163 , the entirety of surface  180 , etc.) and with respect to which manner the invisible light data is transmitted through such a display region (e.g., in a synchronized on and off pulsing manner, such as Morse-code, or as a static barcode). For example, in some embodiments, electronic device  100  (e.g., an application  103  accessible to processor  102 ) may be configured to determine the proper communication protocol to be used based on any suitable information, such as the type of visible light data currently being transmitted by display assembly output component  112   a , the type of data to be transmitted via the invisible light (e.g., airline ticket information), the type of scanner that may be used to receive and utilize the invisible light data (e.g., the type of scanner  300 ), and the like. In some embodiments, scanner  300  may include a scanner communications component  302  that may communicate scanner information indicative of one or more characteristics of scanner  300  to device  100  (e.g., via communications component  106 ), and device  100  may utilize that scanner information to determine the communications protocol to use for transmitting invisible light data to scanner  300 . Such scanner information may indicate what communication protocols it is configured to use for receiving and detecting invisible light data. For example, some scanners may distinguish individual pixels of invisible light data from display assembly output component  112   a , such that the invisible light data may be transmitted as barcode data to such scanners. In some specific examples, some scanners may distinguish individual pixels of invisible light data only with respect to whether they are on or off, while other scanners may distinguish individual pixels of invisible light data as well as various intensity levels of invisible light data transmitted from each pixel, such that even more data may be transmitted via invisible light data. However, some scanners may only be configured to distinguish whether any invisible light data is received or not (e.g., above a particular threshold) and not at an individual pixel level, such that the invisible light data may be transmitted via one, some, or all pixels in a synchronized on and off pulsing manner, such as via a Morse-code communication protocol, to such scanners. Additionally or alternatively, such scanner information provided to device  100  may be indicative of a distance between scanner  300  and device  100 , where such distance may determine what communication protocol to use for transmitting invisible light data to scanner  300 . 
     Display assembly output component  112   a  may be any suitable display assembly using any suitable display technology or combination of display technologies such that display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to transmit both visible light data and invisible light data, either simultaneously or in a rapidly alternating fashion, such that each type of light data may be detected concurrently by different entities (e.g., such that the visible light data may be detected by a human user while the invisible light data may be detected by a scanner device). For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , display assembly output component  112   a  may include a matrix  120  of pixels  122 , where each pixel may be electrically controlled to vary the color and/or intensity of light transmitted by that pixel. Pixel matrix  120  may include any suitable number of rows and columns of pixels  122  spanning underneath display surface  180  (e.g., nine hundred and ninety nine pixels  122 -P 1  through  122 -P 999  may span a single row of pixel matrix  120  along the X-axis of display surface  180 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , while any suitable number of pixels  122  (e.g., three thousand pixels) may span each column of pixel matrix  120  along the Y-axis of display surface  180 ). Each pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120  may be configured to transmit visible light data, invisible light data, or both visible light data and invisible light data. Display assembly output component  112   a  may also include an associated matrix  130  of electrodes or electronic switches, each of which may address a respective pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120  for individually electrically controlling the color and/or intensity of light transmitted by that pixel  122 . Electronic switch matrix  130  may span the entirety of pixel matrix  120  for electrically controlling every pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120 . A color controller  131  of display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to control electronic switch matrix  130  via one or more instructions or control signals that may be provided by processor  102  (e.g., control signals  411 ,  413 , and/or  415 ), which may thereby control at least the color of light transmitted by each pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120 . 
     In some embodiments, each pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120  may be configured to create its own luminance in response to being electrically controlled by switch matrix  130  to form visible light data and/or invisible light data (e.g., when display assembly output component  112   a  may include plasma or OLED display technology). For example, as shown in  FIG. 3A , a particular portion of pixel matrix  120  may include a pixel  122   a , which may be any suitable pixel, including any one of pixels  122 -P 1  through  122 -P 999 , and may be configured to create its own luminance. As shown, pixel  122   a  may include a subpixel arrangement including any number of subpixels  124  (e.g., subpixels  124 -SP 1 ,  124 -SP 2 ,  124 -SP 3 , and  124 -SP 4 ). For example, when pixel  122   a  is provided by plasma display technology, each one of subpixels  124  may be a small chamber that may contain gas (e.g., a mixture of inert xenon and neon gasses) and whose sides may be coated with appropriately colored phosphorous, such that a respective switch  134  (e.g., a respective one of switches  134 - 1  through  134 - 4  of  FIG. 3A ) of switch matrix  130  for a respective subpixel  124  may be electrically addressed and controlled to heat its respective subpixel  124 , thereby turning the gas inside the subpixel into plasma, which may emit radiation and may excite the phosphorous coating of the heated subpixel  124  such that it may transmit light of the color of the phosphorous coating. The chamber of each subpixel  124  of pixel  122   a  may be coated with a different color phosphorous. For example, subpixel  124 -SP 1  may be coated with a visible red color phosphorous, subpixel  124 -SP 2  may be coated with a visible green color phosphorous, and subpixel  124 -SP 3  may be coated with a visible blue color phosphorous, such that differing intensities of visible light for each of these visible colors may be produced by pulsing each subpixel  124 -SP 1  through  124 -SP 3  on and off during each frame of data via color controller  131 , and the overall color and brightness of the visible light produced by pixel  122   a  may be the combined relative intensities of each of its subpixels&#39; visible colors (e.g., red visible light  174 R transmitted by subpixel  124 -SP 1 , green visible light  174 G transmitted by subpixel  124 -SP 2 , and blue visible light  174 B transmitted by subpixel  124 -SP 3  may be combined and viewed by user  200  as visible light data  174 V, which may be a portion of textual information visible light data  174  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Moreover, subpixel  124 -SP 4  may be coated with an invisible color phosphorous (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet), such that differing intensities of invisible light for such an invisible color may be produced by pulsing subpixel  124 -SP 4  on or off during each frame of data via color controller  131 , and the overall color and brightness of the invisible light produced by pixel  122   a  may be that of subpixel  124 -SP 4  (e.g., invisible light  164 I transmitted by subpixel  124 -SP 4  may be viewed by scanner device  300  as invisible light data  164 I, which may be a portion of invisible light data  164  of  FIGS. 2B and 3 ). In some embodiments, color controller  131  may be configured to control pixel  122   a  to generate and transmit both visible light data  174 V and invisible light data  164 I simultaneously (e.g., in a single refresh of data). Alternatively, color controller  131  may be configured to control pixel  122   a  to rapidly switch between generating and transmitting visible light data  174 V and generating and transmitting invisible light data  164 I (e.g., alternating whether visible light data or invisible light data is transmitted from one refresh to the next). 
     Alternatively, in some embodiments, each pixel of pixel matrix  120  may not be configured to create its own luminance in response to being electrically controlled by switch matrix  130 , but instead each pixel may controllably vary the amount of light it may pass from a light source, such as a backlight  140  (e.g., when display assembly output component  112   a  may include LCD display technology). For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , display assembly output component  112   a  may include backlight  140  that may span at least a portion of pixel matrix  120  for providing light that may be variably passed through each pixel of pixel matrix  120  by switch matrix  130  to form visible light data and/or invisible light data. In such embodiments, an intensity controller  141  of display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to control backlight  140  via one or more instructions or control signals provided by processor  102  (e.g., control signals  407 ,  409 , and/or  417 ), which may thereby control at least the intensity of light able to be transmitted by each pixel of pixel matrix  120 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , a particular portion of pixel matrix  120  may include a pixel  122   b , which may be any suitable pixel, including any one of pixels  122 -P 1  through  122 -P 999 , and may be configured to rely on backlight  140  for luminance. As shown, pixel  122   b  may include a subpixel arrangement including any number of subpixels  126  (e.g., subpixels  126 -SP 1 ,  126 -SP 2 ,  126 -SP 3 , and  126 -SP 4 ). For example, when pixel  122   b  is provided by LCD display technology, each one of subpixels  126  may be a thin layer of liquid crystals that may be aligned with a respective color filter  128 , such that a respective switch  134  (e.g., a respective one of switches  134 - 1  through  134 - 4  of  FIG. 3B ) of switch matrix  130  for a respective subpixel  126  may be electrically addressed and controlled to vary a voltage applied to its respective subpixel  126 , thereby varying the amount of light provided by backlight  140  that may be able to pass through that subpixel  126  and thus its respective color filter  128 . Each color filter  128  of pixel  122   b  may be for a different color. For example, subpixel  126 -SP 1  may be aligned with a visible red color filter  128 -R, subpixel  126 -SP 2  may be aligned with a visible green color filter  128 -G, and subpixel  126 -SP 3  may be aligned with a visible blue color filter  128 -B, such that differing intensities of visible light for each of these visible colors may be produced by pulsing each subpixel  126 -SP 1  through  126 -SP 3  on and off during each frame of data via color controller  131 , and the overall color of the visible light transmitted by pixel  122   b  from backlight  140  may be the combined relative intensities of each of its subpixels&#39; transmitted visible colors (e.g., red visible light  174 R transmitted by subpixel  126 -SP 1  via visible red color filter  128 -R, green visible light  174 G transmitted by subpixel  126 -SP 2  via visible green color filter  128 -G, and blue visible light  174 B transmitted by subpixel  126 -SP 3  via visible blue color filter  128 -B may be combined and viewed by user  200  as visible light data  174 V, which may be a portion of textual information visible light data  174  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Moreover, subpixel  126 -SP 4  may be aligned with an invisible color filter  128 -I (e.g., an infrared or ultraviolet color filter), such that differing intensities of invisible light for such an invisible color may be produced by pulsing subpixel  126 -SP 4  on or off during each frame of data via color controller  131 , and the overall color of the invisible light produced by pixel  122   b  may be that of subpixel  124 -SP 4  (e.g., invisible light  164 I transmitted by subpixel  124 -SP 4  via invisible color filter  128 -I may be viewed by scanner device  300  as invisible light data  164 I, which may be a portion of invisible light data  164  of  FIGS. 2B and 3 ). In some embodiments, color controller  131  may be configured to control pixel  122   b  to generate and transmit both visible light data  174 V and invisible light data  164 I simultaneously (e.g., in a single refresh of data). Alternatively, color controller  131  may be configured to control pixel  122   b  to rapidly switch between generating and transmitting visible light data  174 V and generating and transmitting invisible light data  164 I (e.g., alternating whether visible light data or invisible light data is transmitted from one refresh to the next). 
     While color controller  131  of display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to control electronic switch matrix  130  via one or more control signals that may be provided by processor  102  (e.g., control signals  411 ,  413 , and/or  415 ) for controlling the color of light transmitted by pixel  122   b  (e.g., the combined color of visible light data  174 V by varying the voltages applied to its respective subpixels  126 , thereby varying the amount of light from backlight  140  able to pass through each subpixel  126 ), intensity controller  141  of display assembly output component  112   a  may be configured to control the intensity of light transmitted by pixel  122   b  via one or more control signals provided by processor  102  (e.g., control signals  407 ,  409 , and/or  417 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 3B , backlight  140  may include one or more types of light sources (e.g., LEDs or any other suitable source of light) for transmitting light through backlight  140  (e.g., through a light guide pipe of backlight  140 ) and eventually through one or more subpixels  126  of pixel  122   b  and then onto and through display surface  180 . In some embodiments, intensity controller  141  of backlight  140  may include one or more all light sources  143 , which may be configured to transmit full spectrum light  142  over the full spectrum of both visible light and invisible light through backlight  140 . In such embodiments, not only may full spectrum light  142  be passed from all light source  143  through backlight  140 , through one or more of subpixels  126 -SP 1 ,  126 -SP 2 , and  126 -SP 3 , and through one or more of associated visible color filters  128 -R,  128 -G, and  128 -B as visible light data  174 V to user  200 , but also full spectrum light  142  may be passed from all light source  143  through backlight  140 , through subpixel  126 -SP 4 , and through associated invisible color filter  128 - 1  as invisible light data  164 I to scanner  300 . Therefore, the intensity (e.g., brightness) of visible light data  174 V and the intensity (e.g., brightness) of invisible light data  164 I may both be dependent upon the intensity (e.g., brightness) of full spectrum light  142  passed from all light source  143 . 
     Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, intensity controller  141  of backlight  140  may include one or more visible light sources  145 , which may be configured to transmit visible spectrum light  144  over the spectrum of visible light through backlight  140 , as well as one or more invisible light sources  147 , which may be configured to transmit invisible spectrum light  146  over the spectrum of invisible light through backlight  140 . In such embodiments, visible spectrum light  144  may be passed from visible light source  145  through backlight  140 , through one or more of subpixels  126 -SP 1 ,  126 -SP 2 , and  126 -SP 3 , and through one or more of associated visible color filters  128 -R,  128 -G, and  128 -B as visible light data  174 V to user  200 , while invisible spectrum light  146  may be passed from invisible light source  147  through backlight  140 , through subpixel  126 -SP 4 , and through associated invisible color filter  128 - 1  as invisible light data  164 I to scanner  300 . Therefore, the intensity (e.g., brightness) of visible light data  174 V and the intensity (e.g., brightness) of invisible light data  164 I may be independently controlled via the intensity (e.g., brightness) of light passed from respective independent light sources  145  and  147 . In some embodiments, the intensity of one of visible light data  174 V and invisible light data  164 I transmitted by pixel  122   b  may further be based on additional control of one or more subpixels  126  via color controller  131 , as described below in more detail with respect to module  414  of  FIG. 4 . 
     Certain pixels  122  of display assembly output component  112   a  (e.g., pixels  122 -P 3  through  122 -P 997 ) may be configured to transmit both invisible light data (e.g., second invisible light data  164 ) as well as visible light data (e.g., textual information visible light data  174 ) onto and through second region  163  of display surface  180 , either simultaneously or in rapid alternating fashion (e.g., at the display refresh rate of data transmission of display assembly output component  112   a ). Each one of such pixels may be configured like any one of pixels  122   a  and  122   b . However, in some embodiments, certain other pixels  122  of display assembly component  112   a  (e.g., pixels  122 -P 2  and  122 -P 998 ) may be configured to transmit only visible light data (e.g., textual information visible light data  174 ) onto and through a region of display surface  180  between first region  161  and second region  163 . Such pixels may be similar to pixels  122   a  and  122   b , but may not include invisible light subpixel  124 -SP 4  or invisible light subpixel  126 -SP 4  and invisible light color filter  128 - 1 . Moreover, in some embodiments, certain other pixels  122  of display assembly component  112   a  (e.g., pixels  122 -P 1  and  122 -P 999 ) may be configured to transmit only visible light data (e.g., first invisible light data  162 ) onto and through first region  161  of display surface  180 . Such pixels may be similar to pixels  122   a  and  122   b , but may not include visible light subpixels  124 -SP 1  through  124 -SP 3  or visible light subpixels  126 -SP 1  through  126 -SP 3  and visible light color filters  128 -R,  128 -G, and  128 -B. For example, first region  161  may be a border region of touch screen I/O component  114   a  that may not be configured to transmit visible light data, as that region may not be configured to receive any user touches so close to an edge of surface  180 , and it may be desirable to avoid transmitting any visible light data through such a portion of surface  180  that a user cannot communicatively or interactively touch. Therefore, first region  161  may be utilized by a portion of display assembly output component  112   a  that may be configured to transmit only invisible light data. In other embodiments, all pixels  122  of display assembly output component  112   a  (e.g., pixels  122 -P 1  through  122 -P 999 ) may be configured to transmit both invisible light data as well as visible light data, either simultaneously or in rapid alternating fashion (e.g., at the display refresh rate of data transmission of display assembly output component  112   a ). 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a light data management system  401  of electronic device  100  that may be provided to manage the various types of light data (e.g., visible light data and invisible light data) that may be transmitted by device  100  (e.g., via display assembly output component  112   a ). System  401  may be configured to receive light data from various sources and combine the received data into one or more instructions or control signals for one or both of color controller  131  and intensity controller  141  to properly control the operation of display assembly output component  112   a . For example, as shown, system  401  may be configured to receive visible light color data  403  from a visible light color data source  402 , where visible light color data  403  may be any suitable data that may be representative of the visible content to be provided to a user (e.g., visible light data  172 ,  174 , and  176  of GUI  170 ), and where visible light color data source  402  may be any suitable source for providing such data (e.g., an airline ticketing application  103 , which may be accessible to processor  102 ). Moreover, as also shown, system  401  may be configured to receive invisible light color data  405  from an invisible light color data source  404 , where invisible light color data  405  may be any suitable data that may be representative of the invisible content to be provided to a scanner (e.g., invisible light data  162  and  164 ), and where invisible light color data source  404  may be any suitable source for providing such data (e.g., an airline ticketing application  103 , which may be accessible to processor  102 , or any other source that may be distinct from visible light color source  402 ). Moreover, as also shown, system  401  may be configured to receive visible light intensity data  407  from a visible light intensity data source  406 , where visible light intensity data  407  may be any suitable data that may be representative of the intensity (e.g., brightness) value(s) at which visible content is to be provided to a user (e.g., the intensity at which visible light data  172 ,  174 , and  176  of GUI  170  is to be displayed to user  200 ), and where visible light intensity data source  406  may be any suitable source for providing such intensity data (e.g., an airline ticketing application  103 , which may be accessible to processor  102 , or a more root application  103  of device  100  that may dictate all other applications running on device  100 , such as an application that dictates the intensity of any information displayed by output component  112   a , where such intensity data of such an application may be controlled by a user of device  100  (e.g., by increasing or decreasing the desired intensity of visible light data from output component  112   a  via a user&#39;s interaction with one or more of input components  110   d  and  110   e )). Moreover, as also shown, system  401  may be configured to receive invisible light intensity data  409  from an invisible light intensity data source  408 , where invisible light intensity data  409  may be any suitable data that may be representative of the intensity (e.g., brightness) value(s) at which invisible content is to be provided to a user (e.g., the intensity at which invisible light data  162  and/or  164  is to be displayed to scanner  300 ), and where invisible light intensity data source  408  may be any suitable source for providing such intensity data (e.g., an airline ticketing application  103 , which may be accessible to processor  102 , or a more root application  103  of device  100  that may dictate all other applications running on device  100 , such as an application that dictates the intensity of any invisible information displayed by output component  112   a , where such intensity data of such an application may be controlled by scanner information received from scanner  300  and/or any other suitable factor that may be determined by device  100 ). 
     Depending on the type of display technology utilized by display assembly output component  112   a , a particular one of multiple data combiner modules of system  401  may be used to process received data  403 ,  405 ,  407 , and  409  for providing one or more control signals to one or both of color controller  131  and intensity controller  141  of display assembly output component  112   a . For example, when display assembly output component  112   a  utilizes one or more pixels not configured to generate its own luminance but that utilizes a backlight with both a visible light source and a distinct invisible light source (e.g., pixel  122   b  of  FIG. 3B  with visible light source  145  and invisible light source  147 ), system  401  may at least leverage a first data combiner module  410 . First data combiner module  410  may be configured to receive and process both visible light color data  403  and invisible light color data  405 , and then first data combiner module  410  may be configured to generate and transmit a corresponding first color control signal  411  to color controller  131  based on such received and processed visible light color data  403  and invisible light color data  405 . First color control signal  411  may be configured to control color controller  131  to appropriately electrically control electronic switch matrix  130  for electrically controlling every pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120  such that pixel matrix  120  may transmit both visible light data (e.g., visible light data  172 ,  174 , and  176  of GUI  170 ) according to visible light color data  403  as well as invisible light data (e.g., invisible light data  162  and/or  164 ) according to invisible light color data  405 . Concurrently, system  401  may pass visible light intensity data  407  on to visible light source  145  and invisible light intensity data  409  on to invisible light source  147  of intensity controller  141 , where visible light intensity data  407  may be configured to control visible light source  145  of intensity controller  141  to appropriately transmit visible light  144  through backlight  140  such that each pixel of pixel matrix  120  may transmit visible light data of an appropriate intensity according to visible light intensity data  407 , and where invisible light intensity data  409  may be configured to control invisible light source  147  of intensity controller  141  to appropriately transmit invisible light  146  through backlight  140  such that each pixel of pixel matrix  120  may transmit invisible light data of an appropriate intensity according to invisible light intensity data  409 . 
     As another example, when display assembly output component  112   a  utilizes one or more pixels not configured to generate its own luminance but that utilizes a backlight with an all light source (e.g., pixel  122   b  of  FIG. 3B  with one or more all light sources  143 , which may be configured to transmit full spectrum light  142  over the full spectrum of both visible light and invisible light through backlight  140 ), system  401  may at least leverage a third data combiner module  414 . Third data combiner module  414  may be configured to receive and process both visible light color data  403  and invisible light color data  405 , and then third data combiner module  414  may be configured to generate and transmit a corresponding third color control signal  415  to color controller  131  based on such received and processed visible light color data  403  and invisible light color data  405 . Third color control signal  415  may be configured to control color controller  131  to appropriately electrically control electronic switch matrix  130  for electrically controlling every pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120  such that pixel matrix  120  may transmit both visible light data (e.g., visible light data  172 ,  174 , and  176  of GUI  170 ) according to visible light color data  403  as well as invisible light data (e.g., invisible light data  162  and/or  164 ) according to invisible light color data  405 . Concurrently, third data combiner module  414  may be configured to receive and process both visible light intensity data  407  and invisible light intensity data  409 , and then third data combiner module  414  may be configured to generate and transmit a corresponding intensity control signal  417  to intensity controller  131  based on such received and processed visible light intensity data  407  and invisible light intensity data  409 , where intensity control signal  417  may be configured to control all light source  143  of intensity controller  141  to appropriately transmit full spectrum light  142  through backlight  140  such that each pixel of pixel matrix  120  may transmit both visible light data of an appropriate intensity at least partially according to intensity control signal  417  and invisible light data of an appropriate intensity at least partially according to intensity control signal  417 . However, in such embodiments, because there may be only a single type of light source for providing light through backlight  140  to all subpixels of pixel matrix  120  (e.g., to visible light subpixel  126 -SP 1  and to invisible light subpixel  126 -SP 4 ), additional control must be provided by third data combiner module  414  to at least partially independently control the intensity of visible light and the intensity of invisible light transmitted by display assembly output component  112   a . Therefore, third data combiner module  414  may be configured to generate and transmit corresponding third color control signal  415  to color controller  131  based not only on received and processed visible light color data  403  and invisible light color data  405 , but also based on one or both of received and processed visible light intensity data  407  and invisible light intensity data  409  (e.g., based on the difference between received and processed visible light intensity data  407  and invisible light intensity data  409 ). For example, while a user may dictate the value of visible light intensity data  407  (e.g., based on manual input selection), an application may automatically dictate the value of invisible light intensity data  409  (e.g., based on requirements of scanner  300 ). As these values of data  407  and  409  may differ, use of a single full spectrum light source  143  of backlight  140  must be supplemented by varying the electric control of electronic switch matrix  130  (e.g., using third color control signal  415 ) to universally raise or lower the amount of full spectrum light  142  from source  143  that is allowed to be transmitted through each visible light subpixel of pixel matrix  120  or to universally raise or lower the amount of full spectrum light  142  from source  143  that is allowed to be transmitted through each invisible light subpixel of pixel matrix  120 . For example, in some embodiments, third data combiner module  414  may be configured to let visible light intensity data  407  dictate the intensity level of full spectrum light  142  emitted by source  143  (e.g., as communicated to intensity controller  141  via intensity control signal  417 ), while third data combiner module  414  may be configured to enable invisible light intensity data  409  to appropriately adjust the intensity of invisible light data transmitted by pixel matrix  120  by at least partially generating third color control signal  415  for controlling color controller  131  based on invisible light intensity data  409  (e.g., based on a difference between invisible light intensity data  409  and visible light intensity data  407 ). 
     As yet another example, when display assembly output component  112   a  utilizes one or more pixels configured to generate its own luminance without utilizing a backlight (e.g., pixel  122   a  of  FIG. 3A ), system  401  may at least leverage a second data combiner module  412 . Second data combiner module  412  may be configured to receive and process visible light color data  403 , invisible light color data  405 , visible light intensity data  407 , invisible light brightness data  409 , and then second data combiner module  412  may be configured to generate and transmit a corresponding second color control signal  413  to color controller  131  based on such received and processed visible light color data  403 , invisible light color data  405 , visible light intensity data  407 , invisible light brightness data  409 . Second color control signal  413  may be configured to control color controller  131  to appropriately electrically control electronic switch matrix  130  for electrically controlling every pixel  122  of pixel matrix  120  such that pixel matrix  120  may transmit both visible light data (e.g., visible light data  172 ,  174 , and  176  of GUI  170 ) according to visible light color data  403  and visible light intensity data  407 , as well as invisible light data (e.g., invisible light data  162  and/or  164 ) according to invisible light color data  405  and invisible light intensity data  409 . Due to the fact that each pixel of such a pixel matrix  120  may be independently controlled by switch matrix  130  to determine its own color and intensity for both visible light data and invisible light data without any effect by a backlight, second data combiner module  412  need not generate and transmit a distinct control signal to intensity controller  141 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an illustrative process  500  for transmitting data using invisible light. At step  502  of process  500 , visible light data may be transmitted via a display assembly of an electronic device. For example, as described with respect to  FIGS. 2-4 , visible light data  174  may be transmitted by display assembly output component  112   a  of electronic device  100 , where visible light data  174  may be seen and comprehended by user  200 . At step  504  of process  500 , invisible light data may be transmitted via the display assembly, where the transmitted invisible light data includes information configured to be received and comprehended by a scanner device remote from the electronic device. For example, as described with respect to  FIGS. 2-4 , invisible light data  164  may be transmitted by display assembly output component  112   a  of electronic device  100 , where invisible light data  164  includes information (e.g., with respect to a redeemable airline ticket) configured to be received and comprehended by scanner  300  that may be remote from electronic device  100 . In some embodiments, steps  502  and  504  may occur simultaneously. In other embodiments, process  500  may alternate between steps  502  and  504  at a refresh rate of the display assembly. 
     It is understood that the steps shown in process  500  of  FIG. 5  are merely illustrative and that existing steps may be modified or omitted, additional steps may be added, and the order of certain steps may be altered. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an illustrative process  600  for transmitting data using invisible light. At step  602  of process  600 , an electronic device may determine a type of scanner configured to read data to be provided by the electronic device, and then at step  604  of process  600 , a particular protocol of multiple available protocols may be chosen by the electronic device based on the determined type of scanner, and then at step  606  of process  600 , invisible light data may be transmitted via a display assembly of the electronic device according to the chosen protocol. In some embodiments, the multiple available protocols include a first protocol for transmitting the invisible light data by switching between simultaneously transmitting invisible light via every pixel of the display assembly able to transmit invisible light and simultaneously not transmitting invisible light via every pixel of the display assembly able to transmit invisible light, and a second protocol for transmitting the invisible light data by simultaneously transmitting invisible light via a first group of pixels of the display assembly able to transmit invisible light and not transmitting invisible light via a second group of pixels of the display assembly able to transmit invisible light. For example, as described above with respect to  FIGS. 2-4 , electronic device  100  may determine a type of scanner  300  that may receive invisible light data transmitted by device  100 , and device  100  may transmit invisible light data to scanner  300  according to a protocol (e.g., as a barcode or according to a Morse-code type protocol) at least partially based on the determined scanner type. 
     It is understood that the steps shown in process  600  of  FIG. 6  are merely illustrative and that existing steps may be modified or omitted, additional steps may be added, and the order of certain steps may be altered. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an illustrative process  700  for transmitting invisible light. At step  702  of process  700 , an electronic device may detect a need for additional light in an environment of the electronic device. For example, light sensor input component  110   j  of electronic device  100  may be configured to determine when additional light may be needed in an environment of device  100  for a particular purpose (e.g., for properly detecting a face of user  200  of device  100 ). Next, at step  704  of process  700 , the electronic device may determine that the amount of visible light in the environment is to be limited. For example, an application  103  of processor  102  of device  100  may determine that the amount of visible light in the environment of device  100  is to be limited (e.g., in response to detecting that there is currently little visible light in the environment or the user has instructed device  100  to limit the amount of visible light in the environment). For example, the user may configure device  100  to be in a “night-time reading mode”, where the user wishes for device  100  to generate as little visible light as possible (e.g., to generate only the amount of visible light to provide the user with visible data to be read, such as textual visible light data  174 ). Next, at step  706 , process  700  may include transmitting both visible light and invisible light into the environment via a single display assembly of the electronic device in response to the detected need of step  702  and in response to the determination of step  704 . For example, device  100  may transmit textual visible light data  174  via display assembly  112   a  that may be read by user  200 , and device  100  may also transmit invisible light via display assembly  112   a , where such invisible light may reflect off of user  200  and the reflected invisible light may be received by device  100  (e.g., via an invisible light sensor input component  110   j ), where such received reflected invisible light may be used by device  100  to recognize a face of user  200 . This may be preferable over reflecting visible light off of user  200  suitable for facial recognition due to the determination at step  604  to limit the amount of visible light in the environment. 
     It is understood that the steps shown in process  700  of  FIG. 7  are merely illustrative and that existing steps may be modified or omitted, additional steps may be added, and the order of certain steps may be altered. 
     Moreover, one, some, or all of the processes described with respect to  FIGS. 1-7  may each be implemented by software, but may also be implemented in hardware, firmware, or any combination of software, hardware, and firmware. They each may also be embodied as machine-or computer-readable code recorded on a machine-or computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be any data storage device that can store data or instructions which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of such a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory  104  of  FIG. 1 ) may include, but are not limited to, read-only memory, random-access memory, flash memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, removable memory cards, optical data storage devices, and the like. The computer-readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. For example, the computer-readable medium may be communicated from one electronic device to another electronic device using any suitable communications protocol (e.g., the computer-readable medium may be communicated to electronic device  100  via communications component  106  (e.g., as at least a portion of application  103 )). Such a transitory computer-readable medium may embody computer-readable code, instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media. A modulated data signal may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. 
     It is to be understood that any or each module of system  401  may be provided as a software construct, firmware construct, one or more hardware components, or a combination thereof. For example, any or each module of system  401  may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, that may be executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, a program module may include one or more routines, programs, objects, components, and/or data structures that may perform one or more particular tasks or that may implement one or more particular abstract data types. It is also to be understood that the number, configuration, functionality, and interconnection of the modules of system  401  are merely illustrative, and that the number, configuration, functionality, and interconnection of existing modules may be modified or omitted, additional modules may be added, and the interconnection of certain modules may be altered. 
     At least a portion of one or more of the modules of system  401  may be stored in or otherwise accessible to device  100  in any suitable manner (e.g., in memory  104  of device  100  (e.g., as at least a portion of application  103 )). Any or each module of system  401  may be implemented using any suitable technologies (e.g., as one or more integrated circuit devices), and different modules may or may not be identical in structure, capabilities, and operation. Any or all of the modules or other components of system  401  may be mounted on an expansion card, mounted directly on a system motherboard, or integrated into a system chipset component (e.g., into a “north bridge” chip). 
     Any or each module of system  401  may be a dedicated system implemented using one or more expansion cards adapted for various bus standards. For example, all of the modules may be mounted on different interconnected expansion cards or all of the modules may be mounted on one expansion card. With respect to system  401 , by way of example only, the modules of system  401  may interface with a motherboard or processor  102  of device  100  through an expansion slot (e.g., a peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”) slot or a PCI express slot). Alternatively, system  401  need not be removable but may include one or more dedicated modules that may include memory (e.g., RAM) dedicated to the utilization of the module. In other embodiments, system  401  may be at least partially integrated into device  100 . For example, a module of system  401  may utilize a portion of device memory  104  of device  100 . Any or each module of system  401  may include its own processing circuitry and/or memory. Alternatively, any or each module of system  401  may share processing circuitry and/or memory with any other module of system  401  and/or processor  102  and/or memory  104  of device  100 . 
     It is also to be understood that visible light may include all electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. Such visible light may have a wavelength in the range of about 360 nanometers to about 740 nanometers. Invisible light may include electromagnetic radiation that is not visible to the human eye, such as ultraviolet light below 360 nanometers and infrared light above 740 nanometers. 
     While there have been described systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transmitting data using invisible light via a display assembly of an electronic device, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein in any way. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20131101
Publication Date: 20170411
Grant Date: 20170411
Priority Date: 20131101
Inventors: SHADLE BRIAN
FARKHONDEH EHSAN
CHOI SHIN JOHN
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2370/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2370/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2370/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3406", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2370/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 53006668