SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTICAL PROXIMITY DETECTION WITH MULTIPLE FIELD OF VIEWS

摘要

An optical proximity detector includes a plurality photodetectors (PDs) and a winner-take-all (WTA) circuit. Each of the PDs has a respective field of view (FOV) and produces a respective analog current detection signal indicative of light incident on and detected by the PD. In an embodiment, the WTA circuit includes a comparator and a multiplexor (MUX). The comparator compares the analog current detection signals produced by the PDs and produces a selection signal in dependence thereon. The MUX receives the analog current detection signals produced by the PDs and outputs one of the analog current detection signals in dependence on the selection signal produced by the comparator. Circuitry, which is shared by the PDs, produces a digital detection signal corresponding to the one of the analog current detection signals output by the MUX. Such design can be used to reduce power consumption, size and cost of an optical proximity detector.

主权项

1. An optical proximity detector, comprising:
a plurality photodetectors (PDs) each having a respective field of view (FOV) and each producing a respective analog current detection signal indicative of light incident on and detected by the PD; a comparator that compares the plurality of analog current detection signals produced by the plurality of PDs and produces a selection signal in dependence thereon; a multiplexor (MUX) that receives the plurality of analog current detection signals produced by the plurality of PDs and outputs one of the analog current detection signals in dependence on the selection signal produced by the comparator; and circuitry that produces a digital detection signal corresponding to the one of the analog current detection signals output by the MUX.