阅读说明：本技术 用户设备的传感器模块 (Sensor module for user equipment ) 是由 R.格鲁尔克 J.拉西特 R.V.谢诺 R.西瓦林加姆 K.李 K.S.阿拉姆 于 2020-02-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的各个方面总体上涉及传感器模块。在一些方面,传感器模块可以包括被配置为附接到用户设备的相机模块的套环。套环可以包括被配置为与相机模块的相机的孔对齐的第一开口和第二开口。传感器模块可以包括嵌入在套环中的传感器。传感器可以与套环的第二开口对齐。提供了许多其他方面。(Aspects of the present invention generally relate to sensor modules. In some aspects, the sensor module may include a collar configured to attach to a camera module of the user device. The collar may include a first opening and a second opening configured to align with an aperture of a camera of the camera module. The sensor module may include a sensor embedded in the collar. The sensor may be aligned with the second opening of the collar. Numerous other aspects are provided.)

1. A sensor module, comprising:

a collar configured to attach to a camera module of a user device,

wherein the collar comprises:

a first opening configured to align with an aperture of a camera of the camera module, an

A second opening; and

a sensor embedded in the collar, the sensor having a sensor,

wherein the sensor is aligned with the second opening of the collar.

2. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a low power sensor that facilitates always-on detection capability.

3. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the first opening is configured to receive a lens unit of the camera.

4. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a high resolution camera and the sensor comprises a low resolution camera.

5. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a light emitter configured to emit light into a field of view of the sensor,

wherein the light enables the sensor to detect a user, character, or object.

6. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising a light emitter configured to emit light,

wherein the light facilitates transmission of communication signals associated with the user equipment.

7. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor is included within a sensor attachment module embedded in the collar.

8. The sensor module of claim 7, wherein the sensor attachment module further comprises at least one of a reflective device configured to redirect the field of view of the sensor or an optical device configured to define the field of view of the sensor.

9. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein a display side surface of the collar is configured to be coplanar with or below a plane of a display surface of the user device when the sensor module is installed within the user device.

10. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located below at least one of:

diffractive elements of the display surface of a user device, or

A refractive element of a display surface of a user device.

11. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors embedded in the collar and the second opening is one of a plurality of sensor openings of the collar,

wherein the plurality of sensors are correspondingly aligned with the plurality of sensor openings.

12. The sensor module of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to enable detection of a user, character, or object within a hemispherical field of view relative to a display of the user device.

13. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to capture optical communication signals to be received by the user device.

14. The sensor module of claim 1, wherein the sensor is designed to use less power than the camera.

15. A camera module for a user device, the camera module comprising:

a camera is arranged on the base station,

wherein the camera comprises:

a hole, and

a lens unit including a lens;

a structure configured to support the camera; and

a sensor with always-on detection capability,

wherein the sensor is attached to the structure.

16. The camera module of claim 15, further comprising:

a collar configured to be attached to the structure,

wherein the collar comprises:

a first opening aligned with the aperture, an

A second opening; and is

Wherein the sensor is embedded in the collar,

wherein the sensor is aligned with the second opening of the collar.

17. The camera module of claim 16, wherein the first opening is configured to receive the lens unit.

18. The camera module of claim 16, wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors embedded in the collar and the second opening is one of a plurality of sensor openings of the collar,

wherein the plurality of sensors are correspondingly aligned with the plurality of sensor openings, an

Wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to enable detection of a user, character or object within a hemispherical field of view relative to a display of the user device.

19. The camera module of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises a low power sensor that facilitates the always-on detection capability.

20. The camera module of claim 15, wherein the camera comprises a high resolution camera and the sensor comprises a low resolution camera.

21. A communication module of a user equipment, the communication module comprising:

a collar configured to attach to a camera module of the user device,

wherein the collar comprises:

a plurality of openings are arranged on the base plate,

wherein a first opening of the plurality of openings is configured to align with an aperture of a camera of the camera module;

a light emitter embedded in the collar,

wherein the light emitter is aligned with a second opening of the plurality of openings, an

Wherein the optical transmitter is configured to transmit light comprising a communication signal associated with the user device; and

a sensor embedded in the collar, the sensor having a sensor,

wherein the sensor is aligned with the second opening of the collar, an

Wherein the sensor is configured to capture optical communication signals to be received by the user device.

22. The communication module of claim 21, the light emitter configured to emit light that enables the sensor to detect a user, character, or object.

23. The communication module of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises a low power sensor that facilitates always-on detection capability.

24. The communication module of claim 21, wherein the camera comprises a high resolution camera and the sensor comprises a low resolution camera.

25. The communication module of claim 21, wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors embedded in the collar, the light emitter is one of a plurality of light emitters embedded in the collar, the second opening is one of a plurality of sensor openings of the plurality of openings,

wherein the plurality of sensors and the plurality of light emitters are correspondingly aligned with the plurality of sensor openings, an

Wherein the plurality of sensors and the plurality of light emitters are configured to enable optical communication within a hemispherical field of view relative to a display side of the user device.

26. A user equipment, comprising:

a camera module including a camera, and a camera module,

wherein the camera comprises:

a hole, and

a lens unit including a lens; and

a sensor module, comprising:

a collar configured to be attached to the camera module,

wherein the collar comprises:

a first opening configured to align with the aperture of the camera, an

A second opening; and

a sensor with always-on detection capability,

wherein the sensor is embedded in the collar and aligned with the second opening of the collar.

27. The user equipment of claim 26, further comprising:

a communication module, the communication module comprising:

a light emitter embedded in the collar,

wherein the light emitter is aligned with the second opening, an

Wherein the optical transmitter is configured to transmit light comprising a communication signal associated with the user equipment,

wherein the communication module utilizes the sensor to capture optical communication signals to be received by the user device.

28. The user equipment of claim 26, wherein the sensor comprises a low power sensor that facilitates always-on detection capability.

29. The user device of claim 26, wherein the camera comprises a high resolution camera and the sensor comprises a low resolution camera.

30. The user device of claim 26, wherein the sensor is designed to use less power than the camera.

Technical Field

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to sensor modules, and to sensor modules of user devices.

Background

Sensors are used in user equipment for various purposes. Such sensors may be used to sense one or more characteristics associated with a user device. These characteristics may include one or more characteristics of the environment of the user device. For example, one or more sensors may be configured to detect the presence of a user, detect motion, measure ambient lighting, and the like.

Disclosure of Invention

In some aspects, a sensor module may include: a collar (collar) configured to attach to a camera module of a user device, wherein the collar comprises: a first opening configured to align with a camera aperture of a camera module, and a second opening; and a sensor embedded in the collar, wherein the sensor is aligned with the second opening of the collar.

In some aspects, a camera module may include: a camera, wherein the camera comprises: an aperture, and a lens unit including a lens; a structure configured to support a camera; and a sensor having always-on detection capability, wherein the sensor is attached to the structure.

In some aspects, a communication module of a user equipment includes: a collar configured to attach to a camera module of a user device, wherein the collar comprises: a plurality of openings, wherein a first opening of the plurality of openings is configured to align with an aperture of a camera module; a light emitter embedded in the collar, wherein the light emitter is aligned with a second opening of the plurality of openings, and wherein the light emitter is configured to transmit light comprising a communication signal associated with a user device; and a sensor embedded in the collar, wherein the sensor is aligned with the second opening of the collar, and wherein the sensor is configured to capture an optical communication signal to be received by the user device.

In some aspects, a user equipment may include: a camera module including a camera, wherein the camera includes: an aperture, and a lens unit including a lens; and a sensor module comprising: a collar configured to attach to a camera module, wherein the collar comprises: a first opening configured to align with an aperture of a camera, and a second opening; and a sensor having an always-on detection capability, wherein the sensor is embedded in the collar and aligned with the second opening of the collar.

Aspects generally include methods, apparatuses, systems, computer program products, non-transitory computer-readable media, user equipment, wireless communication devices, and processing systems substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings and description.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of an example in accordance with the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conception and specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the appended claims. The features of the concepts disclosed herein, their organization and method of operation, and the associated advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the claims.

Drawings

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to aspects, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the description may admit to other equally effective aspects. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

Fig. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example environment in which a sensor module described herein may be implemented in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating example components of one or more devices (such as user equipment) shown in fig. 1, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3-7 are diagrams conceptually illustrating examples associated with a sensor module, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented in this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the present disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or in combination with any other aspect of the present disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover an apparatus or method that is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the present disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the present disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

Many user devices (e.g., mobile devices, computers, wearable devices, etc.) may include one or more cameras to allow a user to capture images using the user device. Further, in some cases, a camera may be included on the display side of the user device so that an image of the user may be captured when the user is facing and/or interacting with a display (e.g., an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display) of the user device. The display on the user device may preferably cover almost the entire display side of the user device (e.g., with a wall-to-wall display), e.g., to enhance the user experience of the user device. However, including a camera on the display side of the user device may inherently require that a portion of the display side of the user device is not covered by the display and/or that the display includes an opening so that the aperture of the camera may be exposed to the environment of the display side of the user device.

Further, in some cases, the user device is configured to perform detection analysis (e.g., facial recognition analysis, character recognition analysis, etc.) on images captured by the display-side camera. For example, detection analysis may be performed to activate (e.g., power on, wake up, etc.) the display when a user is detected and/or to unlock the display to allow a particular user to interact with the user device. The user device may preferably employ face detection that is always on (e.g., to enhance the user experience of the user device) so that a display of the user device may be activated and/or unlocked without physical interaction (e.g., picking up the user device, pressing a button of the user device, etc.) by the user with the user device. Additionally or alternatively, the user device may preferably be able to detect characters (e.g., barcodes, Quick Response (QR) codes, etc.) without requiring physical interaction by the user with the user device (e.g., to enhance the user experience of the user device). However, this always-on capability requires that the camera (e.g., the camera on the display side) be always on (e.g., always capturing an image) when the user device is powered on. The camera may preferably be a high resolution camera (e.g., to enhance the user experience associated with capturing high resolution images). However, such high resolution cameras (e.g., cameras capable of capturing images in excess of one million pixels or larger) may consume a relatively large amount of power (e.g., greater than 100 milliwatts (mW)), which may quickly drain the battery of the user device if the high resolution camera is always on.

Some embodiments described herein provide a sensor module that enables object detection (e.g., face detection, character detection, etc.) and consumes a relatively small area of the display side of the user device (e.g., the same area used for the camera module) to allow the display of the user device to cover almost the entire display side. The sensor module may include a collar having relatively the same dimensions as the camera module (e.g., within a manufacturing tolerance, within a threshold percentage, etc.), such that the combination of the sensor module and the camera module consumes an amount of area of the display side of the user device that is equivalent to an amount of area of the display side that would be consumed by the camera module without the sensor module. The sensor module may include one or more sensors embedded within a collar that includes an opening that aligns with a camera of the camera module such that the collar fits around a lens unit of the camera module. In this way, the sensor module as described herein enables the opening in the display of the camera module to be more effectively utilized by enabling one or more sensors to use the opening without requiring additional openings for the sensors to be included in the display. In other words, the sensor module may utilize the same opening in the display that is available for the camera module.

Further, as described herein, the sensors of the sensor module can be low resolution (e.g., less than one million pixels), low power (e.g., consuming less than 10mW) sensors capable of always-on detection capabilities (e.g., always-on face detection, always-on character detection, and/or always-on object detection). In this manner, the sensor modules described herein allow for always-on detection (e.g., always-on facial recognition, always-on character recognition, always-on object recognition, etc.) while consuming relatively small areas of the display side of the user device (e.g., the same areas consumed by the associated camera module).

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example environment 100 in which a sensor module described herein may be implemented in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 1, environment 100 may include user equipment 110, wireless communication device 120, and/or network 130. The devices of environment 100 may be interconnected via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

User device 110 includes one or more devices that can include one or more sensor modules described herein. For example, user device 110 may include one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associated with one or more sensors described herein. More specifically, the user device 110 may include a communication and/or computing device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone, a wireless phone, etc.), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a gaming device, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart watch, a pair of smart glasses, etc.), or similar types of devices.

Similar to user device 110, wireless communication device 120 includes one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associated with one or more sensors described herein. For example, the wireless communication device 120 may include a base station, an access point, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, similar to the user device 110, the wireless communication device 120 may include a communication and/or computing device, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone, a wireless phone, etc.), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a gaming device, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart watch, a pair of smart glasses, etc.), or similar types of devices.

The network 130 includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, the network 130 may include a cellular network (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, a 4G network, a 5G network, another type of next generation network, etc.), a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the internet, a fiber-based network, a cloud computing network, etc., and/or a combination of these or other types of networks.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in fig. 1 are provided as one or more examples. In practice, there may be additional devices and/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/or networks, or a different arrangement of devices and/or networks than those shown in fig. 1. Further, two or more of the devices shown in fig. 1 may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in fig. 1 may be implemented as multiple distributed devices. Additionally or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) of environment 100 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices of environment 100.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of example components of a device 200. Device 200 may correspond to user device 110 and/or wireless communication device 120. Additionally or alternatively, user device 110 and/or wireless communication device 120 may include one or more devices 200 and/or one or more components of device 200. As shown in fig. 2, device 200 may include a bus 205, a processor 210, a memory 215, a storage component 220, an input component 225, an output component 230, a communication interface 235, and one or more sensors 240 (individually referred to as "sensors 240" and collectively referred to as "sensors 240").

Bus 205 includes components that allow communication among the components of device 200. Processor 210 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), Accelerated Processing Unit (APU), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), microprocessor, microcontroller, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and/or other types of processing components. The processor 210 is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some aspects, processor 210 includes one or more processors that can be programmed to perform functions.

Memory 215 includes a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., flash memory, magnetic memory, and/or optical memory) that stores information and/or instructions for use by processor 210.

The storage component 220 stores information and/or software related to the operation and use of the device 200. For example, storage component 220 may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and/or a solid state disk), a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a tape cartridge, a magnetic tape, and/or other types of non-transitory computer-readable media, and a corresponding drive.

Input components 225 include components that allow device 200 to receive information, e.g., via user input (e.g., a touch screen display, keyboard, keypad, mouse, buttons, switches, and/or microphone). Additionally or alternatively, input component 225 may include sensors for sensing information (e.g., image sensors, position sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, actuators, etc.). In some aspects, input component 225 may include a camera (e.g., a high resolution camera, a low resolution camera, etc.). Output components 230 include components that provide output from device 200 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and/or one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)).

Communication interface 235 includes a transceiver and/or a separate receiver and transmitter that enables device 200 to communicate with other devices, e.g., via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface 235 may allow device 200 to receive information from and/or provide information to another device. For example, communication interface 235 may include an ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, an infrared interface, a Radio Frequency (RF) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, a wireless modem, an inter-integrated circuit (I)²C) Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), etc.

Sensor 240 includes one or more devices capable of sensing a characteristic associated with device 200. The sensor 240 may include one or more integrated circuits (e.g., on a packaged silicon chip) and/or one or more passive components of one or more flexible circuits to enable communication with one or more components of the device 200.

The sensor 240 may include an optical sensor having a field of view in which the sensor 240 may determine one or more characteristics of the environment of the device 200. In some aspects, the sensor 240 may comprise a camera. For example, the sensor 240 may include a low resolution camera (e.g., a Video Graphics Array (VGA)) capable of capturing images of less than one million pixels, images of less than 1216x912 pixels, and so on. Sensor 240 may be a low power device (e.g., a device that consumes less than 10 milliwatts (mW)) having always-on capabilities (e.g., allowing always-on face detection, always-on character recognition, always-on object detection, etc.) when device 200 is powered on.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensors 240 may include magnetometers (e.g., hall effect sensors, Anisotropic Magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors, giant magnetoresistive sensors (GMR), etc.), position sensors (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, Local Positioning System (LPS) devices (e.g., using triangulation, multi-point positioning, etc.), gyroscopes (e.g., micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes or similar types of devices), accelerometers, velocity sensors, motion sensors, infrared sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, etc.

Device 200 may perform one or more of the processes described herein. Device 200 may perform these processes in response to processor 210 executing software instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as memory 215 and/or storage component 220. A computer-readable medium is defined herein as a non-transitory storage device. The storage devices include storage space within a single physical storage device or storage space across multiple physical storage devices.

The software instructions may be read into memory 215 and/or storage component 220 from another computer-readable medium or from another device via communication interface 235. When executed, software instructions stored in memory 215 and/or storage component 220 may cause processor 210 to perform one or more processes described herein. Additionally or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement one or more processes described herein. Thus, aspects described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

In some aspects, device 200 includes means for performing one or more processes described herein and/or means for performing one or more operations of processes described herein. For example, means for performing the processes and/or operations described herein may include the bus 205, the processor 210, the memory 215, the storage component 220, the input component 225, the output component 230, the communication interface 235, the sensor 240, and/or any combination thereof.

The number and arrangement of components shown in fig. 2 are provided as examples. In practice, device 200 may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or a different arrangement of components than those shown in fig. 2. Additionally or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 200 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of device 200.

Fig. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 300 associated with a sensor module, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example 300 includes a user device (e.g., user device 110) comprising a sensor module and a camera module described herein. A top view of the sensor module and camera module is shown in fig. 3. Thus, the sensor module is shown overlapping (or overlaid from a top view) with the camera module (dashed line). The sensor module may be attached (e.g., fastened, secured, connected, glued, etc.) to a camera module (e.g., a structure of the camera module) to allow the camera module and the sensor module to be installed within the user device (e.g., prior to installation of the display surface) as a single assembled unit.

In example 300, a sensor module includes a collar with a sensor embedded within a sensor attachment module. The sensor attachment module may be embedded within the collar. In some aspects, the sensor may be directly embedded (e.g., attached to, mounted in, fastened to, etc.) within the collar (e.g., without a detachable sensor attachment module) and/or the sensor attachment module may be formed as part of the collar. As shown, the collar includes an opening that aligns with the camera aperture. The sensor attachment module (and/or collar) includes a second opening corresponding to the sensor bore of the sensor.

As shown in fig. 3, a portion of the display surface may cover the sensor module (e.g., except for the camera hole and/or the sensor hole). In this way, the display surface of the user device covers a large portion of the user device except for a relatively small portion that allows the apertures of the camera and sensor to be exposed to the display side of the user device.

As described above, fig. 3 is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from that described above in connection with fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 400 associated with a sensor module, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example 400 illustrates a plan view of an assembly and/or combination of a sensor module and a camera module as described herein.

As shown in fig. 4, and by reference numeral 410, the camera module may include a plurality of lenses (shown as dashed lines) within the structure. The one or more lenses may be included within a lens unit that extends from a base of the camera module (which may also include the one or more lenses). The lens unit may correspond to a barrel housing (barrel) of the camera module configured to hold a lens having a relatively smaller diameter (or width) than other lenses of the camera module located in a chassis of the camera module. The base of the camera module may have a width w. Accordingly, the lens unit may have a width less than the width w (e.g., the width of the lens unit may be approximately w/3, w/2, etc.). Further, the lens unit may have a height z.

The camera of the camera module may be a high-resolution camera that is powered by a power source (e.g., a battery) of the user device (e.g., user device 110, device 200, etc.) when installed within the user device. As a high resolution camera, the camera may require 100mW or more of power to capture images and/or video. The camera may be communicatively coupled to the device (e.g., processor 210) via a communication bus (e.g., bus 205) to allow control of the camera and/or to allow the camera to provide captured images to the device.

As further shown in fig. 4, and indicated by reference numeral 420, the sensor module includes a collar, a sensor, an opening, and a hole for the sensor (which may also be considered an opening in the collar). The collar may receive the lens unit in the opening such that the collar is mounted to the camera module when the lens unit is received within the opening. The height of the collar may be substantially equal to the height z of the lens unit. The collar may be any suitable material that can be molded to allow the sensor to be embedded and/or mounted within the collar.

The sensor may be any suitable sensor capable of sensing one or more characteristics of the environment of the sensor module via the aperture (once installed in the user device, the environment may be the same environment as the environment of the user device). For example, the sensor may be a low resolution camera, an optical sensor capable of detecting light (e.g., ambient light, infrared light, optical communication signals, etc.), an infrared sensor, a pressure sensor, a microphone, and/or the like. The sensors of the sensor module may be low power sensors requiring less than 10mW of power to operate. Thus, the sensor may require less power than the camera of the camera module. For example, the sensor may be a low resolution camera requiring less than 10mW (e.g., 1mW, 2mW, 5mW, etc.) to capture images and/or video of the environment via the aperture. Thus, the sensor may be configured and/or designed to use less power than the camera (e.g., less power from the battery of the user device).

In this manner, the sensor may enable an always-on detection capability that enables a user, character, object, etc. to be detected without requiring the user to interact with a touch input component of the user device, to pick up (and/or touch) the user device, etc. Further, in the always-on mode, the sensor may record a sliding window of images captured by the sensor as a pre-roll video (e.g., a video captured during a time period before and/or during face detection of a user, character detection of characters, object detection of an object, etc.). Accordingly, a sliding window of images may be saved as a forward-scrolling video accessible by a user via a user device (e.g., to allow identification of the user via the forward-scrolling video).

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor may be an infrared sensor capable of performing always-on detection when the environment of the sensor module is dark. For example, a device associated with the sensor module may include a low-power light emitter that emits infrared light, and the infrared sensor may sense reflections of the emitted light, which may be analyzed for face detection, character detection, object detection, and so forth.

As further shown in fig. 4, and indicated by reference numeral 430, the sensor module may include a reflective device to allow the sensor to be in an offset position relative to an axis of symmetry of the sensor module (e.g., a central axis of the collar opening). As shown, the reflective device may redirect the field of view of the sensor through the aperture so that the environment may be captured (e.g., in an image) and/or analyzed by the sensor. In some aspects, the sensor module may include an optical device (e.g., a lens, a prism, etc.) configured to define a field of view of the sensor. The mirror (and/or optical device) may be included within a sensor attachment module embedded within the collar. In this case, the sensor attachment module may be detachable and/or pre-assembled before being mounted within the collar of the sensor module.

In this manner, the sensor module and/or camera module of example 400 may allow for always-on detection of a user device associated with the sensor module and/or camera module while the sensor module and/or camera module is configured to consume the same area of the display side of the user device as the camera module alone.

As described above, fig. 4 is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from that described above in connection with fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 500 associated with a sensor module, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example 500 includes a sensor module having a plurality of sensors. A plan view and a top view of the sensor module are shown in fig. 5. The collar of the sensor module may include corresponding sensor holes (or sensor openings) for a plurality of sensors. Each of the plurality of sensors may be a low power sensor as described herein. Each of the plurality of sensors may be the same type of sensor (e.g., all of the plurality of sensors may be or may include a low resolution camera, an infrared sensor, etc.). Alternatively, one of the plurality of sensors may be a different type of sensor than another of the plurality of sensors (e.g., one sensor may be a low resolution camera and another may be an infrared sensor).

As shown in fig. 5, a plurality of sensors are mounted around the camera hole. For example, one or more pairs of sensors may include sensors that are opposite one another (e.g., on opposite sides of an opening of a sensor module).

Each sensor in example 500 may have an effective field of view that is at an angle to the effective field of view of the camera. As shown, the sensor field of view may be offset from a camera field of view centerline (which may correspond to an axis of symmetry of the sensor module and/or camera module, for example) by an angle of approximately 45 degrees. In some aspects, each sensor within the collar may be oriented at an angle (e.g., about 45 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 60 degrees, etc.) to the axis of symmetry of the sensor module. Example 500 may allow for a hemispherical field of view (e.g., 180 degrees x360 degrees field of view) of multiple sensors (shown as four sensors arranged at 90 degrees to each other relative to an opening or center of the sensor module), a display side of the user device (once the sensor module is installed in the user device). Thus, the sensor module enables a gaze-pointed (focused like) visual sensing capability (e.g., which may mimic and/or be related to the human visual system).

In this way, the sensor module may allow for an always-on detection capability with a hemispherical view.

As described above, fig. 5 is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from that described above in connection with fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 600 associated with a sensor module, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example 600 provides another example of a sensor module having a plurality of sensors. Similar to example 500, the sensor module of example 600 may allow a hemispherical field of view. For example, as shown, the sensor module may include one or more refractive elements (e.g., microprisms) and/or diffractive elements that redirect light (e.g., at an angle of about 45 degrees, about 30 degrees, about 60 degrees, etc.) into the sensor module. In this way, the display side surface of the sensor module may be flush (e.g., coplanar) with and/or below the plane of the display surface (while the display side surface of the sensor module of example 500 may not be flush with the plane of the display surface).

As described above, fig. 6 is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from that described above in connection with fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example 700 associated with a sensor module, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example 700 includes a sensor module to facilitate optical communication, as described herein. Thus, using the sensor module of example 700, a user device (e.g., user device 110, device 200, etc.) may optically communicate with one or more devices (e.g., wireless communication device 120) using light (e.g., light containing communication signals).

The sensor module may include an optical sensor (shown as a sensor array) capable of receiving an input signal (e.g., an input signal that will provide information to the user device). Further, the sensor module may include a light emitter (shown as an array of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)) configured to transmit light including an output signal (e.g., a communication signal having information transmitted from the user device).

Similar to the sensor modules of examples 500 and 600 of fig. 5 and 6, respectively, multiple sensors may be configured within the sensor module to provide a hemispherical field of view (e.g., of the display side of the user device). For optical communications (e.g., which may be associated with cellular communications), the sensor module of example 700 enables receiving optical signals from all angles of the display side of the user device. Further, such sensors may be low power to allow the sensor to be on all the time so that a signal may be received all the time (when the user device is powered on). Further, the sensor module may enable the sensor to provide line-of-sight communication and/or signal directionality over the common hemispherical field of view of the user device as desired.

In addition to receiving line-of-sight optical information, the sensor module also allows line-of-sight emission via light emitters embedded in the sensor module. For example, for a signal received from a particular direction, the transmitted reply may be sent in the opposite direction. Thus, the sensor module may include a sensor attachment module having an optical sensor to facilitate reception of optical communication signals and also having an optical emitter to facilitate transmission of optical communication signals. Thus, for a signal received at a location (x, y) on one or more optical sensors of a sensor module, a reply (e.g., facing the same direction in which the signal was received) may be given using an LED located at the location (x, y) of the respective one or more sensor attachment modules (including the optical sensors).

In this manner, as described herein, a user device may be enabled for optical communication via a sensor module while including a display that substantially covers a display side of the user device.

As described above, fig. 7 is provided as an example. Other examples are possible and may differ from that described above in connection with fig. 7.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit aspects to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the aspects.

As used herein, the term "component" is intended to be broadly interpreted as hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. As used herein, a processor is implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

Some aspects are described herein in connection with a threshold. As used herein, meeting a threshold may refer to a value that is greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, and the like.

Even though particular combinations of features are set forth in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the various aspects of the disclosure. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may depend directly on only one claim, the various aspects of the disclosure include each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claims. A phrase referring to "at least one of" a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including a single member. For example, "at least one of a, b, or c" is intended to encompass a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination of a plurality of the same elements (e.g., a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c, or any other order of a, b, and c).

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. In addition, as used herein, the articles "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with "one or more". Further, as used herein, the article "the" is intended to include the item or items referred to by the combined article "the" and may be used interchangeably with "the item or items. Further, as used herein, the terms "set" and "group" are intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, combinations of related and unrelated items, etc.) and may be used interchangeably with "one or more. If only one item is intended, the phrase "only one" or similar language is used. Further, as used herein, the terms "having," "containing," and the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise. Further, as used herein, the term "or" as used in a series is intended to be inclusive and may be used interchangeably with "and/or" unless expressly specified otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with "either" or "only one of").