US 12,345,814 B2
Proximity sensor based communications interface for electronic devices
Dong Zheng, Los Altos, CA (US); James M. Hollabaugh, San Jose, CA (US); Jihyun Cho, Cupertino, CA (US); and Narendra S. Mehta, San Carlos, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/373,533.
Prior Publication US 2023/0011498 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. G01S 17/04 (2020.01); G01S 7/4861 (2020.01); H04B 10/516 (2013.01); H04B 10/60 (2013.01)
CPC G01S 17/04 (2020.01) [G01S 7/4861 (2013.01); H04B 10/516 (2013.01); H04B 10/60 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device configured to detect proximity to an external object and to communicate with a remote data source that transmits optical data, comprising:
a proximity sensor having a light source configured to emit light and having a light detector configured to:
measure the emitted light reflecting off the external object; and
receive the optical data from the remote data source;
an amplifier circuit having an input coupled to the light detector and configured to produce an output signal;
a data slicer circuit having an input configured to receive the output signal from the amplifier circuit; and
an integrating circuit having an input configured to receive the output signal from the amplifier circuit.