Invisible light transmission via a display assembly
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).
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.