Display backlighting using ambient light
An example optical device for backlighting includes a receiver disposed in a mobile device to receive ambient light. The optical device also includes a concentrator to concentrate the received ambient light received through the receiver. The optical device further includes a channeler to direct the ambient light beneath a surface of the mobile device to a digital display of the mobile device.
1. An optical device for backlighting, comprising:
a receiver disposed in a mobile device to receive ambient light;
a concentrator to concentrate the received ambient light received through the receiver, wherein the concentrator comprises a first parabolic mirror to reflect the ambient light to a second parabolic mirror, wherein the second parabolic mirror is to reflect the light back through a slot in the first parabolic mirror; and
a channeler to direct the ambient light beneath a surface of the mobile device to a digital display of the mobile device.
2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a portion of the surface of the mobile device.
3. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the channeler comprises a diffraction film beneath the display.
4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the channeler comprises a tilted mirror between two reflective surfaces under the display.
5. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the channeler comprises a stepped mirror between two reflective surfaces under the display.
6. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors to switch between the ambient light and an electrical backlight.
7. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors at the receiver to adjust angles to create a reflex angle between the MEMS mirrors and the ambient light.
8. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser to allow light to enter a display and prevent light from escaping the display.
9. A method for backlighting digital displays, comprising:
detecting a reflex angle at an optical device;
enabling reflex backlighting to illuminate a display of a mobile device using ambient light received via a receiver of the optical device based on the detected reflex angle; and
concentrating, via a concentrator, the ambient light received via the receiver, wherein the concentrator comprises a first parabolic mirror to reflect the ambient light to a second parabolic mirror, wherein the second parabolic mirror is angled to reflect light back through a space between the first parabolic mirror and a neighboring third parabolic mirror.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting a departure from the reflex angle; and
disabling the reflex backlighting based on the detected departure.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reflex backlighting is further enabled or disabled based on a comparison of ambient light with an electronic backlight.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reflex angle comprises an angle within a predetermined threshold range of angles with respect to a vertical axis.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reflex angle is based on a source of light.
14. At least one computer readable medium for backlighting a display using ambient light having instructions stored therein that, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to:
detect a reflex angle at an optical device;
enable a reflex backlight to illuminate a display of a mobile device using ambient light received via a receiver of the optical device in response to detecting the reflex angle; and
concentrate, via a concentrator, the ambient light received via the receiver, wherein the concentrator comprises a first parabolic mirror to reflect the ambient light to a second parabolic mirror, and wherein the second parabolic mirror is to reflect the light back through a slot in the first parabolic mirror.
15. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14 , comprising instructions to:
detect a departure from the reflex angle; and
disable a reflex backlight in response to detecting the departure from the reflex angle.
16. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14 , comprising instructions to enable a reflex backlight based on a detected intensity of ambient light as compared to a threshold electronic backlight intensity.
17. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14 , comprising instructions to switch between an electronic backlight and a reflex backlight based on a detected ambient light intensity.
18. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14 , comprising instructions to reduce an intensity of an electronic backlight based on a detected ambient light intensity.