Abstract: Provided are devices and methods capable of electronically controlling and varying aperture diameters or diffracting light. The method provides a solid-state device made up of a transparent bottom electrode (TBE), a layer of liquid crystal (LC) material overlying the TBE, and a field of selectively engageable transparent top electrodes (TTEs). Light incident to the TTEs is accepted and a voltage differential between one or more selected TTEs and the TBE. As a result, an optically transparent region is created in the LC material interposed between the selected TTEs and the TBE. Depending on the arrangement of the TTEs and their size respective to the wavelength of the incident light, the light is either transmitted through an aperture or diffracted.

Abstract: An electronic device and method are provided having an optical image sensor and a capacitive proximity sensor. A pin hole opening within a ring electrode of the capacitive proximity sensor is integrated into and used by the optical sensor. Inner and outer electrodes of the ring electrode can be centered about the pin hole opening and spaced apart to perform capacitive proximity detection of a live finger. When brought in proximity to the ring electrode, the finger can be imaged using the present integrated capacitive proximity sensor with an optical sensing mechanism that utilizes the pin hole to not only allow for micro-imaging of an object, such as a finger, but also to provide high resolution fingerprint comparison and blood oxyhemoglobin saturation comparison for biometric control and access to an electronic device, such as a mobile phone.