Optical position sensing with temperature calibration
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a reflector attached to a carrier of a lens assembly, wherein the carrier is coupled to an actuator to move the lens assembly together with the reflector along at least an optical axis of the lens assembly;
a light source for emitting light, whereinthe light comprises light emitted in a first direction that is a direction of a distance to be measured at least partly via a measurement sensor;
the measurement sensor, whereinthe measurement sensor is affixed in a position relative to the light source for receiving light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector;
a lateral shield that blocks detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector but that allows detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector, wherein the lateral shield is affixed between the measurement sensor and the light source;
a monitoring sensor affixed in a position relative to the light source to receive light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector; and
a transverse shield that blocks detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector but that allows detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, an apparatus for performing temperature-compensated measurement of a position of a lens assembly is attached to an autofocus actuator. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a light source for emitting light in a first direction. In some embodiments, a measurement sensor is affixed for receiving light reflected from a reflector. In some embodiments, a lateral shield is affixed in a position blocking detection by the measurement sensor of light having been emitted from light source but having not been reflected from the reflector. In some embodiments, a monitoring sensor is affixed in a position relative to the light source to receive light having been emitted from light source but having not been reflected from the reflector. In some embodiments, a transverse shield is affixed in a position blocking detection by the monitoring sensor of light reflected from the reflector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a reflector attached to a carrier of a lens assembly, wherein the carrier is coupled to an actuator to move the lens assembly together with the reflector along at least an optical axis of the lens assembly; a light source for emitting light, wherein the light comprises light emitted in a first direction that is a direction of a distance to be measured at least partly via a measurement sensor; the measurement sensor, wherein the measurement sensor is affixed in a position relative to the light source for receiving light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector; a lateral shield that blocks detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector but that allows detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector, wherein the lateral shield is affixed between the measurement sensor and the light source; a monitoring sensor affixed in a position relative to the light source to receive light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector; and a transverse shield that blocks detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector but that allows detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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emitting light from a light source, wherein the light comprises light emitted in a first direction that is a direction of a distance to be measured at least partly via a measurement sensor; generating a reflected light measurement by receiving at the measurement sensor light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from a reflector and that has not been blocked by a lateral shield that blocks detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector but allows detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector; generating an emitted light measurement by receiving at a monitoring sensor light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector and that has not been blocked by a transverse shield that blocks detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector but allows detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector; and calculating a temperature dependent position measurement of the reflector based at least in part on the emitted light measurement and the reflected light measurement. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
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controlling emission of light from a light source, wherein the light comprises light emitted in a first direction that is a direction of a distance to be measured at least partly via a measurement sensor; generating a reflected light measurement from an indication of receipt at the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from a reflector and that has not been blocked by a lateral shield that blocks detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector but allows detection by the measurement sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector; generating an emitted light measurement from an indication of receipt at a monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector and that has not been blocked by a transverse shield that blocks detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has been reflected from the reflector but allows detection by the monitoring sensor of light emitted from the light source that has not been reflected from the reflector; and calculating a temperature dependent position measurement of the reflector based at least in part on the emitted light measurement and the reflected light measurement. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification