Light source module

• US 10,234,545 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Sander, Avner, Yahav, Giora, Pellman, Asaf, Felzenshtein, Shlomo, Larry, Eli, Mandelboum, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong, Henry
• Application Number:
  US12/957,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20120140484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,030 Days
• Field of Search: 315334, 315363, 315185 R, 315189, 315185 S, 3622961, 36231112, 362358, 362169, 362215, 362268, 362335, 362455, 372 29013, 372 3805, 372 87, 438 25- 26, 438122, 438574, 438578-579, 438666, 257431-433, 257773-776, 257778
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides apparatus for providing light pulses comprising a light source electrically connected to a low inductance configuration of electrodes for electrically connecting the light source to a power supply.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing light pulses, the apparatus comprising:

a configuration of coplanar electrodes comprising at least one first electrode configured to form a recess and a second electrode that is a heat sink at least a portion of which seats in the recess ; and

a light source mounted to and electrically connected to the at least a portion of the second electrode that seats in the recess and electrically connected to the at least one first electrode so that current that powers the light source flows parallel to a same first direction in each of the at least one first electrode and flows in a second direction substantially anti-parallel to the first direction in the second electrode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrodes and the electrical connections between the light source and the electrodes present an inductance to a circuit that powers the light source that is less than or equal to 3 nH (nanohenrys).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the inductance is less than or equal to 2.8 nH.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the inductance is less than or equal to 2.0 nH.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the light source is connected to the at least one first electrode by at least one bondwire lead having length less than or equal to about 1.5 mm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one bondwire lead length is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one first electrode comprises a single first electrode having a U shaped portion comprising two parallel arms connected by a third arm that forms the recess.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second electrode is a substantially “

E”

shaped electrode having three arms extending from a same side of a common backbone, wherein the middle arm of the substantially E shaped electrode seats in the recess and is bracketed by the parallel arms of the single first electrode.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the middle arm of the substantially E shaped electrode and the parallel arms of the U shaped electrode have lengths along directions that are less than or equal to 7.5 mm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the lengths are less than or equal to 3.5 mm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the middle arm of the substantially E shaped electrode and the parallel arms of the U shaped portion of the second electrode have widths larger than their respective thickness.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein a width of at least one of the middle arm of the substantially E shaped electrode and the parallel arms of the U shaped electrode portion of the second electrode has a ratio of width divided by thickness that is greater than or equal to about 1.25.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the ratio is greater than or equal to about 2.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the middle arm of the substantially E shaped electrode and the parallel arms of the U shaped portion of the second electrode has a width greater than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the width is greater than or equal to about 0.8 mm.

16. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a distance between the middle arm and a parallel arm of the two parallel arms is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising a casting in which the electrodes and light source are embedded.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the electrodes comprise conducting pins that extend from the casting.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the casting comprises at least one mating part configured to mate with a corresponding mating part of a component to which the casting is coupled.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one first electrode comprises two first electrodes, each having a relatively long leg and a short foot extending from the leg and wherein the feet of the two first electrodes face each other so that the first electrodes form the recess and wherein the second electrode comprises a portion seated between the feet and to which the light source is mounted.