Proximity sensor

• US 10,271,444 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2018
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optosys SA
• Original Assignee: Optosys SA
• Inventors: Liggenstorfer-Heimlicher, Annette, Bochud, Roland, Genilloud, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Aychillhum, Andargie M
• Application Number:
  US15/990,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20180376605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 361749, 361748
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/14 influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/20 by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/26 characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9505 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/952 using inductive coils
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0277 Bendability or stretchability details H05K1/038, H05K3/4691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0278 Rigid circuit boards or rigid supports of circuit boards locally made bendable, e.g. by removal or replacement of material
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/148 Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09263 Meander
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4691 Rigid-flexible multilayer circuits comprising rigid and flexible layers, e.g. having in the bending regions only flexible layers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0034 having an overmolded housing covering the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 : Covers

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a proximity sensor for detecting the proximity of an object, the sensor including a sensing element (11), a detection circuitry (65), and a housing (5), the sensing element (11) being arranged in a front portion (21) of the housing (5) such that it is adapted to interact with the object through the front portion (21) and the detection circuitry being interconnected with the sensing element (11) in order to receive a detection signal from the sensing element (11), wherein the detection circuitry (65) is provided on a circuit board (15, 15A, 15B, 15C) extending at least through a middle portion (22) of the housing (5).

To allow a better flexibility of the sensor along its length expansion, it is proposed that the housing (5) includes multiple segments (41, 42, 43, 44) that are consecutively arranged in a longitudinal direction (27) from a rear end (56) toward a front end (55) of the housing (5), wherein neighboring segments of said segments (41, 42, 43, 44) are linked to each other via a respective pivot axis (35, 39, 40) extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction (27), such that the housing (5) is bendable around each of said pivot axes (35, 39, 40), wherein both of said front portion (21) and said middle portion (22) each includes at least one of said segments (41, 42, 43, 44), and wherein the circuit board (15, 15A, 15B, 15C) includes at least one bendable section (61, 75, 76, 77, 85, 86) extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction (27), said bendable section (61, 75, 76, 77, 85, 86) being provided inside said neighboring segments (41, 42, 43, 44).

Claims

1. A proximity sensor for detecting the proximity of an object, the sensor comprising a sensing element, a detection circuitry, and a housing, the sensing element being arranged in a front portion of the housing such that it is adapted to interact with the object through the front portion and the detection circuitry being interconnected with the sensing element in order to receive a detection signal from the sensing element, wherein the detection circuitry is provided on a circuit board extending at least through a middle portion of the housing, wherein the housing comprises multiple segments that are consecutively arranged in a longitudinal direction from a rear end toward a front end of the housing, wherein neighboring segments of said segments are linked to each other via a respective pivot axis extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction, such that the housing is bendable around each of said pivot axes, wherein both of said front portion and said middle portion each comprises at least one of said segments, and wherein the circuit board comprises at least one bendable section extending transversely with respect to said longitudinal direction, said bendable section being provided inside said neighboring segments, wherein said pivot axis is provided by a rotational connection in between said neighboring segment, the rotational connection being provided in opposing lateral side walls of the housing, wherein said rotational connection comprises at least one recess provided in one of said neighboring segments and at least one protrusion fitting a form of said recess and being provided in the other of said neighboring segments such that a positive mechanical engagement in between said recess and said form fitting protrusion is provided.

2. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said middle portion comprises at least two of said segments.

3. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least four of said segments and three pivot axes linking each two neighboring segments.

4. The proximity sensor according to claim 3, wherein the pivot axes are arranged in a common virtual plane.

5. The proximity sensor according to claim 3, wherein the pivot axes are substantially equidistantly spaced from one another.

6. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board.

7. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said segments comprised in said front portion is longer in said longitudinal direction than at least one of said segments comprised in said middle portion.

8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a transmission cable, the transmission cable being connected to said detection circuitry inside the housing and passing through a rear wall at a rear end of the housing.

9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board is spaced apart from opposing vertical side walls of the housing, the vertical side walls being provided above and below said at least one pivot axis.

10. The proximity sensor according to claim 9, wherein a protection layer is provided in between said circuit board and said opposing vertical side walls.

11. The proximity sensor according to claim 10, wherein said protection layer is provided by a molding compound surrounding said circuit board.

12. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an external cover surrounding said segments.

13. The proximity sensor according to claim 12, wherein the external cover is provided by a molding compound.