Optoelectronic module with low- and high-power illumination modes

• US 10,408,922 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: Ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Dahlmann, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolda, Eric L
• Application Number:
  US15/172,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20170212220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4816 of receivers alone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure describes optoelectronic modules with low- and high-power illumination modes for distance measurements and/or multi-dimensional imaging. Various implementations are described that include low- and high-power emitters. In some instances, a low-power mode may be used to monitor a scene where object movement can activate a high-power mode. In such instances, power reduction may be achieved.

Claims

1. An optoelectronic module comprising:

a substrate on which are integrated an imaging assembly, a first illumination assembly, and a second illumination assembly;

the imaging assembly including a pixel array operable to detect one or more wavelengths of light, an imaging assembly spacer, and an imaging optical assembly, wherein the pixel array is mounted to the substrate, and the imaging assembly spacer is disposed in between the imaging optical assembly and the substrate, and the optical assembly is aligned with the pixel array;

the first illumination assembly including a first emitter operable to emit a first emitted light of one or more wavelengths, a first emitter spacer, and a first optical assembly operable to allow a first emission of the first emitted light to pass, wherein the first emitter is mounted to the substrate, and the first emitter spacer is disposed in between the first optical assembly and the substrate, and the first optical assembly is aligned with the first emitter;

the second illumination assembly including a second emitter operable to emit a second emitted light of one or more wavelengths, a second emitter spacer, and a second optical assembly operable to allow a second emission of the second emitted light to pass, wherein the second emitter is mounted to the substrate, and the second emitter spacer is disposed in between the second optical assembly and the substrate, and the second optical assembly is aligned with the second emitter;

the first illumination assembly and the second illumination assembly arranged, respectively, to generate first and second respective illuminations with different powers from one another,

wherein the optoelectronic module is operable such that the first emission results in a first illumination on an object in a scene at a first position and a first illumination on the object in a scene at a second position, the first illumination on the object in a scene at a first position generating a first reflected light from the object in a scene at a first position and the first illumination on the object in a scene at a second position generating a first reflected light from an object in a scene at a second position, and the second emission resulting in a second illumination on the object in a scene, the second illumination generating a second reflected light from the object in the scene.

2. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 wherein the module is operable to determine a distance to an object based on reflections of light from the object detected by the pixel array of the imaging assembly, wherein a change in position of the object detected by the module activates emission of light by the second emitter.

3. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 operable such that a change in position of the object detected by the module causes the first emitter to cease illumination.

4. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 operable such that the first reflected light from the object in the scene at a first position is collected by the imaging assembly, and the distance between the optoelectronic module and the object at the first position is determined.

5. The optoelectronic module of claim 4 operable such that the first reflected light from the object in the scene at a second position is collected by the imaging assembly, and the distance between the optoelectronic module and the object at the second position is determined.

6. The optoelectronic module of claim 5 operable such that a difference in the determined distance of the object in the scene at the first position and the determined distance of the object in the scene at the second position initiates emission of the second emitted light of the second illumination assembly.

7. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 operable such that the second reflected light from the object in the scene is collected by the imaging assembly, and the distance between the optoelectronic module and the object is determined.

8. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 operable such that the second emitter is operable to emit light at a higher power than the first emitter.

9. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 operable such that, when activated, at least one of the first emitter or the second emitter operates in a pulsed mode.

10. The optoelectronic module of claim 1 operable such that the second emitter has a field of view that encompasses a field of view of the first emitter.

11. An optoelectronic module comprising:

a substrate on which are integrated an imaging assembly and a hybrid illumination assembly;

the imaging assembly including a pixel array operable to detect one or more wavelengths of light, an imaging assembly spacer, and an imaging optical assembly, wherein the pixel array is mounted to the substrate, and the imaging assembly spacer is disposed in between the imaging optical assembly and the substrate, and the optical assembly is aligned with the pixel array; and

the hybrid illumination assembly arranged to generate first and second respective illuminations with different powers from one another and including a hybrid emitter, the hybrid emitter including a first emitter region operable to emit a first emitted light of one or more wavelengths, and a second emitter region operable to emit a second emitted light of one or more wavelengths, an emitter spacer, and a hybrid optical assembly including a first optical assembly region operable to allow a first emission of the first emitted light to pass, and a second optical assembly region operable to allow a second emission of the second emitted light to pass, wherein the first emitter region and the second emitter region are mounted to the substrate, and the emitter spacer is disposed in between the hybrid optical assembly and the substrate, and the first optical assembly region is aligned with the first emitter region, and the second optical assembly region is aligned with the second emitter,

wherein the optoelectronic module is operable such that the first emission results in a first illumination on an object in a scene at a first position and a first illumination on the object in a scene at a second position, the first illumination on the object in a scene at a first position generating a first reflected light from the object in a scene at a first position and the first illumination on the object in a scene at a second position generating a first reflected light from an object in a scene at a second position, and the second emission resulting in a second illumination on the object in a scene, the second illumination generating a second reflected light from the object in the scene.

12. The optoelectronic module of claim 11 wherein the module is operable to determine a distance to an object based on reflections of light from the object detected by the pixel array of the imaging assembly, wherein a change in position of the object detected by the module activates emission of light by the second emitter region, and wherein a change in position of the object detected by the module causes the first emitter region to cease illumination.

13. The optoelectronic module of claim 11, further comprising a second imaging assembly, the second imaging assembly including a second pixel array operable to detect one or more wavelengths of light, a second imaging assembly spacer, and a second imaging optical assembly, wherein the second pixel array is mounted to the substrate and the second imaging assembly spacer is disposed in between the second imaging optical assembly and the substrate, and the second optical assembly is aligned with the second pixel array, wherein the optoelectronic module is operable to determine a distance to an object based on stereo imaging.

14. The optoelectronic module of any one of claim 11, further comprising an autofocus assembly.

15. The optoelectronic module of claim 11 operable such that:

reflected light from the object in the scene at a first position is collected by the imaging assembly, and the distance between the optoelectronic module and the object at the first position is determined,

reflected light from the object in the scene at a second position is collected by the imaging assembly, and the distance between the optoelectronic module and the object at the second position is determined, and

a difference in the determined distance of the object in the scene at the first position and the determined distance of the object in the scene at the second position initiates emission of the second emitted light of the second illumination assembly.