Image capture apparatus

• US 10,713,465 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gingy Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gingy Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Cheng-Jyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Bedtelyon, John
• Application Number:
  US15/956,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20180293423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12107 Grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12138 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0977 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14629 Reflectors

Abstract

An image capture apparatus including a light guide element, an image capture device and a light emitting device. The light guide element has a first side, a second side and a light emitting portion located at the second side. The light emitting portion includes a plurality of enhanced transmission microstructures. The image capture device is disposed on the second side of the light guide element corresponding to the position of the enhanced transmission microstructures. A light beam, which is generated by the light emitting device and transmitted at least by the light guide element, is totally reflected to form a signal light beam. Thereafter, the signal light beam passes through the enhanced transmission microstructures and then is received by the image capture device.

Claims

1. An image capture apparatus, comprising:

a light guide element having a first side and a second side, wherein the light guide element has a light emitting portion disposed on the second side, and the light emitting portion has a plurality of enhanced transmission microstructures;

an image capture device disposed on the second side of the light guide element corresponding to the position of the enhanced transmission microstructures; and

a light emitting device for generating a light beam which is transmitted in the light guide element;

wherein the light beam undergoes at least one total reflection in the light guide element to form a signal light beam passing through the enhanced transmission microstructure and then received by the image capture device,

wherein the light guide element has a total reflection critical angle, and each enhanced transmission microstructure includes a light receiving area enabling an incident angle of the signal light beam to be less than the total reflection critical angle, and a back area enabling an incident angle of the signal light beam to be greater than the total reflection critical angle, and the light receiving area is greater than back area.

2. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light transmitting element disposed on the first side of the light guide element, wherein the light beam are transmitted by the light guide element and the light transmitting element, and then totally reflected by an outer surface of the light transmitting element to form the signal light beam.

3. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the enhanced transmission microstructures is an asymmetrical pillar having a ridgeline, the light receiving area and a vertical reference plane passing through the ridgeline form a first angle, and the back area and the vertical reference plane form a second angle, and the first angle is greater than the second angle.

4. The image capture apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light receiving area and the back area are respectively located at two opposite sides of the vertical reference plane.

5. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the enhanced transmission microstructures are arranged in an array, each of the enhanced transmission microstructures is an eccentric micro-lens having a vertex, any tangent plane to the light receiving area at any point and a vertical reference plane passing through the vertex form a first angle, any tangent plane to the back area at any point and the vertical reference plane passing through the vertex form a second angle, and the first angle is greater than the second angle.

6. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving area of each of the enhanced transmission microstructures is an inclined plane or a curved surface, and the back area of each of the enhanced transmission microstructures is an inclined plane or a curved surface.

7. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a first reflective element disposed on the first side and a second reflective element disposed on the second side;

wherein, the light beam is sequentially reflected by the first reflective element and the second reflective element to be transmitted in the light guide element.

8. The image capture apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first reflective element and the second reflective element at least partially overlap in a thickness direction of the light guide element.

9. The image capture apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third reflective element disposed on the second side and spaced apart from the second reflective element, wherein the light beam is reflected by the first reflective element, the second reflective element, and the third reflective element to be transmitted in the light guide element.

10. The image capture apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a light absorbing element disposed on the second side and between the second reflective element and the third reflective element, wherein the first reflective element and the second reflective element at least partially overlap in a thickness direction of the light guide element.

11. The image capture apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a fourth reflective element disposed on the first side and spaced apart from the first reflective element;

the light beam is sequentially reflected by first reflective element, the second reflective element, the third reflective element, and the fourth reflective element to be transmitted in the light guide element.

12. The image capture apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:

another light absorbing element disposed between the first reflective element and the fourth reflective element, wherein two light absorbing elements at least partially overlap in a thickness direction of the light guide element.

13. The image capture apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the light guide element further includes a plurality of optical microstructures disposed between the second reflective element and the third reflective element, such that a portion of the light beam reflected by the first reflective element passes through the optical microstructures and then emits out from the light guide element.

14. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a fourth reflective element disposed on the first side and spaced apart from the first reflective element, wherein the light beam is sequentially reflected by first reflective element, the second reflective element, the third reflective element, and the fourth reflective element to be transmitted in the light guide element.

15. The image capture apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a light absorbing element disposed between the first reflective element and the fourth reflective element, wherein the light absorbing element and a distribution area of the optical microstructures at least partially overlap in a thickness direction of the light guide element.

16. The image capture apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of the first reflective element, the second reflective element, the third reflective element, and the fourth reflective element includes optical gratings.

17. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate, wherein the light emitting device, the light guide element, and the image capture device are disposed on the substrate, the light guide element has a first recessed portion for receiving the light emitting device, and a second recessed portion which is located at the second side for respectively accommodating the image capture device, and the plurality of enhanced transmission microstructures are located on a surface of the second recessed portion.

18. The image capture apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a block disposed in the first recessed portion, wherein the block is disposed between the light emitting device and the image capture device to prevent the light beam from being directly received by the image capture device.

19. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a substrate, wherein the light emitting device, the light guide element, and the image capture device are disposed on the substrate; and

an optical adhesive connected between the substrate and the light guide element so as to fix the light guide element on the substrate, wherein the light emitting device and the image capture device are embedded in the optical adhesive, and a gap is defined between the light emitting portion and the image capture device.