Metal Shield and Housing for Optical Proximity Sensor with Increased Resistance to Mechanical Deformation
First Claim
1. An optical proximity sensor, comprising:
- an infrared light emitter operably connected to and driven by a light emitter driving circuit;
a light detector operably connected to and driven by a detector sensing circuit;
a metal housing or shield formed of metal and comprising first and second apertures located over the light, emitter and the light defector, respectively, such that at least a first portion of light emitted by the light detector passes through the first aperture, and at least a second portion of the first portion of light reflected from an object of interest in proximity to the sensor passes through the second aperture for detection by the light detector;
wherein the metal housing or shield further comprises first and second modules within which the light detector and light detector are disposed, respectively, the first and second modules comprising adjoining optically opaque metal inner sidewalls to provide optical isolation between the first and second modules, the first and second inner sidewalls further being separated from one another by at least one metal tab foldably disposed therebetween, the at least one metal tab being configured to transfer a vertical force applied to one end of one module to an opposite end of the other module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical proximity sensor is provided that comprises an infrared light emitter operably connected to and driven by a light emitter driving circuit and a light detector operably connected to and driven by a detector sensing circuit. A metal housing or shield formed of metal and comprising first and second apertures surrounds the light emitter and the light detector such that at least a first portion of light emitted by the light detector passes through the first aperture, and at least a second portion of the first portion of light reflected from an object of interest in proximity to the sensor passes through the second aperture for detection by the light detector. The metal housing or shield further comprises first and second modules within which the light detector and light detector are disposed, respectively. The first and second modules comprise adjoining optically opaque metal inner sidewalls that provide optical isolation between the first and second modules, where the first and second inner sidewalls are separated from one another by at least one metal tab foldably disposed therebetween. The at least one metal tab is configured to transfer a vertical force applied to one end of one module to an opposite end of the other module.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical proximity sensor, comprising:
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an infrared light emitter operably connected to and driven by a light emitter driving circuit; a light detector operably connected to and driven by a detector sensing circuit; a metal housing or shield formed of metal and comprising first and second apertures located over the light, emitter and the light defector, respectively, such that at least a first portion of light emitted by the light detector passes through the first aperture, and at least a second portion of the first portion of light reflected from an object of interest in proximity to the sensor passes through the second aperture for detection by the light detector; wherein the metal housing or shield further comprises first and second modules within which the light detector and light detector are disposed, respectively, the first and second modules comprising adjoining optically opaque metal inner sidewalls to provide optical isolation between the first and second modules, the first and second inner sidewalls further being separated from one another by at least one metal tab foldably disposed therebetween, the at least one metal tab being configured to transfer a vertical force applied to one end of one module to an opposite end of the other module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of forming a metal housing or shield for an optical proximity sensor, comprising:
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forming a flat sheet of metal configured to be folded into the shield or housing, the flat sheet of metal comprising a plurality of tabs extending outwardly therefrom; folding the flat sheet of metal into first and second modules, configured to house a light emitter and a light detector therewithin, respectively, such that the first and second modules comprise adjoining optically opaque metal inner sidewalls to provide optical isolation therebetween, the first and second inner sidewalls further being separated from one another by the plurality of tabs foldably disposed therebetween, the tabs and first and second modules further being configured to translate a vertical force applied to one end of one of the modules to ah opposite end of the other module. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification