PROXIMITY SENSOR
First Claim
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1. A proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object in an environment, the proximity sensor comprising:
- an illumination module which emits optical energy that is propagated into the environment in a plurality of spatially spaced apart beams of optical energy;
a multi-element sensor which receives a portion of the emitted optical energy which is reflected back from the environment;
a holder which aligns the multi-element sensor relative to at least a first portion of the illumination module, the holder having a first portion which holds the first portion of the illumination module in a first position and a second portion which holds the multi-element sensor in a second position spaced apart from the first position, a face of the multi-element sensor being angled relative to a plane which is normal to an optical axis of the illumination module;
a controller coupled to the illumination module and the multi-element sensor; and
a housing which supports the illumination module, the multi-element sensor, and the holder.
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Abstract
A proximity sensor is disclosed. The proximity sensor may be incorporated as part of a water delivery device. A holder which aligns an optical source and sensor of the proximity sensor is disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object in an environment, the proximity sensor comprising:
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an illumination module which emits optical energy that is propagated into the environment in a plurality of spatially spaced apart beams of optical energy; a multi-element sensor which receives a portion of the emitted optical energy which is reflected back from the environment; a holder which aligns the multi-element sensor relative to at least a first portion of the illumination module, the holder having a first portion which holds the first portion of the illumination module in a first position and a second portion which holds the multi-element sensor in a second position spaced apart from the first position, a face of the multi-element sensor being angled relative to a plane which is normal to an optical axis of the illumination module; a controller coupled to the illumination module and the multi-element sensor; and a housing which supports the illumination module, the multi-element sensor, and the holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object in an environment, the proximity sensor comprising:
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a housing having a first plurality of alignment features; a holder having a second plurality of alignment features which cooperate with the first plurality of alignment features to secure the holder to the housing; an optical source positioned on a first side of the holder; a multi-element sensor positioned on the first side of the holder and spaced apart from the optical source; a controller positioned on a second side of the holder opposite of the first side, the controller being coupled to the optical source and the multi-element sensor through the holder; a first optical system supported by the housing and aligned with the optical source; and a second optical system supported by the housing and aligned with the multi-element sensor, the first optical system being spaced apart from the optical source and the second optical system being spaced apart from the first optical system and from the multi-element sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object in an environment, the proximity sensor comprising:
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an illumination module which emits optical energy that is propagated into the environment in a plurality of spatially spaced apart beams of optical energy, the illumination module including a first optical source and a diffraction grating which splits optical energy from the first optical source into the plurality of spatially spaced apart beams of optical energy; a multi-element sensor which receives a portion of the emitted optical energy which is reflected back from the environment, the received portion having a plurality of spaced apart peaks; a controller coupled to the illumination module and the multi-element sensor; and a housing which supports the illumination module, the multi-element sensor, and the holder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification