HOUSING FOR OPTICAL PROXIMITY SENSOR

• US 20120160994A1
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Costello, James, Tan, Wee Sin, Lee, Kai Koon, Saravanan, Rani
• Granted Patent: US 8,841,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors

Abstract

An optical proximity sensor and housing for the same are disclosed. The housing is provided with at least two support structures and at least two modules. A first of the support structures transfers vertical forces applied to one end of a module to an opposite end of the opposite module. A second of the support structures inhibits a pivoting of the modules about the first support structure.

Claims

1. An optical proximity sensor, comprising:

a light source;

a light detector;

a substrate upon which the light source and light detector are mounted; and

a housing, comprising;

a first module comprising a first aperture and comprising a cavity to receive the light source;

a second module comprising a second aperture and comprising a cavity to receive the light detector;

a first support feature provided between the first module and second module, the first support feature providing an interface between the housing and the substrate and being configured to transfer a vertical force applied to the second module to the first module; and

a second support feature provided in the cavity of at least one of the first and second modules, the second support feature configured to minimize tilting of the housing relative to the substrate.

2. The optical proximity sensor of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed of a single piece of material.

3. The optical proximity sensor of claim 2, wherein the single piece of material comprises at least one of a metal and metal alloy.

4. The optical proximity sensor of claim 2, wherein the single piece of material comprises a non-metal.

5. The optical proximity sensor of claim 1, wherein the first support feature comprises at least one tab foldably disposed between the first module and second module.

6. The optical proximity sensor of claim 1, wherein the second support feature is provided in the cavity of the second module.

7. The optical proximity sensor of claim 1, wherein the second module comprises an inner sidewall, two lateral sidewalls adjacent to the inner sidewall, and an outer sidewall, wherein each of the sidewalls comprise one or more tabs which extend from a top surface of the second module and are folded downwardly with respect to the top surface of the second module.

8. The optical proximity sensor of claim 7, wherein the second support feature comprises one or more foldable tabs included in the outer sidewall.

9. The optical proximity sensor of claim 7, wherein the outer sidewall comprises at least one bottom tab portion and at least one top tab portion, wherein the at least one bottom tab portion comprises a foldable extension of at least one of the two lateral sidewalls, wherein the second support feature comprises a foldable extension of the at least one bottom tab portion, and wherein the at least one top tab portion extends from the top surface of the second module.

10. The optical proximity sensor of claim 9, wherein the outer sidewall comprises a gap between the at least one top tab portion and at least one bottom tab portion.

11. The optical proximity sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second modules comprise optically opaque inner sidewalls to provide optical isolation between the first and second modules.

12. The optical proximity sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source driver circuit operably connected to and driving the light source, wherein the light source driver circuit is mounted on the substrate and is received by the first module; and

a detector sensing circuit operably connected to and driving the light detector, wherein the detector sensing circuit is mounted on the substrate and is received by the second module.

13. A housing for an optical proximity sensor having a substrate upon which a light source and light detector are mounted, the housing comprising:

a first module comprising a first aperture and a cavity configured to receive a light source;

a second module comprising a second aperture and a cavity configured to receive a light detector;

a first support feature provided between the first module and second module, the first support feature configured to interface with a substrate and transfer vertical forces applied to the second module to the first module; and

a second support feature provided in the cavity of at least one of the first and second modules, the second support feature configured to minimize tilting of the first and second modules about the first support feature.

14. The housing of claim 13, wherein the first support feature enables a pivoting motion of the first module relative to the second module and wherein the second support feature substantially inhibits the pivoting motion.

15. The housing of claim 13, wherein the first module is connected to the second module via the first support structure.

16. The housing of claim 15, wherein the first support structure comprises a plurality of tabs that are folded and separate the first and second modules so as to substantially inhibit optical cross-talk between the first and second modules.

17. The housing of claim 16, wherein the housing is constructed from a single piece of an optically opaque material.

18. A housing for an optical proximity sensor having a substrate upon which a light source and light detector are mounted, the housing comprising:

a first module comprising a top surface and a plurality of tabs extending from the top surface of the first module, the plurality of tabs being configured to be folded relative to the top surface of the first module to create a first cavity; and

a second module comprising a top surface and a plurality of tabs extending from the top surface of the second module, each of the plurality of tabs being configured to be folded relative to the top surface of the second module to create a second cavity, wherein a first of the plurality of tabs extending from the top surface of the second module includes at least one extension configured to be folded inside the cavity of the second module.

19. The housing of claim 18, wherein the first cavity is configured to receive a light source, wherein the second cavity is configured to receive a light detector, wherein the first module comprises an inner sidewall, at least two lateral sidewalls, and an outer sidewall, wherein the second module comprises an inner sidewall that is connected to the inner sidewall of the first module, at least two lateral sidewalls, and an outer sidewall, wherein the outer sidewall of the second module is foldably connected to at least one of the two lateral sidewalls of the second module, and wherein the outer sidewall of the second module comprises the at least one extension.

20. The housing of claim 19, wherein the at least two lateral sidewalls comprise a first bottom tab portion and a second bottom tab portion, respectively, wherein the first bottom tab portion comprises a first foldable extension, and wherein the second bottom tab portion comprises a second foldable extension.