Proximity Sensor, Camera Module Comprising Same, and Mobile Terminal Comprising Same

• US 20180031728A1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Kyung Ha
• Granted Patent: US 10,539,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/481 Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/14 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a proximity sensor, a camera module comprising same, and a mobile terminal comprising same and comprises: a housing; a substrate disposed inside the housing; a sound output unit mounted on the substrate; a display unit disposed on the upper side of the housing; a camera module comprising a proximity sensor, which comprises a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit and detects the proximity of a user to the display unit at a predetermined distance by having the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit disposed at either side of the sound output unit, and a control unit for receiving the amount of light emitted by the light-emitting unit and the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit as inputs from the proximity sensor so as to operate the display unit; and a cover unit disposed on the display unit and provided over the sound output unit and the proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor comprising:

a substrate;

a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit disposed on the substrate so as to be spaced apart from each other;

a spacing maintainer disposed between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit;

a reflector having a first reflecting plane configured to refract light emitted from the light-emitting unit and a second reflecting plane configured to refract light introduced into the light-receiving unit; and

a cover unit disposed above the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit and the spacing maintainer, and the cover unit having a lattice hole.

2. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting unit includes:

a first body configured to support the light-emitting unit;

an infrared light-emitting diode provided to face the first reflecting plane that is disposed on one side of the first body; and

a first lens disposed in a first hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the first body.

3. The proximity sensor according to claim 2, wherein a molding material is disposed between the first body and a lower end surface of the first reflecting plane.

4. The proximity sensor according to claim 2, wherein the substrate and the infrared light-emitting diode are electrically connected to each other via a first wire disposed between the substrate and the infrared light-emitting diode, and the first wire is coated with a light-transmissive resin.

5. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light-receiving unit includes:

a second body configured to support the light-receiving unit;

a photodiode provided to face the second reflecting plane that is disposed on one side of the second body; and

a second lens disposed in a second hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the second body.

6. The proximity sensor according to claim 5, wherein a molding material is disposed between the second body and a lower end surface of the second reflecting plane.

7. The proximity sensor according to claim 5, wherein the substrate and the photodiode are electrically connected to each other via a second wire disposed between the substrate and the photo diode, and the second wire is coated with a light-transmissive resin.

8. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting plane and the second reflecting plane have an inclination angle ranging from 35 degrees to 50 degrees relative to the substrate.

9. The proximity sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first reflecting plane and the second reflecting plane are formed of at least one of acryl and polycarbonate.

10. A camera module comprising:

a display unit;

a proximity sensor including a substrate, a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit disposed on the substrate so as to be spaced apart from each other, a spacing maintainer disposed between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit, a reflector having a first reflecting plane configured to refract light emitted from the light-emitting unit and a second reflecting lane configured to refract light introduced into the light-receiving unit, and a cover unit disposed above the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit and the spacing maintainer, and the cover unit having a lattice hole, the proximity sensor being configured to sense whether a user has approached the display unit within a predetermined distance;

a photographing lens disposed close to the proximity sensor;

a controller configured to drive the display unit when receiving the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting unit and the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit from the proximity sensor; and

a touch sensor configured to convert pressure applied to a specific region of the display unit or variation in capacitance generated in a specific region of the display unit into electrical input signals.

11. The camera module according to claim 10, wherein the controller performs control to cause the display unit to be in a use state when the proximity sensor does not sense that the user has approached the display unit within the predetermined distance, and performs control to cause the display unit to be in a non-use state when the proximity sensor senses that the user has approached the display unit within the predetermined distance.

12. The camera module according to claim 10, further comprising an input unit to which whether or not the display unit is to be used is input,

wherein the controller performs switching of the display unit between the use state and the non-use state in response to an input to the input unit.

21. The camera module according to claim 10, wherein the light-emitting unit includes:

a first body configured to support the light-emitting unit;

an infrared light-emitting diode provided to face the first reflecting plane that is disposed on one side of the first body; and

a first lens disposed in a first hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the first body.

22. The camera module according to claim 10, wherein the light-receiving unit includes:

a second body configured to support the light-receiving unit;

a photodiode provided to face the second reflecting plane that is disposed on one side of the second body; and

a second lens disposed in a second hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the second body.

13. A mobile terminal comprising:

a housing;

a substrate disposed inside the housing;

a sound output unit seated on the substrate;

a display unit disposed on an upper surface of the housing;

a camera module including a proximity sensor, which includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit disposed at opposite sides of the sound output unit to sense whether a user has approached the display unit within a predetermined distance, and a controller, which is configured to drive the display unit when receiving the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting unit and the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit from the proximity sensor; and

a cover unit disposed on the display unit so as to be provided above the sound output unit and the proximity sensor.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the light-emitting unit includes:

a first body configured to support the light-emitting unit;

an infrared light-emitting diode disposed on an inner lower end surface of the first body; and

a first lens disposed in a first hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the first body.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the light-receiving unit includes:

a second body configured to support the light-receiving unit;

a photodiode disposed on an inner lower end surface of the second body; and

a second lens disposed in a second hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the second body.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, wherein the proximity sensor includes a first reflecting plane configured to refract light emitted from the light-emitting unit and a second reflecting plane configured to refract light introduced into the light-receiving unit.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 16, wherein the light-receiving unit includes:

a second body configured to support the light-receiving unit;

a photodiode provided to face the second reflecting plane that is disposed on one side of the second body; and

a second lens disposed in a second hole that is formed in an upper end surface of the second body.

23. The mobile terminal according to claim 13, further comprising a sensing unit configured to generates sensing signals for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal by sensing the current state of mobile terminal.

17. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)