IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS

• US 20180041674A1
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gingy Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gingy Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Chien-Hsing, Huang, Cheng-Jyun, Shen, Po-Hsun
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1318 using electro-optical elements or layers, e.g. electroluminescent sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An image capture apparatus including a light guide device, a transparent device, a light source and an image capture device is provided. The light guide device includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, a light incident surface connected between the top surface and the bottom surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the top surface. The bottom surface is connected between the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. An acute angle a is included between the light incident surface and the top surface. The transparent device is disposed on the top surface of the light guide device. The light source is used to emit a light beam. The image capture device is disposed on the light emitting surface of the light guide device.

Claims

1. An image capture apparatus, located in an environment medium, comprising:

a light guide device, comprising;

a top surface;

a bottom surface, opposite to the top surface;

an light incident surface, connected between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein an acute angle a is included between the light incident surface and the top surface; and

a light emitting surface, opposite to the top surface, wherein the bottom surface is connected between the light incident surface and the light emitting surface;

a transparent device, disposed on the top surface of the light guide device;

a light source, used to emit a light beam, wherein the light beam passing ough the light incident surface is transmitted toward the transparent device and totally reflected by an interface between the transparent device and the environment medium; and

an image capture device, disposed on the light emitting surface of the light guide device.

2. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acute angle a satisfies a formula (1):

3. The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light incident surface of the light guide device has a recess, the light source is disposed in the recess, and the image capture apparatus further comprises:

an optical adhesive, filled in the recess of the light incident surface to cover the light source and connect the light source and the light guide device, wherein refractive indices of the optical adhesive, the light guide device and the transparent device are the same.

4. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acute angle a satisfies a formula (2):

5. The image capture apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light source is disposed outside the light guide device and located in the environment medium, and wherein refractive indices of the light guide device and the transparent device are the same.

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

a first reflection device, disposed on the top surface of the light guide device and located between the transparent device and the light guide device; and

a second reflection device, disposed on the bottom surface of the light guide device, wherein the light beam passing through the light incident surface is sequentially reflected by the first reflection device and the second reflection device and expanded, the expanded light beam is totally reflected by the interface between the transparent device and the environment medium, and the image capture device is disposed more adjacently to the transparent device than the second reflection device.

7. The image capture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light guide device further comprises:

an inner wall, wherein the light emitting surface is more adjacent to the transparent device than the bottom surface, the inner wall is connected between the bottom surface and the light emitting surface, a recess is formed by the inner wall and the light emitting surface, and the image capture device is disposed in the recess.

8. The image capture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image capture device has a light receiving surface facing the light emitting surface, and the light receiving surface and the light emitting surface are parallel to the top surface.

9. The image capture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image capture device has a light receiving surface facing the light emitting surface, and the light receiving surface and the light emitting surface are inclined with respect to the top surface.

10. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image capture device has a light receiving surface facing the light emitting surface, and the light receiving surface and the light emitting surface are inclined with respect to the top surface.

11. The image capture apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the light beam passing through the light emitting surface is directly transmitted toward the transparent device.

12. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light beam is invisible light.

13. An image capture apparatus, located in an environment medium, comprising:

a light guide device, comprising;

a top surface;

a bottom surface, opposite to the top surface;

a light incident surface, connected between the top surface and the bottom surface; and

a light emitting surface, opposite to the top surface, wherein the bottom surface is connected between the light incident surface and the light emitting surface;

a transparent device, disposed on the top surface of the light guide device;

a light source, used to emit a light beam;

an image capture device, disposed on the light emitting surface of the light guide device;

a first reflection device, disposed on the top surface of the light guide device and located between the transparent device and the light guide device; and

a second reflection device, disposed on the bottom surface of the light guide device, wherein the light beam passing through the light incident surface is reflected by the first reflection device and the second reflection device, and the light beam reflected by the first reflection device and the second reflection device is totally reflected by an interface between the transparent device and the environment medium.

14. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light beam passing through the light incident surface is sequentially reflected by the first reflection device and the second reflection device and expanded, and the image capture device is disposed more adjacently to the transparent device than the second reflection device.

15. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light guide device further comprises:

an inner wall, wherein the light emitting surface is more adjacent to the transparent device than the bottom surface, the inner wall is connected between the bottom surface and the light emitting surface, a recess is formed by the inner wall and the light emitting surface, and the image capture device is disposed in the recess.

16. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein θ

_i is an incident angle of the light beam entering the light guide device through the light incident surface, and θ

_i satisfies a formula (3);

17. The image capture apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light incident surface of the light guide device has a recess, the light source is disposed in the recess, and the image capture apparatus further comprises:

an optical adhesive, filled in the recess of the light incident surface to cover the light source and connect the light source and the light guide device, wherein refractive indices of the optical adhesive, the light guide device and the transparent device are the same.

18. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image capture device has a light receiving surface facing the light emitting surface, and the light receiving surface and the light emitting surface are parallel to the top surface.

19. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image capture device has a light receiving surface facing the light emitting surface, and the light receiving surface and the light emitting surface are inclined with respect to the top surface.

20. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light beam is invisible light.