Optical displacement measuring apparatus

• US 5,995,229 A
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
• Inventors: Omi, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenberger, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US09/158,102
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 356/373, 356/374, 356/395, 33/707, 250/237 G
• US Class Current: 356/616
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34715 Scale reading or illumination devices

Abstract

In an optical encoder having a reflection-type scale and a sensor head 1, the sensor head 1 is formed of a resin-molded block 10. The block 10 has a hole 15 opened to be opposed to the scale, and interconnection lines. In the hole 15, a light emitting device 20 is buried so as to irradiate the scale. A device substrate 30, on which a light receiving IC chip 32 is mounted for receiving the reflected light from the scale, is attached to the front surface of the block 10. The interconnection lines 12, to which the light emitting device 20 and the IC chip 32 are connected, are led to external circuits through an FPC substrate 40.

Claims

1. An optical displacement measuring apparatus comprising a reflection-type scale and a sensor head opposite to the scale with a gap so as to be relatively movable, the sensor head irradiating the scale as to output a displacement signal, wherein the sensor head comprises:

a resin-molded block having a hole, which is opened on a front surface opposed to the scale, and interconnection lines formed thereon;

a light emitting device buried in the hole of the resin-molded block so as to irradiate the scale, the light emitting device being connected to the interconnection lines on the resin-molded block;

a device substrate attached to the front surface of the resin-molded block; and

a light detecting device mounted on the device substrate for detecting reflected light from the scale, the light detecting device being connected to the interconnection lines on the resin-molded block,

wherein the device substrate is a transparent substrate and the light detecting device is disposed on the transparent substrate so as to be disposed between the resin-molded block and the transparent substrate.

2. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection lines are three-dimensionally integrated on the resin-molded block.

3. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hole is formed through the resin-molded block from the front surface to the rear surface, the terminals of the light emitting device being connected to the interconnection lines on the rear surface of the resin-molded block.

4. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device substrate is a transparent substrate.

5. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light receiving device is face-down-bonded on the transparent substrate so as to be disposed between the resin-molded block and the transparent substrate.

6. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an index scale formed on the transparent substrate for modulating the output light from the light emitting device.

7. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting device bonded on the resin-molded block so as to lead the connecting lines to an external circuit.

8. An optical displacement measuring apparatus comprising a reflection-type scale and a sensor head opposite to the scale with a gap so as to be relatively movable, the sensor head irradiating the scale as to output a displacement signal, wherein the sensor head comprises:

a resin-molded block having a concave mirror formed on a front surface to be opposed to the scale, and interconnection lines;

a device substrate attached to the front surface of the resin-molded block;

a light emitting device mounted on the device substrate for irradiating the concave mirror, the light emitting device being connected to the interconnection lines on the resin-molded block through the device substrate; and

a light detecting device mounted on the device substrate for receiving a reflected light from the scale irradiated by the concave mirror, the light detecting device being connected to the interconnection lines on the resin-molded block through the device substrate,

wherein the device substrate is a transparent substrate and the light detecting device is disposed on the transparent substrate so as to be disposed between the resin-molded block and the transparent substrate.

9. The optical displacement measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the concave mirror is formed a conductive film which is used for the interconnection lines.