Single lens multiple light source device

• US 7,302,181 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tan, Wee Sin, Ng, Peng Yam
• Primary Examiner(s): SEDIGHIAN, REZA
• Application Number:
  US10/374,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 398/88, 398/106, 398/118, 398/130, 398/135, 398/128, 398/19, 359362-435, 359642-664, 359/672, 359707-711, 359/728
• US Class Current: 398/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/54 having a particular shape

Abstract

An optical communication device having multiple light sources under a single lens. The optical communication device has two light sources. The optical communication device has a lens optically coupled to the two light sources. The lens is shaped to direct light from the two light sources towards an axis of the lens. The optical communication device further has a third light source located below the approximate center of the lens.

Claims

1. A single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter, comprising:

at least first and second light sources, the first light source being configured to emit light of a first wavelength, the second light source being configured to emit light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength;

the first and second light sources being disposed along a vertical axis; and

a single lens having an optical axis, a vertical axis and the horizontal axis associated therewith, the horizontal and vertical axes being perpendicular to one another and also to the optical axis, the lens being positioned in respect of the first and second light sources to collimate and direct forwardly light emitted thereby, the lens comprising an outer lens surface located distally from the first and second light sources, the outer lens surface having an aspherical profile along the vertical axis and a spherical profile along the horizontal axis, the outer lens surface forming a convex shape of positive slope at all points along at least central portions of the aspherical and spherical profiles thereof, the lens covering and enveloping the first and second light sources;

wherein the first and second light sources are positioned in respect of the optical axis and the lens such that a combined light intensity profile from the first and second light sources is approximately symmetrical about the optical axis, and the lens is shaped and configured to enhance light intensity near the optical axis.

2. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein said transmitter further comprises a third light source disposed along the vertical axis, the third light source also being covered and enveloped by the lens.

3. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 2, wherein the first and second light sources are located substantially equidistant along the vertical axis from the third light source.

4. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 2, wherein the third light source emits light of a third wavelength different from the first and second wavelengths.

5. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 2, wherein the third light source comprises a third light emitting diode.

6. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 2, wherein the third light source is operable as at least one of a remote signal and a data signal.

7. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 2, wherein the lens has first, second and third focal points disposed along the vertical axis associated, respectively, with the first, second and third light sources.

8. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources comprise first and second light emitting diodes.

9. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises first and second substantially spherical sections associated, respectively, with first and second focal points corresponding to the first and second light sources, respectively.

10. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 9, wherein the transmitter further comprises a third light source disposed along the vertical axis and the lens further comprises a third substantially spherical section associated with a third focal point corresponding to the third light source.

11. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources are individually operable as at least one of a remote control signal and a data signal.

12. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein the transmitter further comprises receiver circuitry and at least one photosensor operably connected thereto.

13. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein the lens has first and second focal points disposed along the vertical axis associated, respectively, with the first and second light sources.

14. The single lens multi-channel optical communication transmitter of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the lens varies across the surface thereof to concentrate light from the first and second light sources towards the optical axis.