Optical proximity sensor with improved shield and lenses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical proximity sensor, comprising:
- an infrared light emitter mounted on a substrate;
an infrared light detector mounted on the substrate;
an integrated circuit mounted on the substrate and comprising light emitter driving and light detecting circuits operably connected to the light emitter and the light detector, respectively;
a first spherical lens disposed over the light emitter and configured to collect and direct light emitted by the light emitter in an upward direction towards an object to be detected;
a second spherical lens disposed over the light detector and configured to collect and direct light incident thereon that has been transmitted upwardly by the first lens and reflected downwardly from the object to be detected towards the light detector, anda light shield disposed over the light emitter, the light detector, the first lens and the second lens, the light shield comprising first and second top portions, a light barrier projecting downwardly between the first and second top portions to separate the light emitter from the light detector and divide the proximity sensor into light emitting and light detecting portions, at least one light shield alignment and spacing member projecting downwardly from either the first portion or the second portion, and first and second apertures disposed through the first and second portions over the first and second lenses, respectively;
wherein alignment of the shield over the proximity sensor is optimized by the light barrier and the at least one light shield alignment and spacing member, crosstalk between the light emitter and the light detector is minimized, and detection distance of the proximity sensor is maximized by the configurations of the light emitter, the first lens, the light detector, the second lens, and the shield respecting one another.
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Abstract
Various embodiments of an optical sensor comprising a novel shield that may be quickly and accurately aligned and positioned with respect to an underlying light emitting and light detecting assembly are disclosed. Also disclosed are novel lens arrangements for efficiently collimating light emitted and received by the optical proximity sensor, and for reducing crosstalk.
14 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical proximity sensor, comprising:
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an infrared light emitter mounted on a substrate; an infrared light detector mounted on the substrate; an integrated circuit mounted on the substrate and comprising light emitter driving and light detecting circuits operably connected to the light emitter and the light detector, respectively; a first spherical lens disposed over the light emitter and configured to collect and direct light emitted by the light emitter in an upward direction towards an object to be detected; a second spherical lens disposed over the light detector and configured to collect and direct light incident thereon that has been transmitted upwardly by the first lens and reflected downwardly from the object to be detected towards the light detector, and a light shield disposed over the light emitter, the light detector, the first lens and the second lens, the light shield comprising first and second top portions, a light barrier projecting downwardly between the first and second top portions to separate the light emitter from the light detector and divide the proximity sensor into light emitting and light detecting portions, at least one light shield alignment and spacing member projecting downwardly from either the first portion or the second portion, and first and second apertures disposed through the first and second portions over the first and second lenses, respectively; wherein alignment of the shield over the proximity sensor is optimized by the light barrier and the at least one light shield alignment and spacing member, crosstalk between the light emitter and the light detector is minimized, and detection distance of the proximity sensor is maximized by the configurations of the light emitter, the first lens, the light detector, the second lens, and the shield respecting one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of making an optical proximity sensor, comprising:
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mounting an infrared light emitter on a substrate; mounting an infrared light detector on the substrate; mounting an integrated circuit comprising light emitter driving and light detecting circuits on the substrate and operably connecting the circuits to the light emitter and the light detector; placing or forming a first spherical lens over the light emitter, the first lens being configured to collect and direct light emitted by the light emitter in an upward direction towards an object to be detected; placing or forming a second spherical lens over the light emitter, the second lens being configured to collect and direct light incident thereon that has been transmitted upwardly by the first lens and reflected downwardly from the object to be detected towards the light detector, and disposing a light shield over the light emitter, the light detector, the first lens and the second lens, the light shield comprising first and second top portions, a light barrier projecting downwardly between the first and second top portions to separate the light emitter from the light detector and divide the proximity sensor into light emitting and light detecting portions, at least one light shield alignment and spacing member projecting downwardly from either the first top portion or the second top portion, and first and second apertures disposed through the shield over the first and second lenses, respectively; wherein alignment of the shield over the proximity sensor is optimized by the light barrier and the at least one light shield alignment and spacing member, crosstalk between the light emitter and the light detector is minimized, and detection distance of the proximity sensor is maximized, by the configurations of the light emitter, the first lens, the light detector, the second lens, and the shield respecting one another. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification