Spectroscopic sensor device and electronic equipment

• US 9,400,213 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Uematsu, Akira, Sato, Yoichi, Komatsu, Akira, Yano, Kunihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Geisel, Kara E
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, RUFUS L
• Application Number:
  US14/341,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 356 39- 41, 356/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1226 Interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0259 Monolithic
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0262 Constructional arrangements for removing stray light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0278 Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/285 comprising deposited thin solid films G02B5/281 - G02B5/289 take precedence; multilayered film filters for fibre optic multiplexing G02B6/29361
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/006 Filter holders
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1443 with at least one potential jump or surface barrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device

Abstract

A spectroscopic sensor that applies lights in a wavelength band containing plural wavelengths to an object and spectroscopically separates reflected lights or transmitted lights from the object using plural light band pass filters that transmit the respective specific wavelengths and plural photosensor parts to which corresponding transmitted lights are input based on output results of independent photosensors. The spectroscopic sensor may be integrated in a semiconductor device or module by integration using a semiconductor process and downsizing may be realized.

Claims

1. A pulsimeter comprising:

a light source unit that applies a light to a body portion of a user;

a spectroscopic sensor that receives an incident light signal from the light source unit reflected from or transmitted through the body portion of the user;

a substrate that supports the light source and the spectroscopic sensor;

a processor that determines a characteristic of blood of the user based on the incident light signal; and

a light blocking member which prohibits the incident light from the light source unit from directly entering the spectroscopic sensor, and is provided between the light source unit and the spectroscopic sensor,

the spectroscopic sensor including;

a photosensor that has an impurity area to sense the incident light,

an angle limiting filter that limits an incident angle of the incident light to the photosensor, the angle limiting filter includes a plurality of light blocking materials disposed on a portion of the impurity area, and

the angle limiting filter blocks the incident light having an incident angle between the incident light and a line normal to the photosensor that is greater than 30 degrees.

2. The pulsimeter of claim 1, wherein the impurity area has a first area in contact with the light blocking material, and a second area not in contact with the light blocking material, the second area sensing a light through the angle limiting filter.

3. The pulsimeter of claim 1, wherein

the photosensor and the angle limiting filter are formed using a semiconductor process.

4. The pulsimeter of claim 1, wherein the light source unit and the spectroscopic sensor are disposed on a same substrate.

5. The pulsimeter of claim 1, further comprising:

a light band-pass filter which is disposed on the angle limiting filter.

6. Electronic equipment comprising the pulsimeter according to claim 1.

7. The pulsimeter of claim 1, wherein

the angle limiting filter includes a light absorbing material or a light reflecting material.

8. The pulsimeter of claim 5, wherein

the light band-pass filter is comprised of a TiO₂ film and a SiO₂ film.