Optical sensor

• US 9,448,106 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Murata, Kenji, Yamakawa, Kenta, Uemura, Kosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, SANG H
• Application Number:
  US14/030,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20140118727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 356213-225, 356614-625, 250/205, 250/216, 250/222.1, 250/221, 250/226, 250/201.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/026 by measuring distance between sensor and object G01B11/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/08 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

To provide an optical sensor that can ensure accuracy of positions of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit in a case. The optical sensor includes a case, an integrated light projecting module that includes a light emitting unit and a light projecting lens, a light receiving unit configured to receive reflected light of light projected from the light projecting module, and a light receiving lens unit configured to form an image of the reflected light on the light receiving unit. The light projecting module, the light receiving unit, and the light receiving lens unit are each independently and directly fixed to the case.

Claims

1. An optical sensor comprising:

a case;

a light projector comprising a light emitter, a light projecting lens, and a light projecting lens holder configured to hold the light projecting lens;

a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of light projected from the light projector; and

a light receiver lens configured to form an image of the reflected light on the light receiver,

wherein the light projector, the light receiver, and the light receiver lens are each independently and directly fixed to the case, and

wherein the light projector comprises;

a light projector holder in which the light emitter and the light projecting lens are accommodated; and

a holder configured to fix the light emitter accommodated in the light projector holder,

the holder and the light projecting lens are fixed to the light projector holder using an ultraviolet curing adhesive,

the light receiver comprises a light receiving sensor that is disposed away from a circuit board, and

the light receiving sensor is fixed to the case using the ultraviolet curing adhesive.

2. The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein, in the light projector, the light projecting lens is isotropically held down by and fixed to the light projecting lens holder in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis defined by the light projecting lens and the light emitter,

the light receiver lens comprises a light receiving lens and a light receiving lens holder configured to hold the light receiving lens, the light receiving lens is isotropically held down by and fixed to the light receiving lens holder in the direction perpendicular to an optical axis defined by the light receiving lens and the light receiver, and

the base, the light projecting lens holder, and the light receiving lens holder are all made of a resin or a glass-fiber reinforced resin.

3. The optical sensor according to claim 2, wherein the case is made of a glass-fiber reinforced resin,

the light projecting lens is made of a resin,

the light projecting lens holder is made of the glass-fiber reinforced resin,

the light receiver lens is made of the resin, and

the light receiving lens holder is made of the glass-fiber reinforced resin.

4. The optical sensor according to claim 2, wherein the light projector holder comprises a cylindrical structure in which the light projecting lens is configured to be able to slide inside thereof, and

the light projecting lens is fixed to an inside of the cylindrical structure.

5. The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the case is made of a resin having a linear expansion coefficient that is less than or equal to a linear expansion coefficient of a die casting metal.

6. The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the light projector, the light receiver lens, and the light receiver are disposed such that a principal plane of a light receiving lens comprised in the light receiver lens, a light receiving plane of the light receiver, and the optical axis of the light projector intersect one another at one point.

7. The optical sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a semiconductor integrated circuit configured to process a light reception signal from the light receiver,

wherein the semiconductor integrated circuit is disposed in the case while separated from the light projector.

8. An optical sensor comprising:

a case;

a light projector comprising a light emitter, a light projecting lens, and a light projecting lens holder configured to hold the light projecting lens;

a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of light projected from the light projector; and

a light receiver lens configured to form an image of the reflected light on the light receiver,

wherein the light projector, the light receiver, and the light receiver lens are each independently and directly fixed to the case,

wherein the light projector comprises;

a light projector holder in which the light emitter and the light projecting lens are accommodated; and

a holder configured to fix the light emitter accommodated in the light projector holder,

the holder and the light projecting lens are fixed to the light projector holder using an ultraviolet curing adhesive,

the light receiver comprises a light receiving sensor that is disposed away from a circuit board, and

the light receiving sensor is fixed to the case using the ultraviolet curing adhesive, and

wherein the light projector holder is made of a resin having a linear expansion coefficient that is less than or equal to a linear expansion coefficient of a die casting metal.