Sensor configuration for substantial spacing from a small aperture
First Claim
1. A sensor device comprising:
- a support structure;
a sensing element mounted on said support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and
an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of the sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of the sensing element. The collector portion may be a parabolic reflector that reflects incident light by total internal reflection. The sensor device may be incorporated into an assembly including a diffuser positioned across an aperture, and/or may be incorporated into a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror assembly.
19 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A sensor device comprising:
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a support structure;
a sensing element mounted on said support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto; and
an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident on the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensor assembly comprising:
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a housing having an aperture;
a diffusing element positioned across said aperture; and
a sensor device comprising;
a support structure;
a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and
an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define an optical radiation collector portion having a parabolic reflecting surface for collecting and redirecting incident optical radiation towards said sensing element by total internal reflection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:
a sensor device comprising;
a support structure;
a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto; and
an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of said sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of said sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A vehicle accessory for mounting in a vehicle, said vehicle accessory comprising:
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a housing having an aperture;
a diffusing element positioned across said aperture; and
a sensor device comprising;
a support structure;
a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical signal in response thereto; and
an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant being configured to define an optical radiation collector portion having a parabolic reflecting surface for collecting and redirecting incident optical radiation towards said sensing element by total internal reflection.
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44. A sensor device comprising:
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a support structure;
a sensing element mounted on said support structure for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output in response thereto; and
an encapsulant encapsulating said sensing element on said support structure, said encapsulant including an integral lens for directing incident optical radiation toward said sensing element; and
a light collector surrounding the integral lens for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens onto the active surface of said sensing element.
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Specification