Proximity sensor including a photon emitter, a photon receiver and an opaque structure

• US 9,612,330 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited (STMicroelectronics NV), STMicroelectronics SAS (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited (STMicroelectronics NV), STMicroelectronics SAS (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Parodi-Keravec, Pierre-Jean, Drader, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Que T
• Assistant Examiner(s): BENNETT, JENNIFER D
• Application Number:
  US14/181,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20140231633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 250205, 250214 R, 250216, 250221, 250239, 250551, 250552, 2502081, 2502031, 2502032, 2502033, 250214 AL, 385 15, 356 3- 22, 35613901, 235414-416, 348135-161, 396 89, 396111, 396121, 396122, 396123, 396125
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/12 using one transmitter and one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/14 using reflectors

Abstract

One or more embodiments are directed to a device comprising: a body having a cavity, an opaque structure, and an aperture in the body that places the cavity in fluid communication with an environment external to the body. A photon emitter is located in the cavity below the aperture and configured to emit photons through the aperture to the environment external to the body. A photon receiver is located in the cavity below the opaque structure of the body and configured to receive photons that are each reflected from both an object that is spaced apart from the body in the environment external to the body and from a surface of the opaque structure.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a body having a cavity, at least a portion of the body being an opaque structure;

an aperture in the body that places the cavity in fluid communication with an environment external to the body;

a photon emitter located in the cavity below the aperture and configured to emit photons through the aperture to the environment external to the body; and

a photon receiver located in the cavity, the opaque structure of the body being located over, fully covering, and facing an active surface of the photon receiver, the photon receiver being configured to receive, through the same aperture, photons that are both reflected from an object that is spaced apart from the body in the environment external to the body and reflected from a surface of the opaque structure.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a semiconductor substrate, wherein the photon emitter and the photon receiver are coupled to the semiconductor substrate.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the photon receiver receives photons reflected from a plurality of surfaces inside of the body.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display screen.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the photon receiver is coupled to a first surface of the body and wherein the surface of the opaque structure is opposite the first surface of the body.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the photon receiver is a first photon receiver, the device further comprising a second photon receiver that is configured to receive ambient light.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one measurement performed by the second photon receiver is used to adjust an operating mode of the first photon receiver.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the opaque structure is a portion of the body.

10. A method comprising:

emitting photons through an aperture in a body for a period of time;

receiving the emitted photons reflected from both an object external to and spaced apart from the body and at least two surfaces in a cavity of the body by a photon receiver, the at least two surfaces being a portion of the body, wherein one surface of the at least two surfaces is an opaque structure that is located over and covers the photon receiver such that the emitted photons reflect from the opaque structure before being received by the photon receiver;

measuring a first value of the emitted photons received by the photon receiver; and

storing the first value.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring a second value of the photons received by the photon receiver during a second period of time, wherein the photon emitter does not emit photons during the second period of time, determining a difference between the first value and the second value.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising determining whether the object is proximate the body.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

adapting a duration of at least one of the following according to the quantity of photons previously received by the photon receiver during at least a portion of a time range of emission by the photon emitter;

a third period of time of emission by the photon emitter,

receiving by the photon receiver during a portion of the time range of emission by the photon emitter, and

receiving by the photon receiver during a time range with no emission by the photon emitter.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the first value with a threshold, and when the first value is greater than the threshold indicating that an object is external to the device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein emitting photons comprises emitting photons cyclically, and determining that an object is external to the device when the first value increases over time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising comparing the first value with a threshold and when the first value is greater than the threshold, indicating that an object is external to the device.

17. A device comprising:

a body that includes an open cavity;

an opaque structure covering a portion of the open cavity;

an aperture in the opaque structure that places the open cavity in fluid communication with an environment external to the body;

a radiation emitter located in the open cavity below and aligned with the aperture and configured to emit radiation through the aperture to the environment external to the body; and

a radiation receiver located in the portion of the open cavity covered by the opaque structure such that the radiation receiver is fully covered by the opaque structure, the radiation receiver being spaced apart from the radiation emitter and configured to receive radiation reflected from an object that is located in the environment external to the body and is spaced apart from and proximate to the body.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the radiation received by the radiation receiver is further reflected from first and second surfaces in the cavity before being received by the radiation receiver.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a substrate located in the cavity, the radiation emitter and the radiation receiver being coupled to a surface of the substrate.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising filler on the surface of the substrate between the radiation emitter and the radiation receiver, a surface of the filler being the second surface.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein the opaque structure is a portion of the body.

22. A device comprising:

a body that includes a cavity;

a substrate and an opaque structure located over the cavity;

an aperture in the opaque structure that places the cavity in fluid communication with an environment external to the body;

a radiation emitter coupled to a surface of the substrate and located in the cavity below and directly aligned with the aperture and configured to emit radiation through the aperture to the environment external to the body; and

a radiation receiver coupled to the surface of the substrate and located in the cavity below the opaque structure of the body, spaced apart from the radiation emitter, and offset from the aperture, the radiation receiver configured to receive radiation reflected from an object located in the environment external to the body, and that is spaced apart from and proximate to the body, wherein the radiation received by the radiation receiver is further reflected from first and second surfaces in the cavity before being received by the radiation receiver, wherein the first surface in the cavity is a surface of the opaque structure of the body and the second surface is a surface of the substrate.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the opaque structure is a portion of the body.