# US 10,455,129 B2 · Image capturing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,129 B2 - Document ID: US10455129B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/588,700 - Filed: 2017-05-08 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-05 - Assignees: Gingy Technology Inc. - Applicants: Gingy Technology Inc. - Inventors: Chih-Chiang Yu; Cheng-Jyun Huang; Po-Hsun Shen; Pai-Chi Chen; Hao-Hsiang Chang; Jen-Chieh Wu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455129B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/0055: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer} - G02B 6/0088: {of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package} - G06V 40/1324: {by using geometrical optics, e.g. using prisms (G06V40/1312 takes precedence)} - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image capturing apparatus including a light guide device having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a transparent device disposed on the first surface, an image capturing device disposed on the second surface, a first optical adhesive, a second optical adhesive and a light source is provided. The first optical adhesive is disposed between the transparent device and the first surface. The transparent device is connected to the first surface through the first optical adhesive. The second optical adhesive is disposed between the second surface and the image capturing device. The image capturing device is connected to the second surface through the second optical adhesive. The light source is adapted to emit a light beam. The light beam passed through the light guide device is transmitted toward the transparent device and totally reflected by an interface between the transparent device and an environment medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image capturing apparatus, located in an environment medium, the image capturing apparatus comprising: a light guide device, having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other; a transparent device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device; an image capturing device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device; a first optical adhesive, disposed between the transparent device and the first surface of the light guide device, and the transparent device being connected to the first surface of the light guide device through the first optical adhesive; a second optical adhesive, disposed between the second surface of the light guide device and the image capturing device, and the image capturing device being connected to the second surface of the light guide device through the second optical adhesive, wherein a material of the light guide device is different to a material of the first optical adhesive and/or a material of the second optical adhesive; and a light source, adapted to emit a light beam, the light beam passed through the light guide device being transmitted toward the transparent device, and being totally reflected by an interface between the transparent device and the environment medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide device is a glass. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a refractive index of the light guide device is greater than or equal to 1.4 and is smaller than or equal to 1.6. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first reflecting device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device; and a second reflecting device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device, wherein the light beam reflected by the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device is transmitted toward the transparent device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light beam is transmitted toward the first surface of the light guide device before being transmitted to the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device, and the light beam is sequentially reflected by the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light beam is transmitted toward the second surface of the light guide device before being transmitted to the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device, and the light beam is sequentially reflected by the second reflecting device and the first reflecting device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a third reflecting device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device, and the light beam being sequentially reflected by the second reflecting device, the first reflecting device and the third reflecting device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second reflecting device and the third reflecting device are separated, the second reflecting device and the first reflecting device are partially overlapped, and the third reflecting device and the first reflecting device are partially overlapped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device are partially overlapped. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device is located within an area of the other one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device has a single or a plurality of optical microstructures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide device further has a sidewall connected between the first surface and the second surface, and the sidewall is covered with a light absorbing layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a refractive index of the first optical adhesive and a refractive index of the second optical adhesive is greater than or equal to 1.4 and is smaller than or equal to 1.6. ### Claim 14 An image capturing apparatus, located in an environment medium, the image capturing apparatus comprising: a light guide device, having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other and a sidewall connected between the first surface and the second surface; a transparent device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device; an image capturing device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device; a light absorbing layer, covering the sidewall of the light guide device; and a light source, adapted to emit a light beam, the light beam passed through the light guide device being transmitted toward the transparent device, and being totally reflected by an interface between the transparent device and the environment medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a first reflecting device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device; and a second reflecting device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device, wherein the light beam reflected by the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device is transmitted toward the transparent device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light beam is transmitted toward the first surface of the light guide device before being transmitted to the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device, and the light beam is sequentially reflected by the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light beam is transmitted toward the second surface of the light guide device before being transmitted to the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device, and the light beam is sequentially reflected by the second reflecting device and the first reflecting device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: a third reflecting device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device, and the light beam being sequentially reflected by the second reflecting device, the first reflecting device and the third reflecting device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second reflecting device and the third reflecting device are separated, the second reflecting device and the first reflecting device are partially overlapped, and the third reflecting device and the first reflecting device are partially overlapped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device are partially overlapped. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device is located within an area of the other one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device has a single or a plurality of optical microstructures. ### Claim 23 An image capturing apparatus located in an environment medium, the image capturing apparatus comprising: a light guide device, having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other; a first reflecting device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device; a second reflecting device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device; a transparent device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device; an image capturing device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device; a first light absorbing device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device; and a light source, adapted to emit a light beam, the light beam reflected by the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device being transmitted toward the transparent device, and being totally reflected by an interface between the transparent device and the environment medium. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first light absorbing device is disposed on the second reflecting device and is located between the first surface of the light guide device and the second reflecting device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first light absorbing device is disposed beside the second reflecting device and is not overlapped with the second reflecting device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising: a third reflecting device, disposed on the second surface of the light guide device, wherein the first light absorbing device is located between the second reflecting device and the third reflecting device, and the light beam reflected by the first reflecting device, the second reflecting device and the third reflecting device is transmitted toward the transparent device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 26, further comprising: a fourth reflecting device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device and separated from the first reflecting device, wherein the light beam reflected by the first reflecting device, the second reflecting device, the third reflecting device and the fourth reflecting device is transmitted toward the transparent device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising: a second light absorbing device, disposed on the first surface of the light guide device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second light absorbing device is disposed on the first reflecting device and located between the first reflecting device and the second surface of the light guide device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first light absorbing device and the second light absorbing device are staggered. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device are partially overlapped. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device is located within an area of the other one of the first reflecting device and the second reflecting device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The image capturing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the light guide device has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other and a sidewall connected between the first surface and the second surface, and the sidewall is covered with a light absorbing layer.