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US 10,705,211 B2Granted
Optical sensor arrangement
AssigneeAms AG
InventorsDan Jacobs, Bernhard Greimel-Längauer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical proximity sensor arrangement comprises a first sensor unit with a first emitter and a first detector and a second sensor unit with a second emitter and/or a second detector. The first detector is configured to detect light being emitted by the first emitter and, if applicable, by the second emitter, and being at least partially reflected. If applicable, the second detector is configured to detect light being emitted by the first emitter and being at least partially reflected. A distance between the first emitter and the first detector is, if applicable, less than a distance between the first detector and the second emitter and, if applicable, less than a distance between the first emitter and the second detector.
Claims18
An optical proximity sensor arrangement comprising:
- a first sensor unit comprising a first emitter and a first detector;
- a second sensor unit comprising a second emitter and a second detector,
- wherein the first detector and the first emitter are configured to operate as a first proximity sensing pair having a first distance range, wherein during operation as the first proximity sensing pair, the first detector is configured to detect light emitted by the first emitter and at least partially reflected from an object within the first distance range,
- wherein the first detector and the second emitter are configured to operate as a second proximity sensing pair having a second distance range, wherein during operation as the second proximity sensing pair, the first detector is configured to detect light emitted by the second emitter and at least partially reflected from an object within the second distance range,
- wherein the second detector and the first emitter are configured to operate as a third proximity sensing pair having a third distance range, wherein during operation as the third proximity sensing pair, the second detector is configured to detect light emitted by the first emitter and at least partially reflected from an object within the third distance range,
- wherein the second detector and the second emitter are configured to operate as a fourth proximity sensing pair having a fourth distance range, wherein during operation as the fourth proximity sensing pair, the second detector is configured to detect light emitted by the second emitter and at least partially reflected from an object within the fourth distance range,
- wherein a distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the first detector and the second emitter,
- wherein the distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the first emitter and the second detector, and
- wherein the distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the second emitter and the second detector.
6 more elements
A method for optical proximity detection comprising
- detecting, a first detector of a first sensor unit during a first measurement cycle, light being emitted by a first emitter of the first sensor unit and being at least partially reflected;
- and
- detecting, by the first detector of the first sensor unit during a second measurement cycle, light being emitted by a second emitter of a second sensor unit and being at least partially reflected;
- detecting, by a second detector of the second sensor unit during a third measurement cycle, light being emitted by the first emitter of the first sensor unit and being at least partially reflected;
- and
- detecting, by the second detector of the second sensor unit during a fourth measurement cycle, light being emitted by the second emitter of the second sensor unit and being at least partially reflected,
- wherein a distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the first detector and the second emitter,
- wherein the distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the first emitter and the second detector, and
- wherein the distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the second emitter and the second detector.
6 more elements
An optical proximity sensor arrangement comprising a first sensor unit;
- a second sensor unit;
- and
- at least one control unit,
- wherein the first sensor unit comprises a first emitter and a first detector configured to detect light being emitted by the first emitter and being at least partially reflected,
- wherein the second sensor unit comprises:
- a second emitter, wherein the first detector is configured to detect light being emitted by the second emitter and being at least partially reflected, and wherein a distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the first detector and the second emitter,
- a second detector, wherein the second detector is configured to detect light being emitted by the first emitter and being at least partially reflected, wherein the distance between the first emitter and the first detector is less than a distance between the first emitter and the second detector,
- wherein the at least one control unit is configured, during a first measurement cycle, to drive the first emitter to cause the first emitter to emit light with a first intensity and control a sensitivity of the first detector to a first sensitivity, and
- wherein the at least one control unit is configured, during a second measurement cycle, to drive the second emitter to cause the second emitter to emit light with a second intensity and control the sensitivity of the first detector to a second sensitivity, wherein the second intensity is greater than the first intensity and the second sensitivity is greater than the first sensitivity.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.