# US 11,307,060 B2 · Light-receiving module for encoder, and encoder

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- Number: US 11,307,060 B2
- Document ID: US11307060B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/617,160
- Filed: 2018-03-22
- Published: 2020-04-09
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-31
- Assignees: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
- Applicants: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
- Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki; Yuji Tsuji
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307060B2

## CPC

- G01D 5/34723: {involving light-guides}
- G01D 5/3473: {Circular or rotary encoders}
- G02B 6/262: {Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements}
- G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)}
- H10F 77/00: Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass (constructional details of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00)
- H10F 77/40: Optical elements or arrangements (surface textures H10F77/70)
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION

## Abstract

A light-receiving module includes a support body having a bottom wall part and a side wall part, a light-receiving element disposed on the bottom wall part such that a light-receiving surface faces one side and surrounded by the side wall part when viewed from the one side, and a fiber optic plate having an input surface constituted by surfaces of one end of a plurality of optical fibers and an output surface constituted by surfaces of the other end of the plurality of optical fibers and disposed on the light-receiving element such that the output surface faces the light-receiving surface. An end surface of the side wall part on the one side is positioned more to the one side than the light-receiving surface and the input surface is positioned more to the one side than the end surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light-receiving module for an encoder, the light-receiving module comprising:
a support body having a bottom wall part and a side wall part disposed on a main surface of the bottom wall part on one side of the bottom wall part;
a light-receiving element having a light-receiving surface, disposed on the main surface of the bottom wall part such that the light-receiving surface faces the one side, and surrounded by the side wall part when viewed from the one side; and
a fiber optic plate having an input surface constituted by surfaces of one end of a plurality of optical fibers and an output surface constituted by surfaces of the other end of the plurality of optical fibers and disposed on the light-receiving element such that the output surface faces the light-receiving surface,
wherein, when viewed from a direction along the main surface of the bottom wall part, an end surface of the side wall part on the one side is positioned more distant to the one side than the light-receiving surface with respect to the main surface of the bottom wall part, and the input surface is positioned more distant to the one side than the end surface with respect to the main surface of the bottom wall part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light-receiving module for an encoder according to claim 1, further comprising:
a wire connected to wiring provided at the bottom wall part and a terminal provided at the light-receiving element inside the side wall part; and
a resin member disposed on the bottom wall part inside the side wall part and covering the wiring, the terminal, and the wire,
wherein the end surface is positioned more to the one side than the wire and the input surface is positioned more to the one side than the resin member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The light-receiving module for an encoder according to claim 2, wherein the fiber optic plate is fixed to the light-receiving element by the resin member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light-receiving module for an encoder according to claim 1, further comprising a light-shielding layer having a light passage pattern and disposed between the light-receiving surface and the output surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An encoder comprising:
a rotary plate having a light passage pattern;
a light source disposed on one side with respect to the rotary plate; and
the light-receiving module for an encoder according to claim 1 disposed on the other side with respect to the rotary plate.