Light sensor
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAriel Lipson, Itai Afek, Michael Slutsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control device to move the control device relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.
Claims20
A light sensor comprising:
- a primary lens;
- a light device spaced from the primary lens;
- a control structure disposed between the primary lens and the light device;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the control device and operable to move the control device relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device.
A light emitting sensor comprising:
- a primary lens;
- a plurality of individual light emitters arranged in an array, with the array of the individual light emitters arranged on a first plane;
- wherein each of the plurality of individual light emitters is operable to transmit a beam of light along a path that is perpendicular to the first plane;
- a control structure having a plurality of secondary lenses arranged in an array, with the array of secondary lenses arranged on a second plane disposed between the array of individual light emitters and the primary lens, with the first plane and the second plane parallel with each other;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the control device and operable to move the control device relative to the primary lens and the plurality of individual light emitters to control the passage of light between the plurality of light emitters and the primary lens.
A light detecting sensor comprising:
- a primary lens;
- a light detector spaced from the primary lens;
- a plate having at least one aperture extending through the plate, wherein the plate is disposed between the primary lens and the light detector;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the plate and operable to move the plate relative to the primary lens and the light detector to control the position of the at least one aperture relative to the light detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.