Controlled signals using signal guides for sensor devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10117002-B2
Application number	US-201615261053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Sep 14, 2015
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A signal guide for a sensor device is disclosed herein. The signal guide can include a base having a first proximal aperture, where the first proximal aperture has a first cross-sectional profile, where the first proximal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to a first transceiver element of the sensor device. The signal guide can also include a body disposed adjacent to the base, wherein the body comprises a first main channel that adjoins the first proximal aperture. The signal guide can further include a distal end disposed adjacent to the body opposite the base, where the distal end includes a first distal aperture that adjoins the first main channel, where the first distal aperture has a second cross-sectional profile, where the first distal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to an ambient environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A signal guide for a sensor device, the signal guide comprising:
a base comprising a first proximal aperture, wherein the first proximal aperture has a first cross-sectional profile, wherein the first proximal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to a first transceiver element of the sensor device;
a body disposed adjacent to the base, wherein the body comprises a first main channel that adjoins the first proximal aperture;
a distal end disposed adjacent to the body opposite the base, wherein the distal end comprises a first distal aperture that adjoins the first main channel, wherein the first distal aperture has a second cross-sectional profile, wherein the first distal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to an ambient environment; and
a pair of gaps that traverse the base and the body adjacent to the first main channel, wherein the pair of gaps are used, in part, to form variations in a first main channel cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the first main channel,
wherein the first proximal aperture, the first main channel, and the first distal aperture form a first continuous channel,
wherein the first cross-sectional profile is different than the second cross-sectional profile, and
wherein the first continuous channel is configured to transfer signals between the first transceiver element of the sensor device and the ambient environment.

2. The signal guide of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional profile is smaller than the second cross-sectional profile.

3. The signal guide of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional profile comprises a square having a first outer perimeter.

4. The signal guide of claim 3 , wherein the second cross-sectional profile comprises a rectangle having a second outer perimeter.

5. The signal guide of claim 1 , wherein the first main channel has the first cross-sectional profile.

6. The signal guide of claim 1 , wherein the main channel has a plurality of third cross-sectional profiles that is different than the first cross-sectional profile and the second cross-sectional profile, wherein the plurality of third cross-sectional profiles is smaller than the second cross-sectional profile and larger than the first cross-sectional profile.

7. The signal guide of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second proximal aperture of the base, wherein the second proximal aperture has a third cross-sectional profile, wherein the second proximal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to a second transceiver element of the sensor device;
a second main channel of the body that adjoins the second proximal aperture; and
a second distal aperture of the distal end that adjoins the second main channel, wherein the second distal aperture has a fourth cross-sectional profile, wherein the second distal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to the ambient environment,
wherein the second proximal aperture, the second main channel, and the second distal aperture form a second continuous channel,
wherein the third cross-sectional profile is different than the fourth cross-sectional profile, and
wherein the second continuous channel is configured to transfer signals between the second transceiver element of the sensor device and the ambient environment.

8. The signal guide of claim 7 , wherein the pair of gaps physically separate the first main channel and the second main channel.

9. The signal guide of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises at least one positioning element that is configured to position the first proximal aperture in a particular location relative to the first transceiver element of the sensor device.

10. A sensor device subassembly, comprising:
a first sensor device comprising a first transceiver element; and
a signal guide disposed adjacent to the first transceiver element, wherein the signal guide comprises:
a base comprising a first proximal aperture, wherein the first proximal aperture has a first cross-sectional profile, wherein the first proximal aperture is disposed proximate to the first transceiver element of the first sensor device;
a body disposed adjacent to the base, wherein the body comprises a first main channel that adjoins the first proximal aperture;
a distal end disposed adjacent to the body opposite the base of the signal guide, wherein the distal end comprises a first distal aperture that adjoins the first main channel, wherein the first distal aperture has a second cross-sectional profile, wherein the first distal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to an ambient environment; and
a pair of gaps that traverse the base and the body adjacent to the first main channel, wherein the pair of gaps are used, in part, to form variations in a first main channel cross-sectional profile of at least a portion of the first main channel,

wherein the first proximal aperture, the first main channel, and the first distal aperture form a first continuous channel,
wherein the first cross-sectional profile is different than the second cross-sectional profile, and
wherein the first continuous channel transfers a first plurality of signals between the first transceiver element of the first sensor device and the ambient environment.

11. The sensor device subassembly of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of signals comprises a light wave that is received by the first transceiver element of the first sensor device from the ambient environment through the first continuous channel.

12. The sensor device subassembly of claim 11 , wherein the light wave originates from a field of angular distribution in the ambient environment, wherein the field of angular distribution is defined by the second cross-sectional profile of the first distal aperture and the first cross-sectional profile of the proximal aperture of the first continuous channel.

13. The sensor device subassembly of claim 12 , wherein the field of angular distribution is further defined by a plurality of third cross-sectional profiles of the main channel of the first continuous channel.

14. The sensor device subassembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second sensor device comprising a second transceiver element; and
a second continuous channel of the signal guide, wherein the second continuous channel is disposed adjacent to the second transceiver element, and wherein the second continuous channel comprises:
a second proximal aperture disposed in the base, wherein the second proximal aperture has a third cross-sectional profile, wherein at second proximal aperture is disposed proximate to the second transceiver element of the second sensor device;
a second main channel of the body that adjoins the second proximal aperture; and
a second distal aperture of the distal end adjoins the second main channel opposite the second proximal aperture, wherein the second distal aperture has a fourth cross-sectional profile, wherein the second distal aperture is configured to be disposed proximate to the ambient environment,

wherein the third cross-sectional profile is different than the fourth cross-sectional profile, and
wherein the second continuous channel transfers a second plurality of signals between the second transceiver element of the second sensor device and the ambient environment.

15. The sensor device subassembly of claim 14 , wherein the second plurality of signals comprises a light wave that is sent by the first transceiver element of the sensor device to the ambient environment through the first continuous channel.

16. The sensor device subassembly of claim 15 , wherein the light wav

Assignees

• Martin Russell Tyler
• Proctor Kyle
• Wegner Scott David
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Martin Russell Tyler
• Proctor Kyle
• Wegner Scott David

Classifications

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• G01J1/06

  Restricting the angle of incident light · CPC title

• G01J1/0271

  Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers · CPC title

• G02B6/4298

  coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers · CPC title

• G01J1/0407

  Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings · CPC title