Sensor with cross talk suppression

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12474454-B2
Application number	US-202016950841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2020
Priority date	Nov 29, 2019
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a sensor that detects a distance between the sensor and a target object. The sensor includes a transmission optical structure and/or a light source that polarizes light and minimizes cross talk within the sensor. As a result, detection results of the sensor are improved.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A device, comprising:
a substrate; a light source on the substrate, the light source configured to emit a light signal; a first optical structure aligned with the light source, the first optical structure configured to polarize the light signal from S-polarized light to P-polarized light; and a detector on the substrate, the detector configured to receive the light signal reflected from an object, the P-polarized light having components extending in a direction parallel to a plane including the light source and the detector, the S-polarized light having components extending in a direction transverse to the plane, wherein the first optical structure includes another substrate, a functional layer that has an optical function, and a polarizing layer that is configured to polarize the light signal, wherein the functional layer and the polarizing layer are on opposite sides of the another substrate.

2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light signal emitted from the light source is P-polarized light.

3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second optical structure aligned with the detector; and a cover overlying the first optical structure and the second optical structure.

4 . The device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a body including a first aperture aligned with the light source, and a second aperture aligned with the detector, the first optical structure positioned between the first aperture and the light source, the second optical structure positioned between the second aperture and the detector.

5 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source includes:
an emitter; and
a conductive contact positioned on a first side of the emitter and not positioned on a second side of the emitter, the conductive contact configured to receive an electrical signal from a driver circuit, the emitter configured to emit light in response to the conductive contact receiving the electrical signal.

6 . The device of claim 5 wherein the emitter has a shape that is asymmetrical about at least one axis.

7 . The device of claim 1 wherein the optical function is a beam shaping function, an imaging function, a collimating function, a diffusing function, a polarizing function, a beam splitting function, a wavefront coding function, or a combination thereof.

8 . A device, comprising:
a substrate; a light source on the substrate, the light source configured to emit a light signal, the light signal being P-polarized light; a first optical structure aligned with the light source; and a detector on the substrate, the detector configured to receive the light signal reflected from an object, the P-polarized light having components extending in a direction parallel to a plane including the light source and the detector, wherein the first optical structure includes another substrate, a functional layer that has an optical function, and a polarizing layer that is configured to polarize the light signal from S-polarized light to P-polarized light, wherein the functional layer and the polarizing layer are on opposite sides of the another substrate.

9 . The device of claim 8 wherein the light source includes:
an emitter having an asymmetrical shape; and
a conductive contact partially surrounding the emitter.

10 . A device, comprising:
a first substrate; a light source on the first substrate, the light source including:
a plurality of emitters including a first column of emitters and a second column of emitters; and
a conductive contact including a first portion and a second portion that partially surrounds the plurality of emitters, the second portion of the conductive contact extends between the first column of emitters and the second column of emitters;
an optical structure overlying the light source, the light source configured to transmit a P-polarized light signal through the optical structure; and a detector on the first substrate, the detector configured to receive the P-polarized light signal transmitted through the optical structure and reflected back from an object.

11 . The device of claim 10 wherein the light source includes:
a second substrate on the first substrate;
a first mirror on the second substrate;
an active layer on the first mirror;
a second mirror on the active layer;
the plurality of emitters on the second mirror, each of the plurality of emitters having an asymmetrical shape along at least one axis; and
the conductive contact on the second mirror.

12 . The device of claim 11 wherein the active layer includes a quantum well.

13 . A device, comprising:
a substrate; a light source coupled to the substrate, the light source configured to transmit a polarized light signal, the polarized light signal being P-polarized light; an optical structure coupled to the substrate, the optical structure including a polarized layer configured to polarize the polarized light signal, the optical structure configured to polarize light from S-polarized light to P-polarized light; and a detector coupled to the substrate, the detector configured to receive the polarized light signal transmitted through the optical structure and reflected back from an object, the P-polarized light having components extending in a direction parallel to a plane including the light source and the detector, the S-polarized light having components extending in a direction transverse to the plane, wherein the first optical structure includes another substrate, a functional layer that has an optical function, and a polarizing layer that is configured to polarize the light signal, wherein the functional layer and the polarizing layer are on opposite sides of the another substrate.

14 . The device of claim 1 wherein the light source includes:
another substrate on the substrate;
a first mirror on the another substrate;
an active layer on the first mirror;
a second mirror on the active layer;
at least one emitter on the second mirror, the at least one emitter having an asymmetrical shape along at least one axis; and
a conductive contact on the second mirror, the conductive contact partially surrounding the at least one emitter.

15 . A device, comprising:
a first substrate; a light source on the first substrate, the light source including:
at least one emitter; and
a conductive contact including a first portion and a second portion that partially surrounds the at least one emitter, the first portion and the second portion of the conductive contact positioned on a same side of the at least one emitter;
an optical structure overlying the light source, the light source configured to transmit a P- polarized light signal through the optical structure; and a detector on the first substrate, the detector configured to receive the P-polarized light signal transmitted through the optical structure and reflected back from an object.

16 . The device of claim 15 wherein the light source includes:
a second substrate on the first substrate;
a first mirror on the second substrate;
an active layer on the first mirror;
a second mirror on the active layer;
the at least one emitter on the second mirror, the at least one emitter having an asymmetrical shape along at least one axis; and
the conductive contact on the second mirror.

17 . A device, comprising:
a first substrate; a light source on the first substrate, the light source including:
at least one emitter; and
a conductive contact including a first portion and a second portion that partially surrounds the at least one emitter, the first portio

Assignees

• St Microelectronics Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Downing James Peter Drummond
• Caley Adam
• Kuch Christoph

Classifications

• H01S5/18386

  Details of the emission surface for influencing the near- or far-field, e.g. a grating on the surface · CPC title

• G01S17/08

  for measuring distance only (indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48) · CPC title

• G01S7/499

  using polarisation effects · CPC title

• G01S7/4811

  common to transmitter and receiver · CPC title

• H01S5/02325

  Mechanically integrated components on mount members or optical micro-benches · CPC title