Optical proximity sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020150823-A1
Application number	US-202016739142-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2020
Priority date	Oct 14, 2012
Publication date	May 14, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor including multiple sensor modules and a processor, each sensor module including lenses, light detectors, each detector positioned along the image plane of a lens so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle, light emitters, each emitter being positioned in relation to a lens so as to project light into a detection zone, an activating unit synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of the detectors, and a calculating unit receiving outputs from the detectors corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection zone to the detectors, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection zone based on the detector outputs and the particular angle, wherein neighboring modules monitor different detection zones, and the processor receiving outputs from the sensor modules and mapping the object location in multiple detection zones over time.

First claim

1 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . A modular proximity sensor comprising:
a plurality of sensor modules, each sensor module comprising:
a housing;
an array of lenses mounted in said housing;
a plurality of light detectors mounted in said housing, each detector being positioned along the image plane of a respective one of said lenses so as to receive maximum light intensity when light enters the lens at a particular angle;
a plurality of light emitters mounted in said housing, each emitter being positioned in relation to a respective one of said lenses so as to project light in a directed beam out of said housing into a detection zone;
an activating unit mounted in said housing and connected to said emitters and detectors, synchronously co-activating each emitter with at least one of said detectors; and
a calculating unit receiving outputs from said detectors corresponding to amounts of projected light reflected by an object in the detection zone to said detectors, and calculating a two-dimensional location of the object in the detection zone based on the detector outputs and the particular angle,

wherein neighboring sensor modules monitor different detection zones; and
a processor receiving outputs from each of said sensor modules and mapping the object location in multiple detection zones over time.

32 . The modular proximity sensor of claim 31 , wherein said processor is configured to identify a gesture performed by the object across the multiple detection zones over time.

33 . The modular proximity sensor of claim 31 , wherein said sensor modules are configured to be repeatedly rearranged in relation to one another.

34 . The modular proximity sensor of claim 31 , wherein said processor is located outside said sensor modules.

35 . The modular proximity sensor of claim 31 , wherein said sensor modules are arranged in a row.

36 . The proximity sensor of claim 31 , wherein said light emitters and light detectors comprise diodes mounted on a PCB, and wherein no light transmissive material separates the diodes from said lenses.

Assignees

• Neonode Inc

Inventors

• Holmgren Stefan Johannes
• Iyer Sairam
• Berglind Tom Richard
• Nordström Karl Erik Patrik
• Sparf Lars Bertil
• Rosengren Per Carl Sture
• Rosengren Erik Anders Claes
• Karlsson John Elis Gösta
• Eriksson Björn Thomas
• Jubner Björn Alexander
• Behdasht Remo
• Fellin Simon Greger
• Åman Robin Kjell
• Shain Joseph

Classifications

• A63F13/26

  having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth · CPC title

• A63F13/21

  characterised by their sensors, purposes or types · CPC title

• A63F13/428

  involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• G06F3/021

  Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title