Ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.

Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.

Ams-osram Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Jens Geiger

Hartmut Rudmann

Markus Rossi

Simon Gubser

Peter Roentgen

Susanne Westenhöfer

Mario Cesana

Stephan Heimgartner

Ji Wang

Xu Yi

Kam Wah Leong

John A Vidallon

Qi Chuan Yu

Thng Chong Kim

Vincenzo Condorelli

Bassam Hallal

Sonja Hanselmann

Christoph Friese

Frank Sobel

Laurent Nevou

Alexander Bietsch

Bernhard Buettgen

Jukka Alasirnio

Nicola Spring

Moshe Doron

Ohad Meitav

Florin Cutu

Tobias Senn

James Eilertsen

Robert Lenart

Alireza Yasan

Michael Kiy

Kevin Hauser

Oliver Chidley

Philippe Bouchilloux

Susanne Westenhoefer

Olivier Ripoll

Hakan Karpuz

Francesco Paolo D'aleo

Alberto Soppelsa

Rene Kromhof

René Kromhof

Daniel Reymann

Markus Dantler

Lijian Mai

Yeoh Ging Sheng

Diane Morgan

An optical system includes a spatial encoding arrangement for generating spatially encoded light with an initial spatial distribution; a coded aperture defining a mask pattern based on the initial spatial distribution of the spatially encoded light; and—an image sensor. The spatial encoding arrangement—directs the spatially encoded light onto the object, and the object reflects at least a portion of the spatially encoded light to form reflected light. The reflected light is directed through the coded aperture to form spatially decoded light. The spatially decoded light is directed onto the image sensor to form an image thereon, and the image sensor detects the image. The spatial encoding arrangement includes optical emitters spatially arranged, defining the initial spatial pattern of the spatially encoded light. The mask pattern is the inverse of the initial spatial pattern of the spatially encoded light defined by the spatial arrangement of the optical emitters.

Coded aperture imaging system and method

Fabricating light guide elements includes forming a first portion of the light guide element using a replication technique (), and forming a second portion of the light guide element using a photolithographic technique (). Use of replication can facilitate formation of more complex-shaped optical elements as part of the light guide element. The replication process sometimes results in the formation of a 'yard,' or excess replication material, which may lead to light leakage if not removed or smoothed over. In some instances, at least part of the yard portion is embedded within the second portion of the light guide element, thereby resulting in a smoothing over of the yard portion.

Optical light guides and methods of manufacturing the same

An apparatus, e.g. a proximity sensor module (), for optical distance sensing includes a target surface () having a non-uniform design including a high-reflectivity region and a low-reflectivity region for light of a particular wavelength. The position of the target surface () is displaceable within the apparatus. The apparatus includes a light source () operable to emit light at the particular wavelength toward the target surface (), and a photodetector () operable to sense at least some of the light emitted by the light source and subsequently reflected by the target surface (). A processor is operable to correlate an output from the photodetector () with a distance to the target surface (). A wall () may separate the light source () and photodetector () from one another, which can help reduce internal optical crosstalk. The light source () and photodetector () are mounted and electrically coupled to a substrate () that, in turn, can be mounted and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) () of a host device. The light source () and photodetector () are surrounded laterally by a spacer or housing wall (). The target surface () may be the backside of a touch interactive display screen () in the host device, e.g., a portable computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, wearable device, personal digital assistant (PDA), or personal computer. Circuitry () can be implemented, for example, as an integrated circuit chip or other processor and may include software and/or a look-up table stored in memory that allows the circuitry () to correlate the measured photodetector signal to a distance. When pressure is provided on the display screen () (e.g., by a person pressing her finger on the screen), the display screen is displaced slightly in the direction of the substrate () on which the light source () and photodetector () are mounted. As a result of the displacement, the intensity of light detected by the photodetector () changes. The signal measured by the photodetector () can be correlated to a distance value. If the distance value is within a specified range (or changes by at least a specified amount), for example, it can trigger some further action in the host device.

Optical distance sensing using a target surface having a non-uniform design of regions of different reflectivity

Optoelectronic modules operable to measure proximity independent of object surface reflectivity and, in some implementations, operable to measure characteristics (such as surface reflectivity or absorptivity) of stationary or moving objects are disclosed. The optoelectronic modules are operable to determine, for example, pulse rate, peripheral blood circulation, and/or blood oxygen levels of moving objects, such as the appendage of a user, in some instances. The optoelectronic modules can be used to measure peripheral blood circulation, for example, when a user of the optoelectronic module is engaged in physical activity, such as walking, running or cycling.

Optoelectronic modules and methods for operating the same

Image sensor modules include primary high-resolution imagers and secondary imagers. For example, an image sensor module may include a semiconductor chip including photosensitive regions defining, respectively, a primary camera and a secondary camera. The image sensor module may include an optical assembly that does not substantially obstruct the field-of-view of the secondary camera. Some modules include multiple secondary cameras that have a field-of-view at least as large as the field-of-view of the primary camera. Various features are described to facilitate acquisition of signals that can be used to calculate depth information.

Image sensor modules including primary high-resolution imagers and secondary imagers

Techniques are described for use with a wide range of consumer and other electronic devices to facilitate a user's control of such features as volume, as well as song, channel or page selection, depending on the application. A method includes emitting light out of a module, receiving signals from light detectors in the module, wherein the signals represent, at least in part, light reflected by a person's finger or other object passing in front of the light detectors, detecting movement of the person's finger or other object based on the received signals, and controlling a feature of a device in response to the detected movement.

Device including an optoelectronic module operable to respond to a user's finger movements for controlling the device

Light-emitting optoelectronic modules operable to generate an emission characterized by reduced speckle can include a coherent light source, a diffuser, and a Fresnel element. The coherent light source is operable to generate a coherent emission, characterized by a coherence length, incident on the diffuser. The diffuser is characterized by a divergence angle. The divergence angle is the angle between a first path-length from the diffuser to a Fresnel element and a second path-length from the diffuser to the Fresnel element, wherein their difference defines a path difference. In some instances, the path difference is substantially larger than the coherence length.

Light-emitting optoelectronic modules

An optoelectronic device has an asymmetric field overlap and is operable to measure proximity independently of object surface reflectivity. In some instances, the optoelectronic device includes a plurality of light-emitting assemblies and a light-sensitive assembly. In some instances, the optoelectronic devices include a plurality of light-sensitive assemblies and a light-emitting assembly. An asymmetric field overlap is attained in various implementations via various field-of-view axis, field-of-view angle, field-of-illumination axis, field-of-illumination angle, optical element and/or pitch configurations.

Proximity sensors and methods for operating the same

The present disclosure is directed to optoelectronic modules with substantially temperature-independent performance characteristics and host devices into which such optoelectronic modules can be integrated. In some instances, an optoelectronic module can collect proximity data using light-generating components and light-sensitive components that exhibit temperature-dependent performance characteristics. The light-generating components and light-sensitive components can be configured such that they exhibit complementing temperature-dependent performance characteristics such that the operating performance of the optoelectronic module is substantially temperature independent.

Optoelectronic modules with temperature-independent characteristics

The sensor () for determining an orientation of the sensor in a gravity field comprises a ball () and a rolling surface (R) describing a generally concave shape on which the ball can roll inside the sensor. A further surface (F) is arranged opposite said rolling surface, and a light emitter (E), a light detector (D) and another light emitter or detector is provided. A region (R) within which the ball () can move is limited by at least the rolling surface (R) and the further surface (F). And the light emitters (E) and detectors (D) are arranged outside the region (R) for emitting light through the rolling surface (R) into said region and detecting light exiting the region () through the rolling surface (R) or for emitting light through the further surface (F) into said region (R) and detecting light exiting said region (R) through the further surface (F). Corresponding measuring methods and manufacturing methods are described, too.

Micro-optical orientation sensor and related methods

Testing apparatus operable to collect optical performance data of optoelectronic devices at different temperatures includes thermal-adjustment devices in thermal and mechanical contact with the optoelectronic devices via optoelectronic device stages. The thermal-adjustment devices can direct thermal energy to the optoelectronic devices under test without heating test targets in close proximity. Consequently, in some instances, spurious results can be avoided and rapid measurement of the optoelectronic devices different temperatures can be achieved.

Apparatus for testing an optoelectronic device and method of operating the same

Compact optoelectronic modules are described that, in some implementations, can have reduced heights, while at the same time having very little optical crosstalk or detection of stray light. An optoelectronic module having optical channel can include a support on which is mounted an optoelectronic device arranged to emit or detect light at a particular one or more wavelengths. The module has a cover including an optically transmissive portion over the optoelectronic device. The optically transmissive portion is surrounded laterally by sections of the cover that are substantially non-transparent to the one or more wavelengths. A passive optical element is present on a surface of the optically transmissive portion. A spacer separates the support from the cover. The cover can be relatively thin so that the overall height of the module is relatively small.

Compact optoelectronic modules

Optoelectronic modules include a silicon substrate in which or on which there is an optoelectronic device. An optics assembly is disposed over the optoelectronic device, and a spacer separates the silicon substrate from the optics assembly. Methods of fabricating such modules also are described.

Optoelectronic modules having a silicon substrate, and fabrication methods for such modules

The present disclosure describes optical radiation sensors and detection techniques that facilitate assigning a specific wavelength to a measured photocurrent. The techniques can be used to determine the spectral emission characteristics of a radiation source. In one aspect, a method of determining spectral emission characteristics of incident radiation includes sensing at least some of the incident radiation using a light detector having first and second photosensitive regions whose optical responsivity characteristics differ from one another. The method further includes identifying a wavelength of the incident radiation based on a ratio of a photocurrent from the first region and a photocurrent from the second region.

Determining spectral emission characteristics of incident radiation

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Thalwil, Switzerland

Jens Geiger