Proximity Sensor

摘要

A proximity sensor for an electronic device comprises a proximity module, a lens and an optical module secured in an air gap therebetween. The proximity module has an emitter and a detector and is configured to generate a signal that is a function of light emitted by the emitter, and light detected by the detector, some portion of the detected light having been reflected by a target external to the electronic device. A transmissive-reflective surface of the optical module is aligned with the emitter field of view (FOV) and the detector FOV. The optical module guides emitted light through a transmissive portion of the lens to the exterior of the electronic device, and guides target-reflected light collected by the transmissive portion to the detector. The emitter FOV and the detector FOV are substantially aligned with one another.

主权项

1. A proximity sensor for an electronic device, the proximity sensor comprising:
a proximity module having an emitter to emit light in an emitter field of view (FOV) and a detector to detect light in a detector FOV, the proximity module configured to generate a signal that is a function of the emitted light and of the light incident on the detector in the detector FOV, wherein the signal is indicative of the presence of a target external to the electronic device; a lens separated from the proximity module by an air gap, the lens having (i) a transmissive portion in alignment with the emitter FOV and with the detector FOV, and (ii) a non-transmissive portion that extends over an area that is opposite the detector; and an optical routing module secured within the air gap, the optical routing module comprising a transmissive-reflective surface in alignment with the emitter FOV, with the detector FOV, and with the transmissive portion of the lens, wherein the transmissive-reflective surface is oriented at an angle of approximately 45°±10° with respect to the emitter FOV, and wherein the optical routing module is configured:
to guide the emitted light transmitted by the transmissive-reflective surface through the transmissive portion of the lens to the exterior of the electronic device; andto guide target-reflected light collected by the transmissive portion of the lens to the detector by reflecting the target-reflected light using the transmissive-reflective surface, wherein the target-reflected light has been reflected by the target external to the electronic device.