Optical device

Abstract

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to optical devices. An optical device is mounted to an electronic circuit having a major face with at least one light source. The optical device is made of a block that includes, for each light source, a corresponding opening through the block. The opening includes a cylindrical portion with threads on an inner surface.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority from French patent application No. 2002097, filed on March 2, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the maximum extent permitted by law. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to optical devices, and more particularly to optical devices intended to be associated with electronic circuits that include at least one light source that emits light that subsequently passes through the optical device. Background Art

[0004] Depending on the application, the light emitted by an electronic circuit comprising at least one light source must be shaped and / or modified, for example, collimated and / or spatially and / or spectrally uniform. To this end, the circuit is often associated with an optical device configured to shape and / or modify the light emitted by the circuit as it passes through the optical device.

[0005] One example of such an optical device is designed to provide a spatially uniform collimated light beam. In other words, all beam rays are substantially parallel to one another (collimated light), and in a cross-section perpendicular to the beam's propagation direction, the irradiance at each point in the cross-section is substantially the same (spatially uniform light). Such a beam is used, for example, to illuminate a die, such as a die from a plurality of dies on a semiconductor wafer, to test the functionality of the die.

[0006] However, known optical devices, such as those for providing a collimated and spatially uniform light beam, typically include several lenses and / or mirrors. These known optical devices are therefore complex and / or expensive to manufacture and / or bulky and / or have complex optical alignment with a circuit including the light source(s).

[0007] Therefore, there is a need in the art to improve at least some aspects of known optical devices of the type described above, for example known optical devices for providing a collimated light beam and / or a spatially uniform light beam.

[0008] There is a need in the art to address all or some of the disadvantages of known optical devices of the type mentioned above, for example known optical devices for providing a collimated light beam and / or a spatially uniform light beam. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In one embodiment, an optical device intended to be mounted together with an electronic circuit has a main face comprising at least one light source, for each of the at least one light source, the block of the device comprising a corresponding opening passing through the block and having a cylindrical portion with a thread on the inner surface.

[0010] According to one embodiment, each opening extends longitudinally from a first face of the block to a second face of the block opposite the first face, the cylindrical portion of the opening extends from the second face along at least a portion of the length of the opening, and on one side of the first face, the opening is configured to be closed by the main face so that when the device and circuit are mounted together, the light source corresponding to the opening faces the opening.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the threads extend from the second face.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the threads of the cylindrical portion of the opening are configured such that, when the device and the circuit are mounted together, and when the corresponding light source emits light, the light beam output from the opening at the level of the second face is spatially uniform and collimated.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the threads of the cylindrical portion are made of or coated with a non-reflective material.

[0014] According to one embodiment, all inner surfaces of the cylindrical portion are threaded.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the optical means comprise, for each opening, a cylindrical tube arranged inside the block and having an internal volume corresponding to said cylindrical portion of the opening.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the tube is made of an opaque material, in particular black anodized aluminum.

[0017] According to one embodiment: the tube comprises an outer ring; and the block comprises a stack of a first plate and a second plate, a first portion of the tube extending from the outer ring to an end of the tube being adjusted to be inside a hole through the first plate, and a second portion of the tube extending from the outer ring to the other end of the tube being adjusted to be inside a hole through the second plate.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the cylindrical portion extends along the entire length of the opening.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the opening comprises a further portion extending from the cylindrical portion to a main face of the circuit, the further portion being aligned with the cylindrical portion when the optical device and the circuit are mounted together, the further portion being preferably cylindrical.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the block further comprises a third plate stacked on the second plate, said further portion extending from one of two opposite faces of said third plate to the other face.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the further portion has a cross section that is larger than the cross section of the cylindrical portion.

[0022] According to one embodiment, all inner surfaces of the further part are threaded and are preferably made of a non-reflective material.

[0023] Another embodiment provides a component comprising: an optical device; and a circuit having a main surface, the main surface comprising at least one light source, the circuit and the optical device being mounted together such that each of the at least one light source faces a corresponding opening of the optical device, the corresponding opening being closed by the main surface of the circuit on one side of the circuit.

[0024] According to one embodiment, at least one of the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light emitting elements, each of the plurality of light emitting elements being configured to emit light in a different wavelength range, and the plurality of light emitting elements are preferably a plurality of light emitting diodes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above-mentioned features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages, will be described in detail in the following description of specific embodiments, given by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an assembly including circuitry with a light source and an optical device according to one embodiment;

[0027] Figure 2 According to an example embodiment Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an optical device;

[0028] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical device according to another embodiment Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of

[0029] Figure 4 According to an example embodiment Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an optical device;

[0030] Figure 5 According to another exemplary embodiment Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an optical device;

[0031] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a method including an optical device according to yet another embodiment Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of

[0032] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method including an optical device according to yet another embodiment Figure 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of an assembly of; and

[0033] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method including an optical device according to yet another embodiment Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of the components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In the various drawings, the same features have been denoted by the same reference numerals. Specifically, the structural features and / or functional features common to the various embodiments may have the same reference numerals, and may be provided with the same structural characteristics, dimensional characteristics, and material characteristics.

[0035] For the sake of clarity, only those operations and elements that are useful for understanding the embodiments described herein are illustrated and described in detail. Specifically, conventional circuits that include at least one light source and are intended to be associated with an optical device are not described in detail, with which the described embodiments are compatible. Furthermore, conventional applications in which a circuit that includes at least one light source is associated with an optical device configured to shape and / or modify light emitted by the circuit are not described in detail, with which the described embodiments are compatible.

[0036] Unless otherwise specified, when two elements are referred to as being connected together, this means a direct connection without any intermediate elements other than conductors, and when two elements are referred to as being coupled together, this means the two elements may be connected or may be coupled via one or more other elements.

[0037] In the following disclosure, unless otherwise stated, when referring to absolute position qualifiers, such as terms "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc., or relative position qualifiers, such as terms "upper", "lower", "higher", "lower", etc., or orientation qualifiers, such as "horizontal", "vertical", etc., reference is made to the orientation shown in the figures.

[0038] Unless otherwise indicated, the expressions "about," "approximately," "substantially," and "approximately" mean within 10%, and preferably within 5%.

[0039] In the following description, unless otherwise stated, a material is non-reflective for a given range of wavelengths if, when a light ray having a wavelength in a given range reaches a 100 μm thick layer of the material, only 10% or less of the light power of the ray is reflected by the layer. In the following description, for example, a material is said to be non-reflective if it is non-reflective for a wavelength range from 200 nm to 2000 nm.

[0040] Figure 1is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an assembly 1 comprising an electrical circuit 2 with a light source 200 and an optical device 3 according to an embodiment.

[0041] The circuit 2 includes a plurality of light sources 200. Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 3 , three light sources 200 are presented. More specifically, the main surface 201 ( Figure 1 The bottom surface of the circuit 2 includes a light source 200. The light source 200 is, for example, arranged or mounted on a surface 201 ( Figure 1 For example, the circuit 2 is a printed circuit board (PCB), and each light source 200 includes, for example, one or several light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each LED (including possible packaging of the LED) being, for example, soldered on the main surface 201 of the printed circuit board. Preferably, the main surface 201 of the circuit 2 is substantially planar, for example, flat, which facilitates assembly of the circuit 2 with the optical device 3.

[0042] The light sources 200 are, for example, arranged to form a lighting panel. The light sources 200 are, for example, arranged in rows and columns. The light sources 200 are, for example, identical to each other. The light sources 200 are, for example, configured to emit light having a wavelength in the range of 200 nm to 2000 nm. Each light source 200 has, for example, a surface between 15 mm×15 mm and 1 μ5 mm wave m, the surface of the light source 200 being measured, for example, in a plane parallel to the face 201 of the circuit 2. For example, when the light source is, for example, a light emitting diode, each light source 200 has a surface equal to or substantially equal to 1.5 mm×1.5 mm. As another example, when the light source is, for example, a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), each light source 200 has a surface equal to or substantially equal to 1 μ5 mm wave m.

[0043] According to one embodiment, at least some of the light sources 200 (eg, all of the light sources 200 ) each include only one light emitting element, such as one light emitting diode.

[0044] According to another embodiment, at least some of the light sources 200 (eg, all of the light sources 200 ) each include more than one light emitting element, such as a plurality of light emitting diodes.

[0045] According to one embodiment, each of the plurality of light emitting elements of a given light source 200 is configured to emit light in a different wavelength range. Thus, the light source 200 emits light in a wavelength range wider than that which can be emitted by a single light emitting element.

[0046] The optical device 3 comprises a block 300. Figure 1In an embodiment of the present invention, the block 300 is made, for example, from a single piece as a whole or as a whole, such a single piece being made of the same material, preferably a non-reflective material for the wavelength range of the light source 200. As an example, the block 300 is made of aluminum, preferably black anodized aluminum, or in other words, aluminum having a non-reflective coating for the wavelength range of the light source 200. As another example, the block 300 is made of a nickel (Ni) cobalt (Co) iron (Fe) alloy or FeNiCo alloy, for example, a FeNiCo alloy including 53.5 mass percent Fe, 29 mass percent Ni, and 17 mass percent Co, such as the FeNiCo alloy represented by the commercial trademark Kovar.

[0047] For each light source 200 of the circuit 2, the block 300 includes a corresponding opening 302. Each opening 302 is formed from a face 304 ( Figure 1 top surface in) longitudinally (in Figure 1 , vertically) extending to face 306 of block 300 ( Figure 1 Surfaces 304 and 306 are opposite to each other. Preferably, surface 304 and / or surface 306 are flat or substantially flat. Flat surface 304 facilitates assembly of device 3 and circuit 2. Preferably, surfaces 304 and 306 are parallel or substantially parallel to each other. Block 300 can, for example, have a cube, a rectangular parallelepiped, or a cylinder.

[0048] The device 3 is intended to be mounted with the circuit 2 by bringing at least a portion of the face 201 of the circuit 2 into contact with at least a portion of the face 304 of the block 300, preferably by bringing the entire face 304 of the block 300 into contact with a corresponding portion of the face 201 of the circuit 2. When the device 3 is mounted or assembled with the circuit 2, the device 3 and the circuit 2 are rigidly fixed to each other, for example by means of fixings, such as, for example, using screws 5.

[0049] On one side of the face 304, or in other words, at the level of the face 304, when the circuit 2 and the device 3 are mounted together, each opening 302 is configured to be closed or sealed by the face 201 of the circuit 2. In other words, for each opening 302, when the circuit 2 and the device 3 are mounted together, a portion of the face 304 extending from the opening 302 and completely surrounding the opening 302 is configured to be in full contact with a corresponding portion of the face 201.

[0050] Furthermore, on one side of face 304, each opening 302 is configured such that, when circuit 2 and device 3 are mounted together, the light source 200 corresponding to the opening 302 completely faces the opening 302. In other words, when circuit 2 and device 3 are mounted together, for each pair of light source 200 and corresponding opening 302, the light source 200 completely faces its corresponding opening 302. For example, when light source 200 is disposed on face 201 of circuit 2, light source 200 is completely surrounded by the walls of opening 302, that is, by the inner surface of opening 302.

[0051] Such a configuration of each opening 302 at one side of the face 304 allows preventing any light other than the light emitted by the corresponding light source 200 from entering the opening 302 on the one side of the face 304 .

[0052] Each opening 302 includes a cylindrical portion 308 extending from the surface 306 along at least a portion of the length of the opening 302. Figure 1 , the cylindrical portion 308 of each opening 300 extends the entire length of the opening 302 .

[0053] Each opening 302 includes threads 310 on the inner surface of its cylindrical portion 308. In other words, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 308 is threaded over at least a portion of its length, preferably over its entire length. Figure 1 306 , the threads 310 of each opening extend only over a portion of the length of the cylindrical portion 308, and more specifically, over a portion of the length of the cylindrical portion 308 that is located on one side of the face 306. The threads 310 may be any spiral pattern formed on at least a portion of the cylindrical portion 308 of the opening 302, such as by tapping.

[0054] The inventors have noted that the threads 310 of opening 302 enhance the spatial uniformity of the light beam output from opening 302 at the level of surface 306. In practice, when the light beam emitted by light source 200 passes through the corresponding opening 302, a portion of the light beam is reflected on the inner surface of opening 302. When light is reflected on an unthreaded surface, the reflection is specular. Light output from opening 302 due to specular reflection can cause spatial inhomogeneities. When light is reflected on a threaded surface, the reflection is diffuse. Light output from opening 302 due to diffuse reflection does not introduce spatial inhomogeneities. In other words, the portion of the emitted light that is strongly affected by threads 310, which could potentially experience specular reflection on the walls of opening 200 and introduce spatial inhomogeneities in the output light, is further reduced when threads 310 are made of a non-reflective material.

[0055] Furthermore, the inventors have noted that the device 3 allows, for each opening 302 , at the level of the face 306 , to achieve a collimated light beam output from the opening 302 .

[0056] Therefore, according to one embodiment, the threads 310 of each opening 302 are configured such that: when the device 3 is mounted together with the circuit 2, and when the light source 200 facing the opening 302 emits light, the light beam output from the opening 302 is spatially uniform at the level of the face 306.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the diameter and length of each opening 302 and the threads of the openings 302 are configured such that, when the device 3 is mounted together with the circuit 2 and when the light source 200 facing the opening 302 emits light, the light beam output from the opening 302 at the level of the face 306 is collimated. More specifically, in such an embodiment, the diameter of the collimated light beam output from the opening 302 is equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of the opening 302 at the level of the face 306. Therefore, the diameter of the opening 302 at the level of the face 306 is adapted or modified based on the desired value of the diameter of the collimated light beam.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the threads 310 of each opening 302 extend from the face 306. Therefore, there is no unthreaded portion on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 308 extending from the face 306 to the threads 310, where specular reflection may occur and cause spatial non-uniformity of the light beam output from the opening 302 on one side of the face 306 and / or cause a non-collimated light beam to be output from the opening 302 on one side of the face 306.

[0059] As an example, each opening 302 is produced by drilling a hole through the block 300 between the faces 304 and 306 at the location of the opening 302 and tapping at least a portion of the hole to form the thread 310. Thus, the device 3 is particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the diameter of the opening 302 can be small, for example less than 5 mm, for example equal to or less than 3 mm.

[0060] Instead of providing threads 310 in each opening 302, a roughened surface may be provided, for example, produced by mechanical, electromechanical or chemical treatment or even by film coating. However, it is difficult to apply such treatments or coatings with good reproducibility and uniformity inside small volumes (e.g., openings 302 with a diameter of less than 5 mm).

[0061] Instead of providing threads 310 in each opening 302, as an alternative, in the absence of threads, the openings 302 can be provided with an inner surface coated with a non-reflective coating (typically a black coating). However, it is difficult to apply such a coating with good reproducibility and uniformity inside a small volume (e.g., an opening 302 with a diameter less than 5 mm). Moreover, such coatings are expensive, and their efficiency depends on the wavelength and angle of incidence of the light rays reaching the coating. Specifically, black coatings typically reflect a relatively large amount of light approaching grazing incidence, for example, light rays with an angle of incidence (between the normal to the coating and the direction of the incident light ray) greater than 80°. This increased reflectivity has a specular property rather than a diffuse reflective property.

[0062] Furthermore, the inventors have noted that, on one side of face 306, the light beam output from opening 302 has a spectrum identical to the spectrum of the light emitted by light source 200. In other words, the light beam output from opening 302 is spectrally uniform relative to the light source. Specifically, when light propagates through opening 302, no new wavelengths are introduced into the spectrum of the light, and the modification of the light intensity is independent of the wavelength of the light.

[0063] Reference again Figure 1 , in this example, the component 1 of the circuit 2 and the optical device 3 are part of a probe card or a test card.

[0064] The assembly 1 is mounted together with a printed circuit board 6, for example, and the device 3 is passed through a hole arranged in the printed circuit board 6. The assembly 1 and the board 6 are connected by means of a hole not provided in the printed circuit board 6. Figure 1 For example, the face 306 of the block 300 is at a lower level than the face 600 of the printed circuit board 6. Figure 1 Not shown, electrical probes and / or optical probes are typically mounted with the board 6 , such electrical probes and / or optical probes being configured to be electrically and / or optically coupled, respectively, to corresponding inputs and / or outputs of the device under test illuminated by the assembly 1 .

[0065] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the reinforcement 7 is mounted together with the printed circuit board 6, being mounted on a face 601 of the board 6 opposite the face 600. The reinforcement 7 and the board 6 are mounted together so that the holes arranged in the reinforcement are aligned with the holes arranged in the printed circuit board 6. The device 3 is inserted through these aligned holes, or in other words, the device 3 is adjusted into these aligned holes. The reinforcement 7 and the board 6 are rigidly fixed to each other, for example, by fixing means such as screws 8.

[0066] exist Figure 1In the example of FIG. 1 , assembly 1, and more generally, a probe card including assembly 1, is used to simultaneously illuminate multiple dies 900 of a semiconductor wafer 9. To this end, face 306 of apparatus 3 faces face 901 of wafer 9, with dies 900 located on one side of face 901. In this example, the redistribution of openings 302 relative to one another is identical to the redistribution of dies 900 relative to one another. As a result, each die 900 receives light emitted by a given light source 200. Furthermore, the diameters of openings 302 on one side of face 306 are configured such that the light beams output from these openings 302 fully illuminate corresponding dies 900 of wafer 9.

[0067] Figure 2 According to an example embodiment Figure 1 More specifically, Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a portion of threads 310 of opening 302 is shown, the view being taken in a plane including the axis of rotation of cylindrical portion 308 of opening 302. In this example embodiment, threads 310 are of a type commonly referred to as an ISO ("International Organization for Standardization") standard.

[0068] The thread 310 includes a series of periodic recesses 310-1 having a pitch P, or in other words, a series of periodic protrusions 310-2 having a pitch P, where each protrusion 310-2 has a shape similar to one of the recesses 310-1. In this example, each recess 310-1 has a triangular shape with a truncated tip, and each protrusion 310-2 has a triangular shape with a truncated tip. Figure 2 In the view of FIG, there is a flat surface or platform 310-3 at the bottom of each recess 310-1, and a flat surface or platform 310-4 at the top of each protrusion 310-2. The length A of each surface 310-4 between two consecutive recesses 310-1 is preferably as small as possible to reduce the proportion of emitted light rays that can be reflected by specular reflection on these surfaces 310-4.

[0069] In the absence of the threads 310, the inner surface of the opening 302 would correspond to a cylindrical surface including all of the surfaces 310-4. An incident light ray 10 that reaches the unthreaded surface at a position between the positions of two consecutive surfaces 310-4 would be reflected by specular reflection. However, an incident light ray 10 that reaches the threads 310 at a position between two consecutive surfaces 310-4 can only be reflected by specular reflection on the surface 310-3 between the two consecutive surfaces 310-4 if its angle of incidence θ, measured between the normal 11 of the surface 310-3 and the direction of propagation of the ray 10, is less than the maximum angle θ defined by the following equation:

[0070] Cotan(θmax)=2*H / (PA)

[0071] Where H is the height between the plane including the surface 310-3 and the plane including the surface 310-4 (in Figure 2 ), Cotan is the cotangent function.

[0072] Thus, the threads 310 allow for reducing specular reflections of light rays with grazing incidence (i.e., in this example, light rays with an angle of incidence θ greater than θ / θ). It can be noted that increasing the height H of the threads 310 and / or reducing the pitch P allows for suppressing more specular reflections of light rays with grazing incidence.

[0073] Furthermore, we consider the incident light ray that reaches the inclined surface of the protrusion 310-4, which is located on one side of the light source 200 ( Figure 2 ), so in Figure 2 The ray will be reflected towards the light source 200. As a result, the light ray will not be reflected on the surface 306 ( Figure 2 The spatial inhomogeneity is generated in the light beam output from the opening 302 at one side (not shown), and the surface 306 is Figure 2 In the example on the right.

[0074] Although the operation of thread 310 has been described for ISO standard type threads, a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt the operation to any type of thread, for example, to a type of thread commonly referred to as Unified Thread Standard (UTS), National Pipe Thread (NPT), British Standard Whitworth (BSW), British Standard Pipe Thread (BSP), trapezoidal threads, square threads, or buttress threads, and more generally to any type of helical protrusion.

[0075] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical device 3-1 according to another embodiment. Figure 1 Here, only the difference between the device 3 and 3-1 is described in detail, and the other elements 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are similar to those in the reference Figure 1 The elements described are the same.

[0076] More specifically, device 3-1 differs from device 3 in that cylindrical portion 308 of each opening 302 extends only a portion of the length of opening 302. Thus, each opening 302 includes another portion 312 extending from cylindrical portion 308 to face 304.

[0077] A cross-section of the portion 312 of each opening 302—the section being taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cylindrical portion 308 of the opening 302—or in other words, a cross-section of the portion 312, is centered on the axis of rotation of the cylindrical portion 308. In other words, the portions 308 and 312 of a given opening 302 are aligned with one another.

[0078] The cross-section of the portion 312 of each opening 302 may have different shapes.

[0079] Figure 4 According to an example embodiment Figure 3 More specifically, Figure 4 The cross-sectional view of Figure 3 is intercepted in plane AA, Figure 4 Only one opening 302 is shown.

[0080] exist Figure 4 In the exemplary embodiment, the cross-section of portion 312 of opening 302 has a square shape.

[0081] In addition, Figure 4 In the example shown, the length of the side of the square cross-section of portion 312 is greater than the diameter of the circular cross-section of cylindrical portion 308. In other examples not shown, the length of the side of the square cross-section of portion 312 is equal to or less than the diameter of the circular cross-section of cylindrical portion 308.

[0082] Figure 5 According to another exemplary embodiment Figure 3 More specifically, Figure 5 The cross-sectional view of Figure 3 is intercepted in plane AA, Figure 5 Only one opening 302 is shown.

[0083] exist Figure 5 In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the cross-section of portion 312 of opening 302 has a circular shape. In other words, portion 312 of opening 302 is cylindrical.

[0084] In addition, Figure 5 In the example shown, the diameter of cylindrical portion 312 of opening 302 is greater than the diameter of cylindrical portion 308 of opening 302. In other examples not shown, the diameter of portion 312 may be equal to the diameter of portion 308, or even smaller than the diameter of portion 308.

[0085] Reference again Figure 3 , each opening portion 312 is preferably cylindrical, so that the device 3-1 is easier to manufacture.

[0086] The cross section of the portion 312 of each opening is configured so that, when the device 3 is mounted with the circuit 1, the light source 200 corresponding to the opening 302 faces the opening completely. Thus, providing two portions 308 and 312 in each opening allows the opening 302 to be adapted to the shape of the corresponding light source 200 and to the shape of the element to be illuminated by the light beam output from the opening 302. In practice, the cross section of the portion 312 is adapted to the shape or surface of the light source 200, and the cross section of the portion 308 is adapted to the element to be illuminated (e.g. Figure 3 The shape or surface of the die 900 in the example.

[0087] In embodiments where the portion 312 of each opening 302 is cylindrical, the threads ( Figure 3 ) may be disposed on the inner surface of portion 312. Figure 6 An example of such an embodiment is illustrated, Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical device according to an embodiment Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the components of the . Figure 6 In the example, component 1 and Figure 3 Same as component 1, except Figure 6 The portion 312 of each opening 302 of the assembly 1 includes a thread 310' along at least a portion of the length of the portion 312, preferably along the entire length of the portion 312, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 The pitch and / or shape of the thread 310 ′ may be different from the pitch and / or shape of the thread 310 , respectively.

[0088] Reference again Figure 3 In this example, the threads 310 extend over the entire inner surface of the cylindrical portion 308 , although in other examples not shown, the threads 310 may extend over only a portion of the length of the cylindrical portion 308 .

[0089] exist Figure 3In the example shown, block 300 is made of two blocks 300-1 and 300-2, preferably two plates 300-1 and 300-2, rigidly fixed to one another, with plate 300-1 resting on plate 300-2. In this example, the thickness of plate 300-2 is preferably equal to the length of portion 308 of each opening 302, and the thickness of plate 300-1 is preferably equal to the length of portion 312 of each opening. Thus, portion 312 of each opening 302 can be simply drilled through the entire thickness of plate 300-1, and portion 308 of each opening 300-2 can be simply drilled through the entire thickness of plate 300-2. Threads 310 are then formed by tapping at least a portion of the length of the hole in plate 300-2. Alternatively, threads can be formed in portion 312 by tapping at least a portion of the length of the hole in plate 300-1. Finally, plates 300-1 and 300-2 are mounted together.

[0090] In another example, not shown, the block 300 may be made of a single piece, or of more than two plates 300 - 1 , 300 - 2 mounted to each other.

[0091] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating an optical device 3-2 according to another embodiment. Figure 1 Here, only the differences between the devices 3 and 3-2 are described in detail, and the other elements 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are similar to those in the reference Figure 1 The elements described are the same.

[0092] More specifically, device 3-2 differs from device 3 in that, for each opening 302, device 3-2 includes a cylindrical tube 314 arranged inside block 300, the internal volume of cylindrical tube 314 corresponding to the cylindrical portion 308 of opening 302, whereby cylindrical portion 308 extends over the entire length of opening 302. In this example, the length of tube 314 is equal to or substantially equal to the thickness of block 300, measured between faces 304 and 306. Tube 314 is adapted to be inside a hole that passes through the entire thickness of block 300, from face 304 to face 306.

[0093] Preferably, if Figure 7 As shown, the entire interior surface of the tube 314 is threaded, or in other words, the threads 310 extend the entire length of the tube 314 , and therefore the entire length of the portion 308 of the opening 302 .

[0094] The tube 314 is made of, for example, an opaque material such as black anodized aluminum.

[0095] An advantage of using tubes 314 having threads 310 instead of forming threads 310 directly in the material of the block is that tubes 314 can easily be tested so that only tubes 314 having a desired shape and / or a desired length and / or a desired thread 310 and / or a desired length of thread 310 are selected to be installed in the block 300.

[0096] According to one embodiment, as Figure 7 illustrated, each tube 314 comprises an external ring 316 on its outer surface. The external ring 316 is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube 314. Thus, each tube 314 comprises a portion 318 extending from the external ring 316 to an end of the tube, which is in the example of the top end, and a portion 320 extending from the external ring 316 to the other end of the tube 314, which is in the example the bottom end. Figure 7 Figure 7

[0097] When the block 300 is made of at least two plates or blocks stacked on each other, providing the external ring 316 facilitates the installation of the tubes 314 within the block 300. Indeed, the ring 316 of each tube 314 is then provided at the level of the face of the first plate in contact with the face of the second plate. Preferably, a recess configured to accommodate the ring 316 is arranged at the level of the contact surface between the two plates stacked on each other.

[0098] In the example of Figure 7 , the block 300 comprises a lower plate 300-4 made of a ceramic material for example and an upper plate 300-5 made of a FeNiCo alloy for example, the upper plate 300-5 being stacked on top of the plate 300-4. The portion 320 of each tube 314 is adjusted inside the hole passing through the plate 300-4 and the portion 318 of the tube 314 is adjusted inside the hole passing through the plate 300-5. The holes in the plate 300-4 are each aligned with a corresponding hole of the plate 300-5. When the tube 314 comprises a ring 316, this ring is preferably provided at the interface between the plates 300-4 and 300-5.

[0099] Moreover, in the example of Figure 7 , the lower plate 300-4 is preferably larger than the upper plate 300-5 so that the plate 300-4 comprises a portion extending laterally beyond the edges of the plate 300-5. These portions of the plate 300-4, and thus of the block 300, can then be rigidly fixed to the plate 6, for example by fixing means such as screws 12. In this example, each tube 314 comprises a ring 316, which is preferably resting on the face of the plate 300-4 in contact with the corresponding face of the plate 300-5. A recess for accommodating the ring 314 is preferably located at the level of this face of the plate 300-5.

[0100] Figure 8 is a block 300-2 according to yet another embodiment comprising optical devices 3-3.​​ Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of component 1. Device 3-3 is similar to reference Figure 7 The device 3-2 described above, here, only the differences between the devices 3-2 and 3-3 are described in detail, and the other elements 2, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 12 are the same as those in the reference Figure 1 and Figure 6 The elements described are the same.

[0101] More specifically, device 3-3 differs from device 3-2 in that portion 308 of each opening 302 of device 3-3, or in other words, tube 314 of each opening 302, extends only a portion of the length of opening 302, opening 302 thus comprising the same portion as reference 3-2. Figure 3 The described portion is similar to another portion 312 .

[0102] If you have already referred to Figure 7 As described, in this example, Figure 8 As shown, block 300 includes plate 300-4 and plate 300-5, with plate 300-5 stacked on top of plate 300-4. For each opening 302, tube 314 includes a portion 320 that is adjusted to fit within the corresponding hole in plate 300-4 and a portion 318 that is adjusted to fit within the corresponding hole in plate 300-5. In this example, each tube 314 includes a ring 316. In other examples not shown, the ring 316 of each tube 314 is omitted.

[0103] Preferably, the length of portion 320 of each tube 314 is equal to or substantially equal to the thickness of plate 300-4, and the length of portion 318 of each tube 314 is equal to or substantially equal to the thickness of plate 300-5. Thus, one end of tube 314 is flush with the surface of plate 300-4 opposite the surface of plate 300-4 that contacts plate 300-5, and the other end of tube 314 is flush with the surface of plate 300-5 opposite the surface of plate 300-5 that contacts plate 300-4. In other words, portion 320 of tube 314 is flush with surface 306 of block 300.

[0104] Furthermore, in this example, block 300 comprises another plate 300-6 rigidly fixed to plate 300-5, plate 300-6 being stacked on plate 300-5. Each open portion 312 is located in plate 300-6 and corresponds to a hole passing through the entire thickness of plate 300-6.

[0105] exist Figure 8 In the example of FIG. 1 , the portion 312 of each opening 302 is unthreaded, although in other examples not shown, as previously described with reference to FIG. Figure 6 As depicted, portion 312 is preferably threaded, preferably throughout its entire length.

[0106] exist Figure 8 In the example shown, the cross-section of portion 312 of each opening 302 is preferably a circular cross-section that is larger than the cross-section of portion 308 of opening 302, although in other examples not shown, the cross-section of portion 312 is equal to or smaller than the cross-section of portion 318.

[0107] As an example, in reference Figures 1 to 8 In the described embodiments:

[0108] Each light source 200 is constituted by more than one light-emitting diode and has, in a plane parallel to the face 201 , a surface substantially equal to 1.5 mm×..5 mm;

[0109] Each light source emits light having a wavelength in the range of 200 nm to 2000 nm;

[0110] The length of each opening 302 is substantially equal to 3 cm; and

[0111] The diameter of the cylindrical portion 308 of each opening 302 is equal to or substantially equal to 3 mm.

[0112] Although the reference Figure 1 , the block 300 has been described as being made of a single piece, and with reference to Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the block 300 has been described as being made of, for example, a stack of at least two plates, but a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt these examples to situations in which, Figure 1 The block 300 is made of a stack of at least two plates and Figures 3 to 8 The block 300 is made from a single piece.

[0113] Furthermore, one skilled in the art will be able to modify the examples of materials indicated for the block 300 and / or the different plates and / or tubes 314 etc. that make up the block 300 .

[0114] A person skilled in the art will also be able to modify the dimensions indicated as examples depending on the targeted application.

[0115] Furthermore, even if the optical devices described above are intended to be mounted together with an electronic circuit 2 comprising more than one light source 200 and therefore each comprise as many openings 302 as light sources 200, a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt these optical devices to the case where the circuit 2 comprises only one light source 200, for example by providing optical devices comprising only one opening 302.

[0116] Although the openings 302 are preferably identical to one another, for example when the light sources 200 are identical to one another, a person skilled in the art can provide an optical arrangement in which at least two openings 302 are different from one another (eg, two openings 302 have cylindrical portions 308 of different diameters).

[0117] Various embodiments and variations have been described. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that certain features of these embodiments can be combined, and that other variations will readily occur to a person skilled in the art. Specifically, although the above-described devices 3, 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 allow for obtaining a light beam output from the opening 302 at one side of the face 306 that is collimated and spatially and spectrally uniform, a person skilled in the art will be able to modify the shape and properties of the light beam output by these optical devices. For example, when these devices also include a light diffuser mounted on the face 306 of the block 300 of these devices, the light beam output by the opening can be used as an intermediate light beam for these devices, such that the intermediate light beam output by the opening 302 can pass through the light diffuser. As another example, a person skilled in the art can provide the following optical devices 3, 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3, in which one or more lenses are mounted in each opening 302, for example, at the level of the face 306 of the block 300.

[0118] Finally, based on the functional description provided above, the actual implementation of the embodiments and variations described herein is within the capabilities of those skilled in the art. Specifically, those skilled in the art may select the material of the optical device, the size and / or shape of the openings 302, and / or the size and / or shape of the threads 310 of these openings, for example, based on the target application. To this end, those skilled in the art may use simulation tools for simulating the operation of optical devices, such as the software LightTools.

Claims

1. An optical device comprising: a block configured to be mounted to a major face of an electronic circuit including at least one light source; wherein for each light source, the block includes a corresponding opening through the block; wherein each opening comprises a cylindrical portion having threads on an inner surface of the cylindrical portion, The thread comprises: A series of periodic recesses with a pitch P; A series of periodic protrusions having said pitch P; Each recess and each protrusion has a cross-sectional shape of a truncated triangle.

2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein each opening extends longitudinally from a first face of the block to a second face of the block opposite the first face, wherein the cylindrical portion extends from the second face along at least a portion of the length of the opening, and wherein on one side of the first face, the opening is configured to be closed by the major face such that when the block is mounted to the electronic circuit, the light source corresponding to the opening faces the opening. The optical device of claim 2 , wherein the threads extend from the second face.

4. An optical device according to claim 2, wherein the threads of the cylindrical portion of the opening are configured so that: when the block and the electronic circuit are mounted together, and when the corresponding light source emits light, the light beam output from the opening at the level of the second face is spatially uniform and collimated. 5 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein the threads of the cylindrical portion are made of or coated with a non-reflective material. The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein all inner surfaces of the cylindrical portion are threaded.

7. The optical device of claim 1, comprising, for each opening, a cylindrical tube arranged inside the block and having an internal volume corresponding to the cylindrical portion of the opening.

8. The optical device according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical tube is made of an opaque material.

9. The optical device of claim 8, wherein the opaque material is black anodized aluminum.

10. The optical device according to claim 7, wherein: The tube includes an outer ring; and The block comprises a stack of a first plate and a second plate, a first portion of the tube extending from the outer ring to the end of the tube being adjusted to be inside a hole through the first plate, and a second portion of the tube extending from the outer ring to the other end of the tube being adjusted to be inside a hole through the second plate.

11. The optical device according to claim 10, wherein the block further comprises a third plate stacked on the second plate, and when the optical device and the circuit are mounted together, the opening comprises another portion extending from the cylindrical portion to the main face of the circuit, the other portion extending from one of two opposite faces of the third plate to the other face.

12. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical portion extends along the entire length of the opening.

13. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the opening comprises a further portion extending from the cylindrical portion to the major face of the circuit when the optical device and the circuit are mounted together, the further portion being aligned with the cylindrical portion, the further portion being cylindrical.

14. The optical device of claim 13, wherein the block comprises a stack of a first plate and a second plate, and further comprises a third plate stacked on the second plate, the other portion extending from one of two opposing faces of the third plate to the other face.

15. The optical device according to claim 13, wherein the another portion has a cross-section larger than a cross-section of the cylindrical portion.

16. The optical device according to claim 13, wherein all inner surfaces of the another portion are threaded and are made of a non-reflective material.

17. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the threads are made of an opaque material.

18. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the opaque material is black anodized aluminum.

19. The optical device of claim 17, wherein the opaque material is a nickel (Ni) cobalt (Co) iron (Fe) alloy (FeNiCo).

20. The optical device of claim 1, further comprising the electronic circuit having the major surface.

21. The optical device of claim 20, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light emitting elements, each of the plurality of light emitting elements being configured to emit light of a different wavelength range.

22. The optical device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are a plurality of light emitting diodes.

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