Interlock for an optical lens of an optical element

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical element (110), wherein the optical element (110) comprises: (1) at least one lens element (112), wherein the lens element (112) comprises at least one optical lens (114); (2) at least one optoelectronic component (116), wherein the optoelectronic component (116) is configured for emitting and / or detecting light (126) through the optical lens (114); (3) at least one supporting member (118), wherein the optoelectronic component (116) is arranged between the lens element (112) and the supporting member (118); and (4) at least one electrical wire (120), wherein the electrical wire (120) is secured to the supporting member (118), wherein the electrical wire (120) secures the optical lens (114) to the optoelectronic component (116) in a manner that it breaks when the optical lens (114) dislocates from the optoelectronic component (116) so that at least a portion of the illumination light (126) emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component (116) avoids the optical lens (114).

Description

[0001] Interlock for an optical lens of an optical element

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to an optical element. The invention further relates to an device The devices according to the present invention specifically may be employed for example in various areas of daily life, security technology, gaming, traffic technology, production technology, photography such as digital photography or video photography for arts, documentation or technical purposes, safety technology, information technology, agriculture, crop protection, maintenance, cosmetics, medical technology or in the sciences. However, other applications are also possible.

[0004] Background art

[0005] Optical elements are known to be efficient tools for emitting and / or detecting light. Typically such optical elements comprise optical lenses. Light that is emitted and / or detected by the optical element typically propagates through the optical lenses. To ensure the functionality of the optical element, it is required that the optical lens is at a predetermined position, particularly relative to an optoelectronic component comprised by the optical element.

[0006] In case the optical element generates light, the emitted wavelengths and / or intensities may cause damage to the human body, specifically the eye of the human body, in case the optical lens dislocates from the optoelectronic component in a manner that the light emitted by the optoelectronic component may avoid and / or bypass the optical lenses.

[0007] In general, the optical lenses are arranged in lens holders. Such lens holders are fastened to a supporting member by using flexible printed circuits and / or conductive tape and / or insert molding. Particularly in high humidity environments, there is a risk that the lens holders, and thereby the optical lenses, dislocates when the fastening element loosens and / or breaks.

[0008] US 2019 / 379173 A1 relates to a housing for a light source mounted on a substrate, the housing comprising: a barrel comprising a mounting for a diffuser; and a diffuser positioned in the mounting, wherein the barrel comprises first and second conducting columns and a fuse or conductive wire electrically coupling the first and second conducting columns. A portion of the fuse is mechanically fixed to the diffuser and / or the fuse being arranged to trap the diffuser in said mounting.

[0009] EP 3 855 710 A1 relates to a lens, an active light emitting module, and a terminal, and relates to the field of electronic terminal device technologies, so as to protect a conductive layer on an optical element, and reduce a risk that the conductive layer is damaged by static electricity. The lens includes a lens tube and the optical element mounted in the lens tube. The lens tube has a top surface, and a conductive layer is disposed on a surface that is of the optical element and that faces a side on which the top surface is located. The lens further includes: an antistatic structure disposed on the top surface, and an electrostatic conducting wire disposed in a tube wall or on an inner surface or an outer surface of the lens tube. One end of the electrostatic conducting wire is electrically connected to the antistatic structure, and the other end is grounded. The lens is mounted in the active light emitting module, and the active light emitting module is applied to the terminal, to assist the terminal in implementing a function such as 3D sensing.

[0010] WO 2018 / 108384 A1 relates to an illumination device for a visualisation system, particularly for an optical sensor, of a motor vehicle, said visualisation system being designed to detect a scene in front of the motor vehicle, preferably produced by a user.

[0011] US 2019 / 378866 A1 relates to an optical module including an electronic assembly and an optical component. The electronic assembly includes a chip component and a circuit board. The optical assembly disposed on the electronic assembly includes a bracket and an optical component. The bracket surrounds the chip component and has at least two conductive layers separated from each other. The conductive layers extend to the bottom of the bracket and are electrically connected to the electronic assembly. The optical assembly is disposed on the bracket and has at least one light-transmissive conductive layer which is electrically connected to the conductive layers.

[0012] Problem to be solved

[0013] It is therefore desirable to provide devices, which at least partially address the above- mentioned technical challenges and at least substantially avoid the disadvantages of known devices. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical element having an ensured functionality.

[0014] Summary

[0015] This problem is addressed by the optical element and the device described by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments which might be realized in an isolated fashion or in any arbitrary combinations are listed in the dependent claims as well as throughout the specification.

[0016] In a first aspect, an optical element is disclosed. The term “optical element” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for providing and / or decting light, specifically illumination light and / or detection light. As will be outlined in further detail below, the optical element generally can be embodied in various ways. Thus, the optical element can be for example part of a device in a housing of the device. Alternatively or additionally, however, the at least one optical element can also be arranged outside a housing, for example as a separate optical element.

[0017] The term “light” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to electro-magnetic radiation in one or more of the infrared, the visible and the ultraviolet spectral range. Herein, the term “ultraviolet spectral range”, generally, refers to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of 1 nm to 380 nm, preferably of 100 nm to 380 nm. Further, in partial accordance with standard ISO-21348 in a valid version at the date of this document, the term “visible spectral range”, generally, refers to a spectral range of 380 nm to 760 nm. The term “infrared spectral range” (IR) generally refers to electromagnetic radiation of 760 nm to 1000 pm, wherein the range of 760 nm to 1 .5 pm is usually denominated as “near infrared spectral range” (NIR) while the range from 1.5 p to 15 pm is denoted as “mid infrared spectral range” (MidlR) and the range from 15 pm to 1000 pm as “far infrared spectral range” (FIR). Preferably, light used for the typical purposes of the present invention is light in the infrared (IR) spectral range, more preferred, in the near infrared (NIR) and / or the mid infrared spectral range (MidlR), especially the light having a wavelength of 1 pm to 5 pm, preferably of 1 pm to 3 pm. This is due to the fact that many material properties or properties on the chemical constitution of many objects may be derived from the near infrared spectral range. It shall be noted, however, that spectroscopy in other spectral ranges is also feasible and within the scope of the present invention.

[0018] The optical element comprises:

[0019] (1) at least one lens element, wherein the lens element comprises at least one optical lens;

[0020] (2) at least one optoelectronic component, wherein the optoelectronic component is configured for emitting and / or detecting light through the optical lens;

[0021] (3) at least one supporting member, wherein the optoelectronic component is arranged between the lens element and the supporting member; and

[0022] (4) at least one electrical wire, wherein the electrical wire is secured to the supporting member, wherein the electrical wire secures the optical lens to the optoelectronic component in a manner that it breaks when the optical lens dislocates from the optoelectronic component so that at least a portion of the light emitted and / or detecting by the optoelectronic component avoids the optical lens.

[0023] For this aspect, reference may be made to any further aspect, particularly any definition, Embodiment or claim given in the context of any further aspect.

[0024] The optical element comprises at least one lens element, wherein the lens element comprises at least one optical lens.

[0025] The term “lens element” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary unit or assembly comprising an optical lens. The lens element may be secured to the supporting member. The lens element may be secured to the supporting member. By securing the lens element to the supporting member, the optical lens may be arranged at a predetermined position, in which the light that is emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component propagates through the optical lens. The lens element may be secured to the supporting member by at least one of: adhering. The term “adhering” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to using an adhesive bond to ensure that a component remains firmly attached and properly positioned to a further component.

[0026] The lens element further may comprise a lens holder, wherein the lens holder is configured for supporting the optical lens. Specifically, the lens holder may be secured to the supporting member. The optical lens may be secured to the lens holder. The optical lens may be secured to the lens holder by at least one of: adhering; pressing; clamping. The term “pressing” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to mechanically joining a plurality of elements by applying a pressure and / or a force to create a connection between the plurality of elements. The term “clamping” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to bringing at least one object in a position in which the object cannot move freely as it is stuck.

[0027] The term “optical lens” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an at least partially transparent medium configured for bending and / or focusing light rays.

[0028] The optical element comprises at least one optoelectronic component, wherein the optoelectronic component is configured for emitting and / or detecting light through the optical lens. For being configured for emitting and / or detecting light through the optical lens, the optical lens may be arranged and / or secured at a predetermined position, particularly in relation to the optoelectronic component. The optoelectronic component may be secured to the supporting member. The optoelectronic component may be secured to the supporting member by at least one of: adhering; soldering. Particularly any light that is emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component may propagate through the optical lens, in case the optical lens is in the predetermined position. The term “soldering” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to joining a plurality of metal elements by using a filler material that is applied to a joint.

[0029] The term “optoelectronic component” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for generating or illuminating and / or detecting or receiving light. The optoelectronic component may comprise at least one component associated with light and / or at least one component associated with electricity.

[0030] The light emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component may be illumination light and / or detection light. Various sources and paths of light are to be distinguished. In the context of the present invention, a nomenclature is used which, firstly, denotes light propagating from the light source to the object and / or user as “illuminating light” or “illumination light”. Secondly, light propagating from the object and / or user to the detector is denoted as “detection light”. The detection light may comprise at least one of illumination light reflected by the object and / or user, illumination light scattered by the object and / or user, illumination light transmitted by the object and / or user, luminescence light generated by the object and / or the user, e.g. phosphorescence or fluorescence light generated by the user after optical, electrical or acoustic excitation of the object and / or the user by the illumination light or the like. Thus, the detection light may directly or indirectly be generated through the illumination of the object and / or the user by the illumination light.

[0031] The illumination light may comprise an infrared flood light and an infrared light pattern. The term “light pattern” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one arbitrary pattern comprising a plurality of light spots. The light spot may be at least partially spatially extended. At least one spot or any spot may have an arbitrary shape. In some cases a circular shape of at least one spot or any spot may be preferred. The light pattern may be an infrared light pattern. The term “infrared light pattern” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a light pattern comprising spots in the infrared spectral range. The infrared light pattern may be a near infrared light pattern.

[0032] The term “flood light” as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to substantially continuous spatial illumination, in particular diffuse and / or uniform illumination. The flood light has a wavelength in the infrared range, in particular in the near infrared range. The flood illumination source may comprise at least one LED or at least one least one VCSEL, preferably a plurality of VCSELs. The term “substantially continuous spatial illumination” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to uniform spatial illumination, wherein areas of non-uniform are possible. The area, e.g. covering a user, a portion of the user and / or a face of the user, illuminated from the flood illumination source, may be contiguous. Power may be spread over a whole field of illumination. In contrast, illumination provided by the light pattern may comprise at least two contiguous areas, in particular a plurality of contiguous areas, and / or power may be concentrated in small (compared to the whole field of illumination) areas of the field of illumination. The infrared flood illumination may be suitable for illuminating a contiguous area, in particular one contiguous area. The infrared pattern illumination may be suitable for illuminating at least two contiguous areas.

[0033] The optoelectronic component may be at least one of:

[0034] - at least one light source, specifically a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser;

[0035] - at least one photosensitive detector, specifically an image generation unit.

[0036] The term “light source” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for generating or providing light in the sense of the above- mentioned definition. The light source specifically may be or may comprise at least one electrical light source, such as an electrically driven light source. The light source may be at least one of: a thermal radiator; a laser, specifically a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), particularly emitting at least one wavelength in the infrared region; a lightemitting diode (LED), particularly a LED emitting light that is at least partially located in the infrared spectral range and / or a LED illuminating a phosphor for light-conversion of light generated by the LED, wherein the luminescent material generates converted light that is at least partly located in the near-infrared spectral range.

[0037] The term “Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a semiconductor laser diode emitting light perpendicular to a top surface of the Vertical-Cavity Surface- Emitting Laser. The Vertical-Cavity Surface- Emitting Laser may comprise a bottom surface, particularly opposite of the top surface, that is in contact with and / or or secured to the supporting member.

[0038] The verb “to detect” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to the process of at least one of determining, measuring and monitoring at least one parameter, qualitatively and / or quantitatively, such as at least one of a physical parameter, a chemical parameter and a biological parameter. Specifically, the physical parameter may be or may comprise an electrical parameter. Consequently, the term “photosensitive detector” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for detecting, i.e. for at least one of determining, measuring and monitoring, at least one parameter, qualitatively and / or quantitatively, such as at least one of a physical parameter, a chemical parameter and a biological parameter. The photosensitive detectors may be configured for generating at least one detector signal, more specifically at least one electrical detector signal, such as an analogue and / or a digital detector signal, the detector signal providing information on the at least one parameter measured by the detector.

[0039] The term “image generation unit” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one unit configured for capturing at least one image, particularly for generating image data. The term “capturing” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to generating and / or determining and / or recording at least one image by using the image generation unit. Capturing may comprise recording a single image and / or a plurality of images such as a sequence of images. For example, capturing may comprise recording continuously a sequence of images such as a video or a movie. The image generation may be initiated by a user action or may automatically be initiated, e.g. once the presence of at least one object or user within a field of view and / or within a predetermined sector of the field of view of the image generation unit is automatically detected.

[0040] The optical element comprises at least one supporting member, wherein the optoelectronic component is arranged between the lens element and the supporting member.

[0041] The term “supporting member” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one structural element that is designed for bearing loads and / or provide support to at least one further structural element. In particular accordance with the present invention, the supporting element may carry and / or support at least one of: the optoelectronic component; the lens element, specifically the lens holder.

[0042] The optical element comprises at least one electrical wire, wherein the electrical wire is secured to the supporting member, wherein the electrical wire secures the optical lens to the optoelectronic component in a manner that it breaks when the optical lens dislocates from the optoelectronic component so that at least a portion of the light emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component avoids the optical lens. The optical lens may dislocate from the optoelectronic component when the optical lens dislocates from the predetermined position. Breaking of the wire may comprise that the wire physically fractures and / or separates, particularly in at least two portions. Breaking may result in an interruption in the electrical path defined by the electrical wire.

[0043] The term “securing”, or any grammatical variation thereof, as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to stabilizing and / or fixing a first element to a second element. The stabilized and / or fixated first element may be in a predetermined relative position in relation to the second element in a manner that the first element and the second element hold the relative position and can withstand at least one force and / or at least one stress acting on at least one of the first element and the second element.

[0044] The term “electrical wire” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an element comprising at least one conductive material, particularly configured to carry electrical charge from a first element to further element in an electrical circuit. Securing the electrical wire to the supporting member may comprise electrically connecting the electrical wire to the supporting member in a manner that electrical charge can propagate from the supporting member to and / or through the electrical wire.

[0045] The electrical wire may comprise two wire ends, wherein each wire end is secured to the supporting member. The two wire ends of the electrical wire may be secured to the supporting member in a manner that the electrical wire forms a tie-down. Alternatively or in addition, the optical lens may be held attached and / or secured, particularly in the predetermined position, to the optoelectronic component by the tie-down.

[0046] The term “tie-down” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary element used to secure at least one object to at least one further object, specifically a support, such as the supporting member.

[0047] Particularly for securing the optical lens in a manner that the electrical wire breaks when the optical lens dislocates, the electrical wire, specifically the tie-down, may be routed over the lens element, specifically the lens holder. The lens element, specifically the lens holder, may comprise a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is opposite of the bottom surface. Alternatively or in addition, the lens element, specifically the lens holder, may be arranged with the bottom surface on the supporting member. Alternatively or in addition, the electrical wire, specifically the tie-down, may be routed over the top surface.

[0048] The term “routing”, or any grammatical variation thereof, as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a process of planning and organizing the path of the electrical wire from a first element to a second element. For being routed over an arbitrary element, the path of the electrical wire will be above and / or over the element.

[0049] A first electrical wire of the at least one electrical wire, specifically a first tie-down, may be routed over a first side of the top surface of the lens element, specifically the lens holder. Alternatively or in addition, a second electrical wire, specifically a second tiedown, may of the at least one electrical wire may be routed over a second side of the top surface of the lens element, specifically the lens holder. The first side may be opposite of the second side. The supporting member may be or may comprise at least one printed circuit board. The term “printed circuit board” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an elements configured for connecting a plurality of electronic components to one another. Typically, the printed circuit board comprises a laminated sandwich structure of conductive and insulating layers. The electric components may be secured to conductive pads on an outer layer of the printed circuit board in a manner that they electric components are electrically connected to the conductive pad. Particularly therefore, the printed circuit board may comprise at least one conductive pad, wherein the electrical wire may be electrically connected to the conductive pad.

[0050] The term “conductive pad” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an area on the surface of a printed circuit board configured for establishing at electrical connection between the plurality of electronic components. For establishing the electrical connection, the electronic components may be soldered to the conductive pad. Particularly by soldering the electric wire to the printed circuit board, specifically at least one conductive pad of the printed circuit board, the electric wire may be secured to the printed circuit board. The wire ends may be secured to the printed circuit board by soldering the electric wire to the printed circuit board. The conductive pad may comprise at least one of gold and aluminum.

[0051] The functionality of the optoelectronic component may depend on the electrical wire such that the optoelectronic component cannot operate when the electrical wire is broken. Further, the functionality of the optoelectronic component may depend on the electrical wire such that the optoelectronic component can operate when the electrical wire is not broken. Operating may comprise driving the optoelectronic component. When the optoelectronic component is operating it may illuminate light and / or detect light.

[0052] The electrical wire may be a component of an electronic circuit comprising an interlock unit configured for controlling the driving of the optoelectronic component in a manner that the optoelectronic component cannot emit and / or detect light in case the electrical wire is broken. For detecting light, it has to be received. The term “interlock unit” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an electrical unit that controls the operation of at least one component dependent on the state of at least one condition. The interlock unit may control the possibility of operating the optoelectronic component depending on the state of the electrical wire, particularly in a manner that the optoelectronic component can function and / or be operated if the electrical wire is intact and / or in a manner that the optoelectronic component cannot function and / or be operated if the electrical wire is broken.

[0053] The term “electronic circuit” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary combination of a plurality of individual electronic components that are electrically connected in a manner that electric current can flow. Typically, the electronic components may be electrically connected by at least one electrical wire.

[0054] The term “to drive”, or any grammatical variation thereof, as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. For driving the at least one optoelectronic component, the optical elements may comprise an driving unit. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to the process of operating a further device, particularly by providing electrical power to another device.

[0055] The term “driving unit” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device or a combination of devices configured for providing electrical power to another device, such as, in the present case, to the optoelectronic component. The driving unit may be part of the optical elements, such as by being secured to the supporting member and / or comprised in a housing of the optical elements. Alternatively, the driving unit may be separate of the optical element.

[0056] The optical element may comprise at least one driving unit for electrically operating the optoelectronic component. Alternatively or in addition, the interlock unit may control the functionality of the at least one driving unit. The term “functionality” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one range of capability that a unit is able to perform to fulfill at least one intended purpose. The functionality can be operating the optoelectronic component.

[0057] At least a portion of the supporting member may be an electrical component of the electronic circuit configured for driving the optoelectronic component.

[0058] In a further aspect, a device for authenticating a user of a device to perform at least one operation on the device that requires authentication. The device comprises: at least one flood illumination source configured for emitting infrared flood light; at least one pattern illumination source configured for emitting at least one infrared light pattern comprising a plurality of infrared light spots, wherein the number of infrared light spots is below 4000 spots; at least one image generation unit configured for capturing at least one pattern image while the pattern illumination source is emitting the infrared light pattern and configured for capturing at least one flood image while the flood illumination source is emitting infrared flood light, particularly wherein the display of the device is at least partially transparent in at least one continuous area covering the flood illumination source and / or the pattern illumination source and / or the image generation unit; at least one display, wherein the infrared light pattern traverses the display while being illuminated from the pattern illumination source and / or the infrared flood light traverses the display while being illuminated from the flood illumination source, at least one authentication unit configured for performing at least one authentication process of a user using the flood image and the pattern image, wherein at least one of: the flood illumination source, the pattern illumination source, the image generation unit is an optical element according to any one of the preceding claims. For this aspect, reference may be made to any further aspect, particularly any definition, Embodiment or claim given in the context of any further aspect.

[0059] The device may be selected from the group consisting of: a television device; a game console; a personal computer; a mobile device, particularly a cell phone, and / or a smart phone, and / or a tablet computer, and / or a laptop, and / or a tablet, and / or a virtual reality device, and / or a wearable, such as a smart watch; or another type of portable computer.

[0060] As discussed above, the device comprises at least one flood illumination source configured for emitting infrared flood light and at least one pattern illumination source configured for emitting at least one infrared light pattern comprising a plurality of infrared light spots, wherein the number of infrared light spots is below 4000 spots.

[0061] The term “flood illumination source” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one arbitrary device configured for providing substantially continuous spatial illumination. The term “flood light” as used herein, is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to substantially continuous spatial illumination, in particular diffuse and / or uniform illumination. The flood light has a wavelength in the infrared range, in particular in the near infrared range. The flood illumination source may comprise at least one LED or at least one least one VCSEL, preferably a plurality of VCSELs. The term “substantially continuous spatial illumination” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to uniform spatial illumination, wherein areas of non-uniform are possible. The area, e.g. covering a user, a portion of the user and / or a face of the user, illuminated from the flood illumination source, may be contiguous. Power may be spread over a whole field of illumination. In contrast, illumination provided by the light pattern may comprise at least two contiguous areas, in particular a plurality of contiguous areas, and / or power may be concentrated in small (compared to the whole field of illumination) areas of the field of illumination. The infrared flood illumination may be suitable for illuminating a contiguous area, in particular one contiguous area. The infrared pattern illumination may be suitable for illuminating at least two contiguous areas.

[0062] The term “pattern illumination source” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary device configured for generating or providing at least one light pattern, in particular at least one infrared light pattern. The term “light pattern” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one arbitrary pattern comprising a plurality of light spots. The light spot may be at least partially spatially extended. At least one spot or any spot may have an arbitrary shape. In some cases a circular shape of at least one spot or any spot may be preferred. The spots may be arranged by considering a structure of a display. Typically, an arrangement of an OLED-pixel- structure of the display may be considered. The term “infrared light pattern” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a light pattern comprising spots in the infrared spectral range. The infrared light pattern may be a near infrared light pattern.

[0063] The term “pattern image” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an image generated by the image generation unit while illuminating with the infrared light pattern, e.g. on an object and / or a user. The pattern image may comprise an image showing a user, in particular at least parts of the face of the user, while the user is being illuminated with the infrared light pattern, particularly on a respective area of interest comprised by the image. The pattern image may be generated by imaging and / or recording light reflected by an object and / or user, which is illuminated by the infrared light pattern. The pattern image showing the user may comprise at least a portion of the illuminated infrared light pattern on at least a portion the user. For example, the illumination by the pattern illumination source and the imaging by using the optical sensor may be synchronized, e.g. by using at least one control unit of the device.

[0064] The term “flood image” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an image generated by the image generation unit while illumination source is emitting infrared flood light, e.g. on an object and / or a user. The flood image may comprise an image showing a user, in particular the face of the user, while the user is being illuminated with the flood light. The flood image may be generated by imaging and / or recording light reflected by an object and / or user which is illuminated by the flood light. The flood image showing the user may comprise at least a portion of the flood light on at least a portion the user. For example, the illumination by the flood illumination source and the imaging by using the optical sensor may be synchronized, e.g. by using at least one control unit of the device.

[0065] As disclosed above, the device comprises at least one display, wherein the infrared light pattern traverses the display while being illuminated from the pattern illumination source and / or the infrared flood light traverses the display while being illuminated from the flood illumination source.

[0066] The term “display” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to an arbitrary shaped device configured for displaying an item of information. The item of information may be arbitrary information such as at least one image, at least one diagram, at least one histogram, at least one graphic, text, numbers, at least one sign, an operating menu, and the like. The display may be or may comprise at least one screen. The display may have an arbitrary shape, e.g. a rectangular shape. The display may be a front display.

[0067] The term “at least partially transparent” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a property of the display to allow light, in particular of a certain wavelength range, e.g. in the infrared spectral region, in particular in the near infrared spectral region, to pass at least partially through. For example, the display may be semitransparent in the near infrared region. For example, the display may have a transparency of 20 % to 50 % in the near infrared region. The display may have a different transparency for other wavelength ranges. The present invention may propose an device comprising the image generation unit and two illumination sources that can be placed behind the display of a device. The transparent area(s) of the display can allow for operation of the device apparatus behind the display. The display is an at least partially transparent display, as described above. The display may have a reduced pixel density and / or a reduced pixel size and / or may comprise at least one transparent conducting path. The transparent area(s) of the display may have a pixel density of 360- 440 PPI (pixels per inch). Other areas of the display, e.g. non-transparent areas, may have pixels densities higher than 400 PPI, e.g. a pixel density of 460-500 PPI.

[0068] As disclosed above, the device comprises at least one authentication unit configured for performing at least one authentication process of a user using the flood image and the pattern image.

[0069] The term “authenticating” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to verifying an identity of a user. Specifically, the authentication may comprise distinguishing between the user from other humans or objects, in particular between authorized access from non-authorized accesses. The authentication may comprise verifying identity of a respective user and / or assigning identity to a user. The authentication may comprise generating and / or providing identity information, e.g. to other devices or units such as to at least one authorization unit for authorization for providing access to the device. The identify information may be proofed by the authentication. For example, the identity information may be and / or may comprise at least one identity token. In case of successful authentication an image of a face recorded by the image generation unit may be verified to be an image of the user’s face and / or the identity of the user is verified. The authenticating may be performed using at least one authentication process. The authentication process may comprise a plurality of steps such as at least one face detection on the flood image and at least one identifying step in which an identity is assigned to the detected face and / or at least one identity check and / or verifying an identity of the user is performed.

[0070] The term “authentication unit” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to at least one unit configured for performing at least one authentication process of a user. The authentication unit may be or may comprise at least one processor. The processor may be an arbitrary logic circuitry configured for performing basic operations of a computer or system, and / or, generally, to a device which is configured for performing calculations or logic operations. In particular, the processor may be configured for processing basic instructions that drive the computer or system. As an example, the processor may comprise at least one arithmetic logic unit (ALU), at least one floating-point unit (FPU), such as a math co-processor or a numeric coprocessor, a plurality of registers, specifically registers configured for supplying operands to the ALU and storing results of operations, and a memory, such as an L1 and L2 cache memory. In particular, the processor may be a multi-core processor. Specifically, the processor may be or may comprise a central processing unit (CPU). Additionally or alternatively, the processor may be or may comprise a microprocessor, thus specifically the processor’s elements may be contained in one single integrated circuitry (IC) chip. Additionally or alternatively, the processor may be or may comprise one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and / or one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and / or one or more tensor processing unit (TPU) and / or one or more chip, such as a dedicated machine learning optimized chip, or the like. The processor specifically may be configured, such as by software programming, for performing one or more evaluation operations. At least one or any component of a computer program configured for performing the authentication process may be executed by the processing device. Alternatively or in addition, the authentication unit may be or may comprise a connection interface. The connection interface may be configured to transfer data from the device to a remote device; or vice versa. At least one or any component of a computer program configured for performing the authentication process may be executed by the remote device.

[0071] For example, the authentication unit may perform at least one face detection using the flood image. The face detection may be performed locally on the device. Face identification, i.e. assigning an identity to the detected face, however, may be performed remotely, e.g. in the cloud, e.g. especially when identification needs to be done and not only verification. User templates can be stored at the remote device, e.g. in the cloud, and would not need to be stored locally. This can be an advantage in view of storage space and security.

[0072] The authentication unit may be configured for identifying the user based on the flood image. Particularly therefore, the authentication unit may forward data to a remote device. Alternatively or in addition, the authentication unit may perform the identification of the user based on the flood image, particularly by running an appropriate computer program having a respective functionality. The term “identifying” as used herein is a broad term and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to assigning an identity to a detected face and / or at least one identity check and / or verifying an identity of the user.

[0073] The authentication process may comprise a plurality of steps. For example, the authentication process may comprise performing at least one face detection. The face detection step may comprise analyzing the flood image. In addition, for example, the authentication process may comprise identifying. The identifying may comprise assigning an identity to a detected face and / or at least one identity check and / or verifying an identity of the user. The identifying may comprise performing a face verification of the imaged face to be the user’s face. The identifying the user may comprise matching the flood image, e.g. showing a contour of parts of the user, in particular parts of the user’s face, with a template. The identifying of the user may comprise determining if the imaged face is the face of the user, in particular if the imaged face corresponds to at least one image of the user’s face stored in at least one memory, e.g. of the device.

[0074] The analyzing of the flood image may comprise one or more of the following: a filtering; a selection of at least one region of interest; a formation of a difference image between the flood image and at least one offset; an inversion of flood image; a background correction; a decomposition into color channels; a decomposition into hue; saturation; and brightness channels; a frequency decomposition; a singular value decomposition; applying a Canny edge detector; applying a Laplacian of Gaussian filter; applying a Difference of Gaussian filter; applying a Sobel operator; applying a Laplace operator; applying a Scharr operator; applying a Prewitt operator; applying a Roberts operator; applying a Kirsch operator; applying a high-pass filter; applying a low-pass filter; applying a Fourier transformation; applying a Radon-transformation; applying a Houghtransformation; applying a wavelet-transformation; a thresholding; creating a binary image. The region of interest may be determined manually by a user or may be determined automatically, such as by recognizing the user within the image. In particular, the analyzing of the flood image may comprise using at least one image recognition technique, in particular a face recognition technique. An image recognition technique comprises at least one process of identifying the user in an image. The image recognition may comprise using at least one technique selected from the technique consisting of: color-based image recognition, e.g. using features such as template matching; image segmentation and / or blob analysis e.g. using size, or shape; machine learning and / or deep learning e.g. using at least one convolutional neural network.

[0075] The analyzing of the flood image may comprise determining a plurality of facial features. The analyzing may comprise comparing, in particular matching, the determined facial features with template features. The template features may be features extracted from at least one template. The template may be or may comprise at least one image generated in an enrollment process, e.g. when initializing the device. Template may be an image of an authorized user. The template features and / or the facial feature may comprise a vector. Matching of the features may comprise determining a distance between the vectors. The identifying of the user may comprise comparing the distance of the vectors to a least one predefined limit, wherein the user is successfully identified in case the distance is < the predefined limit at least within tolerances. The user declining and / or rejected otherwise.

[0076] For example, the image recognition may comprise using at least one model, in particular a trained model comprising at least one face recognition model. The analyzing of the flood image may be performed by using a face recognition system, such as FaceNet, e.g. as described in Florian Schroff, Dmitry Kalenichenko, James Philbin, “FaceNet: A Unified Embedding for Face Recognition and Clustering”, arXiv: 1503.03832. The trained model may comprises at least one convolutional neural network. For example, the convolutional neural network may be designed as described in M. D. Zeiler and R. Fergus, “Visualizing and understanding convolutional networks”, CoRR, abs / 1311.2901 ,

[0077] 2013, or C. Szegedy et al., “Going deeper with convolutions”, CoRR, abs / 1409.4842,

[0078] 2014. For more details with respect to convolutional neural network for the face recognition system reference is made to Florian Schroff, Dmitry Kalenichenko, James Philbin, “FaceNet: A Unified Embedding for Face Recognition and Clustering”, arXiv: 1503.03832. As training data labelled image data from an image database may be used. Specifically, labeled faces may be used from one or more of G. B. Huang, M. Ramesh, T. Berg, and E. Learned-Miller, “Labeled faces in the wild: A database for studying face recognition in unconstrained environments”, Technical Report 07-49, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, October 2007, the Youtube® Faces Database as described in L. Wolf, T. Hassner, and I. Maoz, “Face recognition in unconstrained videos with matched background similarity”, in IEEE Conf, on CVPR, 2011 , or Google® Facial Expression Comparison dataset. The training of the convolutional neural network may be performed as described in Florian Schroff, Dmitry Kalenichenko, James Philbin, “FaceNet: A Unified Embedding for Face Recognition and Clustering”, arXiv: 1503.03832.

[0079] The authentication unit may be further configured for determining material data based on the pattern image. Particularly therefore, the authentication unit may forward data to a remote device. Alternatively or in addition, the authentication unit may perform the material determination based on the pattern image, particularly by running an appropriate computer program having a respective functionality. Particularly by considering the material as a parameter for validating the authentication process, the authentication process may be robust against being outwitted by using a recorded image of the user.

[0080] The authentication unit may be configured for extracting the material data from the pattern image by beam profile analysis of the light spots. With respect to beam profile analysis reference is made to WO 2018 / 091649 A1 , WO 2018 / 091638 A1 and WO 2018 / 091640 A1 , the full content of which is included by reference. Beam profile analysis can allow for providing a reliable classification of scenes based on a few light spots. Each of the light spots of the pattern image may comprise a beam profile. As used herein, the term “beam profile” may generally refer to at least one intensity distribution of the light spot on the optical sensor as a function of the pixel. The beam profile may be selected from the group consisting of a trapezoid beam profile; a triangle beam profile; a conical beam profile and a linear combination of Gaussian beam profiles. The authentication unit may be configured for outsourcing at least one step of the authentication process, such as the identifying of the user, and / or at least one step of the validation of the authentication process, such as the consideration of the material data, to a remote device, specifically a server and / or a cloud server. The device and the remote device may be part of a computer network, particularly the internet. Thereby, the device may be used as a field device that is used by the user for generating data required in the authentication process and / or its validation. The device may transmit the generated data and / or data associated to an intermediate step of the authentication process and / or its validation to the remote device. In such a scenario, the authentication unit may be and / or may comprise a connection interface configured for transmitting information to the remote device. Data generated by the remote device used in the authentication process and / or its validation may further be transmitted to the device. This data may be received by the connection interface comprised by the device. The connection interface may specifically be configured for transmitting or exchanging information. In particular, the connection interface may provide a data transfer connection. As an example, the connection interface may be or may comprise at least one port comprising one or more of a network or internet port, a USB-port, and a disk drive.

[0081] It is emphasized that data from the device may be transmitted to a specific remote device depending on at least one circumstance, such as a date, a day, a load of the specific remote device, and so on. The specific remote device may not be selected by the field device. Rather a further device may select to which specific remote device the data may be transmitted. The authentication process and and / or the generation of validation data may involve a use of several different entities of the remote device. At least one entity may generate intermediate data and transmit the intermediate data to at least one further entity.

[0082] The authentication unit may be configured for using a facial recognition authentication process operating on the flood image, the pattern image and / or extracted material data. The authentication unit may be configured for extracting material data from the pattern image.

[0083] Extracting material data from the pattern image may comprise generating the material type and / or data derived from the material type. Preferably, extracting material data may be based on the pattern image. Material data may be extracted by using at least one model. Extracting material data may include providing the pattern image to a model and / or receiving material data from the model. Providing the image to a model may comprise and may be followed by receiving the pattern image at an input layer of the model or via a model loss function. The model may be a data-driven model. Data-driven model may comprise a convolutional neural network and / or an encoder decoder structure such as an autoencoder. Other examples for generating a representation may be FFT, wavelets, deep learning, like CNNs, energy models, normalizing flows, GANs, vision transformers, or transformers used for natural language processing, Autoregressive Image Modeling, Normalizing Flows, Deep Autoencoders, Deep Energy- Based Models. Supervised or unsupervised schemes may be applicable to generate a representation, also embedding in e.g. cosine or Euclidian metric in ML language. The data-driven model may be parametrized according to a training data set including at least one image and material data, preferably at least one pattern image and material data. In another embodiment, extracting material data may include providing the image to a model and / or receiving material data from the model. In another embodiment, the data- driven model may be trained according to a training data set including at least one image and material data. In another embodiment, the data-driven model may be parametrized according to a training data set including at least one image and material data. The data- driven model may be parametrized according to a training data set to receive the image and provide material data based on the received image. The data-driven model may be trained according to a training data set to receive the image and provide material data as output based on the received image. The training data set may comprise at least one image and material data, preferably material data associated with the at least one image. The image may comprise a representation of the image. The representation may be a lower dimensional representation of the image. The representation may comprise at least a part of the data or the information associated with the image. The representation of an image may comprise a feature vector. In an embodiment, determining a representation, in particular a lower-dimensional representation may be based on principal component analysis (PGA) mapping or radial basis function (RBF) mapping. Determining a representation may also be referred to as generating a representation. Generating a representation based on PGA mapping may include clustering based on features in the pattern image and / or partial image. Additionally or alternatively, generating a representation may be based on neural network structures suitable for reducing dimensionality. Neural network structures suitable for reducing dimensionality may comprise encoder and / or decoder. In an example, neural network structure may be an autoencoder. In an example, neural network structure may comprise a convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN may comprise at least one convolutional layer and / or at least one pooling layer. CNNs may reduce the dimensionality of a partial image and / or an image by applying a convolution, e.g. based on a convolutional layer, and / or by pooling. Applying a convolution may be suitable for selecting feature related to material information of the pattern image.

[0084] A model may be suitable for determining an output based on an input. In particular, model may be suitable for determining material data based on an image as input. A model may be a deterministic model, a data-driven model or a hybrid model. The deterministic model, preferably, reflects physical phenomena in mathematical form, e.g., including first-principles models. A deterministic model may comprise a set of equations that describe an interaction between the material and the patterned electromagnetic radiation thereby resulting in a condition measure, a vital sign measure or the like. A data-driven model may be a classification model. A hybrid model may be a classification model comprising at least one machine-learning architecture with deterministic or statistical adaptations and model parameters. Statistical or deterministic adaptations may be introduced to improve the quality of the results since those provide a systematic relation between empiricism and theory. In an embodiment, the data-driven model may be a classification model. The classification model may comprise at least one machinelearning architecture and model parameters. For example, the machine-learning architecture may be or may comprise one or more of: linear regression, logistic regression, random forest, piecewise linear, nonlinear classifiers, support vector machines, naive Bayes classifications, nearest neighbors, neural networks, convolutional neural networks, generative adversarial networks, support vector machines, or gradient boosting algorithms or the like. In the case of a neural network, the model can be a multiscale neural network or a recurrent neural network (RNN) such as, but not limited to, a gated recurrent unit (GRU) recurrent neural network or a long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network. The data-driven model may be parametrized according to a training data set. The data-driven model may be trained based on the training data set. Training the model may include parametrizing the model. The term training may also be denoted as learning. The term specifically may refer, without limitation, to a process of building the classification model, in particular determining and / or updating parameters of the classification model. Updating parameters of the classification model may also be referred to as retraining. Retraining may be included when referring to training herein. The training data set may include at least one image and material information.

[0085] Extracting material data from the image with a data-driven model may comprise providing the image to a data-driven model. Additionally or alternatively, extracting material data from the image with a data-driven model may comprise may comprise generating an embedding associated with the image based on the data-driven model. An embedding may refer to a lower dimensional representation associated with the image such as a feature vector. Feature vector may be suitable for suppressing the background while maintaining the material signature indicating the material data. In this context, background may refer to information independent of the material signature and / or the material data. Further, background may refer to information related to biometric features such as facial features. Material data may be determined with the data-driven model based on the embedding associated with the image. Additionally or alternatively, extracting material data from the image by providing the image to a data-driven model may comprise transforming the image into material data, in particular a material feature vector indicating the material data. Hence, material data may comprise further the material feature vector and / or material feature vector may be used for determining material data. The authentication process may be validated based on the extracted material data. The validating based on the extracted material data may comprise determining if the extracted material data corresponds a desired material data. Determining if extracted material data matches the desired material data may be referred to as validating. Allowing or declining the user and / or object to perform at least one operation on the device that requires authentication based on the material data may comprise validating the authentication or authentication process. Validating may be based on material data and / or image. Determining if the extracted material data corresponds a desired material data may comprise determining a similarity of the extracted material data and the desired material data. Determining a similarity of the extracted material data and the desired material data may comprise comparing the extracted material data with the desired material data. Desired material data may refer to predetermined material data. In an example, desired material data may be skin. It may be determined if material data may correspond to the desired material data. In the example, material data may be non-skin material or silicon. Determining if material data corresponds to a desired material data may comprise comparing material data with desired material data. A comparison of material data with desired material data may result in a allowing and / or declining the user and / or object to perform at least one operation that requires authentication. In the example, skin as desired material data may be compared with non-skin material or silicon as material data and the result may be declination since silicon or non-skin material may be different from skin.

[0086] The authentication process or its validation may include capturing at least one feature vector from the material data and matching the material feature vector with associate reference template vector for material.

[0087] The authentication unit may be configured for authenticating the user in case the user can be identified and / or if the material data matches the desired material data. The device may comprise at least one authorization unit configured for allowing the user to perform at least one operation on the device, e.g. unlocking the device, in case of successful authentication of the user or declining the user to perform at least one operation on the device in case of non-successful authentication. Thereby, the user may become aware of the result of the authentication.

[0088] As used herein, the terms “have”, “comprise” or “include” or any arbitrary grammatical variations thereof are used in a non-exclusive way. Thus, these terms may both refer to a situation in which, besides the feature introduced by these terms, no further features are present in the entity described in this context and to a situation in which one or more further features are present. As an example, the expressions “A has B”, “A comprises B” and “A includes B” may both refer to a situation in which, besides B, no other element is present in A (i.e. a situation in which A solely and exclusively consists of B) and to a situation in which, besides B, one or more further elements are present in entity A, such as element C, elements C and D or even further elements.

[0089] Further, it shall be noted that the terms “at least one”, “one or more” or similar expressions indicating that a feature or element may be present once or more than once typically are used only once when introducing the respective feature or element. In most cases, when referring to the respective feature or element, the expressions “at least one” or “one or more” are not repeated, notwithstanding the fact that the respective feature or element may be present once or more than once.

[0090] Further, as used herein, the terms "preferably", "more preferably", "particularly", "more particularly", "specifically", "more specifically" or similar terms are used in conjunction with optional features, without restricting alternative possibilities. Thus, features introduced by these terms are optional features and are not intended to restrict the scope of the claims in any way. The invention may, as the skilled person will recognize, be performed by using alternative features. Similarly, features introduced by "in an embodiment of the invention" or similar expressions are intended to be optional features, without any restriction regarding alternative embodiments of the invention, without any restrictions regarding the scope of the invention and without any restriction regarding the possibility of combining the features introduced in such way with other optional or non- optional features of the invention.

[0091] The optical element and the device according to the present invention, in one or more of the above-mentioned embodiments and / or in one or more of the embodiments described in further detail below, provide a large number of advantages over known devices of similar kind. Specifically, the described optical element ensures that the functionality of the optical element is given. Particularly in case the optical element comprises a light source, such as a Vertical-Cavity Surface- Emitting Laser, the present disclosure describes an optoelectronic component that is eye-safe.

[0092] The output power of the optoelectronic component is, typically, eye-safe as long as the optical lens is in front of the VCSEL. Therefore, is it made sure that the power supply to the optoelectronic component may cut off in case the optical lens dislocates. Particularly in order for this to be detected, a presence control is discussed. The solution may be that at least one, particularly two, electrical wires are stretched over the optical lens and / or the lens holder, which are connected to conductive pads on the printed circuit board and close the electronic circuit. If the lens holder dislocates, one or both wires break, and the circuit may be broken and the optoelectronic component may shut down. Summarizing and without excluding further possible embodiments, the following embodiments may be envisaged:

[0093] Embodiment 1 : An optical element, wherein the optical element comprises:

[0094] (1) at least one lens element, wherein the lens element comprises at least one optical lens;

[0095] (2) at least one optoelectronic component, wherein the optoelectronic component is configured for emitting and / or detecting light through the optical lens;

[0096] (3) at least one supporting member, wherein the optoelectronic component is arranged between the lens element and the supporting member; and

[0097] (4) at least one electrical wire, wherein the electrical wire is secured to the supporting member, wherein the electrical wire secures the optical lens to the optoelectronic component in a manner that it breaks when the optical lens dislocates from the optoelectronic component so that at least a portion of the light emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component avoids the optical lens.

[0098] Embodiment 2: The optical element according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the functionality of the optoelectronic component depends on the electrical wire such that the optoelectronic component cannot operate when the electrical wire is broken.

[0099] Embodiment 3: The optical element according to any one of the preceding

[0100] Embodiments, wherein the optoelectronic component is at least one of:

[0101] - at least one light source, specifically a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser;

[0102] - at least one photosensitive detector, specifically an image generation unit.

[0103] Embodiment 4: The optical element according to any one of the preceding

[0104] Embodiments, wherein the lens element further comprises a lens holder, wherein the lens holder is configured for supporting the optical lens.

[0105] Embodiment 5: The optical element according to any one of the preceding

[0106] Embodiments, wherein the electrical wire comprises two wire ends, wherein each wire end is secured to the supporting member.

[0107] Embodiment 6: The optical element according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the two wire ends of the electrical wire are secured to the supporting member in a manner that the electrical wire forms a tie-down, wherein the optical lens is held attached to the optoelectronic component by the tie-down. Embodiment 7: The optical element according to any one of preceding

[0108] Embodiments, wherein, for securing the optical lens in a manner that the electrical wire breaks when the optical lens dislocates, the electrical wire is routed over the lens element.

[0109] Embodiment 8: The optical element according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the lens element comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is opposite of the bottom surface, wherein the lens element is arranged with the bottom surface on the supporting member, wherein the electrical wire is routed over the top surface.

[0110] Embodiment 9: The optical element according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein a first electrical wire of the at least one electrical wire is routed over a first side of the top surface of the lens element, wherein a second electrical wire of the at least one electrical wire is routed over a second side of the top surface of the lens element, wherein the first side is opposite of the second side.

[0111] Embodiment 10: The optical element according to any one of preceding Embodiments, wherein the supporting member is or comprises at least one printed circuit board.

[0112] Embodiment 11 : The optical element according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the printed circuit board comprises at least one conductive pad, wherein the electrical wire is electrically connected to the conductive pad.

[0113] Embodiment 12: The optical element according to any one of the preceding Embodiments, wherein the electrical wire is a component of an electrical circuit comprising an interlock unit configured for controlling the driving of the optoelectronic component in a manner that the optoelectronic component cannot emit and / or detect light in case the electrical wire is broken.

[0114] Embodiment 13: The optical element according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the optical element comprises at least one driving unit for electrically driving the optoelectronic component, wherein the interlock unit controls the functionality of the at least one driving unit.

[0115] Embodiment 14: The optical element according to any one of the two preceding Embodiments, wherein at least a portion of the supporting member is an electrical component of the electronic circuit configured for driving the optoelectronic component. Embodiment 15: A device for authenticating a user of a device to perform at least one operation on the device that requires authentication, the device comprising: at least one flood illumination source configured for emitting infrared flood light; at least one pattern illumination source configured for emitting at least one infrared light pattern comprising a plurality of infrared light spots, wherein the number of infrared light spots is below 4000 spots; at least one image generation unit configured for capturing at least one pattern image while the pattern illumination source is emitting the infrared light pattern and configured for capturing at least one flood image while the flood illumination source is emitting infrared flood light; at least one display, wherein the infrared light pattern traverses the display while being illuminated from the pattern illumination source and / or the infrared flood light traverses the display while being illuminated from the flood illumination source, particularly wherein the display of the device is at least partially transparent in at least one continuous area covering the flood illumination source and / or the pattern illumination source and / or the image generation unit, at least one authentication unit configured for performing at least one authentication process of a user using the flood image and the pattern image, wherein at least one of: the flood illumination source, the pattern illumination source, the image generation unit is an optical element according to any one of the preceding Embodiments.

[0116] Embodiment 16: The device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the display is or comprises at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

[0117] Embodiment 17: The device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a device, wherein the display comprises a display area.

[0118] Embodiment 18: The device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a device, wherein the display is made of and / or is covered by glass.

[0119] Embodiment 19: The device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a device, wherein the display of the device is at least partially transparent in at least two continuous areas.

[0120] Embodiment 20: The device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a device, wherein the display has a first area associated with a first pixel density value and a second area associated with a second pixel density value, wherein the first pixel density value is lower than the second pixel density value, preferably the first pixel density value is equal or below 450 PPI. Embodiment 21 : The device according to the preceding Embodiment, wherein the first pixel density value is associated with the at least one continuous area being at least partially transparent.

[0121] Embodiment 22: The device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a device, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of: a television device; a game console; a personal computer; a mobile device, particularly a cell phone, and / or a smart phone, and / or a tablet computer, and / or a laptop, and / or a tablet, and / or a virtual reality device, and / or a wearable, such as a smart watch; or another type of portable computer.

[0122] Embodiment 23: The device according to any one of the preceding Embodiments referring to a device, wherein the authentication unit is configured for using a facial recognition authentication process operating on the pattern image, the flood image and / or extracted material data.

[0123] Short description of the Figures

[0124] Further optional features and embodiments will be disclosed in more detail in the subsequent description of embodiments, preferably in conjunction with the dependent claims. Therein, the respective optional features may be realized in an isolated fashion as well as in any arbitrary feasible combination, as the skilled person will realize. The scope of the invention is not restricted by the preferred embodiments. The embodiments are schematically depicted in the Figures. Therein, identical reference numbers in these Figures refer to identical or functionally comparable elements.

[0125] In the Figures:

[0126] Figure 1 shows a schematic of an exemplary optical element in a top view;

[0127] Figure 2 shows a schematic of the exemplary optical element in a side view; and

[0128] Figure 3 shows a schematic of an exemplary device.

[0129] Detailed description of the embodiments

[0130] In Figure 1 and Figure 2, an exemplary optical element 110 is disclosed. The optical element 110 comprises:

[0131] (1) at least one lens element 112, wherein the lens element 112 comprises at least one optical lens 114; (2) at least one optoelectronic component 116, wherein the optoelectronic component 116 is configured for emitting and / or detecting light 126 through the optical lens 114;

[0132] (3) at least one supporting member 118, wherein the optoelectronic component 116 is arranged between the lens element 112 and the supporting member 118; and

[0133] (4) at least one electrical wire 120, wherein the electrical wire 120 is secured to the supporting member 118, wherein the electrical wire 120 secures the optical lens 114 to the optoelectronic component 116 in a manner that the electrical wire 120 breaks when the optical lens 114 dislocates from the optoelectronic component 116 so that at least a portion of the light 126 emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component 116 avoids the optical lens 114.

[0134] The functionality of the optoelectronic component 116 may depend on the electrical wire such that the optoelectronic component cannot operate when the electrical wire is broken.

[0135] The lens element 112 further may comprise a lens holder 122, wherein the lens holder 122 is configured for supporting the optical lens 114. The optoelectronic component may be at least one light source, specifically a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser, and / or at least one photosensitive detector, specifically an image generation unit.

[0136] The electrical wire 120 may comprise two wire ends 124, wherein each wire end 124 is secured to the supporting member 118. The two wire ends 124 of the electrical wire 120 may be secured to the supporting member 118 in a manner that the electrical wire 120 forms a tie-down. Alternatively or in addition, the optical lens 114 may be secured to the optoelectronic component 116 by the tie-down.

[0137] Particularly for securing the optical lens 124 in a manner that the electrical wire 120 breaks when the optical lens 124 dislocates, the electrical wire 120, specifically the tiedown, may be routed over the lens element 112, specifically the lens holder 122.

[0138] The lens element 112, specifically the lens holder 122, may comprise a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is opposite of the bottom surface. Alternatively or in addition, the lens elementl 12, specifically the lens holder 122, may be arranged with the bottom surface on the supporting member. Alternatively or in addition, the electrical wire 120, specifically the tie-down, may be routed over the top surface. This arrangement is exemplarily depicted in Figure 1 . There may be further arrangements.

[0139] A first electrical wire 128 of the at least one electrical wire 120, specifically a first tiedown, may be routed over a first side of the top surface of the lens element 112, specifically the lens holder 122. Alternatively or in addition, a second electrical wire 130 of the at least one electrical wire, specifically a second tie-down, may be routed over a second side of the top surface of the lens element 112, specifically the lens holder 122. The first side may be opposite of the second side. This arrangement is exemplarily depicted in Figure 1. There may be further arrangements.

[0140] The supporting member 118 may be or may comprise at least one printed circuit board 132. The printed circuit board 132 may comprise at least one conductive pad 134, wherein the electrical wire 120 may be electrically connected to the conductive pad 134.

[0141] The electrical wire may be a component of an electrical circuit comprising an interlock unit 137 configured for controlling the driving the optoelectronic component 116 in a manner that the optoelectronic component 116 cannot emit and / or detect illumination light 126 in case the electrical wire 120 is broken. The optical element 110 may comprises at least one driving unit 136 for electrically driving the optoelectronic component 116, wherein the interlock unit 137 controls the functionality of the at least one driving unit 136. At least a portion of the supporting member 118 may be an electrical component of the electronic circuit configured for driving the optoelectronic component 116.

[0142] Figure 3 shows an exemplary device 138 for authenticating a user 148 of a device 138 to perform at least one operation on the device 138 that requires authentication. The device 138 comprises: at least one flood illumination source 150 configured for emitting infrared flood light 154, particularly comprised by illumination light 158; at least one pattern illumination source 152 configured for emitting at least one infrared light pattern 156, particularly comprised by the illumination light 158, comprising a plurality of infrared light spots, wherein the number of infrared light spots is below 4000 spots; at least one image generation unit 142 configured for capturing at least one pattern image while the pattern illumination source 152 is emitting the infrared light pattern 156 and configured for capturing at least one flood image while the flood illumination source 150 is emitting infrared flood light 154, particularly by capturing detection light ; at least one display 144, wherein the infrared light pattern 156 traverses the display 144 while being illuminated from the pattern illumination source 152 and / or the infrared flood light 154 traverses the display 144 while being illuminated from the flood illumination source 150, particularly wherein the display 144 of the device 138 is at least partially transparent in at least one continuous area covering the flood illumination source 150 and / or the pattern illumination source 152 and / or the image generation unit 142 at least one authentication unit 146 configured for performing at least one authentication process of a user 148 using the flood image and the pattern image, wherein at least one of: the flood illumination source 150, the pattern illumination source 152, the image generation unit 142 is an optical element 110 as described elsewhere herein.

[0143] The display 144 may be or may comprise at least one organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. The display 144 may comprise a display area. The display 144 may be made of and / or may be covered by glass. The display 144 of the device may be at least partially transparent in at least two continuous areas. The display 144 may have a first area associated with a first pixel density value and a second area associated with a second pixel density value, wherein the first pixel density value may be lower than the second pixel density value, preferably the first pixel density value may be equal or below 450 PPI. The first pixel density value may be associated with the at least one continuous area being at least partially transparent.

[0144] The device 138 is selected from the group consisting of: a television device; a game console; a personal computer; a mobile device, particularly a cell phone, and / or a smart phone, and / or a tablet computer, and / or a laptop, and / or a tablet, and / or a virtual reality device, and / or a wearable, such as a smart watch; or another type of portable computer.

[0145] The authentication unit 146 may be configured for using a facial recognition authentication process operating on the pattern image, the flood image and / or extracted material data.

[0146] List of reference numbers optical element lens element optical lens

[0147] Vertical-Cavity Surface- Emitting Laser supporting member electrical wire lens holder wire end light first electrical wire second electrical wire printed circuit board conductive pad driving unit device object image generation unit display authentication unit user flood illumination source pattern illumination source infrared flood light infrared light pattern detection light

Claims

Claims1. An optical element (110), wherein the optical element (110) comprises:(1) at least one lens element (112), wherein the lens element (112) comprises at least one optical lens (114);(2) at least one optoelectronic component (116), wherein the optoelectronic component (116) is configured for emitting and / or detecting light (126) through the optical lens (114);(3) at least one supporting member (118), wherein the optoelectronic component (116) is arranged between the lens element (112) and the supporting member (118); and(4) at least one electrical wire (120), wherein the electrical wire (120) is secured to the supporting member (118), wherein the electrical wire (120) secures the optical lens (114) to the optoelectronic component (116) in a manner that it breaks when the optical lens (114) dislocates from the optoelectronic component (116) so that at least a portion of the light (126) emitted and / or detected by the optoelectronic component (116) avoids the optical lens (114).

2. The optical element according to the preceding claim, wherein the functionality of the optoelectronic component (116) depends on the electrical wire (120) such that the optoelectronic component (116) cannot operate when the electrical wire (120) is broken.

3. The optical element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the optoelectronic component (116) is at least one of:- at least one light source, specifically a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser;- at least one photosensitive detector, specifically an image generation unit.

4. The optical element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lens element (112) further comprises a lens holder (122), wherein the lens holder (122) is configured for supporting the optical lens (114).

5. The optical element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical wire (120) comprises two wire ends (124), wherein each wire end is secured to the supporting member (118).

6. The optical element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the two wire ends (124) of the electrical wire (120) are secured to the supporting member (118)in a manner that the electrical wire (120) forms a tie-down, wherein the optical lens (114) is held attached to the optoelectronic component (116) by the tie-down.

7. The optical element (110) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein, for securing the optical lens (114) in a manner that the electrical wire (120) breaks when the optical lens (114) dislocates, the electrical wire (120) is routed over the lens element (112).

8. The optical element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lens element (112) comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is opposite of the bottom surface, wherein the lens element (112) is arranged with the bottom surface on the supporting member (118), wherein the electrical wire (120) is routed over the top surface.

9. The optical element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein a first electrical wire (128) of the at least one electrical wire (120) is routed over a first side of the top surface of the lens element (112), wherein a second electrical wire (130) of the at least one electrical wire (120) is routed over a second side of the top surface of the lens element (112), wherein the first side is opposite of the second side.

10. The optical element (110) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the supporting member (118) is or comprises at least one printed circuit board (132).11 . The optical element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the printed circuit board (132) comprises at least one conductive pad (134), wherein the electrical wire (120) is electrically connected to the conductive pad (134).

12. The optical element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical wire (120) is a component of an electrical circuit comprising an interlock unit (137) configured for controlling the driving the optoelectronic component (116) in a manner that the optoelectronic component (116) cannot emit and / or detect light (126) in case the electrical wire (120) is broken.

13. The optical element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the optical element (110) comprises at least one driving unit (136) for electrically driving the optoelectronic component (116), wherein the interlock unit (137) controls the functionality of the at least one driving unit (136).

14. The optical element (110) according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the supporting member (118) is an electricalcomponent of the electronic circuit configured for driving the optoelectronic component (116).

15. A device (138) for authenticating a user (148) of a device (138) to perform at least one operation on the device (138) that requires authentication, the device (138) comprising: at least one flood illumination source (150) configured for emitting infrared flood light (154); at least one pattern illumination source (152) configured for emitting at least one infrared light pattern (156) comprising a plurality of infrared light spots, wherein the number of infrared light spots is below 4000 spots; at least one image generation unit (142) configured for capturing at least one pattern image while the pattern illumination source (152) is emitting the infrared light pattern (156) and configured for capturing at least one flood image while the flood illumination source (150) is emitting infrared flood light (154); at least one display (144), wherein the infrared light pattern (156) traverses the display (144) while being illuminated from the pattern illumination source (152) and / or the infrared flood light (154) traverses the display (144) while being illuminated from the flood illumination source (150), at least one authentication unit (146) configured for performing at least one authentication process of a user (148) using the flood image and the pattern image, wherein at least one of: the flood illumination source (150), the pattern illumination source (152), the image generation unit (142) is an optical element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images