Diffuser Optical Sensor Package for Wide-Angle Color Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color sensors with XYZ filters struggle to achieve precise measurements when the direction of incident radiation deviates significantly, and they often have a limited field of view, which is not suitable for wide-angle incidence applications.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor package with a diffuser arranged in the cap's aperture, made from materials like epoxy resin or silicone, and a cap constructed from liquid-crystal polymer, polyphenylene sulfide, or metal, which adjusts the refractive index and angle of incidence to allow a maximal angle of 40° for wide field of view and high signal intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the field of view is widened to accept light from a large solid angle, then the field of view increases, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to deviation from the preferred incident direction
Solution Approach 1:
A diffuser element is introduced as an intermediary component between the input lens and the sensor. This diffuser mediates the incident light by scattering it to create a more uniform angular distribution, allowing the sensor to accurately measure light from a wider field of view while maintaining measurement precision through the diffuser's light-redistributing property
Solution Approach 2:
The angular acceptance parameter of the optical system is changed by introducing the diffuser, which transforms the angular distribution of incident light. The diffuser modifies the light propagation parameters to achieve both wide field of view and accurate colorimetric measurements simultaneously
2Measurement precision
If an aperture is used to limit the incident angular range for precise measurements, then the measurement precision improves, but the field of view decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser serves as a mediator that replaces the need for a restrictive aperture. Instead of blocking light at specific angles with an aperture, the diffuser uniformly redistributes light from all angles, achieving precise measurements across a wide field of view without the need for angular limitation
3Illumination intensity
If multiple external optical components are added to achieve wide field of view and high signal intensity, then the optical performance improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is integrated directly into the cap structure of the sensor package, merging two previously separate components (diffuser and housing) into a single unified structure. This integration maintains the optical benefits of wide field of view and high signal intensity while reducing device complexity by eliminating separate mounting hardware and assembly steps
Solution Approach 2:
The cap structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical housing protection, defines the optical aperture, and incorporates the diffuser function for light redistribution. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional external optical components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a wide field of view while restricting the maximal angle of light incidence, enhancing signal intensity and enabling calibration without external components, suitable for both ambient light and proximity sensing.
Implementation Method 1
A diffuser is arranged in an aperture of the cap opposite the sensor element
Implementation Method 2
A cover of the optical sensor device is arranged at a positive distance from the diffuser and has a refractive index greater than a refractive index that is present between the cover and the diffuser by a factor of at least 1.5
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The optical sensor package comprises an optical sensor device (4) with a sensor element (5) arranged inside a housing (1, 2) comprising a cap (2). A diffuser (3) is arranged in an aperture (11) of the cap opposite the sensor element and prolongs the cap in the aperture or closes the aperture. The method comprises forming a cap with an aperture, arranging a diffusing material in the aperture, thus forming a diffuser, and after forming the diffuser, arranging an optical sensor device with a sensor element inside a housing that includes the cap, such that the sensor element is opposite the diffuser.