Light Receiving Device Abnormality Detection Shared Terminal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional distance measuring devices using light emitting elements that share an anode or cathode terminal cannot detect abnormalities in these elements effectively.

Innovation Solution

A light receiving device with a light receiving unit comprising first and second light receiving elements that receive light from adjacent light emitting elements sharing a common terminal, and a controller that controls the light receiving elements to detect abnormalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multiple light emitting elements share a common anode or cathode terminal to reduce device complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect abnormalities in individual light emitting elements is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidabnormality detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the light receiving function into multiple independent light receiving elements (first light receiving element and second light receiving element). Each element can independently detect light from specific light emitting elements, enabling individual abnormality detection even when light emitting elements share common terminals. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplified terminal structure while recovering diagnostic capability through distributed sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces light receiving elements as intermediary components between the light emitting elements and the control unit. These intermediaries enable indirect detection of light emitting element abnormalities by monitoring the light they emit, thus solving the problem of inability to detect abnormalities in shared-terminal configurations without requiring direct electrical connection to each light emitting element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If voltage monitoring is used to detect light emitting element abnormalities, then abnormality detection is simple, but it fails when multiple light emitting elements share common terminals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabnormality detection methodVSAvoidabnormality detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical monitoring method (voltage measurement) with an optical monitoring method (light detection). Instead of measuring electrical parameters to detect abnormalities, the system uses light receiving elements to detect the light emitted by light emitting elements. This substitution enables abnormality detection in configurations where electrical monitoring fails, while maintaining operational simplicity through non-contact optical sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The light receiving elements serve as intermediary sensors that convert optical information from light emitting elements into detectable signals. This intermediary approach allows the control unit to indirectly monitor the status of light emitting elements through their light output, providing reliable abnormality detection without requiring direct electrical access to each element's terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables the detection of abnormalities in light emitting elements even when they share a common terminal, improving the reliability of distance measurement devices.

Implementation Method 1

a light receiving unit including a first light receiving element that receives light emitted by a first light emitting element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250180715A1Light receiving device, distance measuring device, and method for controlling light receiving device

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP

AI summary

The light receiving device includes a light receiving unit and a controller. The light receiving unit includes a first light receiving element that receives light emitted by the first light emitting element and a second light receiving element that receives light emitted by a second light emitting element that is disposed adjacent to the first light emitting element and shares an anode terminal or a cathode terminal with the first light emitting element. The controller controls the first light receiving element and the second light receiving element so that the first light receiving element and the second light receiving element receive light when the first light receiving element emits light.