KR100700507B1 - Micro integral optic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultra-small integrated optical device, and more particularly, to an ultra-small integrated optical device for providing an optical path to an imaging lens of scattered light in a curved form.

The micro integrated optical device of the present invention is an optical device, comprising: at least one light source for emitting light; A transparent lens structure for condensing light from the light source to an object surface and for inducing light reflected by an object located on the object surface to a sensor; An opaque module cover structure assembled to an outer side of the lens structure and having a structure such that scattered light generated from the light source does not reach the imaging lens; And an opaque sensor cover structure which is assembled inside the lens structure and has a structure such that scattered light generated from the light source does not reach the imaging lens.

Optical structure, scattered light, illuminance, lens, pointing device, optical mouse, input device

Description

Micro integral optic device

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional optical device,

2 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical structure of Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-89907 as another example of the prior art;

3A and 3B are exploded perspective views showing one embodiment of the optical device according to the present invention;

4A and 4B are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of a module cover structure according to the present invention;

5A and 5B are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of a lens structure according to the present invention;

6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of a sensor cover structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an illumination optical unit reference showing an embodiment according to the optical device of FIG. 3;

8 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an illumination optical unit according to the present invention;

9 is a cross-sectional view of a first scattered light blocking unit reference according to an embodiment of the optical device of FIG. 3;

10 is a graph showing the roughness on the object surface according to the present invention,

11 is a graph showing an illumination distribution diagram by a second light source on an objective surface according to the present invention;

12A is a light source arrangement diagram of one embodiment according to the present invention;

Figure 12b is a light source arrangement of another embodiment according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to an ultra-small integrated optical device, and more particularly, to an ultra-small integrated optical device for providing an optical path to an imaging lens of scattered light in a curved form.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional optical device.

Conventional optical device is the light emitted from the LED (100) having a convex lens-shaped light emitting surface is introduced into the right side of the lens and reflective surface integrated optical structure 110 made of an optical transparent through the two reflections and the surface of the object It is a configuration that is reflected to the 120 and then introduced into the sensor through the image forming lens.

According to the conventional optical device, the light is emitted from the LED surface having the convex lens shape, thereby ensuring a light source having a uniform radiation pattern, and the reflecting surface may be designed by simply calculating the optical path. In addition, an imaging lens having a large depth of focus can be secured.

However, such a conventional optical device is not suitable as an optical structure for a thin ultra-compact optical device, and if such an optical structure is made into a microminiature as it is, there is a problem that the optical device cannot operate properly due to severe light efficiency. .

2 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical structure of Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-89907 as another example of the prior art. In this case, since the LED chip is attached to the COB instead of the LED, the first lens surface 200 for focusing the light emitted from the light source must be provided, and the reflective surface 210 for changing the optical path to the object surface is included. Therefore, such an optical structure may reduce the height of the optical structure by attaching the sensor 220 and the LED 230 to the same plane as a COB to reduce the size of the mouse as a whole.

However, the use of a thin LED capable of COB or SMT on the PCB as a light source to thin the optical device is possible to realize a thin structure, but the radiation characteristics of such a light source is a Lambertian type in which light spreads in various directions Because of its radiation characteristics, simple convex lenses, planar reflecting surfaces, and exit surfaces provide low quality illumination. That is, the image quality obtained by the image sensor is reduced, and the performance of the sensor is degraded.

Therefore, in order to use divergent light of a thin LED, an optical structure having a light guide function for uniformly illuminating an area required for image acquisition may be optimized to obtain a predetermined effect. In addition, it is desirable to implement a low power and high efficiency for use in a portable information device, so that an optical structure having a light guide function has a light guide function and a light condensing function to improve light efficiency.

In addition, as in the optical structure of FIG. 2, the conventional optical structure causes all components of light that are not valid on the optical path to affect noise, so that the light emitted from the light source is scattered in the body of the optical structure, which is an optical transparent body. As a result, it cannot be blocked from flowing into the second lens surface 240. In addition, since there is no example of the aperture, the light emitted from the light source does not directly affect the sensor. If the light from the light source flows directly into the imaging lens, the light is reflected on the object surface and has a large amount of light compared to the light entering the imaging lens. Therefore, the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor is greatly reduced, and thus the normal operation of the sensor is impossible. do.

This is because the light source, the sensor, and the object to be illuminated are very close to each other to realize a compact thin optical sensor. In other words, since a bright light source and a high-sensitivity sensor are installed very close to each other, even if only part of the light enters, the performance of the sensor may be greatly degraded or normal operation may be impossible. Therefore, a structure that optically and electrically separates a bright light source and a high sensitivity sensor is very important.

In the case of optical illumination, the illuminance at the objective will provide illuminance inversely proportional to the square of the optical distance from each point of the objective to the light source. As a result, the light source, the sensor, and the object to be illuminated are very close to each other, and the distance difference from each point to the light source in the area where lighting is required cannot be ignored. For example, in a small thin optical system, a problem arises in that the near side of the light source is darker and the far side of the light source darkens, resulting in poor illumination uniformity, which results in deterioration of the sensor performance.

In order to overcome this problem, there is a method of subdividing the areas requiring lighting by using an optical guide structure such as an optical fiber bundle, but there is a difficulty in manufacturing and reducing costs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-small integrated optical device for preventing light emitted from a light source inside and outside the optical device from scattering and directly reaching the sensor.

An object of the present invention is an optical device comprising: at least one light source for emitting light; A transparent lens structure for condensing light from the light source to an object surface and for inducing light reflected by an object located on the object surface to a sensor; An opaque module cover structure assembled to an outer side of the lens structure and having a structure such that scattered light generated from the light source does not reach the imaging lens; And an opaque sensor cover structure which is assembled inside the lens structure and has a structure such that scattered light generated from the light source does not reach the imaging lens.

Prior to this, terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as having a conventional or dictionary meaning, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3A and 3B are exploded perspective views showing one embodiment of the optical device according to the present invention. 3A and 3B, the optical device according to the present invention includes a sensor 360 and a PCB substrate 380 having a light source 300 and a sensor 360 for detecting light reflected from an object on an object surface. Sensor cover structure 370 for protecting the protection, the lens structure for collecting the light emitted from the light source 300 to the object surface 340 and the light reflected from the object surface 340 to the sensor 360 330, and a sensor cover structure 370 and a lens structure 330 between the PCB substrate 380 and the module cover structure 390 for protecting them.

Here, when the light source 300 uses a plurality of light sources as a chip-shaped LED light source, each light source may use LEDs of different colors in consideration of reflection characteristics of objects having different optical properties. The light source may use not only LED but also LD or IR diode chip.

In addition, the sensor 360 is attached to the PCB substrate 380 by a process such as wire bonding or flip chip.

4A and 4B are perspective views showing one embodiment of the module cover structure according to the present invention. 4A and 4B, the module cover structure 390 is assembled by mounting the lens structure 330. The first cover for preventing the scattered light emitted from the light source 300 from entering the sensor 360. Scattered light blocking unit 391, the lens assembly 392 for assembling the optical structure 310 of the lens structure 330, the object surface 340 on which the object to sense the movement and the assembly to the PCB substrate 380 Module cover support 393 to be included.

On the other hand, the module cover structure 390 is made of an opaque material to prevent scattered light from entering the module cover structure 390 to reduce the performance of the optical device.

In addition, the module cover structure 390 includes a first scattering light blocking unit 391 and the module cover support 393 in an integrated structure.

5A and 5B are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of a lens structure according to the present invention. 5A and 5B, the lens structure 330 collects light reflected from an object of the illumination optical unit 310 and the object surface 340 for the movement path of the light emitted from the light source 300 to the sensor. It includes a light receiving unit 320, a sensor cover structure 370 and the assembling hole 332 for assembling and the lens support 331 for assembling the PCB substrate 380. Here, the light receiver 320 includes an imaging lens 321 for collecting the light reflected by the object located on the object surface 340 to the sensor 360.

Meanwhile, the lens structure 330 includes the illumination optical unit 310, the light receiving unit 320, and the lens support 331 in an integrated structure.

6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of a sensor cover structure according to the present invention. 6A and 6B, the sensor cover structure 370 is a second scattering light blocking unit 372 and a sensor 360 to prevent the scattered light emitted from the light source 300 from entering the sensor 360. Assembled in the opening 371 that serves as an optical aperture to adjust the amount of incoming light, the auxiliary blocking portion 374 and the PCB substrate 380 to assist the scattered light blocking function of the first scattered light blocking portion 391. Sensor cover support 371 to be included.

On the other hand, the sensor cover structure 370 includes a second scattered light blocking portion 372, the auxiliary blocking portion 374 and the sensor cover support 373 in an integrated structure.

Looking at the structure of the optical device with reference to Figures 5a to 6b, the sensor cover structure 370 is an illumination optical unit 310, 310 'and the light receiving unit 320 to block the external light flow into the sensor 360 The sensor cover structure 370, except for the opening 371 serving as an optical aperture, is positioned at the lower side and is designed in a completely closed structure to have an aperture function and a sensor protection function.

In addition, the sensor cover structure 370 is integrally provided with a sensor cover support 373 to be assembled in a hole provided in the PCB 380.

A pair of assembling holes 332 are provided between the first illumination optical unit 310 and the light receiving unit 320 and the second illumination optical unit 310 ′ and the light receiving unit 320 for assembling the sensor cover structure 370. do. A pair of scattering light blocking parts 372 provided in the sensor cover structure 370 are assembled into the pair of assembling holes 332 so that the light of the illumination optics 310 and 310 'passes through the optical structure of the optical device. Thereby preventing the light from the light-receiving unit 320. This is because a pair of scattered light blocking portion 372, which is an opaque material for preventing light from passing through, is assembled between the first light optical unit 310 and the light receiving unit 320 and the second light optical unit 310 'and the light receiving unit through the assembly. This is because it is blocked between the (320).

In addition, the sensor cover structure 370 and the lens structure 330 may be fixed by bonding using an adhesive such as epoxy when assembling. Since the sensor cover structure 370, which is bonded to the lens structure 330 using an adhesive such as epoxy, becomes an enclosed type including an optical opening, the scattering light blocking part is formed together with the module cover structure 390 to simultaneously protect the sensor. Provide waterproof dustproof function.

Meanwhile, the lens structure 330 including the illumination optical units 310 and 310 ′ and the light receiving unit 320 may be provided with a lens support for assembling the PCB 380 located under the sensor cover structure 370 assembled therewith. 331 is provided integrally. In addition, it is preferable that the lens structure 330 having various functional configurations in one unitary structure is generated as an injection structure.

By simply fitting the sensor cover support 373 and the lens support 331 into the PCB 380, assembly errors can be minimized during optical device production, and the process can be simplified.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an illumination optical unit reference showing an embodiment according to the optical device of FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the illumination optical unit according to the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the sensor cover structure 370 is assembled on the PCB substrate 380 on which the light source 300 and the sensor 360 are mounted using the sensor cover support 373, and the sensor cover structure. The 370 and the lens structure 330 are assembled to each other by fitting the second scattering light blocking portion 372 into the assembly hole 332. Of course, since the lens structure 330 is assembled to cover the module cover structure 390, the inflow of external light to the lens structure 330 is blocked.

Here, the case in which the optical device includes a pair of light sources and an illumination optical unit is as follows.

The first illumination optical unit 310 is formed in a prism structure having three optical surfaces for collecting and transmitting the light emitted from the first light source 300 to the objective surface 340.

In addition, the second lighting optical unit 310 ′ which performs the same function as the first lighting optical unit 310 and is provided to face the first lighting optical unit 310 based on the objective surface 340 may have a first light. The illumination optical unit 310 and the light receiving unit 320 is formed in an integrated structure.

Referring to the first illumination optical unit 310, the first illumination optical unit 310 primarily collects the light emitted from the first light source 300 to form a parallel light and includes a first incident lens 311 having a prism structure, A first reflecting light reflected by the first reflecting lens 312 and the first reflecting lens 312 and receiving the parallel light incident from the first incident lens 311 and reflecting it on the objective surface 340; An exit lens 313 is included.

Here, the first incident lens 311 not only collects the light of the first light source 300 spreading in all directions, but also performs a beam forming function to make the light of the first light source 300 have an equilibrium. The first reflecting lens 312 is configured to change the path of the light passing through the first incident lens 311, and is composed of a structure that collects the components of light spread from side to side in the center. The first exit lens 313 has a structure that causes light to finally converge on the objective surface 340 targeted by the first illumination optical unit 310. That is, when there are three-dimensional x, y, and z axes, the first illumination optical unit 310 collects light spread by the first incident lens 311 on the x axis, and reflects the light. Reference numeral 312 collects light spreading along the y-axis, and the first exit lens 313 is configured to collect light spreading along the z-axis on the objective surface 340.

In addition, the first incident lens 311, the first reflecting lens 312, and the first emitting lens 313 of the first illumination optical unit 310 are spherical, aspheric spherical, cylindrical, and toroidal type, respectively. It can be configured as either.

The three lenses included in the first illumination optical unit 310 collect light of the first light source 300 spreading indiscriminately at each position and send the light to the objective surface 340, thereby invalidating the light path. Change the light to a valid light. Therefore, the problem that occurs when using a chip-shaped LED as a light source can be minimized, and the light quantity of the light source is lowered by maximizing the efficiency of light emitted from the light source, thereby reducing the power consumption of the optical device. Can be.

The sensor cover structure 370 is made of a non-transparent material to optically or electrically separate the bright light source and the high sensitivity sensor. In addition, the sensor 360 is isolated from the light emitted from the light sources 300 and 300 'outside the sensor cover structure in a dark room, and the light emitted from the light sources 300 and 300' is scattered and introduced into the sensor 360. The second scattering light blocking part 372 to prevent the unit is included in an integrated structure.

That is, when light emitted from the light sources 300 and 300 ′ directly flows into the imaging lens 321, the light is reflected by the objective surface 340 to have a greater amount of light than the light flowing into the imaging lens 321. This is because even a small amount of light adversely affects the optical performance of the device.

9 is a cross-sectional view of a first scattered light blocking unit reference according to an embodiment of the optical apparatus of FIG. 3. 9 illustrates a case of an optical device including two light sources and two illumination optical units.

In the case of such an optical device, two second scattering light blocking parts 372 are formed due to two light sources 300 and 300 'and illumination optical units 310 and 310' positioned at symmetrical positions with respect to the objective surface 340. Equipped.

Therefore, the scattered light which can flow into the sensor from one axis on which the second scattered light shield is located is blocked through the pair of scattered light shield, and the sensor from the other side axis other than the axis of one side where the second scattered light shield is located. Scattered light that may be introduced is blocked through the first scattered light blocking unit.

The first scattering light blocking unit is provided in the sensor cover structure as an integrated structure, and is configured in a concave shape when the position of the sensor is regarded as a downward direction. That is, by providing a concave first scattered light blocking portion between the outer portion of the lens structure and the image forming lens in a curved form to the scattering light to the image forming lens to prevent the scattered light in the optical device to enter the sensor through the image forming lens. do.

This is because the scattered light from the outside of the lens structure hits the first scattered light blocking portion of the concave shape as shown in FIG.

In addition, the sensor cover structure also forms a concave shape between the opening and the outside of the opening to block the scattered light together with the first scattered light blocking portion. In this case, the sensor cover structure forms an auxiliary block of convex shape at the opposite end of the opening based on the concave portion to reduce the angle of scattered light passing through the portion to the imaging lens to help block the scattered light.

On the other hand, a portion of the lens structure corresponding to the position of the first scattered light blocking portion is formed by precision machining or discharge machining.

The sensor cover structure and the module cover structure are made of a material having a low reflection coefficient. For example, black is preferred, and specifically, their materials are preferably any one of PMMA, poly-carbonate (PC), acetal, and optical glass. In addition, the sensor cover structure and the module cover structure is composed of a structure that absorbs the scattered light by further roughening the surface by a method such as electric discharge machining or sand ballast to sufficiently weaken.

10 is a graph showing the roughness on the objective surface according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 10, the light of the first light source and the second light source reaching the objective surface may show a difference in illuminance according to the reaching distance.

In the case of the first illumination optical part, light from the first light source reaches the objective surface through the first illumination optical part, and the light reaching the objective surface has the same illuminance relationship as the curve A of FIG. 10 based on the center point of the objective surface. Seems.

That is, when the center point (0.0) of the graph is the center point of the objective surface, the illuminance of light generated from the first light source reaching the object surface closer to the first illumination optical unit reaches the objective plane farther from the first illumination optical unit. It is higher than the illuminance of the light generated from the first light source.

Thus, a second illumination optical unit facing the first illumination optical unit is provided for uniformity of illuminance on the object surface.

That is, since the object surface far from the second lighting optical part corresponds to the object surface near the first lighting optical part based on the first lighting optical part, the high illuminance light from the first lighting optical part and the second lighting optical part Low light from the light is merged with each other, and the object surface on the side closer to the second lighting optics corresponds to the object surface on the far side of the first lighting optics, and therefore the low illumination light and the second illumination optics from the first lighting optics. The high intensity light from the light is merged with each other to achieve uniformity of light intensity on the object surface.

Accordingly, light having a uniform illuminance on the object surface reaches the sensor through opposing first and second illumination optical units, thereby maximizing optical efficiency of the optical device.

11 is a graph showing an illumination distribution diagram by a second light source on an objective surface according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the graph shows an illumination distribution of light generated from the second light source reaching the object surface through the second illumination optical unit, and the left part of the graph represents green and the right part of the graph represents red. It can be seen.

In other words, the left part of the graph showing green indicates the illuminance on the object surface far from the second illumination optical part, and the lower part shows the relatively low illuminance, and the right part of the graph showing the red color is the one near the second illumination optical part. It can be seen that the relatively high illuminance is shown as the part showing the illuminance on the object surface.

Therefore, in order to prevent a decrease in the light efficiency due to the unevenness of illumination on the objective surface, a pair of illumination optical units are disposed to be opposed to the objective surface, so that the illumination efficiency on the objective surface is made uniform. Maximize.

12A is a light source arrangement diagram of one embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 12B is a light source arrangement diagram of another embodiment according to the present invention. 12A and 12B, the optical apparatus of the present invention preferably includes at least two illumination optical units 310 for uniformity of illuminance on the object surface.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, two illumination optical units 310 are disposed to face each other based on the imaging lens 321 to achieve uniformity of illuminance on the object surface with two illumination optical units 310. In order to achieve uniformity of illuminance on the object surface by providing three illumination optical units 310, three illumination optical units 310 may be arranged to maintain a constant angle with respect to the imaging lens 321.

In this case, it is preferable that the light source 300 includes the same dog as the illumination optical unit 310 and includes one light source in one illumination optical unit.

On the other hand, when there are a plurality of illumination optical unit 310, it is possible to expect the performance of the same optical device as having only one light source 300 to be provided with the same light source 300 and the illumination optical unit 310. This is possible by supplying light from one light source 300 to each of the plurality of illumination optical units 310 using an optical fiber.

The optical device of the present invention implements a structure that prevents deterioration of the performance of the sensor by deteriorating the illumination quality and the light emitted from the light emitting part, which is a problem in the thin and compact optical sensor, by entering the imaging system and the sensor in a direct or indirect path. The sensor cover structure, the lens structure and the module cover structure can be produced at low cost by forming an integrated structure.

Therefore, the micro-pointing device or the input device can be realized by using the optical device of the present invention as the optical device sensor module of the micro-optical method.

In addition, even when miniaturized by an optical fingerprint sensor, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the sensor due to light quality or scattered light. Therefore, the microfingerprint sensing device is realized by using the optical device of the present invention as a microscopic sensor module. This is possible. Such a small fingerprint sensing device can provide a practical solution for enhancing security functions in a PC or a portable terminal.

Furthermore, it is possible to implement a wireless input device such as a watch type, a ring type, a button type by implementing a small thin pointing device or input device.

In addition, the optical device of the present invention can be implemented in a notebook or a small notebook tablet PC (tablet), such as to implement a high-performance pointing function in a small space, it can be used in a wired or wireless keyboard to embed or attach a small high-performance pointing device.

 Optical device of the present invention can implement a small thin pointing function can be used as a device to replace the navigation (navigation) key functions of the existing terminals or add a pointing function, can be applied as a small pointing device in a portable game machine Do.

In addition, by applying the optical device of the present invention to a remote control device in a home network environment, it is possible to implement a multifunctional high performance remote control device.

The ultra-small pointing device using the optical device of the present invention can be embedded in a device that is accessed and used by many people, such as Kiosk, to improve its performance and improve reliability.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments as described above, it is not limited to the above embodiments and those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention and equivalents of the claims to be described below.

Therefore, the micro-integrated optical device of the present invention has an effect of preventing scattered light from entering the sensor through the imaging lens by providing the optical path of the scattered light to the imaging lens in a bent form.

Claims (7)

In the optical device, At least one light source emitting light; A transparent lens structure including an illumination optical unit for moving the light emitted from the light source and a light receiving unit having an integrated structure for collecting light reflected from an object located on an object surface in a sensor; An opaque module cover structure which is assembled to the outside of the lens structure and has a first scattered light blocking unit as a unitary structure positioned between the light source and the sensor so that scattered light emitted from the light source does not enter the sensor; And An opaque sensor cover structure, which is assembled inside the lens structure and has a second scattering light blocking unit, which is disposed between the light source and the sensor and prevents scattered light emitted from the light source from entering the sensor. Including; And the first scattering light blocking unit protrudes between the outer surface of the module cover structure and the object surface of the upper portion of the module cover structure. delete The method of claim 1, The outer upper portion of the sensor cover structure is a miniature integrated optical device having a 'U' shaped structure between the sensor cover structure and the opening. The method of claim 3, The upper portion of the lens structure is a micro-integrated optical device having an 'U' shaped structure between the outside of the lens structure and the imaging lens. The method of claim 4, wherein An ultra-small integrated optical device having a scattered light blocking structure formed between the outer portion of the lens structure and the image forming lens by precision machining or discharge machining. The method of claim 4, wherein The sensor cover structure and the material of the module cover structure is a compact integrated optical device having a scattered light blocking structure of any one of PMMA, PC, acetal and optical glass. The method of claim 4, wherein The sensor cover structure and the module cover structure is a micro-integrated optical device having a scattered light blocking structure formed by the discharge processing or sand ballast method.

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