IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,196,611
Granted Patent B2
US 12,196,611 · App. 17/657,233 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Concealment component for an optical sensor device

Inventors: William D. Houck (Santa Rosa, CA); Fred Van Milligen (Santa Rosa, CA)
Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
G01J3/0205G01J1/0474G01J1/4204G01J3/0229G01J3/0294G01J3/28G01J3/2803G01J3/42G02B5/02G02B5/20G02B5/201G01J1/0492G01J1/4228G01J2003/1213G01J2003/2806G01J2003/2826
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,196,611
App. No.
17/657,233
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A concealment component for an optical sensor device includes an optical filter and one or more diffusive optical structures. The one or more diffusive optical structures are configured to distribute light in a diffused pattern on an input surface of the optical filter. The optical filter is configured to pass a first set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are associated with a particular wavelength range, and prevent a second set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are not associated with the particular wavelength range, from passing. Preventing the second set of light beams from passing is to cause the second set of light beams to be directed away from or absorbed by the concealment component in a concealment pattern.

Claims (86)

1. An optical sensor device, comprising:

an optical sensor that includes a plurality of sensor elements;

a concealment component that includes:

an optical filter, and

one or more diffusive optical structures that include one or more of a circular optical diffuser, a square optical diffuser, a rectangular optical diffuser, a reflective optical element, a diffractive optical element, or a refractive optical element; and

one or more processors, wherein:

the one or more diffusive optical structures of the concealment component are configured to distribute light associated with a scene in a diffused pattern on an input surface of the optical filter,

the optical filter is configured to:

allow a first set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are associated with a particular wavelength range to pass through the optical filter to the plurality of sensor elements of the optical sensor, and

reflect one or more portions of a second set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are not associated with the particular wavelength range, away from the input surface of the optical filter, and

the one or more diffusive optical structures are further configured to distribute the one or more portions of the second set of light beams, after being reflected away from the input surface of the optical filter, in a diffused concealment pattern away from the concealment component.

2. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more diffusive optical structures are configured to reflect a portion of the light in a diffused pattern away from the one or more diffusive optical structures.

3. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein:

the optical sensor device is to be disposed adjacent to a region of an object,

wherein the region of the object is to cause one or more portions of third light beams, of other light associated with the scene that impinges on the region of the object, that are not associated with the particular wavelength range to be directed away from or absorbed by the region of the object in an unconcealed pattern; and

the diffused concealment pattern, of the one or more portions of the second set of light beams, is to match the unconcealed pattern of the one or more portions of the third light beams.

4. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter includes one or more optical channels, wherein:

a first subset of light beams, of the first set of light beams, are to impinge on a region of the input surface of the optical filter that is associated with an optical channel of the one or more optical channels;

a second subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, are to impinge on the region of the input surface of the optical filter; and

the optical channel is configured to at least one of:

pass, to a set of the plurality of sensor elements of the optical sensor, the first subset of light beams,

reflect one or more first portions of the second subset of light beams, or

absorb one or more second portions of the second subset of light beams.

5. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter includes a plurality of optical channels, wherein:

a first optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, is configured to pass a first subset of light beams, of the first set of light beams, that are associated with a first wavelength subrange of the particular wavelength range; and

a second optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, is configured to pass a second subset of light beams, of the first set of light beams, that are associated with a second wavelength subrange of the particular wavelength range,

wherein the first wavelength subrange and the second wavelength subrange are different.

6. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter includes a plurality of optical channels, wherein:

a first optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, is configured to reflect a first subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, that are associated with a first other wavelength range that does not overlap with the particular wavelength range; and

a second optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, is configured to reflect a second subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, that are associated with a second other wavelength range that does not overlap with the particular wavelength range,

wherein the first other wavelength range and the second other wavelength range are different.

7. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter includes a plurality of optical channels, wherein:

a first optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, is configured to absorb a first subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, that are associated with a first other wavelength range that does not overlap with the particular wavelength range; and

a second optical channel, of the plurality of optical channels, is configured to absorb a second subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, that are associated with a second other wavelength range that does not overlap with the particular wavelength range,

wherein the first other wavelength range and the second other wavelength range are different.

8. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

obtain, from the optical sensor, sensor data associated with the first set of light beams;

process the sensor data to determine image information associated with the scene; and

perform one or more actions based on the image information associated with the scene.

9. The optical sensor device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

obtain, from the optical sensor, sensor data associated with the first set of light beams;

process the sensor data to determine spectral information associated with the scene; and

perform one or more actions based on the spectral information associated with the scene.

10. An optical sensor device, comprising:

an optical sensor that includes a plurality of sensor elements; and

a concealment component that includes:

an optical filter, and

one or more diffusive optical structures that include one or more of a circular optical diffuser, a square optical diffuser, a rectangular optical diffuser, a reflective optical element, a diffractive optical element, or a refractive optical element,

wherein:

the one or more diffusive optical structures of the concealment component are configured to distribute light associated with a scene in a diffused pattern on an input surface of the optical filter,

the optical filter is configured to:

pass a first set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are associated with a particular wavelength range to the plurality of sensor elements of the optical sensor, and

reflect one or more portions of a second set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are not associated with the particular wavelength range, away from the input surface of the optical filter, and

the one or more diffusive optical structures are further configured to distribute the one or more portions of the second set of light beams, after being reflected away from the input surface of the optical filter, in a diffused concealment pattern away from the concealment component.

11. The optical sensor device of claim 10 , wherein the optical filter includes one or more optical channels, wherein:

a first subset of light beams, of the first set of light beams, are to impinge on a region of the input surface of the optical filter that is associated with an optical channel of the one or more optical channels;

a second subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, are to impinge on the region of the input surface of the optical filter; and

the optical channel is configured to at least one of:

pass, to a set of the plurality of sensor elements of the optical sensor, the first subset of light beams,

reflect one or more first portions of the second subset of light beams, or

absorb one or more second portions of the second subset of light beams.

12. The optical sensor device of claim 10 , wherein the concealment component is disposed directly on the optical sensor.

13. The optical sensor device of claim 10 , wherein the concealment component does not contact the optical sensor.

14. A concealment component, comprising:

an optical filter; and

one or more diffusive optical structures that include one or more of a circular optical diffuser, a square optical diffuser, a rectangular optical diffuser, a reflective optical element, a diffractive optical element, or a refractive optical element, wherein:

the one or more diffusive optical structures of the concealment component are configured to distribute light in a diffused pattern on an input surface of the optical filter,

the optical filter is configured to:

pass a first set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are associated with a particular wavelength range, and

reflect one or more portions of a second set of light beams, of the light distributed in the diffused pattern on the input surface of the optical filter, that are not associated with the particular wavelength range, away from the input surface of the optical filter, and

the one or more diffusive optical structures are further configured to distribute the one or more portions of the second set of light beams, after being reflected away from the input surface of the optical filter, in a diffused concealment pattern away from the concealment component.

15. The concealment component of claim 14 , wherein the one or more diffusive optical structures are configured to reflect a portion of the light in a diffused pattern away from the one or more diffusive optical structures.

16. The concealment component of claim 14 , wherein:

the concealment component is to be disposed adjacent to a region of an object,

wherein the region of the object is to cause one or more portions of third light beams, of other light that impinges on the region of the object, that are not associated with the particular wavelength range to be directed away from or absorbed by the region of the object in an unconcealed pattern; and

the diffused concealment pattern, of the one or more portions of the second set of light beams, is to match the unconcealed pattern of the one or more portions of the third light beams.

17. The concealment component of claim 14 , wherein the optical filter includes one or more optical channels, wherein:

a first subset of light beams, of the first set of light beams, are to impinge on a region of the input surface of the optical filter that is associated with an optical channel of the one or more optical channels;

a second subset of light beams, of the second set of light beams, are to impinge on the region of the input surface of the optical filter; and

the optical channel is configured to at least one of:

pass the first subset of light beams,

reflect one or more first portions of the second subset of light beams, or

absorb one or more second portions of the second subset of light beams.

18. The concealment component of claim 14 , wherein the one or more diffusive optical structures are disposed directly on the optical filter.

19. The concealment component of claim 14 , wherein the one or more diffusive optical structures are disposed on a first surface of a substrate and the optical filter is disposed on a second surface of the substrate.

20. The concealment component of claim 14 , wherein the one or more diffusive optical structures do not contact the optical filter.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 73189/0873 Recorded May 28, 2026
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: INERTIAL LABS, INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 075642/0381 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC; INERTIAL LABS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 073571/0137 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 21, 2025
From: INERTIAL LABS, INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 073189/0873 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2022
From: HOUCK, WILLIAM D.; VAN MILLIGEN, FRED
To: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 059445/0651 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230314213A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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