IP Library Granted Patent US 12,050,129
Granted Patent B2
US 12,050,129 · App. 18/343,015 · Granted Jul 30, 2024

Optical sensor device

Inventors: William D. Houck (Santa Rosa, CA); Valton Smith (Novato, CA)
Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
G01J3/28G01J3/0229
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,050,129
App. No.
18/343,015
Granted
Jul 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical sensor device may comprise an optical sensor comprising a set of sensor elements; an optical filter comprising one or more channels, wherein each channel, of the one or more channels, is configured to pass light associated with particular wavelengths to a subset of sensor elements, of the set of sensor elements, of the optical sensor; a phase mask configured to distribute a plurality of light beams associated with a subject in an encoded pattern on an input surface of the optical filter; and one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to obtain, from the optical sensor, sensor data associated with the subject and determine, based on the sensor data, spectral information associated with the subject. The one or more processors may determine, based on the sensor data and information associated with the encoded pattern, spatial information associated with the subject.

Claims (43)

1. A combined optical element, comprising:

a substrate;

a phase mask disposed on a first surface of the substrate; and

an optical filter disposed on a second surface of the substrate,

a thickness of the substrate being a distance between the phase mask and the optical filter, and

the thickness of the substrate being configured to cause the phase mask to distribute one or more light beams in an encoded pattern across an input surface of the optical filter.

2. The combined optical element of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is an optical interference filter.

3. The combined optical element of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter includes a spectral filter or a multispectral filter.

4. The combined optical element of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the substrate.

5. The combined optical element of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light beams comprise a plurality of light beams.

6. The combined optical element of claim 1 , wherein across the input surface of the optical filter is across more than 95% of the input surface of the optical filter.

7. The combined optical element of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the substrate is smaller than a total thickness of a substrate of a single phase mask and a substrate of a single optical filter.

8. A device, comprising:

a combined optical element including:

a substrate,

a phase mask disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and

an optical filter disposed on a second surface of the substrate,

wherein a thickness of the substrate is configured to cause the phase mask to distribute one or more light beams in an encoded pattern across an input surface of the optical filter; and

one or more other components.

9. The device of claim 8 ,

wherein the one or more other components include an optical sensor, and

wherein the combined optical element is disposed on the optical sensor.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more other components include one or more of:

one or more processors,

a spectrometer device configured to perform spectroscopy, or

a spectral imaging camera.

11. The device of claim 8 ,

wherein the device is a user device,

wherein the user device includes an optical sensor device, and

wherein the optical sensor device includes the combined optical element and the one or more other components.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the user device is a wearable spectrometer.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the thickness of the substrate is a distance between the phase mask and the optical filter.

14. An element, comprising:

a substrate;

a phase mask disposed on a first surface of the substrate; and

an optical filter disposed on a second surface of the substrate,

wherein a thickness of the substrate is configured to cause the phase mask to distribute one or more light beams in an encoded pattern across an input surface of the optical filter.

15. The element of claim 14 , wherein the thickness of the substrate is a distance between the phase mask and the optical filter.

16. The element of claim 14 , wherein the optical filter is an interference filter.

17. The element of claim 14 , wherein the second surface of the substrate is an opposite surface of the substrate relative to the first surface of the substrate.

18. The element of claim 14 , wherein the thickness of the substrate is smaller than a total thickness of a substrate of a single phase mask and a substrate of a single optical filter.

19. The element of claim 14 , wherein the one or more light beams include a plurality of light beams.

20. The element of claim 14 , wherein the thickness of the substrate is configured to cause the phase mask to distribute the one or more light beams in the encoded pattern across more than 98% of the input surface of 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 Jun 28, 2023
From: HOUCK, WILLIAM D.; SMITH, VALTON
To: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 064099/0045 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17585904 · Jan 27, 2022
Continuation 17117958 · Dec 10, 2020
Provisional Application 62969428 · Feb 3, 2020
Provisional Application 62969436 · Feb 3, 2020
Related Publication 20230341264A1 · Oct 26, 2023