IP Library Granted Patent US 12,399,060
Granted Patent B2
US 12,399,060 · App. 18/603,479 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Detection device with light directivity

Inventors: Kaoru Ito (Tokyo, JP); Akihiko Fujisawa (Tokyo, JP); Daichi Abe (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Magnolia White Corporation
G01J1/44G01J1/08G01J2001/446G01J2001/448G01N15/0205G01N15/1434G01N15/147G01N2201/12746
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,399,060
App. No.
18/603,479
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A detection device includes: a planar detection device including photodetection elements; point light sources provided correspondingly to the photodetection elements; a light directivity control element disposed between the point light sources and the photodetection elements; and a detection circuit electrically coupled to the photodetection elements. Each point light source corresponds to at least one of the photodetection elements. In a light amount setting mode, the point light sources are lit up at different light amounts; the photodetection elements output sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts; the sensor values that are detected are compared with a preset target sensor value; and light amounts for detection of the point light sources are set. In a detection mode, the point light sources are lit up at the set light amounts for detection; and the photodetection elements output sensor values corresponding to the light amounts for detection.

Claims (97)

1. A detection device comprising:

a planar detection device comprising a plurality of photodetection elements arranged in a planar configuration;

a plurality of point light sources provided correspondingly to the photodetection elements;

a light directivity control element disposed between the point light sources and the photodetection elements; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled to the photodetection elements, wherein

each of the point light sources corresponds to at least one of the photodetection elements, in a light amount setting mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at different light amounts;

the photodetection elements are configured to output a plurality of sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts;

the sensor values that are detected are compared with a preset target sensor value; and

light amounts for detection of the point light sources are set,

in a detection mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at the set light amounts for detection; and

the photodetection elements are configured to output sensor values corresponding to the light amounts for detection,

the light directivity control element, a light-transmitting placement substrate to place thereon a plurality of objects to be detected, and the point light sources are arranged sequentially on the planar detection device, in a vertical direction to the planar detection device,

the light-transmitting placement substrate being in direct contact with the light directivity control element, and

a distance between the light-transmitting placement substrate and the point light sources is greater than a distance between the light directivity control element and the light-transmitting placement substrate.

2. The detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the photodetection elements are a plurality of photodiodes.

3. A detection device comprising:

a planar detection device comprising a plurality of photodetection elements arranged in a planar configuration;

a plurality of point light sources provided correspondingly to the photodetection elements;

a light directivity control element disposed between the point light sources and the photodetection elements; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled to the photodetection elements,

a light amount setting circuit configured to set light amounts of the point light sources, wherein

each of the point light sources corresponds to at least one of the photodetection elements,

in a light amount setting mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at different light amounts;

the photodetection elements are configured to output a plurality of sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts;

the sensor values that are detected are compared with a preset target sensor value; and

light amounts for detection of the point light sources are set,

in a detection mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at the set light amounts for detection; and

the photodetection elements are configured to output sensor values corresponding to the light amounts for detection, and

the light amount setting circuit is configured to:

select a first sensor value closest to the target sensor value from among the sensor values corresponding to the different light amount; and

set the light amounts for detection of the point light sources to a light amount of the point light source corresponding to the first sensor value.

4. The detection device according to claim 3 , wherein the light directivity control element, a light-transmitting placement substrate to place thereon a plurality of objects to be detected, and the point light sources are arranged sequentially on the planar detection device in a vertical direction to the planar detection device.

5. The detection device according to claim 3 , wherein the photodetection elements are a plurality of photodiodes.

6. A detection device comprising:

a planar detection device comprising a plurality of photodetection elements arranged in a planar configuration;

a plurality of point light sources provided correspondingly to the photodetection elements;

a light directivity control element disposed between the point light sources and the photodetection elements; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled to the photodetection elements,

a light amount setting circuit configured to set light amounts of the point light sources, wherein

each of the point light sources corresponds to at least one of the photodetection elements,

in a light amount setting mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at different light amounts;

the photodetection elements are configured to output a plurality of sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts;

the sensor values that are detected are compared with a preset target sensor value; and

light amounts for detection of the point light sources are set,

in a detection mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at the set light amounts for detection; and

the photodetection elements are configured to output sensor values corresponding to the light amounts for detection, and

the light amount setting circuit is configured to:

select a first sensor value and a second sensor value close to the target sensor value from among the sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts, the target sensor value being a value between the first sensor value and the second sensor value; and

set, when a difference between the target sensor value and the first sensor value is equal to a difference between the target sensor value and the second sensor value, the light amounts for detection of the point light sources to an average value of a first light amount of the point light source corresponding to the first sensor value and a second light amount of the point light source corresponding to the second sensor value.

7. The detection device according to claim 6 , wherein the photodetection elements are a plurality of photodiodes.

8. The detection device according to claim 6 , wherein the light directivity control element, a light-transmitting placement substrate to place thereon a plurality of objects to be detected, and the point light sources are arranged sequentially on the planar detection device in a vertical direction to the planar detection device.

9. A detection device comprising:

a planar detection device comprising a plurality of photodetection elements arranged in a planar configuration;

a plurality of point light sources provided correspondingly to the photodetection elements;

a light directivity control element disposed between the point light sources and the photodetection elements; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled to the photodetection elements,

wherein

each of the point light sources corresponds to at least one of the photodetection elements,

in a light amount setting mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at different light amounts;

the photodetection elements are configured to output a plurality of sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts;

the sensor values that are detected are compared with a preset target sensor value; and

light amounts for detection of the point light sources are set,

in a detection mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at the set light amounts for detection; and

the photodetection elements are configured to output sensor values corresponding to the light amounts for detection,

the detection circuit has a detection range in which the sensor values from the photodetection elements are detectable, and

the target sensor value is set within a range from 90% to 100% with respect to an upper limit value of the detection range.

10. The detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the photodetection elements are a plurality of photodiodes.

11. The detection device according to claim 9 , wherein the light directivity control element, a light-transmitting placement substrate to place thereon a plurality of objects to be detected, and the point light sources are arranged sequentially on the planar detection device in a vertical direction to the planar detection device.

12. A detection device comprising:

a planar detection device comprising a plurality of photodetection elements arranged in a planar configuration;

a plurality of point light sources provided correspondingly to the photodetection elements;

a light directivity control element disposed between the point light sources and the photodetection elements; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled to the photodetection elements,

wherein

each of the point light sources corresponds to at least one of the photodetection elements,

in a light amount setting mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at different light amounts;

the photodetection elements are configured to output a plurality of sensor values corresponding to the different light amounts;

the sensor values that are detected are compared with a preset target sensor value; and

light amounts for detection of the point light sources are set,

in a detection mode:

the point light sources are controlled to be lit up at the set light amounts for detection; and

the photodetection elements are configured to output sensor values corresponding to the light amounts for detection,

the detection device further comprises a storage circuit to store therein the light amounts for detection set in the light amount setting mode, and

the detection device is configured to:

execute the light amount setting mode when the planar detection device starts measurement, and

simultaneously light up the point light sources at the set light amounts for detection in the detection mode.

13. The detection device according to claim 12 , wherein the photodetection elements are a plurality of photodiodes.

14. The detection device according to claim 12 , wherein the light directivity control element, a light-transmitting placement substrate to place thereon a plurality of objects to be detected, and the point light sources are arranged sequentially on the planar detection device in a vertical direction to the planar detection device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071793/0491 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2024
From: ITO, KAORU; FUJISAWA, AKIHIKO; ABE, DAICHI
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 066753/0034 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-049613 · Mar 27, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240328855A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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