Compact multi-direction proximity sensor device and method
A proximity sensor device is provided in compact unit that has the ability to sense or monitor in different directions, such as sensing or monitoring in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Methods are also provided. In an illustrative embodiment, the proximity sensor device includes a first transmitting/receiving pair and a second transmitting/receiving pair on a printed circuit board along with an IC to control the transmitters and receivers, as well as, in some embodiments, to provide signal filtering, amplification or other desired features.
1. A proximity sensor, comprising:
a substrate with a length L and a width W, wherein L is less than is less than 10 millimeters and W is less than 5 millimeters;
a first transmitting unit attached to the substrate, the first transmitting unit configured to transmit a first signal in a first direction;
a first receiving unit attached to the substrate, the first receiving unit configured to receive at least a portion of the first signal transmitted in the first direction;
a second transmitting unit attached to the substrate, the second transmitting unit configured to transmit a second signal in a second direction, wherein the second transmitting unit is adjacent to the first transmitting unit and the second signal in the second direction is perpendicular and does not intersect to the first signal in the first direction;
a second receiving unit attached to the substrate, the second receiving unit configured to receive at least a portion of the second signal transmitted in the second direction; and
logic in communication with the first transmitting unit, first receiving unit, second transmitting unit, and second receiving unit, the logic configured to detect whether at least a portion of the first signal transmitted from the first transmitting unit has been received by the first receiving unit or when at least a portion of the second signal transmitted from the second transmitting unit has been received by the second receiving unit.
2. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially rectangular and the first transmitting unit and second transmitting unit are light-emitting transmitting units.
3. The proximity sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first transmitting unit is an LED.
4. The proximity sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first transmitting unit comprises:
a transmitter substrate;
an LED device attached to one face of the transmitter substrate; and
a lens formed by molding a compound over the LED device attached to the transmitter substrate.
5. The proximity sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first receiving unit is a photodetector.
6. The proximity sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first receiving unit comprises:
a receiver substrate;
a photodetector device attached to one face of the receiver substrate; and
a lens formed by molding a compound over the photodetector device attached to the receiver substrate.
7. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the logic comprises an integrated circuit attached to the substrate.
8. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor further includes a cover attached to the substrate so as to surround at least the first receiving unit and second receiving unit, the cover configured with a first cut-out portion to allow the first receiving unit to receive at least a portion of the first signal and a second cut-out portion to allow the second receiving unit to receive at least a portion of the second signal.
9. A method for sensing comprising:
providing a substrate, wherein the substrate has a length L and a width W, where L is less than 10 millimeters and W is less than 5 millimeters;
attaching a first transmitting unit to the substrate, the first transmitting unit configured to transmit a first signal in a first direction;
attaching a first receiving unit to the substrate, the first receiving unit configured to receive at least a portion of the first signal transmitted in the first direction;
attaching a second transmitting unit to the substrate, the second transmitting unit configured to transmit a second signal in a second direction, wherein the second transmitting unit is adjacent to the first transmitting unit and the second signal in the second direction is perpendicular and does not intersect to the first signal in the first direction;
attaching a second receiving unit to the substrate, the second receiving unit configured to receive at least a portion of the second signal transmitted in the second direction;
providing logic in communication with the first transmitting unit, first receiving unit, second transmitting unit, and second receiving unit, the logic configured to detect whether the at least a portion of the first signal has been received by the first receiving unit or when the at least a portion of the second signal has been received by the second receiving unit.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is substantially rectangular and the first transmitting unit and second transmitting unit are light-emitting transmitting units.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first transmitting unit is an LED.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first receiving unit is a photodetector.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the logic comprises an integrated circuit attached to the substrate.
14. A method for sensing comprising:
providing a substrate, wherein the substrate has a length L and a width W, where L is less than 10 millimeters and W is less than 5 millimeters;
transmitting a signal in a direction from a first transmitting unit connected to the substrate;
receiving at least part of the signal at a first receiving unit connected to the substrate;
transmitting a second signal in a second direction from a second transmitting unit connected to the substrate, wherein the second transmitting unit is adjacent to the first transmitting unit and the second signal in the second direction is perpendicular and does not intersect to the first signal in the first direction;
receiving at least part of the second signal at a second receiving unit connected to the substrate; and
detecting whether the at least part of the signal has been received by the first receiving unit or the at least part of the second signal has been received by the second receiving unit.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting whether the at least part of the signal has been received by the first receiving unit further comprises detecting when at least part of the signal has been received by the first receiving unit after reflecting off of an object.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting whether the at least part of the signal has been received by the first receiving unit further comprises detecting when at least part of the signal is no longer being received by the first receiving unit after reflecting off of an object.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the object is a person.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting whether the at least part of the signal has been received by the first receiving unit or the at least part of the second signal has been received by the second receiving unit further comprises determining whether the first receiving unit receives at least part of the signal before the second receiving unit receives the at least part of the second signal.