US 12,222,240 B2
Protective mask for an optical receiver
Justin Robert Woodruff, Orlando, FL (US); Stephen L. Mielke, Oviedo, FL (US); and Roger S. Cannon, Oviedo, FL (US)
Assigned to Luminar Technologies, Inc., Orlando, FL (US)
Filed by Luminar Technologies, Inc., Orlando, FL (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/529,786.
Application 17/529,786 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/336,585, filed on Jun. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,953,722.
Prior Publication US 2022/0390274 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01J 1/04 (2006.01); G01S 7/4861 (2020.01)
CPC G01J 1/0437 (2013.01) [G01S 7/4861 (2013.01)] 37 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical receiver comprising:
an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC);
a light detector element with a top surface oriented toward incident light, the top surface including a portion configured to receive the incident light and via which the incident light reaches an active area of the light detector element, the light detector element disposed on the ASIC; and
a protective mask placed over the ASIC so as to (i) cover, from the incident light, at least a portion of the ASIC, and (ii) provide an aperture that defines an optical path for the incident light through the protective mask to the portion of the top surface of the light detector element, wherein the aperture in the protective mask comprises:
(i) an opening on a top surface of the protective mask oriented toward the incident light, and
(ii) an opening on a bottom surface of the protective mask oriented toward the light detector element, wherein the opening on the bottom surface is larger than the opening on the top surface, wherein a length, width, or diameter of the opening on the bottom surface is greater than a corresponding length, width, or diameter of the opening on the top surface, and wherein the length, width, or diameter of the opening on the bottom surface is between 100 micrometers and 1,000 micrometers, and the corresponding length, width, or diameter of the opening on the top surface is between 25 micrometers and 600 micrometers.