US 12,007,280 B2
Multi-application optical sensing apparatus and method thereof
Chih-Wei Yeh, Hsinchu County (TW); Hung-Chih Chang, Hsinchu County (TW); Yun-Chung Na, San Jose, CA (US); Tsung-Ting Wu, Hsinchu County (TW); and Shu-Lu Chen, Hsinchu County (TW)
Assigned to ARTILUX, INC., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Artilux, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/179,117.
Application 18/179,117 is a continuation of application No. 17/470,728, filed on Sep. 9, 2021, granted, now 11,624,653.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/226,761, filed on Jul. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/223,056, filed on Jul. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/192,105, filed on May 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/165,715, filed on Mar. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/144,459, filed on Feb. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/120,726, filed on Dec. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0204423 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01J 3/50 (2006.01); G01B 11/24 (2006.01); G01J 3/02 (2006.01); G01J 3/51 (2006.01)
CPC G01J 3/50 (2013.01) [G01B 11/24 (2013.01); G01J 3/0208 (2013.01); G01J 3/51 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical sensing apparatus, comprising:
a light emitter configured to emit an optical signal to a target object;
a first die comprising a photodetector, wherein the photodetector is configured to perform optical sensing and comprising:
a first region configured to detect a first optical signal with a first wavelength, wherein the first optical signal is a first portion of the optical signal reflected by the target object; and
a second region distinct from the first region and configured to detect a second optical signal with a second wavelength which is different from the first wavelength, wherein the second optical signal is a second portion of the optical signal reflected by the target object;
a circuitry, coupled to the photodetector, and configured to perform a first function based on the first optical signal to output a first output result and perform a second function based on the second optical signal to output a second output result; and
a processing circuitry comprising an output circuitry, coupled to the circuitry, and configured to perform a predetermined function based on the first output result and the second output result,
wherein the second wavelength is within SWIR wavelength range, and
wherein the predetermined function comprises a material recognition function that determines one or more characteristics of a material, wherein the one or more characteristics of a material comprise a type of the material.