INFRARED SENSOR

An infrared sensor includes a housing, a circuit board, an infrared emitting device, and an infrared receiving device. The circuit board receives in the housing and includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface and the lower surface are opposite sides of the circuit board. The infrared emitting device is arranged on the upper surface of the circuit board and includes an emitter which is configured to emit infrared signals. The infrared receiving device is arranged on the lower surface of the circuit board and includes a receiver which configured to receive reflected infrared signals reflected by an object. The receiver is offset relative to the emitter, and the circuit board converts an infrared voltage value of the reflected infrared signals to determine a distance of the object.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201711194378.X filed on Nov. 24, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to infrared sensors.

BACKGROUND

Generally, an infrared sensor requires an emitter for emitting infrared signals and a receiver for receiving infrared signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of an infrared sensor100. The infrared sensor100includes an infrared emitting device10, an infrared receiving device20, a circuit board30, and a housing40. The housing40includes an upper housing42and a lower housing44. The circuit board30is received within the housing40between the upper housing42and the lower housing44and is substantially centrally located within the housing40. The circuit board30includes an upper side32and a lower side34. The upper side32and the lower side34are opposite sides of the circuit board30. The infrared emitting device10is arranged on the upper side32, and the infrared receiving device20is arranged on the lower side34. The upper housing42arranged on the upper surface32of the circuit board30surrounds the infrared emitting device10. The lower housing44arranged on the lower surface34of the circuit board30surrounds the infrared receiving device20.

Referring toFIG. 2, the infrared emitting device10includes an emitter12arranged on the upper surface32of the circuit board30. The infrared receiving device20includes a receiver22arranged on the lower surface34of the circuit board30. The receiver22is offset relative to the emitter12. In at least one embodiment, the emitter12and the receiver22are arranged along a common axis, and the receiver22is offset 90 degrees relative to the emitter12. The infrared emitting device10includes an emission lens14arranged on a top portion of the upper cover42. The emission lens14is a parabolic mirrored optical lens and surrounds the emitter12. The emission lens14is made of transparent polycarbonate. When the emitter12emits infrared signals, the infrared signals are emitter to the emission lens14, and the emission lens14reflects and disperses the infrared signals. Thus, the infrared signals can be emitted in multiple directions. Similarly, the infrared receiving device20includes a receiving lens24arranged on a bottom portion of the lower cover44. The receiving lens24is a parabolic mirrored optical lens and surrounds the receiver22. The receiving lens24is made of polycarbonate and is used for receiving reflected infrared signals and focusing the reflected infrared signals on the receiver22. The receiving lens24arranged on the bottom portion of the lower cover44allows the receiving lens24to receive reflected infrared signals from multiple directions.

The circuit board30includes an upper socket36and a lower socket38. The upper socket36is arranged centrally on the upper surface32. The upper socket36is used for installing the emitter12. The lower socket38is arranged centrally on the lower surface34. The lower socket38is used for installing the receiver22. The infrared sensor100is assembled by the upper socket36and the lower socket38installing the emitter12and the receiver22, respectively, and then assembling the upper cover42and the lower cover44on the circuit board. The infrared emitting device10is arranged within the upper cover42, and the infrared receiving device20is arranged within the lower cover44. The emission lens14and the receiving lens24allow the infrared sensor100to emit infrared signals in multiple directions and detect an object from multiple directions, thereby unifying the emitter12and the receiver22in one infrared sensor100. Thus, the emitter12and the receiver22do not belong to separate devices.

Referring toFIG. 4, the upper cover42and the lower cover44are assembled together to form the housing40. The circuit board30is received within the housing40. The emitter12is installed in the upper socket36arranged on the upper surface32of the circuit board30. The receiver22is installed in the lower socket38arranged on the lower surface34of the circuit board30. The emitter12and the receiver22are arranged along a common axis. The emission lens14surrounds the emitter12and reflects and disperses the infrared signals in multiple direction, thereby increasing a detection area. When the infrared signals reach an object40, the infrared signals are reflected and received by the receiving lens24. The receiving lens24focuses the reflected infrared signals on the receiver22. The circuit board30includes electronic components (not shown) for processing the received infrared signals and converts an infrared voltage value to calculate a distance of the object50. A method of converting the infrared voltage value is known in the art, so it will not be further described.

The infrared sensor100including the housing40, the circuit board30, the infrared emitting device10, and the infrared receiving device20can detect objects in multiple directions. The emitter12and the receiver22are arranged along a common axis and offset on the circuit board30simplifies distance sensing and 3D modeling calculations.