Patent Description:
Today, a great variety of electronic devices including a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a laptop PC, and a wearable device such as a wrist watch or a head-mounted display (HMD) have been popularized. Most of such electronic devices provide a camera function to capture and record an image of a subject. In addition, some of recent electronic devices have two or more types of cameras to enhance user convenience.

Using these various types of cameras, the electronic device can provide a precise three-dimensional sensing function with respect to a certain object. For example, it is possible to precisely sense the shape, position, or motion of the object.

For more precise three-dimensional sensing, a structured light may be used. The structured light can be produced by adding a unique characteristic (e.g., pattern) to light starting from a light source and used for object recognition.

To produce the structured light, a light source module such as a diffractive optical element (DOE) may be used in general. However, because recent electronic devices are becoming smaller and lighter, there arises a problem of difficulty in mounting a bulky DOE within such electronic devices.

<CIT> describes a structured light generator includes a light source configured to emit light, and a first meta optical device including a first metasurface including nanostructures having sub-wavelength dimensions that are less than a wavelength of the light emitted from the light source, the first metasurface being configured to form a distribution of light rays from the light emitted from the light source to thereby radiate structured light.

Various embodiments of the disclosure provide a light source module adapted for a structured light and applicable to a small electronic device.

Various embodiments of the disclosure provide a light source module having increased light efficiency and an electronic device including the light source module.

According to various example embodiments of the disclosure, a light source module comprises a substrate; a light emitter comprising a light source disposed on one surface of the substrate and including an array of light emitting elements configured to emit light; a support disposed on the one surface of the substrate and accommodating at least a portion of the light emitter; and a transparent member comprising transparent material disposed over the support. The transparent member includes a pattern layer disposed on a first surface of the transparent member and configured to change a pattern of the light output from the light emitting elements, and a first meta-surface disposed on a second surface of the transparent member and including a plurality of first unit structures configured to change an angle of the light that passed through the pattern layer.

According to various example embodiments of the disclosure, a light source module comprises a substrate; a light emitter comprising a light source disposed on one surface of the substrate and including an array of light emitting elements configured to emit light; a support disposed on the one surface of the substrate and accommodating at least a portion of the light emitter, wherein the light emitter is configured to output the light toward at least a portion of the support; and a transparent member comprising transparent material disposed over the support. The transparent member includes a pattern layer disposed on a first surface of the transparent member and configured to change a pattern of the light output from the light emitting elements, and a first metasurface disposed on a second surface of the transparent member and including a plurality of first unit structures configured to change an angle of the light that passed through the pattern layer.

According to various example embodiments of the disclosure, a light source module comprises a substrate; a first light emitter comprising a first light source disposed in a first region on one surface of the substrate and including an array of first light emitting elements configured to emit light of a first infrared wavelength band; a second light emitter comprising a second light source disposed in a second region on the one surface of the substrate and including an array of second light emitting elements configured to emit light of a second infrared wavelength band; a support disposed on the one surface of the substrate and accommodating at least a portion of the first and second light emitters; and a transparent member comprising transparent material disposed over the support. The transparent member includes a pattern layer disposed on a first surface of the transparent member and configured to change a pattern of the light output from the first light emitting elements, and a first meta-surface disposed on a second surface of the transparent member and including a plurality of first unit structures configured to change an angle of the light that passed through the pattern layer.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the light source module can be applied to a small-sized electronic device and realizes more accurate three-dimensional sensing using a very small-sized structure.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the light source module does not need to include a masking pattern layer, thus reducing light loss occurring when light is transmitted or reflected.

Various example embodiments of the disclosure will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example light source module <NUM> according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, the light source module <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM>, a light emitter (e.g., including light source) <NUM>, a support member <NUM>, a transparent member <NUM>, and a pattern layer <NUM>. In some embodiments not falling under the scope of the claims, the light source module <NUM> may omit at least one of the above components or further include any other component.

According to various embodiments, the substrate <NUM> may be electrically connected to the light emitter <NUM> and thereby transmit a control signal. The substrate <NUM> may be, for example, and without limitation, a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), a rigid flexible printed circuit board (RFPCB), or the like. According to an embodiment, the substrate <NUM> (e.g., a first substrate) may be laminated with another substrate (e.g., a second substrate) to form a multilayer circuit substrate. For example, the second substrate may be stacked under and electrically connected to the first substrate and thereby transmit a control signal to the light source module <NUM> mounted on the first substrate. In another embodiment, a third substrate may be further used. In this example, the second substrate may transmit a control signal to the third substrate for controlling electronic components, e.g., a camera module, other than the light source module.

According to various embodiments, the light emitter <NUM> may include an array of light emitting elements capable of emitting light and be disposed on one surface of the substrate <NUM>. For example, the light emitter <NUM> may output light by selecting at least one of the light emitting elements. According to an embodiment, the light emitting element may include, without limitation, a laser light source, or the like. The laser light source may be, for example, and without limitation, an edge emitting laser, a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a distributed feedback laser, or the like.

According to an embodiment, the light emitter <NUM> may be formed of the VCSEL and thereby output collimated light toward the pattern layer <NUM>. The light emitted by the light emitting elements may form, on the pattern layer <NUM>, a planar light source having substantially uniform brightness and intensity. For example, referring to <FIG>, the light emitter <NUM> and the pattern layer <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance (d1) so that the light output from the light emitting elements can form a planar light source on the pattern layer. In an embodiment, the light emitter <NUM> and the pattern layer <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other by about <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the support member <NUM> is disposed on one surface of the substrate <NUM> and separated from the light emitter <NUM>. The support member <NUM> supports the transparent member <NUM> so that the transparent member <NUM> and the light emitter <NUM> are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance (d1). The support member <NUM> accomodates at least a portion of the light emitter <NUM>. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the support member <NUM> operates a tilted mirror that reflects the light, output from the light emitter <NUM>, toward the transparent member <NUM>. For example, at least a portion of the support member <NUM> may be formed to have a slope of a specified angle with respect to the light emitter <NUM>. A related description will be described in greater detail below.

According to various embodiments, the transparent member <NUM> is disposed over the support member <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the transparent member <NUM> may form, at least in part, one surface of the light source module <NUM>. For example, the transparent member <NUM> may be formed as a housing that protects electronic components (e.g., the light emitter <NUM>) inside the light source module <NUM> by dispersing or absorbing a pressure applied from the inside or outside. According to an embodiment, the transparent member <NUM> may be formed of a material having a low refractive index and causing no or little light loss when an incident light passes through the transparent member <NUM> (e.g., a transparent material). For example, the transparent member <NUM> may be formed of, for example, and without limitation, glass (e.g., SiO<NUM>), polymer (e.g. PDMS, SU8, PC, PS, or PMMA), or the like that allows the light output from the light emitter <NUM> to pass through the transparent member <NUM> to the outside.

According to various embodiments, the thickness of the transparent member <NUM> may be determined according to a focal length (f) based on the characteristics of a first meta-surface <NUM>. The thickness of the transparent member <NUM> may correspond to an image-side focal length (d2). Referring to <FIG>, it is shown that the light passing through the pattern layer <NUM> forms an image-side focal point <NUM>. The light traveling from the image-side focal point <NUM> is refracted while passing through a first medium (i.e., the transparent member <NUM>), passes through the first meta-surface <NUM>, and then forms an object-side focal point <NUM> when passing through a second medium (e.g., air). In this example, the degree of refraction may be controlled through phase adjustment by a meta-structure (e.g., the first meta-surface <NUM>). When the thickness of the transparent member <NUM> corresponds to the image-side focal length (d2), a distance from the transparent member <NUM> to the object-side focal point <NUM> corresponds to an object-side focal length (d3). The focal length (f), the image-side focal length (d2), and the object-side focal length (d3) may have the following relationship.

According to an embodiment, the image-side focal length (d2) of the light source module may be determined as about <NUM> to <NUM>. In other words, the thickness of the transparent member <NUM> may be about <NUM> to <NUM>, which overcomes spatial limitations of the electronic device due to the trend of becoming smaller and lighter. If the image-side focal length (d2) of the light source module is <NUM> to <NUM>, the object-side focal length (d3) may be determined as about <NUM> to <NUM>. Also, depending on the object-side focal length (d3), the image-side focal length (d2) may be determined. In addition, the image-side focal length (d2) and the object-side focal length (d3) may be variously changed according to the focal length (f) based on the characteristics of the first meta-surface <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the pattern layer <NUM> is disposed on and <NUM> may be formed on or attached to a first surface of the transparent member <NUM> and change the pattern of light output from the light emitting elements. The pattern layer <NUM> may transmit a part of light output from the light emitting elements and also absorb or reflect the other part. For example, the pattern layer <NUM> may include a transparent region and an opaque region. A part of the light output from the light emitting elements fails to pass through the opaque region and is thus darkly projected, and the other part pass through the transparent region and is thus brightly projected.

According to an embodiment, the pattern layer <NUM> may be formed like a mask of a metallic material. For example, a metal sheet having a hole at least in part may form the hole as a transparent region, and the light passing the pattern layer <NUM> through the hole may be output in a designated pattern.

According to an example embodiment, the pattern layer <NUM> (e.g., a pattern layer <NUM> in <FIG> or a pattern layer <NUM> in <FIG>) may include a second meta-surface that includes second unit structures. For example, a plurality of second unit structures may be disposed in various two-dimensional arrangements on the other surface of the transparent member <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the plurality of second unit structures may be disposed in a designated arrangement to output the light output from the light emitting elements in a designated pattern. The light output from the light emitting elements may be changed in pattern while passing through the second metasurface. For example, the second meta-surface and the second unit structure may be understood as structures similar to the first meta-surface <NUM> and a first unit structure (<NUM> in <FIG>), respectively. For example, the plurality of second unit structures may be different from each other in height, diameter, and interval. In addition, the second unit structures may be formed to have dimensional elements having a length smaller than a wavelength band of the light output from the light emitting elements. According to various embodiments, the first meta-surface <NUM> may be formed on a second surface of the transparent member <NUM> and include a plurality of first unit structures capable of changing the angle of the light whose pattern is changed through the pattern layer <NUM>. According to an example embodiment, the locations of the pattern layer <NUM> and the first meta-surface <NUM> may be selectively interchanged.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example first meta-surface <NUM> according to an embodiment.

According to various embodiments, a plurality of first unit structures <NUM> may be disposed in various two-dimensional arrangements on one surface of the transparent member <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the plurality of first unit structures <NUM> may be disposed in a designated arrangement to refract the incident light in a desired direction.

According to various embodiments, the plurality of first unit structures <NUM> may be formed, for example, and without limitation, in cylindrical shapes having different heights (e.g., h<NUM> or h<NUM>) and different diameters (e.g., d<NUM> or d<NUM>). The shape of the first unit structures <NUM> is not limited to a cylindrical shape. The first unit structures <NUM> may be formed in various other shapes such as, for example, and without limitation, a polygonal shape, a cross shape, a star shape, an asymmetric shape, or the like. According to an embodiment, the first unit structures <NUM> may be disposed at different intervals (e.g., a<NUM> or a<NUM>).

According to various embodiments, the first unit structure <NUM> may temporarily capture a part of the incident light therein, based on a difference in refractive index between the first unit structure <NUM> and the transparent member <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first unit structure <NUM> may be formed to have a dimensional element having a length smaller than a wavelength band of the light output from the light emitting elements. The dimensional element may refer to a length element, such as height or diameter, of a three-dimensional shape of the first unit structure. In an example embodiment, the dimensional element may refer to an interval between the first unit structures. For example, because infrared rays or visible rays have a wavelength band of several hundred nanometers, the dimensional element of the first unit structure <NUM> for transmitting and receiving infrared rays or visible rays may be several hundred nanometers or less. For example, in order to transmit and receive infrared rays, the first unit structure <NUM> may have a height of about <NUM> to <NUM> and a diameter of about <NUM> to <NUM>. In another example, the first unit structures <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other at intervals of about <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first unit structure <NUM> may be formed of a material having a higher refractive index than that of the transparent member <NUM>. For example, the first unit structure <NUM> may be formed of, for example, and without limitation, at least one of single crystal silicon, polycrystalline silicon (poly Si), amorphous Si, Si<NUM>N<NUM>, TiO<NUM>, AlSb, AlAs, AlGaAs, AlGaInP, BP, ZnGeP<NUM>, c-Si, a-Si, p-Si, GaP, GaAs, SiC, TiO<NUM>, SiN, GaN, or the like. According to an embodiment, a surface of the first unit structure <NUM> may be planarized by forming a passivation film thereon. For example, the passivation film having a thickness of about <NUM> to <NUM> may be formed on the surface of the first unit structure <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, one surface of the transparent member <NUM> including the plurality of first unit structures <NUM> may form the first meta-surface <NUM>. The first meta-surface <NUM> may operate as a variety of optical elements. For example, the first meta-surface <NUM> may act as, without limitation, a convex lens, or the like.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example light source module <NUM> according to an embodiment. The light source module <NUM> shown in <FIG> may correspond to the light source module <NUM> shown in <FIG> or a part thereof.

According to various embodiments, the light source module <NUM> (e.g., the light source module <NUM> of <FIG>) may include a substrate <NUM> (e.g., the substrate <NUM> of <FIG>), a light emitter (e.g., including a light source) <NUM> (e.g., the light emitter <NUM> of <FIG>), a support member (e.g., a support) <NUM> (e.g., the support member <NUM> of <FIG>), a transparent member (e.g., including a transparent material) <NUM> (e.g., the transparent member <NUM> of <FIG>), a pattern layer <NUM> (<NUM>. , the pattern layer <NUM> of <FIG>), and a first meta-surface <NUM> (e.g., the first meta-surface <NUM> of <FIG>). In some embodiments, the light source module <NUM> may omit at least one of the above components or further include any other component.

According to various embodiments, the light emitter <NUM> may include various light sources, such as, for example, and without limitation, at least one of an edge emitting laser, a distributed feedback laser, or the like, which may receive a control signal from the substrate <NUM> and output light toward the support member <NUM> disposed near the side of the light emitter <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the support member <NUM> operates as a tilted mirror that reflects the light, output from the light emitter <NUM>, toward the pattern layer <NUM>. The support member <NUM> may include a metallic material capable of reflecting light, such as, for example, and without limitation, at least one of Ag, Al, Au, Pt, Ru, Ir, or the like. The support member <NUM> may be formed to have a slope of a specified angle (θ) with respect to the light emitter <NUM>. For example, at least a portion of the support member <NUM> may be formed to have a slope of <NUM>° with respect to the light emitter <NUM>, thus totally reflecting the light, output from the light emitter <NUM>, toward the pattern layer <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the support member <NUM> may include, at least in part, a reflection layer <NUM> where total reflection occurs. For example, the reflection layer <NUM> may be a dielectric reflection layer formed of at least one high-reflective material such as, for example, and without limitation, an omnidirectional reflective (ODR), a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), or the like. The high-reflective material may include, for example, and without limitation, at least one of TiN, AlN, TiO<NUM>, Al<NUM>O<NUM>, SnO<NUM>, WO<NUM>, ZrO<NUM>, or the like. According to an embodiment, the support member <NUM> may include the reflection layer <NUM> formed of a metallic material, such as, for example, and without limitation, Ag, Al, Au, Pt, Ru, Ir, or the like.

According to various embodiments, the light whose pattern is changed through the pattern layer <NUM> passes through the transparent member <NUM> and is incident on the first meta-surface <NUM>. The first meta-surface <NUM> may change an angle of the incident light that passed through the pattern layer <NUM> and passing through the transparent member <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example light source module <NUM> according to another embodiment.

According to various embodiments, the light source module <NUM> includes a substrate <NUM> (e.g., the substrate <NUM> of <FIG>), a first light emitter (e.g., including a first light source) <NUM> (e.g., the light emitter <NUM> of <FIG>), a second light emitter (e.g., including a second light source) <NUM>, a support member <NUM> (e.g., the support member <NUM> of <FIG>), and a transparent member (e.g., including a transparent material) <NUM> (e.g., the transparent member <NUM> of <FIG>). In some embodiments not falling under the scope of the invention, the light source module <NUM> may omit at least one of the above components or further include any other component.

According to various embodiments, the substrate <NUM> may be electrically connected to the first light emitter <NUM> and/or the second light emitter <NUM> and thereby transmit a control signal. The substrate <NUM> may be, for example, and without limitation, a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), a rigid flexible printed circuit board (RFPCB), or the like. According to an embodiment, the substrate <NUM> (e.g., a first substrate) may be laminated with another substrate (e.g., a second substrate) to form a multilayer circuit substrate. For example, the second substrate may be stacked under and electrically connected to the first substrate and thereby transmit a control signal to the light source module <NUM> mounted on the first substrate.

According to various embodiments, the first light emitter <NUM> includes a light source, such as, for example, and without limitation, an array of light emitting elements capable of emitting light and be disposed in a first region on one surface of the substrate <NUM>. For example, the first light emitter <NUM> may output light of a first infrared wavelength band by selecting at least one of the light emitting elements. According to an embodiment, the first light emitter <NUM> may output light having a wavelength band of about <NUM> to <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the light emitting element may include a laser light source. The laser light source may be, for example, and without limitation, an edge emitting laser, a vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a distributed feedback laser, or the like. In an example embodiment, the first light emitter <NUM> may output light of a visible ray band.

According to various embodiments, the second light emitter <NUM> is disposed in a second region on one surface of the substrate <NUM>. The second light emitter <NUM> may output light of a second infrared wavelength band. According to an embodiment, the second light emitter <NUM> may output light having a wavelength band of about <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first light emitter <NUM> and/or the second light emitter <NUM> may include a band pass filter to filter light of a nearby infrared wavelength band. In an example embodiment, the first light emitter <NUM> and/or the second light emitter <NUM> may emit light in a pulse or continuous waves by being synchronized with an input frame of an infrared image sensor.

According to various embodiments, the support member <NUM> is disposed on one surface of the substrate <NUM> where the first and second light emitters <NUM> and <NUM> are mounted. The support member <NUM> supports the transparent member <NUM> so that the transparent member <NUM> is spaced apart from the first and second light emitters <NUM> and <NUM> by a predetermined distance. The support member <NUM> accomodates at least a portion of the first and second light emitters <NUM> and <NUM>. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the support member <NUM> operates as a tilted mirror that reflects the light, output from the first light emitter <NUM>, toward the transparent member <NUM>. For example, at least a portion of the support member <NUM> may be formed to have a slope of a specified angle with respect to the first light emitter <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the transparent member <NUM> includes various transparent materials and is disposed over the support member <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the transparent member <NUM> may form, at least in part, one surface of the light source module <NUM>. For example, the transparent member <NUM> may be formed as a housing that protects electronic components (e.g., the first and second light emitters <NUM> and <NUM>) inside the light source module <NUM> by dispersing or absorbing a pressure applied from the inside or outside. According to an embodiment, the transparent member <NUM> may be formed of a transparent material such as, for example, and without limitation, glass, polymer, or the like, that allows the light output from the light emitter(s) to pass through the transparent member <NUM> to the outside.

According to various embodiments, the pattern layer <NUM> (e.g., the pattern layer <NUM> of <FIG>) is disposed on and may be formed on or attached to a first surface of the transparent member <NUM> and change the pattern of light output from the light emitting elements. According to an embodiment, when the pattern layer <NUM> is formed on the first surface of the transparent member <NUM>, a first meta-surface <NUM> is disposed on may be formed on a second surface of the transparent member opposite to the first surface.

According to various embodiments, the first meta-surface <NUM> (e.g., the first meta-surface <NUM> of <FIG>) includes a plurality of first unit structures capable of changing the angle of the light whose pattern is changed through the pattern layer <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the first meta-surface <NUM> may be formed over at least a part of the first region. For example, the first meta-surface <NUM> may be disposed to face the first light emitter <NUM> to receive the light from the first light emitter <NUM> and then refract the received light in a designated direction. According to an embodiment, the first light emitter <NUM> may include, for example, and without limitation, an edge emitting laser, a distributed feedback laser, or the like, and in this example the first meta-surface <NUM> may be formed over at least a part of the first region or over a third region which is different from the first and second regions. The first unit structures included in the first meta-surface <NUM> may be formed to have dimensional elements (e.g., height and diameter) smaller than the first infrared wavelength band. The first unit structures may be disposed at intervals smaller than the first infrared wavelength band.

According to various embodiments, the second meta-surface <NUM> may be formed over at least a portion of the second region. For example, the second meta-surface <NUM> may be disposed to face the second light emitter <NUM> to receive the light from the second light emitter <NUM> and then refract the received light in a designated direction. The second unit structures included in the second meta-surface <NUM> may be formed to have dimensional elements (e.g., height and diameter) smaller than the second infrared wavelength band. The second unit structures may be disposed at intervals smaller than the second infrared wavelength band. According to an embodiment, the second metasurface <NUM> may be formed on the same surface of the transparent member <NUM> as the surface where the first meta-surface <NUM> is formed. The second meta-surface <NUM> may be disposed in the second region which is different from the first region where the first metasurface <NUM> is disposed. In this example, although the first and second regions of the transparent member <NUM> have the same thickness, the unit structures included in the respective regions may have different arrangements (e.g., diameters, heights, and intervals) to refract light of different wavelength bands.

According to various embodiments, at least a portion of the pattern layer <NUM> may be formed as a third meta-surface including third unit structures. The third unit structures included in the third meta-surface <NUM> may be formed to have dimensional elements (e.g., height and diameter) smaller than the first infrared wavelength band. Also, the third unit structures may be disposed at intervals smaller than the first infrared wavelength band.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example electronic device <NUM> including a light source module <NUM> according to various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> may include various electronic components (e.g., a camera module <NUM>, the light source module <NUM>, a processor, and the like) and a housing for protecting such components. The housing may form an appearance of the electronic device <NUM> by including, for example, a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and lateral surfaces surrounding a space formed between the front and rear surfaces.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> may expose the camera module <NUM> and/or the light source module <NUM> through at least a portion of the front or rear surface. Although <FIG> shows an embodiment of exposing the camera module <NUM> and the light source module <NUM> through the front surface of the electronic device <NUM>, various embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, either the camera module <NUM> or the light source module <NUM> may be exposed through a lateral surface of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the light source module <NUM> may include at least one of a first light emitter <NUM> for outputting light of a first infrared wavelength band or a second light emitter <NUM> for outputting light of a second infrared wavelength band. In an example embodiment, the light source module <NUM> may include only one light emitter (e.g., the first light emitter <NUM>), or may further include another light emitter.

According to various embodiments, the light source module <NUM> includes a transparent member (e.g., the transparent member <NUM> of <FIG> or <NUM> of <FIG>). According to an embodiment, the transparent member has a first meta-surface (e.g., the first meta-surface <NUM> of <FIG> or <NUM> of <FIG>) corresponding to the first light emitter <NUM> (e.g., the light emitter <NUM> of <FIG> or the first light emitter <NUM> of <FIG>) and/or a second meta-surface (e.g., the second meta-surface <NUM> of <FIG>) corresponding to the second light emitter <NUM> (e.g., the second light emitter <NUM> of <FIG>). For example, the first meta-surface receives light from the first light emitter <NUM> and then refract the light in a designated direction (e.g., a direction toward a first camera <NUM>), and the second meta-surface recieves light from the second light emitter <NUM> and then refract the light in a designated direction (e.g., a direction toward a second camera <NUM>).

According to an embodiment, the transparent member includes a pattern layer (e.g., the pattern layer <NUM> of <FIG> or <NUM> of <FIG>) that outputs incident light in a specified pattern. The pattern layer may be disposed on a surface opposite to the first meta-surface.

According to various embodiments, the camera module <NUM> may include the first camera <NUM> for acquiring an image using a first infrared wavelength band, and the second camera <NUM> for acquiring an image using a second infrared wavelength band. According to an example embodiment, using one camera, the camera module <NUM> may acquire an image of the first infrared wavelength band and an image of the second infrared wavelength band. According to various embodiments, the first camera <NUM> and/or the second camera <NUM> may include, for example, and without limitation, at least one of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, a charge-couple device (CCD) image sensor, or the like. According to an embodiment, the first camera <NUM> may capture light output from the first light emitter <NUM> and reflected from an object, and the second camera <NUM> may capture light output from the second light emitter <NUM> and reflected from the object.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may obtain three-dimensional information (e.g., shape information) using image information acquired from the first camera <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may emit light of a designated pattern to an object through the first light emitter <NUM> and acquire an image of the object through the first camera <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may identify a positional change and/or distortion of the designated pattern caused by the object, based on the acquired image, thereby estimating a three-dimensional shape of the object. According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may perform biometric authentication of the user using the image information acquired from the first camera <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may perform biometric authentication of the user using the information acquired from the second camera <NUM>. For example, the electronic device <NUM> may emit light of an infrared band to the user through the second light emitter <NUM> and then acquire an image of the user through the second camera <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may identify user's biometric information (e.g., iris information), based on the acquired image, thereby performing the biometric authentication of the user.

The processor <NUM> may execute, for example, software (e.g., a program <NUM>) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device <NUM> coupled with the processor <NUM> and may perform various data processing or computation.

The electronic device <NUM> according to various example embodiments may include a light source module that includes a substrate, a first light emitter comprising a light source disposed in a first region on one surface of the substrate and including an array of first light emitting elements capable of emitting light of a first infrared wavelength band, a second light emitter comprising a light source disposed in a second region on the one surface of the substrate and including an array of second light emitting elements capable of emitting light of a second infrared wavelength band, and a transparent member comprising transparent material. The transparent member may include a pattern layer formed on or attached to a first surface of the transparent member and configured to change a pattern of the light output from the first light emitting elements, and a first meta-surface disposed on a second surface of the transparent member and including a plurality of first unit structures configured to change an angle of the light that passed through the pattern layer. The electronic device <NUM> may include a camera module that includes a first camera configured to acquire an image using a first infrared wavelength band and a second camera configured to acquire an image using a second infrared wavelength band. The electronic device <NUM> may include the processor <NUM>, which is configured to control the electronic device to emit light of a designated pattern to an object through the first light emitter, to acquire an image of the object through the first camera, to identify a positional change and/or distortion of the designated pattern caused by the object based on the acquired image, and to estimate a three-dimensional shape of the object.

According to various example embodiments, the first unit structures of the electronic device <NUM> may have at least one dimensional element smaller in length than the first infrared wavelength band.

According to various example embodiments, the pattern layer of the electronic device <NUM> may be formed of a metal sheet having a hole at least in part.

According to various example embodiments, the processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may be configured to control the electronic device to emit light of an infrared band to an object through the second light emitter, to acquire biometric information of the object through the second camera, and to perform biometric authentication based on the acquired biometric information.

According to various example embodiments, the transparent member of the electronic device <NUM> may further include a second meta-surface facing the second light emitter and including second unit structures configured to change an angle of the light output from the second light emitting elements.

According to various example embodiments, the second unit structures of the electronic device <NUM> may have at least one dimensional element smaller in length than the second infrared wavelength band.

The electronic device according to various example embodiments may be one of various types of electronic devices. The electronic devices may include, for example, and without limitation, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, a home appliance, or the like.

It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technological features set forth herein to particular embodiments and include various changes, equivalents, and/or replacements for a corresponding embodiment. It is to be understood that if an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to, with or without the term "operatively" or "communicatively", as "coupled with," "coupled to," "connected with," or "connected to" another element (e.g., a second element), the element may be coupled with the other element directly (e.g., wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

As used herein, the term "module" may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combinations thereof, and may interchangeably be used with other terms, for example, "logic," "logic block," "part," or "circuitry".

Wherein, the term "non-transitory" simply denotes that the storage medium is a tangible device, but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.

Claim 1:
A light source module comprising:
a substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a light emitter (<NUM>,<NUM>) comprising a light source disposed on one surface of the substrate and including an array of light emitting elements configured to emit light;
a support (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on the one surface of the substrate, separated from the light emitter and accommodating at least a portion of the light emitter; and
a transparent member (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising transparent material disposed over the support,
wherein said at least a portion of the support is reflective and arranged to operate as a tilted mirror to reflect the light output from the light emitter toward the transparent member; and:
wherein the transparent member includes:
a pattern layer (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on a first surface of the transparent member and configured to change a pattern of the light output from the light emitting elements, and
a first meta-surface (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) disposed on a second surface of the transparent member and including a plurality of first unit structures (<NUM>) configured to change an angle of the light that passed through the pattern layer,
wherein the light output from the light emitting element passes through the pattern layer and forms an image-side focal point (<NUM>), and light traveling from the image-side focal point is refracted while passing through the transparent member, then passes through the first metasurface, and then forms an object-side focal point (<NUM>) when passing through a second medium.