Patent ID: 8614414

Claim:
A proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object in an environment, the proximity sensor comprising: an illumination module which emits optical energy that is propagated into the environment in a plurality of spatially spaced apart beams of optical energy; a multi-element sensor which receives a portion of the emitted optical energy which is reflected back from the environment having a plurality of spatially spaced apart peaks; a holder which aligns the multi-element sensor relative to at least a first portion of the illumination module, the holder having a first portion which holds the first portion of the illumination module in a first position and a second portion which holds the multi-element sensor in a second position spaced apart from the first position, a face of the multi-element sensor being angled relative to a plane which is normal to an optical axis of the illumination module; a controller coupled to the illumination module and the multi-element sensor, the controller determining the presence of an object in the environment based on at least one of a spacing between at least two of the plurality of spatially spaced apart peaks of the received optical energy and a difference in intensity between at least two of the plurality of spatially spaced apart peaks of the received optical energy; and a housing which supports the illumination module, the multi-element sensor, and the holder.