Patent ID: 8304733

Claim:
An infrared sensing assembly for allowing detection of a location of an external object, the sensing assembly comprising: a pyramid-type housing structure having a central surface and a plurality of outer surfaces each of which extends in an inclined manner away from the central surface; a plurality of first photoelectric devices, wherein each respective first photoelectric device is positioned proximate to a respective one of the outer surfaces; and a second photoelectric device that is positioned proximate to the central surface, wherein either each of the first photoelectric devices is a phototransmitter and the second photoelectric device is a photoreceiver, or vice-versa, wherein each respective photoelectric device is oriented so as to correspond to the respective surface proximate to which the respective photoelectric device is positioned, wherein each of the first photoelectric devices is positioned to emit or receive infrared light about a corresponding central axis that is normal to the respective one of the outer surfaces proximate to which the respective first photoelectric device is positioned, and each central axis is angularly offset from an additional axis extending normally outward from the central surface and is oriented in a different direction with respect to the others of the central axes about the additional axis, wherein the sensing assembly is operated so that infrared light communicated between the one or more phototransmitters and the one or more photoreceivers includes infrared light portions originating at the one or more phototransmitters, whereby the location of the object can be determined based upon the communicated infrared light, which is reflected off of the external object during transit.