Patent ID: 7786425

Claim:
An optical sensor, comprising: a transmitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation; a receiver for receiving electromagnetic radiation; a cover formed to be at least partly transparent to the electromagnetic radiation, said transmitter and said receiver being disposed behind said cover; and a radiation guide mechanism disposed between said cover and said transmitter and between said cover and said receiver, said radiation guide mechanism guiding the electromagnetic radiation emitted from said transmitter towards said cover and guiding the electromagnetic radiation, after reflection outside said cover, to said receiver, said radiation guide being configured to broaden an emission characteristic of said transmitter outwardly from said cover and/or broadening a reception characteristic of said receiver inwardly into said cover; and said radiation guide mechanism including a first solid structure light guide aligned with said transmitter, and a second solid structure light guide aligned with said receiver; and at least one of said first and second solid structure light guides having a diffusing, scattering end face turned towards said cover.