In accordance with the invention, an RC receiver device and an ALPS device are mounted on a single mounting device such that they are part of a single composite assembly. This reduces the amount of space that is needed in electronic devices that incorporate both RC receiver devices and ALPS devices. In addition, by implementing both devices in a single composite assembly, costs associated with manufacturing, assembly and shipping can be reduced. Because the RC receiver device and the ALPS device operate on light of different wavelengths, the composite assembly includes filtering mechanisms that prevent undesired wavelengths of light from impinging on the photodiode of the RC receiver device and on the photosensor of the ALPS device.
It should be noted, however, that the invention applies to devices other than RC receiver devices and ALPS devices. RC receiver devices and ALPS devices are merely examples of two types of devices that operate at different wavelengths of light and that would be advantageous to implement in a single composite assembly. Therefore, for exemplary purposes, the principles and concepts of the invention will be described with reference to incorporating an RC receiver device and an ALPS device into a single composite assembly. Those skilled in the art will understand the manner in which these principles may be applied to other types of devices that operate at different wavelengths of light. Also, the invention is not limited with respect to the number of such devices that may be incorporated into a single composite assembly.
The junctions labeled 8, 9 and 11-13 are the ports of the mounting device 10. The port 8 is an output port that receives the receiver signal, Rx, that is output at a pin (not shown) of the RC receiver IC 3 and sent over a conductive trace and wire bonds to the port 8. The port 9 is an input port of the mounting device 10 that is used to supply ground potential, GND, to a pin (not shown) of the RC receiver IC 3. The port 11 is an input port of the mounting device 10 that is used to supply the supply voltage, Vcc, to a pin (not shown) of the RC receiver IC 3. The port 12 is an input port of the mounting device 10 that is used to provide the supply voltage, Vcc, to a pin (not shown) of the IC of the ALPS device 7. The port 13 is an output port of the mounting device 10 that receives the ALPS signal, IOUT, that is output at a pin (not shown) of the ALPS device IC 7. The RC receiver photodiode IC 4 has a pin (not shown) that is electrically connected to a pin (not shown) of the RC receiver IC 3.
The receiver signal Rx and the ALPS signal IOUT received at ports 8 and 13, respectively, of the mounting device 10 are provided to other devices or components within the electronic device (not shown). These other devices or components use the signals in a known manner, e.g., to cause an application program to be executed by a processor, to cause the brightness of a display monitor to be adjusted, etc.
For purposes of describing an example of the manner in which the composite assembly of the invention may be implemented, the assembly is being described as having three separate ICs, namely, the RC receiver IC 3, the RC receiver photodiode IC 4 and the ALPS IC 7. This is because these devices are currently available on the market as three separate ICs. However, all of these devices may be integrated in the same IC or in two separate ICs. For example, the RC receiver IC 3 and the RC receiver photodiode IC 4 may be integrated into one IC and the ALPS device 7 may be implemented in a separate IC. Integrating more devices into the same IC or into two ICs enables the composite assembly to be further reduced in size and provides further cost savings.
The composite assembly 1 consumes much less space when installed in an electronic device than that which is consumed when an RC receiver device and an ALPS device are mounted on respective circuit boards and installed in an electronic device. Thus, the invention enables electronic devices to be made smaller in size and/or to include additional devices that provide additional functions to the electronic device. In addition, the costs associated with manufacturing, assembly and shipping the composite assembly can be less than those associated with separate assemblies.
The method of the invention for making the composite assembly 1 shown in
After the ICs 3, 4 and 7 have been attached, a wire-bonding process is performed to make all of the electrical connections between the pins of the ICs 3, 4 and 7 and conductors (not shown) of the mounting device 10. The manner in which wire bonding is performed is well known. The upper surface of the assembly 1 is then covered with a transparent epoxy 25. The transparent epoxy 25 may be applied using, for example, a transfer molding process or a sheet cast molding process. The transparent epoxy 25 allows ambient light to penetrate through it, which includes IR light. However, the visible-light coating 24 only allows visible light to pass through it and impinge on the ALPS IC 7. The process steps that are performed after the transparent epoxy has been applied are the normal process steps used when assembling a circuit board today. Therefore, these process steps will not be described.
The invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments for the purpose of demonstrating the principles and concepts of the invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, many modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein and all such modifications are within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
200604731-0 | Jul 2006 | SG | national |