DETECTOR FOR AN OPTICAL DETECTION OF AT LEAST ONE OBJECT

Abstract

A detector for an optical detection of at least one object. The detector includes: at least one transversal optical sensor configured to determine a transversal position of a light beam traveling from the object to the detector, the transversal optical sensor including: at least one photovoltaic layer embedded between at least two conductive layers, the photovoltaic layer including a plurality of quantum dots, the at least one transversal sensor signal indicating a transversal position of the light beam in the photovoltaic layer; and at least one evaluation device configured to generate at least one item of information on a transversal position of the object by evaluating the at least one transversal sensor signal.

Claims

1-23 (canceled)

24. A detector for an optical detection of at least one object, comprising: at least one transversal optical sensor configured to determine a transversal position of a light beam traveling from the object to the detector, wherein the transversal position is a position in at least one dimension perpendicular to an optical axis of the detector, wherein the transversal optical sensor includes at least one photovoltaic layer embedded between at least two conductive layers, wherein the photovoltaic layer includes a plurality of quantum dots, wherein at least one of the conductive layers is at least partially transparent allowing the light beam to travel to the photovoltaic layer, wherein the transversal optical sensor further includes at least one split electrode located at one of the conductive layers, wherein the split electrode includes at least two partial electrodes configured to generate at least one transversal sensor signal, wherein the at least one transversal sensor signal indicates the transversal position of the light beam in the photovoltaic layer; and at least one evaluation device configured to generate at least one item of information on a transversal position of the object by evaluating the at least one transversal sensor signal.

25. The detector according to claim 24, wherein the photovoltaic layer includes a plurality of colloidal quantum dots.

26. The detector according to claim 25, wherein the colloidal quantum dots are obtainable from a colloidal film comprising the plurality of the quantum dots.

27. The detector according to claim 26, wherein the colloidal quantum dots are obtainable from a heat treatment of the colloidal film, wherein the heat treatment of the colloidal film comprises drying of the colloidal film such that a continuous phase is removed while the plurality of the quantum dots is maintained.

28. The detector according to claim 27, wherein the heat treatment comprises applying a temperature from 50? C. to 250? C.

29. The detector according to claim 24, wherein the quantum dots include an inorganic photovoltaic material.

30. The detector according to claim 29, wherein the inorganic photovoltaic material includes one or more of a group II-VI compound, a group III-V compound, a combination, a solid solution, or a doped variant thereof.

31. The detector according to claim 30, wherein the group II-VI compound is a chalcogenide, wherein the chalcogenide is selected from the group consisting of: lead sulfide (PbS), lead selenide (PbSe), lead sulfoselenide (PbSSe), lead telluride (PbTe), copper indium sulfide (CIS), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS), copper zinc tin selenide (CZTSe), copper-zinc-tin sulfur-selenium (CZTSSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and a solid solution and/or a doped variant thereof.

32. The detector according to claim 30, wherein the group III-V compound is a pnictogenide, wherein the pnictogenide is selected from the group consisting of: indium nitride (InN), gallium nitride (GaN), indium gallium nitride (InGaN), indium phosphide (InP), gallium phosphide (GaP), indium gallium phosphide (InGaP), indium arsenide (InAs), gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), indium antimonide (InSb), gallium antimonide (GaSb), indium gallium antimonide (InGaSb), indium gallium phosphide (InGaP), gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP), and aluminum gallium phosphide (AlGaP).

33. The detector according to claim 24, wherein the conductive layers exhibit a sheet resistance of 500 ?/sq to 20 000 ?/sq.

34. The detector according to claim 24, wherein electrical currents through the partial electrodes are dependent on a position of the light beam in the photovoltaic layer, wherein the transversal optical sensor is configured to generate the transversal sensor signal in accordance with the electrical currents through the partial electrodes.

35. The detector according to claim 34, wherein the detector is configured to derive the information on the transversal position of the object from at least one ratio of the currents through the partial electrodes.

36. The detector according to claim 24, further comprising: at least one longitudinal optical sensor including at least one sensor region, wherein the longitudinal optical sensor is configured to generate at least one longitudinal sensor signal dependent on an illumination of the sensor region by the light beam, wherein the longitudinal sensor signal, given a same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a beam cross-section of the light beam in the sensor region, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to generate at least one item of information on a longitudinal position of the object by evaluating the longitudinal sensor signal of the longitudinal optical sensor.

37. The detector according to claim 36, wherein the transversal optical sensor is concurrently used as the longitudinal optical sensor.

38. The detector according to claim 24, further comprising at least one illumination source.

39. The detector according to claim 24, further comprising at least one imaging device.

40. A human-machine interface for exchanging at least one item of information between a user and a machine, wherein the human-machine interface comprises: at least one detector according to claim 24, wherein the human-machine interface is configured to generate at least one item of geometrical information of the user by the detector wherein the human-machine interface is configured to assign to the geometrical information at least one item of information.

41. An entertainment device for carrying out at least one entertainment function, wherein the entertainment device comprises: at least one human-machine interface according to claim 40, wherein the entertainment device is configured to enable at least one item of information to be input by a player by the human-machine interface, wherein the entertainment device is configured to vary the entertainment function in accordance with the information.

42. A tracking system for tracking the position of at least one movable object, the tracking system comprising: at least one detector according to claim 24; at least one track controller, wherein the track controller is configured to track a series of positions of the object, each position comprising at least one item of information on at least a transversal position of the object at a specific point in time.

43. A scanning system for determining at least one position of at least one object, the scanning system comprising: at least one detector according to claim 24; at least one illumination source configured to emit at least one light beam configured for an illumination of at least one dot located at least one surface of the at least one object, wherein the scanning system is configured to generate at least one item of information about the distance between the at least one dot and the scanning system by using the at least one detector.

44. A camera for imaging at least one object, the camera comprising at least one detector according to claim 24.

45. A method for an optical detection of at least one object, the method comprising: generating at least one transversal sensor signal by using at least one transversal optical sensor, the transversal optical sensor configured to determine a transversal position of a light beam traveling from the object to the detector, wherein the transversal position is a position in at least one dimension perpendicular to an optical axis of the detector, wherein the transversal optical sensor includes at least one photovoltaic layer embedded between at least two conductive layers, wherein the photovoltaic layer includes a plurality of quantum dots, wherein at least one of the conductive layers is at least partially transparent allowing the light beam to travel to the photovoltaic layer, wherein the transversal optical sensor further includes at least one split electrode located at one of the conductive layers, wherein the split electrode includes at least two partial electrodes configured to generate at least one transversal sensor signal, wherein the at least one transversal sensor signal indicates the transversal position of the light beam in the photovoltaic layer; and generating at least one item of information on a transversal position of the object by evaluating the at least one transversal sensor signal.

46. The use of a detector according to claim 24, for a purpose of use, selected from the group consisting of: a position measurement in traffic technology; an entertainment application; a security application; a human-machine interface application; a tracking application; a scanning application; a photography application; a cartography application; a mapping application for generating maps of at least one space; a homing or tracking beacon detector for vehicles; a mobile application; a webcam; an audio device; a Dolby surround audio system; a computer peripheral device; a gaming application; a camera or video application; a surveillance application; an automotive application; a transport application; a logistics application; a vehicle application; an airplane application; a ship application; a spacecraft application; a robotic application; a medical application; a sports' application; a building application; a construction application; a manufacturing application; a machine vision application; a use in combination with at least one sensing technology selected from time-of-flight detector, radar, Lidar, ultrasonic sensors, or interferometry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0280] Further optional details and features of the invention are evident from the description of preferred exemplary embodiments which follows in conjunction with the dependent claims. In this context, the particular features may be implemented alone or with features in combination. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. Identical reference numerals in the individual figures refer to identical elements or elements with identical function, or elements which correspond to one another with regard to their functions.

[0281] Specifically, in the figures:

[0282] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a detector according to the present invention comprising a transversal optical sensor, wherein the transversal optical sensor has a photovoltaic layer comprising a plurality of quantum dots;

[0283] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the transversal optical sensor having the photovoltaic layer comprising the plurality of the quantum dots;

[0284] FIG. 3 shows experimental results which demonstrate the applicability of the transversal optical sensor according to FIG. 2 as a position sensitive device;

[0285] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of an optical detector, a detector system, a human-machine interface, an entertainment device, a tracking system and a camera according to the present invention.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0286] FIG. 1 illustrates, in a highly schematic fashion, an exemplary embodiment of an optical detector 110 according to the present invention, for determining a lateral position of at least one object 112. The optical detector 110 may preferably be adapted to be used as an infrared detector, particularly for the NIR spectral range, especially for wavelengths above 1000 nm. However, other embodiments are feasible.

[0287] The optical detector 110 comprises at least one transversal optical sensor 114, which, in this particular embodiment, is arranged along an optical axis 116 of the detector 110. Specifically, the optical axis 116 may be an axis of symmetry and/or rotation of the setup of the optical sensors 114. As described elsewhere in this document, the transversal optical sensor 114 may, in a particularly preferred embodiment, concurrently be employed as longitudinal optical sensor. The transversal optical sensor 114 may be located inside a housing 118 of the detector 110. Further, at least one transfer device 120 may be comprised, preferably a refractive lens 122. An opening 124 in the housing 118, which may, particularly, be located concentrically with regard to the optical axis 116, preferably defines a direction of view 126 of the detector 110. A coordinate system 128 may be defined, in which a direction parallel or antiparallel to the optical axis 116 is defined as a longitudinal direction, whereas directions perpendicular to the optical axis 116 may be defined as transversal directions. In the coordinate system 128, symbolically depicted in FIG. 1, a longitudinal direction is denoted by z and transversal directions are denoted by x and y, respectively. However, other types of coordinate systems 128 are feasible.

[0288] Further, the transversal optical sensor 114 in this embodiment has a photovoltaic layer 130 which is located between two conductive layers 132, 132. In accordance with the present invention, the photovoltaic layer 130 comprises a plurality of quantum dots 134, in particular, a plurality of colloidal quantum dots (CQD). Preferably, the colloidal quantum dots (CQD) may be obtainable from a colloidal film which may comprise the plurality of the quantum dots 134. Herein, the conductive layer 132, which is located along the optical axis 116 of the optical detector 110 in a fashion that the incident light beam 136 first traverses the conductive layer 132 before it impinges the photovoltaic layer 130, is at least partially optically transparent, thus, allowing a light beam 136 to travel to the photovoltaic layer 130.

[0289] In order to generate at least one transversal sensor signal which may be indicative of the transversal position of the light beam 136 within the photovoltaic layer 130, the transversal optical sensor 114 is equipped with a split electrode being located at the other conductive layer 132 which exhibits a sheet resistance of 500 ?/sq to 20 000 ?/sq, preferably of 1000 ?/sq to 15 000 ?/sq. The transversal sensor signal may, preferably, be selected from the group consisting of a current and a voltage or any signal derived thereof. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the split electrode has at least two partial electrodes 138, 138 which are arranged in a fashion that currents through the partial electrodes 138, 138 may depend on a position of the light beam 136 within the photovoltaic layer 130. This kind of dependency can, in general, be achieved by Ohmic losses or resistive losses that may occur on a way from a location of a generation of electrical charges within the photovoltaic layer 130 to the partial electrodes 138, 138. For this purpose, the other conductive 132 layer may, preferably, exhibit a higher electrical resistance compared to the electrical resistance of the partial electrodes, whereby the Ohmic losses or the resistive losses may be accomplished.

[0290] The evaluation device 140 is, generally, designed to generate at least one item of information on a position of the object 112 by evaluating the sensor signal of the transversal optical sensor 114. For this purpose, the evaluation device 140 may comprise one or more electronic devices and/or one or more software components, in order to evaluate the sensor signals, which are symbolically denoted by a transversal evaluation unit 142 (denoted by xy). As will be explained below in more detail, the evaluation device 140 may be adapted to determine the at least one item of information on the transversal position of the object 112 by comparing more than one transversal sensor signals of the transversal optical sensor 114.

[0291] Herein, the transversal sensor signal may be transmitted to the evaluation device 140 via one or more signal leads 144. By way of example, the signal leads 144 may be provided and/or one or more interfaces, which may be wireless interfaces and/or wire-bound interfaces. Further, the signal leads 144 may comprise one or more drivers and/or one or more measurement devices for generating sensor signals and/or for modifying sensor signals.

[0292] The light beam 136 for illumining the sensor region of the transversal optical sensor 114 may be generated by a light-emitting object 112. Alternatively or in addition, the light beam 136 may be generated by a separate illumination source 146, which may include an ambient light source and/or an artificial light source, such as a laser diode 148, being adapted to illuminate the object 112 that the object 112 may be able to reflect at least a part of the light generated by the illumination source 146 in a manner that the light beam 136 may be configured to reach the sensor region of the transversal optical sensor 114, preferably by entering the housing 118 of the optical detector 110 through the opening 124 along the optical axis 116.

[0293] In a specific embodiment, the illumination source 146 may be a modulated light source 150, wherein one or more modulation properties of the illumination source 146 may be controlled by at least one optional modulation device 152. Alternatively or in addition, the modulation may be effected in a beam path between the illumination source 146 and the object 112 and/or between the object 112 and the transversal optical sensor 114. Further possibilities may be conceivable. This specific embodiment may allow distinguishing different light beams 136 by taking into account one or more of the modulation properties, in particular the modulation frequency, when evaluating the transversal sensor signal of the transversal optical sensor 114 for determining the at least one item of information on the position of the object 112.

[0294] Generally, the evaluation device 140 may be part of a data processing device 154 and/or may comprise one or more data processing devices 154. The evaluation device 140 may be fully or partially integrated into the housing 118 and/or may fully or partially be embodied as a separate device which is electrically connected in a wireless or wire-bound fashion to the transversal optical sensor 114. The evaluation device 140 may further comprise one or more additional components, such as one or more electronic hardware components and/or one or more software components, such as one or more measurement units and/or one or more evaluation units and/or one or more controlling units (not depicted here).

[0295] FIG. 2 illustrates a particularly preferred example of the transversal optical sensor 114 in which the photovoltaic layer 130 is provided in form of a colloidal film 156 which comprises the plurality of the quantum dots 134. In this particularly preferred embodiment, the quantum dots 134 comprise nanometer-scale crystals of lead sulfide (PbS), wherein other chalcogenides besides PbS may also be applicable for this purpose. Thus, the quantum dots 134 may comprise sub-micrometer-scale crystals of another inorganic photovoltaic material, preferably, selected from the group of a group II-VI compound, in particular a chalcogenide, a group III-V compound, in particular as pnictogenide, a combination, a solid solution, or a doped variant thereof. A number of preferred materials is described above on more detail. Herein, the nanometer-scale crystals exhibit a size from 1 nm to 100 nm, preferably from 2 nm to 100 nm, more preferred from 2 nm to 15 nm, while the colloidal film 156 which constitutes the photovoltaic layer 130 exhibits a thickness 158 from 1 nm to 100 nm, preferably from 2 nm to 100 nm, more preferred from 2 nm to 15 nm, wherein, however, the sizes of the quantum dots 134 is selected in a fashion that their size is below the thickness 158 of the colloidal film 156.

[0296] In the particularly preferred embodiment of the transversal optical sensor 114 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, the colloidal film 156 of the sub-micrometer-scale crystals of PbS which constitutes the photovoltaic layer 130 is sandwiched between the first conductive layer 160 and the second conductive layer 162. Herein, the first conductive layer 160 which is traversed by the incident light beam 136, preferably, comprises a layer of an electrically conducting and at least partially optically transparent layer 164, more preferred at least one transparent conductive oxide (TCO), in particular an FTO layer 166, wherein FTO denotes fluorine-doped tin oxide (SNO.sub.2: F). However, other kinds of electrically conducting and optically transparent materials 164 may also be suitable as material for the first conductive layer 160, in particular one or more of, an indium-doped tin oxide (ITO), magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), or, alternatively, metal nanowires, such as Ag or Cu nanowires.

[0297] In contrast hereto, the second conductive layer 162 comprises an electrically conducting polymer 168, preferably a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) layer 170, which was deposited onto the colloidal film 156. In order to achieve a good electrical contact to outside electrical means, a split electrode comprising at last two evaporated 200 nm silver (Ag) partial electrodes 138, 138, 138 have been deposited onto the PEDOT layer 170. Herein, the PEDOT layer 170 exhibits a sheet resistance of 500 ?/sq to 20 000 ?/sq, preferably of 1000 ?/sq to 15 000 ?/sq. Alternatively, the split electrode may be selected from the group comprising a platinum (Pt) electrode and a gold (Au) electrode. Herein, the split electrode may, preferably be arranged as a number of partial electrodes or in form of a metallic grid.

[0298] Further, a blocking layer 172 which, preferably, comprises a titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) layer 174, was deposited onto the first conductive layer 160 before the colloidal film 156 was deposited on top of the blocking layer 172. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the titanium dioxide layer 174 is an n-type semiconductor and comprises titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) particles 176. Alternatively, the blocking layer 172 could also comprise zinc oxide (ZnO) or, wherein the blocking layer is a p-type semiconductor, molybdenum oxide (MoO.sub.3). Herein, the blocking layer 172 comprising the TiO.sub.2 may, in particular, assume a function of a hole blocking layer, thus, blocking a transport of electrons, whereby a recombination between holes and electrons within the blocking layer 172 may be excluded.

[0299] In this preferred example, the colloidal film 156 comprising the PbS quantum dots 134 having diameters of approximately 4 nm exhibits a considerably high optical absorption above 1000 nm. In order to achieve this result, a 50 mg/ml solution of PbS butylamine capped quantum dots 134 in an nonpolar organic solvent, preferably octane, have been provided, from which two subsequent layers have been formed on the FTO layer 166 by application of a deposition method, preferably by a spin-coating method with a rotation frequency from 1000 rpm to 6000 rpm, such as 5000 rpm. However, concentrations apart from 50 mg/ml may also be possible. Further, more than two layers of PbS CQD could also be used. Each of the two layers has individually been treated with ethanedithiol during a treatment time, preferably from 10 s to 10 min, more preferred from 10 s to 1 min, such as 30 s, before a drying step was performed for a drying time, preferably from 1 min to 2 h, more preferred from 10 min to 1 h, such as 30 min, at a drying temperature from 50? C. to 250? C., preferred from 80? C. to 200? C., such as 160? C. This kind of procedure turned out to be particularly advantageous with respect to obtaining a setup for the transversal optical sensor 114 with as few short circuits through the colloidal film 156 as possible. Thereafter, the PEDOT layer 170 was produced on top of the colloidal film 156. For this purpose, PEDOT PH1000 diluted with ethanol and isopropanol in a mixture of 1:1:1 was deposited onto the colloidal film 156, subjected to a spin with a rotation frequency from 1000 rpm to 6000 rpm, such as 3000 rpm, and, subsequently, dried at a temperature from 50? C. to 200? C., preferred from 80? C. to 150? C., such as 90? C., in a glove box for a drying time, preferably from 1 min to 2 h, more preferred from 10 min to 1 h, such as for 30 minutes, preferably, on a hot plate. Finally, silver (Ag) contacts having a thickness from 50 nm to 500 nm, preferred from 100 nm to 250 nm, such as 200 nm, have been deposited through evaporation onto the PEDOT layer 170 as the partial electrodes 138, 138, 138.

[0300] FIG. 3 shows experimental results which demonstrate the applicability of the transversal optical sensor 114 according to FIG. 2 for this purpose. Herein, the transversal optical sensor 114 comprising lead sulfide (PbS) as the quantum dots 134 within the photovoltaic layer 130, has been illuminated by the NIR laser diode 148 emitting a wavelength of 850 nm with a power of 1 mW at an applied voltage of 5 V. Further, a modulation frequency of 375 Hz for NIR the laser diode 148 has been used. Herein, a distance between the laser diode 148 and the photovoltaic layer 130 has been arranged to be 20 cm.

[0301] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a sensor area 176 of the transversal optical sensor 114 in an x-direction and a y-direction. Herein, for a number of measurement points positions 178 as determined by application of the evaluation device 140 of the transversal optical sensor 114 according to the present invention have been compared with actual positions 180 which have been available by other kinds of methods, such as by employing geometrical considerations in using a known set-up of the transversal optical sensor 114.

[0302] In order to determine a position 178 of a measurement point by application of transversal optical sensor 114, the following procedure may be used. By way of example (not depicted here), a split electrode comprising four partial electrodes being located on top of the four rims of the second conductive layer 162 which has a square or a rectangular form is employed. Herein, by generating charges in the photovoltaic layer 130, electrode currents may be obtained, which, in each case, may be denoted by i.sub.1 to i.sub.4. As used herein, electrode currents i.sub.1, i.sub.2 may denote electrode currents through the partial electrodes located in y-direction and electrode currents i.sub.3, i.sub.4 may denote electrode currents through the partial electrodes located in x-direction. The electrode currents may be measured by one or more appropriate electrode measurement devices simultaneously or sequentially. By evaluating these electrode currents, the desired x- and y-coordinates of the position 178 of the measurement point under investigation, i.e. x.sub.0 and y.sub.0, may be determined. Thus, the following equations may be used:

[00001]$x_0=f?\left(\frac{i_3-i_4}{i_3+i_4}\right).Math..Math.\mathrm{and}.Math..Math.y_0=f?\left(\frac{i_1-i_2}{i_1+i_2}\right).$

[0303] Herein, ? might be an arbitrary known function, such as a simple multiplication of the quotient of the currents with a known stretch factor and/or an addition of an offset. Thus, generally, the electrode currents i.sub.1 to i.sub.4 might provide transversal sensor signals generated by the transversal optical sensor 114, whereas the evaluation device 140 might be adapted to generate information on a transversal position, such as at least one x-coordinate and/or at least one y-coordinate, by transforming the transversal sensor signals by using a predetermined or determinable transformation algorithm and/or a known relationship.

[0304] The results as shown in FIG. 3 demonstrate that for the number of the measurement points as presented there, the positions 178 as determined by the application of the transversal optical sensor 114 according to the present invention are reasonably comparable with the actual positions 180 acquired by another kinds of method.

[0305] As already mentioned above, the transversal sensor 114 according to the present invention may concurrently be employed as a longitudinal optical sensor adapted for determining the z-position. For this purpose, a sum of the electrode currents i.sub.1, i.sub.2 through the partial electrodes located in y-direction and of the electrode currents i.sub.3, i.sub.4 through the partial electrodes located in x-direction may be used in a preferred embodiment, wherein the electrode currents may be measured by one or more appropriate electrode measurement devices simultaneously or sequentially, for determining the z-coordinate. By evaluating these electrode currents, the desired z-coordinate of the position 178 of the measurement point under investigation, i.e. z.sub.0, may be determined by using the following Equation:

z.sub.0=?(i.sub.1+i.sub.2+i.sub.3+i.sub.4)

[0306] For further details with respect to evaluating electrode currents in order to obtain the desired z-coordinate, reference may be made to WO 2012/ 110924 A1 or WO 2014/097181 A1.

[0307] As a further example, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a detector system 200, comprising at least one optical detector 110, such as the optical detector 110 as disclosed in one or more of the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 or 2. Herein, the optical detector 110 may be employed as a camera 202, specifically for 3D imaging, which may be made for acquiring images and/or image sequences, such as digital video clips. Further, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a human-machine interface 204, which comprises the at least one detector 110 and/or the at least one detector system 200, and, further, an exemplary embodiment of an entertainment device 206 comprising the human-machine interface 204. FIG. 4 further shows an embodiment of a tracking system 208 adapted for tracking a position of at least one object 112, which comprises the detector 110 and/or the detector system 200. With regard to the optical detector 110, reference may be made to the full disclosure of this application. Basically, all potential embodiments of the detector 110 may also be embodied in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0308] As described above, the optical detector 110 may comprise a single transversal optical sensor 114 or, as e.g. disclosed in WO 2014/097181 A1, one or more transversal optical sensors 114, particularly, in combination with one or more longitudinal optical sensors 209. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the transversal optical sensor 114 may concurrently be employed as one of the longitudinal optical sensors 209 as described above. Alternatively or in addition, one or more at least partially longitudinal transversal optical sensors 209 may be located on a side of the stack of transversal optical sensors 114 facing towards the object 112. Alternatively or additionally, one or more longitudinal optical sensors 209 may be located on a side of the stack of transversal optical sensors 114 facing away from the object 112. As described in WO 2014/097181 A1, a use of two or, preferably, three longitudinal optical sensors 209 may support the evaluation of the longitudinal sensor signals without any remaining ambiguity. However, embodiments which may only comprise a single transversal optical 114 sensor but no longitudinal optical sensor 209 may still be possible, such as in a case wherein only determining the x- and y-coordinates of the object may be desired. The at least one optional longitudinal optical sensor 209 may further be connected to the evaluation device 140, in particular, by the signal leads 144.

[0309] Further, the at least one transfer device 120 may be provided, in particular as the refractive lens 122 or convex mirror. The optical detector 110 may further comprise the at least one housing 118 which, as an example, may encase one or more of components 114, 209.

[0310] Further, the evaluation device 140 may fully or partially be integrated into the optical sensors 114, 209 and/or into other components of the optical detector 110. The evaluation device 140 may also be enclosed into housing 118 and/or into a separate housing. The evaluation device 140 may comprise one or more electronic devices and/or one or more software components, in order to evaluate the sensor signals, which are symbolically denoted by the transversal evaluation unit 142 (denoted by xy) and a longitudinal evaluation unit 210 (denoted by z). By combining results derived by these evolution units 142, 210, a position information 212, preferably a three-dimensional position information, may be generated (denoted by x, y, z).

[0311] Further, the optical detector 110 and/or to the detector system 200 may comprise an imaging device 214 which may be configured in various ways. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 4, the imaging device 214 can for example be part of the detector 110 within the detector housing 118. Herein, the imaging device signal may be transmitted by one or more imaging device signal leads 144 to the evaluation device 140 of the detector 110. Alternatively, the imaging device 214 may be separately located outside the detector housing 118. The imaging device 214 may be fully or partially transparent or intransparent. The imaging device 214 may be or may comprise an organic imaging device or an inorganic imaging device. Preferably, the imaging device 214 may comprise at least one matrix of pixels, wherein the matrix of pixels may particularly be selected from the group consisting of: an inorganic semiconductor sensor device such as a CCD chip and/or a CMOS chip; an organic semiconductor sensor device.

[0312] In the exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the object 112 to be detected, as an example, may be designed as an article of sports equipment and/or may form a control element 216, the position and/or orientation of which may be manipulated by a user 218. Thus, generally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 or in any other embodiment of the detector system 200, the human-machine interface 204, the entertainment device 206 or the tracking system 208, the object 112 itself may be part of the named devices and, specifically, may comprise the at least one control element 216, specifically, wherein the at least one control element 216 has one or more beacon devices 220, wherein a position and/or orientation of the control element 216 preferably may be manipulated by user 218. As an example, the object 112 may be or may comprise one or more of a bat, a racket, a club or any other article of sports equipment and/or fake sports equipment. Other types of objects 112 are possible. Further, the user 218 may be considered as the object 112, the position of which shall be detected. As an example, the user 218 may carry one or more of the beacon devices 220 attached directly or indirectly to his or her body.

[0313] The optical detector 110 may be adapted to determine at least one item on a transversal position of one or more of the beacon devices 220 and, optionally, at least one item of information regarding a longitudinal position thereof. Particularly, the optical detector 110 may be adapted for identifying colors and/or for imaging the object 112, such as different colors of the object 112, more particularly, the color of the beacon devices 220 which might comprise different colors. The opening 124 in the housing 118, which, preferably, may be located concentrically with regard to the optical axis 116 of the detector 110, may preferably define a direction of a view 126 of the optical detector 110.

[0314] The optical detector 110 may be adapted for determining the position of the at least one object 112. Additionally, the optical detector 110, specifically an embodiment including the camera 202, may be adapted for acquiring at least one image of the object 112, preferably a 2D- or a 3D-image. As outlined above, the determination of a position of the object 112 and/or a part thereof by using the optical detector 110 and/or the detector system 200 may be used for providing a human-machine interface 204, in order to provide at least one item of information to a machine 222. In the embodiments schematically depicted in FIG. 4, the machine 222 may be or may comprise at least one computer and/or a computer system comprising the data processing device 154. Other embodiments are feasible. The evaluation device 140 may be a computer and/or may comprise a computer and/or may fully or partially be embodied as a separate device and/or may fully or partially be integrated into the machine 222, particularly the computer. The same holds true for a track controller 224 of the tracking system 208, which may fully or partially form a part of the evaluation device 140 and/or the machine 222.

[0315] Similarly, as outlined above, the human-machine interface 204 may form part of the entertainment device 206. Thus, by means of the user 218 functioning as the object 112 and/or by means of the user 218 handling the object 112 and/or the control element 216 functioning as the object 112, the user 218 may input at least one item of information, such as at least one control command, into the machine 222, particularly the computer, thereby varying the entertainment function, such as controlling the course of a computer game.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0316] 110 detector

[0317] 112 object

[0318] 114 transversal optical sensor

[0319] 116 optical axis

[0320] 118 housing

[0321] 120 transfer device

[0322] 122 refractive lens

[0323] 124 opening

[0324] 126 direction of view

[0325] 128 coordinate system

[0326] 130 photovoltaic layer

[0327] 132, 132 conductive layer

[0328] 134 quantum dot

[0329] 136 light beam

[0330] 138, 138, 138 partial electrode

[0331] 140 evaluation device

[0332] 142 transversal evaluation unit

[0333] 144 signal leads

[0334] 146 illumination source

[0335] 148 laser diode

[0336] 150 modulated illumination source

[0337] 152 modulation device

[0338] 154 data processing device

[0339] 156 colloidal film

[0340] 158 thickness

[0341] 160 first conductive layer

[0342] 162 second conductive layer

[0343] 164 electrically conducting and at least partially optically transparent layer

[0344] 166 fluorine-doped tin oxide (SnO.sub.2: F; FTO) layer

[0345] 168 electrically conductive polymer

[0346] 170 poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) layer

[0347] 172 blocking layer

[0348] 174 titanium dioxide layer

[0349] 176 active area

[0350] 178 determined position

[0351] 180 actual position

[0352] 200 detector system

[0353] 202 camera

[0354] 204 human-machine interface

[0355] 206 entertainment device

[0356] 208 tracking system

[0357] 209 longitudinal optical sensor

[0358] 210 longitudinal evaluation unit

[0359] 212 position information

[0360] 214 imaging device

[0361] 216 control element

[0362] 218 user

[0363] 220 beacon device

[0364] 222 machine

[0365] 224 track controller