Reflective surface treatments for optical sensors

• US 10,247,670 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2018
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ness, Trevor J., Han, Chin San, Nazzaro, David I., Lamego, Marcelo M., Matsuyuki, Naoto, Oetting, Wolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US16/114,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20180364162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 600476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7203 for noise prevention, reduction or removal
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/4738 Diffuse reflection precedence is given to G01N21/55 - G01N21/57 if specular component is taken into consideration, e.g. also for testing fluids, fibrous materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0625 Modulated LED

Abstract

An electronic device includes one or more light emitters for emitting light toward an object and one or more light detectors for collecting light exiting the object. A reflective coating, surface, or surface finish can be applied adjacent to the area to which light is emitted and/or through which light exits in order to increase the light collected by the light detector. The reflective coating can be oriented so as to reflect light back into the object.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing with a surface;

a reflective layer that is formed on the surface, wherein the reflective layer has first and second openings;

a light emitter that emits light through the first opening; and

a light detector that receives the light emitted by the light emitter through the second opening.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the light emitted by the light emitter is infrared light.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the light detector receives the light emitted by the light emitter through the second opening after the light reflects from an object.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective layer is formed over the entire surface of the housing.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising a lens in the first opening.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5, further comprising a selectively transparent layer in the second opening.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the lens diffuses the light from the light emitter.

8. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the lens focuses the light from the light emitter.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 6, wherein the selectively transparent layer is transparent in a first frequency band of light and opaque in a second frequency band of light.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 1, wherein the light emitter is a light-emitting diode.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the light emitter and the light detector;

a display in communication with the processor;

a button in communication with the processor;

a rotary input device in communication with the processor; and

a battery disposed within the housing.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11, wherein the electronic device is configured to be worn on a wrist of a user.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a housing with first and second opposing sides;

a display on the first side of the housing;

a lens on the second side of the housing;

a light-emitting diode that emits infrared light through the lens;

a filter on the second side of the housing;

a light detector configured to detect the infrared light emitted by the light-emitting diode that passes through the filter.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13, wherein the light detector is configured to detect the infrared light emitted by the light-emitting diode after the infrared light reflects from an object.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a processor configured to determine physiological data based on an amount of infrared light detected by the light detector.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a reflective layer on the second side of the housing with a portion interposed between the light-emitting diode and the light detector.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 13, wherein the filter is transparent in a first frequency band of light and opaque in a second frequency band of light.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 13, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a processor disposed within the housing and coupled to the light-emitting diode and the light detector;

a button in communication with the processor;

a rotary input device in communication with the processor; and

a battery disposed within the housing.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 18, wherein the electronic device is configured to be worn on a wrist of a user.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a housing with first and second cavities;

a light emitter in the first cavity that emits light;

a light detector in the second cavity that detects the light emitted by the light emitter after the light reflects from an object; and

a reflector that is interposed between the first cavity and the second cavity.