MULTIUSE OPTICAL SENSOR
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Abstract
One or more electromagnetic radiation sources, such as a light emitting diode, may emit electromagnetic waves into a volume of space. When an object enters the volume of space, the electromagnetic waves may reflect off the object and strike one or more position sensitive detectors after passing through an imaging optical system such as glass, plastic lens, or a pinhole located at known distances from the sources. Mixed signal electronics may process detected signals at the position sensitive detectors to calculate position information as well as total reflected light intensity, which may be used in medical and other applications. A transparent barrier may separate the sources and detectors from the objects entering the volume of space and reflecting emitted waves. Methods and devices are provided.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1-40. -40. (canceled)
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41. A device comprising:
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a source emitting electromagnetic radiation into a volume of space, the source modulated to reduce an effect of ambient radiation on the measurement; a position sensitive detector measuring a position of the electromagnetic radiation reflected off an object in the volume of space; and electronics to calculate a position of the object in the volume of space based on the position of the measured reflected radiation. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method comprising:
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emitting electromagnetic radiation from a source into a volume of space; reflecting the emitted radiation off an object in the volume of space; detecting a position of the reflected radiation at a position sensitive detector; modulating the emission and detection of the radiation to reduce an effect of ambient radiation on the detection; and calculating a position of the object in the volume of space from the detected position of reflected radiation.
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Specification