Polarized light communication device, transmitter, laser, polarized light communication device for physiological use, reflected light detector and pulse wave detecting device

• US 6,999,685 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1998
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kawase, Takeo, Amano, Kazuhiko, Kitamura, Shojiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, DZUNG D
• Application Number:
  US09/214,140
• Time in Patent Office: 2,847 Days
• Field of Search: 359/156, 359/159, 359/170, 359/172, 359/173, 398/141, 398/152, 398/164, 398/170, 398/171
• US Class Current: 398/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/532 Polarisation modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

A physiological function assisting device 1 is embedded in the body, and is provided with a transmitter 11 and receiver 12 for communicating with an external controller 2. External controller 2 controls embedded physiological function assisting device 1 from the outside. External controller 2 is provided with a transmitter 21 and receiver 22 for communicating with physiological function assisting device 1. Transmitters 11,21 modulate the plane of polarization of laser light, and emit the result as a transmission signal. Receivers 12,22 selectively receive light of a specific polarization state. Receivers 12,22 respectively output electric signals corresponding to the polarization state (polarization angle or ellipticity) of the received light. As a result, full duplex communications between a strongly dispersing medium like the human body and the outside is possible, while the power consumed by the internal device can be reduced.

Claims

1. A light communication system for performing communication between a physiological function assisting device and a controlling device, the system comprising:

in the physiological function assisting device,

means for detecting an internal state of a living body and generating a data signal representing the detected state;

a first transmitting means for transmitting light whose intensity is modulated on the basis of the detected data signal;

a first receiving means for receiving and demodulating light transmitted by the controlling device to extract a control signal included in the light;

in the controlling device,

means for generating the control signal;

a second transmitting means for transmitting light whose polarization plane is rotated according to the control signal; and

a receiving means for receiving and demodulating light transmitted by the physiological function assisting device, to extract the data signal included in the light.

2. A light communication system for performing communication between a physiological function assisting device and a controlling device, the system comprising:

in the physiological function assisting device,

means for detecting an internal state of a living body and generating a data signal representing the detected state;

a first transmitting means for transmitting light whose polarization plane is rotated according to the detected data signal;

a first receiving means for receiving and demodulating light transmitted by the controlling device to extract a control signal included in the light;

in the controlling device,

means for generating the control signal;

a second transmitting means for transmitting light whose intensity is modulated on the basis of the control signal; and

a receiving means for receiving and demodulating light transmitted by the physiological function assisting device, to extract the data signal included in the light.