Waveguide and optical motion sensor using optical power modulation
First Claim
1. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
- a sensor frame defining an opening;
a sensor pad disposed in the opening;
an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising;
(a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide,(b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and(c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide;
a load spring attached to at least a portion of the sensor frame and also supporting the sensor pad, and configured to counter at least some of a pressure exerted against the sensor pad, and further adapted to allow a desirable displacement of the sensor pad at a maximum pressure; and
an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical motion sensing device included a sensor frame defining an opening, a sensor pad disposed in the opening, an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, and an output unit. The optical sensing system includes an optical waveguide, an optical source device, and an optical detector. The optical waveguide is positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide. The optical source device supplies optical energy to the optical waveguide. The optical detector detects an amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide. The output unit is configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; a load spring attached to at least a portion of the sensor frame and also supporting the sensor pad, and configured to counter at least some of a pressure exerted against the sensor pad, and further adapted to allow a desirable displacement of the sensor pad at a maximum pressure; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 17)
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5. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide comprising a numerical aperture of between 0.2 and 0.4, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal.
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6. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide comprising a core and a cladding, the core having a refractive index between 1.43 and 1.50, the cladding having a refractive index between 1.39 and 1.48, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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9. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; a waveguide support structure comprising a non-compliant surface, the waveguide support supporting at least a portion of the optical waveguide, wherein the optical sensing system is further adapted for the movement of the sensor pad to cause a flexural deformation in an unsupported portion of the optical waveguide in response to an arterial pulse; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal.
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11. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; a flexible and incompressible support surface that supports the optical waveguide over substantially all of its length, wherein the waveguide support surface is a flexible electronic circuit board, to which the waveguide is bonded with a flexible elastomer adhesive; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal.
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12. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; a flexible and incompressible support surface that supports the optical waveguide over substantially all of its length, wherein the optical source device and the optical detector are mounted on the surface of the waveguide support; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal.
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13. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; a flexible and incompressible support surface that supports the optical waveguide over substantially all of its length; a support return element which is configured within the support surface for the optical waveguide and adapted to oppose the flexing of the support surface; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An optical motion sensing device comprising:
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a sensor frame defining an opening; a sensor pad disposed in the opening; an optical sensing system adapted to detect an amount of movement of the sensor pad in the sensor frame, the optical sensing system comprising; (a) an optical waveguide positioned within the sensor frame such that the movement of the sensor pad results in the flexing or compressing of the optical waveguide, (b) an optical source device to supply optical energy to a first end of the optical waveguide, and (c) an optical detector to detect an amount of optical energy exiting a second end of the optical waveguide; and an output unit configured to receive a signal indicative of the amount of optical energy exiting the optical waveguide and to generate a measure of the amount of movement of the sensor pad from the received signal, wherein the compression and flexing of the optical waveguide when the sensor pad is at the position of maximum contact pressure causes a reduction of 20-80% in the total amount of light exiting the optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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18. A compliant waveguide for detecting arterial pulses comprising:
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a cladding having a flat surface and defining a lumen, the cladding comprising an elastomer having a Shore A hardness of between 25 and 75; and a core disposed in the lumen, the core comprising an elastomer having a Shore A hardness of between 25 and 75 and a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the cladding. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification