Light-guiding devices and monitoring devices incorporating same
First Claim
1. A headset, comprising:
- a base comprising a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector;
an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the earbud housing encloses the speaker, optical emitter, and optical detector, and comprises at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject, and wherein the earbud housing is in acoustical communication with the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and
a cover surrounding the earbud housing, wherein the cover includes at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass, and wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector via the at least one window, wherein the light transmissive material is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter into an ear region of the subject at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring device configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes a base, an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud housing. The base includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector. The cover includes light transmissive material that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector and serves as a light guide to deliver light from the optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject wearing the device at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A headset, comprising:
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a base comprising a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical detector; an earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the earbud housing encloses the speaker, optical emitter, and optical detector, and comprises at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject, and wherein the earbud housing is in acoustical communication with the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and a cover surrounding the earbud housing, wherein the cover includes at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass, and wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material in optical communication with the optical emitter and detector via the at least one window, wherein the light transmissive material is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter into an ear region of the subject at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An earbud, comprising:
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a base comprising an optical emitter and optical detector; a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the optical emitter and optical detector, and comprises at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject; and light transmissive material external to the housing that is in optical communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector via the at least one window and is configured to deliver light from the optical emitter into an ear region of a subject at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An earbud, comprising:
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a chipset comprising at least one sensor element, noise source element, signal processor, input/output line, digital control, and power regulator; and a housing enclosing the chipset, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and comprises at least one window that exposes the at least one sensor element to the ear of the subject.
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Specification