Display-integrated optical accelerometer
First Claim
1. An accelerometer, comprising:
- a light source configured to emit a light;
a substrate;
a light guide attached to a first side of the substrate and configured to redirect the light emitted from the light source through the substrate;
a light detector configured to determine a characteristic of light incident on the light detector; and
a proof mass attached to a second side of the substrate via one or more springs, wherein the second side is opposite the first side and wherein the proof mass is positioned outside of a light path of the light, but wherein motion of the proof mass is configured to move the proof mass into the light path and to at least partially occlude the light emitted from the light source and thereby alter the characteristic of the light determined by the light detector, wherein the characteristic of the light includes at least one of an intensity of the light, a polarization, and a wavelength.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical accelerometer and method of determining an acceleration are disclosed. In one aspect, an accelerometer includes a light source, a substrate, a light guide attached to a first side of the substrate and configured to redirect light from the light source through the substrate. The accelerometer also includes a light detector, a proof mass attached to a second side of the substrate via one or more springs, wherein the second side is opposite the first side and wherein motion of the proof mass alters a characteristic of the light from the light source reaching the light detector, and a processor configured to determine an acceleration based on the characteristic of the light reaching the light detector.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An accelerometer, comprising:
-
a light source configured to emit a light; a substrate; a light guide attached to a first side of the substrate and configured to redirect the light emitted from the light source through the substrate; a light detector configured to determine a characteristic of light incident on the light detector; and a proof mass attached to a second side of the substrate via one or more springs, wherein the second side is opposite the first side and wherein the proof mass is positioned outside of a light path of the light, but wherein motion of the proof mass is configured to move the proof mass into the light path and to at least partially occlude the light emitted from the light source and thereby alter the characteristic of the light determined by the light detector, wherein the characteristic of the light includes at least one of an intensity of the light, a polarization, and a wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of determining an acceleration, comprising:
-
directing a light through a substrate towards a proof mass positioned outside of a light path of the light, a motion of the proof mass configured to move the proof mass into the light path and to at least partially occlude the light; and determining an acceleration based on a characteristic of the light, wherein the characteristic of the light includes at least one of an intensity of the light, a polarization, and a wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An accelerometer, comprising:
-
means for directing a light through a substrate towards a proof mass positioned outside of a light path of the light, a motion of the proof mass configured to move the proof mass into the light path and to at least partially occlude the light; and means for determining an acceleration based on a characteristic of the light, wherein the characteristic of the light includes at least one of an intensity of the light, a polarization, and a wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. An accelerometer, comprising:
-
an optical element attached to a support via at least two springs with different spring constants positioned outside of a light path of a light and a motion of the optical element configured to move the proof mass into the light path and to at least partially occlude the light; and a light detector configured to determine an intensity of the light. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
Specification