Weighted bioacoustic sensor and method of using same
First Claim
1. A bioacoustic sensor, comprising:
- a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use;
a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin, the transducer element configured to modulate or generate a signal in response to deformation of the transducer element;
one or more conductors coupled to the transducer element;
a mass element compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element; and
intervening material disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, the intervening material allowing for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use. The sensor includes a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin. One or more conductors are coupled to the transducer element. A mass element is compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element. Intervening material is disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, and allows for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element.
67 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A bioacoustic sensor, comprising:
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a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use;
a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin, the transducer element configured to modulate or generate a signal in response to deformation of the transducer element;
one or more conductors coupled to the transducer element;
a mass element compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element; and
intervening material disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, the intervening material allowing for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element. - 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, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A bioacoustic sensor, comprising:
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a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use;
means for transducing bioacoustic energy transferred via the interfacing portion of the housing to a signal;
a stiffening layer; and
means for facilitating differential motion between the transducing means and the stiffening layer during excitation of the transducing means. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A method of sensing bioacoustic energy using a transducer disposed in a housing, comprising:
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exciting the transducer in response to the bioacoustic energy;
facilitating differential motion between the transducer and a stiff mass during excitation of the transducer; and
modulating or generating a signal by the transducer in response to excitation of the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification