AMBIENT LIGHT USE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSORS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spectrophotometric sensor, comprising:
- an ambient light collecting structure, wherein the ambient light comprises a continuum of wavelengths;
an optical modulator capable of modulating, filtering, or modulating and filtering the ambient light to transmit one or more discrete wavelengths;
a light emitter capable of emitting the one or more discrete wavelengths of light; and
a light detector capable of detecting the emitted light.
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Abstract
The present disclosure describes the harvesting and use of ambient light in spectrophotometric systems so as to increase the energy efficiency of the systems. In one embodiment, the collected ambient light is filtered and/or converted into discrete wavelengths of light that can then be used in spectrophotometric applications. In one embodiment, the emitted light can then be collected and analyzed to derive various physiological parameters. In certain embodiments, the ambient light may be used in place of light that is electrically generated.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A spectrophotometric sensor, comprising:
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an ambient light collecting structure, wherein the ambient light comprises a continuum of wavelengths; an optical modulator capable of modulating, filtering, or modulating and filtering the ambient light to transmit one or more discrete wavelengths; a light emitter capable of emitting the one or more discrete wavelengths of light; and a light detector capable of detecting the emitted light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A spectrophotometric sensor, comprising:
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an ambient light collecting structure, wherein the ambient light comprises a continuum of wavelengths; an optical modulator capable of converting a first set of one or more discrete wavelengths of ambient light to a second set of one or more discrete wavelengths and of filtering out wavelengths of ambient light other than the second set of one or more discrete wavelengths; a light emitter capable of emitting the second set of one or more discrete wavelengths; and a light detector capable of detecting the emitted light. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A monitoring system, comprising:
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a monitor, comprising; a receiver capable of receiving a wireless signal; a processor capable of processing the wireless signal to generate one or more physiological measurements; and a display for displaying the one or more physiological measurements; a wireless sensor, comprising; an ambient light collector capable of collecting ambient light; at least optical modulating structure capable of modulating, filtering, or modulating and filtering the ambient light to transmit only one or more discrete wavelengths, converting wavelengths of the ambient light into the one or more discrete wavelengths, or both filtering and converting the ambient light such that only discrete wavelengths are transmitted; a light emitter capable of emitting the discrete wavelengths of light; a light detector capable of detecting the emitted lights and generating a corresponding output; and a transmitter capable of transmitting the wireless signal in response to the output. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of transmitting light into a patient tissue, comprising the acts of:
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collecting ambient light comprising a continuum of wavelengths; transmitting one or more discrete wavelengths of light by modulating, filtering, or modulating and filtering the ambient light to remove all but the one or more discrete wavelengths, by converting other wavelengths of the ambient light to the one or more discrete wavelengths, or by performing one or both of filtering and converting to generate the one or more discrete wavelengths of light from the ambient light; and directing the one or more discrete wavelengths of light into a patient tissue. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification