US2014294208A1PendingUtilityA1

Light-based detection for acoustic applications

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 30, 2003Filed: Mar 25, 2014Published: Oct 2, 2014
Est. expiryJan 30, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Gregory C. Burnett
H04R 3/005G10L 21/0208A61B 5/6815H04R 3/04H04R 1/1083H04R 1/46H04R 1/406H04R 1/1008G10L 2021/02165H04R 23/008
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Claims

Abstract

A light-based skin contact detector is described, including a boot having an index of refraction less than or equal to another index of refraction associated with skin at a frequency of light, a light emitter and detector coupled to the boot and configured to measure an amount of light energy reflected by an interface of the boot, and a digital signal processor configured to detect a change in the amount of light energy reflected by the interface.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a boot comprising an index of refraction less than or equal to another index of refraction associated with skin at a frequency of light;   a light emitter and detector coupled to the boot and configured to measure an amount of light energy reflected by an interface of the boot; and   a digital signal processor configured to detect a change in the amount of light energy reflected by the interface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a microphone configured to detect speech. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector is mounted to a side of the boot. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises a moldable material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises medical-grade silicone rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises an optically clear gel. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises a hypoallergenic surface. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the index of refraction of the boot is approximately 1.4 for infrared light. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector comprises an infrared light-emitting diode pair. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the light energy reflected by the interface of the boot is determined based on a shape of the boot and movement of the skin interfacing with the boot. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector is configured to detect contact between the boot and the skin. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector is configured to detect the amount of the light energy reflected within the boot relative to the shape of the boot and movement of the skin interfacing with the boot.

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