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US 11,692,813 B2Granted
Optoelectronic modules and methods for operating the same
Assigneeams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
InventorsJens Geiger, Lijian Mai, Markus Rossi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optoelectronic modules operable to measure proximity independent of object surface reflectivity and, in some implementations, operable to measure characteristics (such as surface reflectivity or absorptivity) of stationary or moving objects are disclosed. The optoelectronic modules are operable to determine, for example, pulse rate, peripheral blood circulation, and/or blood oxygen levels of moving objects, such as the appendage of a user, in some instances. The optoelectronic modules can be used to measure peripheral blood circulation, for example, when a user of the optoelectronic module is engaged in physical activity, such as walking, running or cycling.
Claims16
An optoelectronic module comprising:
- an illumination module;
- and
- a detection module disposed adjacent to the illumination module,
- the illumination module including a light-emitting component and an illumination optical assembly,
- the light-emitting component being operable to generate an emission incident on the illumination optical assembly, the emission being characterized by a principal wavelength,
- the detection module including a detection optical assembly and an array of light-sensitive components disposed within a plane, wherein the array includes a plurality of light-sensitive components, each light-sensitive component is characterized by a coordinate position, each light-sensitive component is sensitive to the principal wavelength,
- the detection optical assembly being characterized by a focal length and an optical axis, wherein the detection optical assembly is aligned to the array of light-sensitive components such that the focal length is incident on the plane and the optical axis is substantially perpendicular to the plane,
- the emission incident on the illumination optical assembly together with the illumination optical assembly producing an illumination,
- the illumination module being operable to direct the illumination to an object disposed at a distance from the optoelectronic module, and
- the detection module being operable to collect a reflection of the illumination reflected from the object, and being further operable to convert the collected reflection into a signal by at least one of the light-sensitive components within the array of light-sensitive components, the signal being associated with a particular coordinate position of the at least one light-sensitive components from which the signal was converted, wherein the particular coordinate position is associated with the distance the object is disposed from the optoelectronic module,
- wherein the signal is characterized by a signal magnitude;
- wherein:
- the light-emitting module further includes an auxiliary light-emitting component;
- the auxiliary light-emitting component is operable to generate an auxiliary emission incident on the illumination optical assembly, the auxiliary emission being characterized by an auxiliary wavelength;
- the auxiliary emission incident on the illumination optical assembly together with the illumination optical assembly produces an auxiliary illumination;
- and
- the illumination module is operable to direct the auxiliary illumination to the object disposed at the distance from the optoelectronic module;
- wherein the light-emitting module further comprises an auxiliary array of light-sensitive components disposed within the plane, the auxiliary array including a plurality of auxiliary light-sensitive components, each auxiliary light-sensitive component is characterized by the coordinate position, and each auxiliary light-sensitive component is sensitive to the auxiliary wavelength;
- and
- wherein the detection module is operable to collect a reflection of the auxiliary illumination reflected from the object, and being further operable to convert the collected reflection into an auxiliary signal by at least one of the auxiliary light-sensitive components within the auxiliary array of light-sensitive components, the auxiliary signal being associated with a particular coordinate position of the at least one auxiliary light-sensitive components from which the auxiliary signal was converted, wherein the particular coordinate position is associated with the distance the object is disposed from the optoelectronic module, wherein the auxiliary signal is characterized by an auxiliary signal magnitude.
17 more elements
A method of operating an optoelectronic module, the method comprising:
- directing an illumination onto an object disposed at the distance from the optoelectronic module, the illumination being characterized by a principal wavelength;
- collecting a reflection of the illumination reflected from the object disposed at the distance from the optoelectronic module;
- converting the collected reflection into a signal, the signal being associated with a particular coordinate position;
- directing the illumination onto the object at a subsequent distance from the optoelectronic module;
- collecting a reflection of the illumination reflected from the object disposed at the subsequent distance from the optoelectronic module;
- converting the collected reflection into a subsequent signal, the subsequent signal being associated with a subsequent coordinate position, the subsequent signal being characterized by a subsequent signal magnitude;
- associating the particular coordinate position with the distance from the optoelectronic module;
- associating the subsequent coordinate position with the subsequent distance from the optoelectronic module;
- normalizing the signal magnitude by the distance, and normalizing the subsequent signal magnitude by the subsequent distance;
- comparing the normalized signal magnitude and normalized subsequent signal magnitude,
- directing an auxiliary illumination onto the object disposed at the distance from the optoelectronic module, the auxiliary illumination being characterized by an auxiliary wavelength;
- collecting a reflection of the auxiliary illumination reflected from the object disposed at the distance from the optoelectronic module, and converting the collected reflection into an auxiliary signal, the auxiliary signal being associated with the particular coordinate position;
- directing the auxiliary illumination onto the object at a subsequent distance from the optoelectronic module;
- and
- collecting a reflection of the auxiliary illumination reflected from the object disposed at the subsequent distance from the optoelectronic module;
- and
- converting the collected reflection into a subsequent auxiliary signal, the subsequent auxiliary signal being associated with a subsequent coordinate position, the subsequent auxiliary signal being characterized by a subsequent auxiliary signal magnitude.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.