Thin optical microphone/sensor

Abstract

The invention provides a small optical microphone/sensor (2) for measuring distances to, and/or physical properties of, a reflective surface, comprising a source of light (4) coupled to a light waveguide (6) for transmitting a light beam through the waveguide; the waveguide (6) having at one of its ends a pointed face (12) with an angle determined by Snell's Law of Refraction 1 sin ⁢ ⁢ α 1 sin ⁢ ⁢ α 2 = n 2 n 1 wherein α1 is the angle of travel of the light beam through the waveguide media; α2 is the angle of travel of the light beam in a second media when exiting from the pointed face, and n1 and n2 are the light indices of the light waveguide media and the second media; the reflective surface being disposed at an optimal distance from the pointed face (12) as determined by the angle α2; the waveguide having, at its outer surface, at least adjacent to the pointed face, means (19) for preventing light waves impinging on the surface from being reflected back into the waveguide, and a light detector (18) arranged to receive the light reflected from the surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.