Use of light transmission through tissue to detect force
AssigneeApplied Invention, LLC
InventorMichael KEESLING
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods of using light transmission thought compressed living tissue to detect force. Transmission of light through living tissue such as a finger is affected by how much the tissue is compressed, for example by the finger being pressing on a surface. Light is introduced into the tissue, passes through the tissue, and a sensor receives the light exiting the tissue. The compression of the tissue can be determined using various characteristics of the received light, such as the light intensity, as determined based at least partly on sensor readings.
Claims21
(canceled)
A method performed by an apparatus for determining an amount of force applied by living tissue to a surface, the method comprising:
- calibrating the apparatus based on a level of light exiting the living tissue;
- introducing light into the living tissue;
- receiving light exiting the living tissue;
- and
- determining an amount of force applied to the surface by the living tissue based on one or more characteristics of the received light.
A method for calibrating an apparatus configured to determine an amount of force applied by living tissue, the method comprising:
- sensing a first light level though the living tissue in an uncompressed state;
- sensing a second light level through the living tissue in a compressed state;
- and
- computing a correlation between an amount of force applied by the living tissue, the sensed first light level, and the sensed second light level.
An apparatus configured to determine an amount of force applied by living tissue to a surface, the apparatus comprising:
- an emitter configured to introduce light into living tissue;
- a sensor configured to receive a portion of the light exiting the living tissue;
- and
- an electronics module configured to calibrate the apparatus and determine the amount of force applied by the living tissue based on characteristics of light received by the sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.