US 2023/0417536 A1 · Self-Mixing Interferometry Sensors Used to Sense Vibration of a Structural or Housing Component Defining an Exterior Surface of a Device

Abstract

A device includes an electronic display, a cover through which the electronic display projects an image, and an array of SMI sensors. The array of SMI sensors is positioned on a same side of the cover as the electronic display. Each SMI sensor is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation toward a respective portion of: an interior surface of the cover, or a surface of a component of the device attached to the cover; and generate a respective SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the respective portion of the cover or the component. The device also includes circuitry configured to characterize a vibratory waveform impinging on the device. The vibratory waveform is characterized using at least two of the SMI outputs.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A device, comprising:

a structural component defining an exterior surface of the device;
at least one self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensor positioned behind the structural component;
wherein each SMI sensor is configured to:
emit electromagnetic radiation toward:
a respective interior portion of the structural component, or a surface of an internal component of the device attached to the structural component;
and
generate an SMI output including information indicative of vibration of the structural component or the internal component;
and
circuitry configured to:
identify a user command contained within the information indicative of the vibration of the structural component or the internal component;
and
execute or transmit the user command.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/244,023Filed 8 Sep 2023

Priority

9 Jul 2019

Published

28 Dec 2023

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

G01B 9/02092
Interferometers: self-mixing interferometers, i.e. feedback of light from object into laser cavity
H04R 23/008
Transducers other than those covered by groups H04R9/00 - H04R21/00: using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
G01H 9/00
Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive
G10L 15/22
Speech recognition: procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue

Family

Application62/872,097Us provisional application · filed 9 Jul 2019

Application16/880,709Division · filed 21 May 2020

Application18/244,023Division

US 11,788,830 B2Related patent

US 2021/0010797 A1Published application

US 2023/0417536 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Self-Mixing Interferometry Sensors Used to Sense Vibration of a Structural or Housing Component Defining an Exterior Surface of a Device

Life of this patent

Self-Mixing Interferometry Sensors Used to Sense Vibration of a Structural or Housing Component Defining an Exterior Surface of a Device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8