System and method for attenuating the effect of ambient light on an optical sensor
AssigneeSensors for Medicine and Science, Inc.
InventorsArthur E. Colvin, Jr., Paul Samuel Zerwekh, Jeffrey C. Lesho, Robert William Lynn, Carrie R. Lorenz, Casey J. O'Connor, Steven J. Walters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for attenuating the effect of ambient light on optical sensors and for measuring and compensating quantitatively for the ambient light.
Claims30
A sensor reader, comprising:
- a receiver for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from a sensor;
- a user interface for displaying information to a user of the sensor reader, wherein the information is related to information contained within said wireless signal;
- a photodetector for detecting the intensity of ambient light;
- a processor in communication with the receiver, photodetector and user interface, wherein
- the processor is configured to:
- (a) determine an amount of ambient light in response to the occurrence of a certain event and (b) energize the sensor in response to the occurrence of the event if, and only if, the determined amount of ambient light does not exceed a threshold.
In a sensor reader having a photodetector, a receiver for receiving a signal from an optical sensor, and a user interface for receiving input from a user of the sensor reader and for providing the user with information, a method, comprising:
- determining the intensity of ambient light;
- determining whether the intensity of the ambient light is greater than a predetermined threshold intensity;
- and
- issuing a warning to the user if it is determined that the intensity of the ambient light is greater than the predetermined threshold intensity.
A sensor reader, comprising:
- a photodetector;
- a receiver for receiving a signal from an optical sensor;
- a user interface for receiving input from a user of the sensor reader and for providing the user with information:
- means for determining the intensity of ambient light;
- means for determining whether the intensity of the ambient light is greater than a predetermined threshold intensity;
- and
- means for issuing a warning to the user if it is determined that the intensity of the ambient light is greater than the predetermined threshold intensity.
A sensor reader, comprising:
- a receiver for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from a sensor;
- a user interface for displaying information to a user of the sensor reader, wherein the information is related to information contained within said wireless signal;
- a photodetector for detecting the intensity of ambient light;
- and
- a processor in communication with the receiver, photodetector and user interface, wherein
- the processor is programmed to receive from the photodetector data corresponding to the intensity of said ambient light and is further programmed to issue an alert to the user if the data corresponding to the intensity of said ambient light indicates that the intensity is greater than a pre-determined threshold.
A sensor reader, comprising:
- a receiver for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from a sensor;
- a user interface for displaying information to a user of the sensor reader, wherein the information is related to information contained within said wireless signal;
- a photodetector for detecting the intensity of ambient light;
- and
- a processor in communication with the receiver, photodetector and user interface, wherein
- the processor is programmed to (a) receive from the photodetector data corresponding to the intensity of said ambient light, (b) receive data transmitted from the sensor, (c) compute a value that is based on the data received from the photodetector and the data transmitted from the sensor;
- and (c) display the value on the user interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.