Detection device and detection method

Abstract

A detection device includes a sound generator, an optical transmitter, a composite waveguide, an optical receiver, a processor, and a housing element. The sound generator can generate a sound signal. The optical emitter can generate an incident light signal. The composite waveguide can transmit the sound signal and the incident light signal to a human body part, so that the human body part returns a reflected light signal to the composite waveguide. The composite waveguide can generate a mixed optical signal according to the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal. The optical receiver may receive the mixed optical signal. The processor is coupled to the optical receiver, wherein the processor can obtain physiological information of the human body part according to the mixed optical signal. The sound generator, the optical transmitter, the composite waveguide, the optical receiver, and the processor are all disposed within the housing element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a detection device, and more particularly to a detection device and its detection method. Background Technology

[0002] Physiological signal detection devices are common detection components. However, when applied to the fields of Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR), the accuracy of traditional physiological signal detection devices is often insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a completely new solution to overcome the limitations of previous technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a detection device for detecting a human body part, comprising: a sound generator for generating a sound signal; an optical transmitter for generating an incident light signal; a composite waveguide for transmitting the sound signal and the incident light signal to the human body part, such that the human body part transmits a reflected light signal back to the composite waveguide, wherein the composite waveguide further generates a mixed light signal based on the incident light signal and the reflected light signal; an optical receiver for receiving the mixed light signal; a processor coupled to the optical receiver, wherein the processor obtains physiological information of the human body part based on the mixed light signal; and a housing element, wherein the sound generator, the optical transmitter, the composite waveguide, the optical receiver, and the processor are all disposed within the housing element.

[0004] In some embodiments, the detection device is a wearable device.

[0005] In some embodiments, the wearable device is an earphone device.

[0006] In some embodiments, the human body portion is an eardrum.

[0007] In some embodiments, the incident light signal, the reflected light signal, and the mixed light signal are all infrared signals.

[0008] In some embodiments, the composite waveguide includes an acoustic waveguide and an optical waveguide.

[0009] In some embodiments, the optical waveguide is surrounded by the acoustic waveguide.

[0010] In some embodiments, a self-mixing effect occurs between the incident light signal and the reflected light signal within the composite waveguide, thereby forming the mixed light signal.

[0011] In some embodiments, the detection device further includes: a converter coupled between the optical receiver and the processor, wherein the converter outputs a primary signal to the processor based on the mixed optical signal.

[0012] In some embodiments, the housing element is an earphone housing.

[0013] In some embodiments, the optical emitter uses a lateral emission mechanism.

[0014] In some embodiments, the optical receiver uses a lateral receiving mechanism.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a detection method comprising the following steps: generating an audio signal; generating an incident light signal; transmitting the audio signal and the incident light signal to a human body part through a composite waveguide, such that the human body part transmits a reflected light signal back to the composite waveguide; generating a mixed light signal through the composite waveguide based on the incident light signal and the reflected light signal; receiving the mixed light signal; and obtaining physiological information of the human body part based on the mixed light signal.

[0016] In some embodiments, the detection method further includes: outputting a primary signal based on the mixed optical signal via a converter.

[0017] In some embodiments, the detection method further includes: transmitting the incident light signal using a lateral transmission mechanism; and receiving the mixed light signal using a lateral reception mechanism. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0020] Figure 3 A flowchart of a detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0021] Symbol explanation:

[0022] 100, 200: Detection devices

[0023] 110, 210: Sound generator

[0024] 120, 220: Optical transmitter

[0025] 130, 230: Composite waveguide

[0026] 140, 240: Optical receiver

[0027] 150, 250: Processors

[0028] 160, 260: Housing components

[0029] 190: Human Body Parts

[0030] 245: Converter

[0031] 270: Acoustic waveguide

[0032] 280: Optical waveguide

[0033] 290: Tympanic membrane

[0034] d: specific distance

[0035] IA: Physiological Information

[0036] S310, S320, S330, S340, S350, S360: Steps

[0037] SA: Main Signal

[0038] SR: Reflected light signal

[0039] ST: Incident light signal

[0040] SU: Sound signal

[0041] SX: Mixed optical signal Detailed Implementation

[0042] To make the objectives, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Certain terms are used in the specification and claims to refer to specific elements. Those skilled in the art will understand that hardware manufacturers may use different names to refer to the same element. This specification and claims do not distinguish elements by differences in name, but rather by differences in function. The terms "comprising" and "including" used throughout the specification and claims are open-ended and should be interpreted as "comprising but not limited to." The term "generally" means that within an acceptable margin of error, those skilled in the art can solve the technical problem and achieve the basic technical effect within a certain margin of error. Furthermore, the term "coupled" in this specification includes any direct and indirect electrical connection means. Therefore, if a first device is described as coupled to a second device, it means that the first device can be directly electrically connected to the second device, or indirectly electrically connected to the second device via other devices or connection means.

[0044] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples to implement the various features of this application. The following disclosure describes specific examples of the various components and their arrangements for simplification. Of course, these specific examples are not intended to be limiting. For example, if this disclosure describes a first feature formed on or above a second feature, it indicates that it may include embodiments where the first and second features are in direct contact, or embodiments where an additional feature is formed between the first and second features, so that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Furthermore, the same reference numerals and / or designations may be repeated in the different examples disclosed below. These repetitions are for simplification and clarity and are not intended to limit any specific relationship between the different embodiments or / and structures discussed.

[0045] Furthermore, spatially related terms, such as "below," "lower," "above," "higher," and similar terms, are used to facilitate the description of the relationship between one element or feature and another element(s) in the accompanying drawings. In addition to the orientations shown in the drawings, these spatially related terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation. The device may be rotated to different orientations (90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatially related terms used herein may be interpreted in the same way.

[0046] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a detection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. For example, the detection device 100 may be a wearable device, applicable to the fields of virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR), but is not limited thereto. Figure 1 In one embodiment, the detection device 100 includes: a sound generator 110, an optical transmitter 120, a compound waveguide 130, an optical receiver 140, a processor 150, and a housing element 160. It must be understood that, although not shown in... Figure 1 However, the detection device 100 may also include other components, such as a display device, a speaker, a power supply module, or a housing.

[0047] In some embodiments, the detection device 100 may be used to detect a human body portion 190. For example, the human body portion 190 may be an ear of a user, but is not limited to this.

[0048] The sound generator 110 can generate a sound signal SU. For example, the sound generator 110 can be implemented by a speaker or a sound amplifier, but is not limited to these.

[0049] Optical transmitter 120 can generate an incident light signal ST. In some embodiments, sound generator 110, optical transmitter 120, and optical receiver 140 are all disposed adjacent to composite waveguide 130. It should be noted that the terms "adjacent" or "adjacent" in this specification may refer to a distance between corresponding two elements that is less than a predetermined distance (e.g., 10 mm or less), or may include a situation where corresponding two elements are in direct contact with each other (i.e., the aforementioned distance is reduced to 0).

[0050] For example, the composite waveguide 130 may be made of two or more different materials. The composite waveguide 130 can be used to transmit an acoustic signal SU and an incident light signal ST to the human body part 190, causing the human body part 190 to return a reflected light signal SR to the composite waveguide 130. The composite waveguide 130 can further generate a mixed light signal SX based on the incident light signal ST and the reflected light signal SR. In some embodiments, a self-mixing effect can occur between the incident light signal ST and the reflected light signal SR within the composite waveguide 130, thereby forming the aforementioned mixed light signal SX.

[0051] The optical receiver 140 can receive the mixed light signal SX. In some embodiments, the optical transmitter 120 is an infrared transmitter and the optical receiver 140 is an infrared receiver, wherein the incident light signal ST, the reflected light signal SR, and the mixed light signal SX are all infrared (IR) signals.

[0052] Processor 150 is coupled to optical receiver 140, wherein processor 150 can acquire physiological information IA of human body part 190 based on mixed optical signal SX. In some embodiments, detection device 100 may use a self-mixing interferometry (SMI) mechanism to extract physiological information IA of human body part 190, but is not limited thereto.

[0053] The shape and type of housing element 160 are not particularly limited in this invention. For example, housing element 160 may be made of a nonconductive material. In some embodiments, sound generator 110, optical transmitter 120, composite waveguide 130, optical receiver 140, and processor 150 may all be disposed within housing element 160.

[0054] In general, the reflected light signal SR can record various information about the human body part 190. After a self-mixing effect occurs between the reflected light signal SR and the incident light signal ST, the composite waveguide 130 can provide a mixed light signal SX to the optical receiver 140 and the processor 150. Therefore, the processor 150 can accurately estimate the physiological information IA of the human body part 190 by analyzing the mixed light signal SX. For example, the aforementioned physiological information IA may include a heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, and / or body temperature, but is not limited to these. Under the design of this invention, the proposed detection device 100 can easily perform a non-invasive detection procedure on the human body part 190, wherein this non-invasive detection procedure can also provide sufficient accuracy.

[0055] The following embodiments will describe various configurations and detailed structural features of the detection device 100. It must be understood that these figures and descriptions are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0056] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a detection device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 and Figure 1 Similar. Figure 2 In one embodiment, the detection device 200 is a headphone device, wherein the human body part detected by the detection device 200 is an eardrum 290. Figure 2 As shown, the detection device 200 includes: a sound generator 210, an optical transmitter 220, a composite waveguide 230, an optical receiver 240, a converter 245, a processor 250, and a housing element 260.

[0057] Sound generator 210 generates an acoustic signal SU. Optical transmitter 220 generates an incident light signal ST. Composite waveguide 230 transmits the acoustic signal SU and the incident light signal ST to the eardrum 290, causing the eardrum 290 to transmit a reflected light signal SR back to composite waveguide 230. Specifically, composite waveguide 230 includes an acoustic waveguide 270 and an optical waveguide 280, wherein the acoustic waveguide 270 is used to transmit the acoustic signal SU, and the optical waveguide 280 is used to transmit the incident light signal ST and the reflected light signal SR. For example, the optical waveguide 280 may be surrounded by the acoustic waveguide 270, wherein the acoustic waveguide 270 and the optical waveguide 280 may be made of two different plastic materials. In some embodiments, a self-mixing effect may occur between the incident light signal ST and the reflected light signal SR within the optical waveguide 280, thereby forming a mixed light signal SX.

[0058] Optical receiver 240 can receive the mixed optical signal SX. In some embodiments, optical transmitter 220 uses a side-transmitting mechanism, while optical receiver 240 uses a side-receiving mechanism to simultaneously improve the communication quality of both signal transmission and signal reception. Converter 245 is coupled between optical receiver 240 and processor 250, wherein converter 245 can output a primary signal SA to processor 250 based on the mixed optical signal SX. For example, primary signal SA may correspond to the main component in the mixed optical signal SX. In some embodiments, converter 245 may be implemented using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Processor 150 can then obtain physiological information IA of tympanic membrane 290 based on primary signal SA. For example, the aforementioned physiological information IA may include a heart rate, a blood pressure, a respiratory rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a body temperature, a hearing health index, a stress level, or (and) a brain wave, but is not limited to these.

[0059] The housing element 260 may be a headphone housing, within which the sound generator 210, optical transmitter 220, composite waveguide 230, optical receiver 240, transducer 245, and processor 250 may all be disposed. In some embodiments, the housing element 260 may be generally tapered to fit a user's narrow ear canal. For example, the composite waveguide 230 may have a specific distance d between it and the eardrum 290. Based on actual measurements, the proposed detection device 200 can perform a non-invasive detection procedure on the eardrum 290, thereby enabling highly accurate collection of various user information. Figure 2 The remaining features of the detection device 200 are all the same as Figure 1 The detection device 100 is similar to that of the other two embodiments, so both embodiments can achieve similar operational effects.

[0060] In some embodiments, the operating principle of the detection device 200 may be as described in the following procedures (1) to (4):

[0061] X(t)=T(t)+R(t)………………………………(1)

[0062]

[0063] Where "T(t)" represents the time function of the incident light signal ST, "R(t)" represents the time function of the reflected light signal SR, "X(t)" represents the time function of the mixed light signal SX, "A(t)" represents the time function of the main signal SA, "θ(t)" represents the time function of the phase noise (e.g., this phase noise may be caused by the non-ideal characteristics of the oscillator of the optical transmitter 220), "Δθ(t)" represents the time function of the phase noise difference, "t" represents the time variable, "d" represents a specific distance d, "c" represents the speed of light, "π" represents pi, "f" represents the frequency of the incident light signal ST, "λ" represents the wavelength of the incident light signal ST, and "M" represents the amplitude of the mixed light signal SX.

[0064] Figure 3A flowchart of a detection method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. First, in step S310, an audio signal is generated. In step S320, an incident light signal is generated. In step S330, the audio signal and the incident light signal are transmitted to a human body part through a composite waveguide, causing the human body part to transmit a reflected light signal back to the composite waveguide. In step S340, a mixed light signal is generated based on the incident light signal and the reflected light signal through the composite waveguide. In step S350, the mixed light signal is received. Finally, in step S360, physiological information of the human body part is obtained based on the mixed light signal. It must be understood that the above steps do not need to be performed in sequence, but... Figure 1 , 2 Each feature of the embodiments can be applied to Figure 3 Among the detection methods.

[0065] This invention proposes a novel detection device and detection method. Compared with conventional designs, this invention has advantages such as using a non-invasive detection procedure and improving overall detection accuracy, making it well-suited for application in a wide variety of devices.

[0066] It is worth noting that the component parameters described above are not limiting conditions of the present invention. Designers can adjust these settings according to different needs. The detection device and detection method of the present invention are not limited to... Figure 1-3 The state shown. This invention may include only... Figure 1-3 Any one or more features of any one or more embodiments. In other words, not all of the features shown need to be implemented simultaneously in the detection device and detection method of the present invention.

[0067] The method, or a specific form or part thereof, of the present invention may exist in the form of program code. The program code may be contained in a physical medium, such as a floppy disk, optical disk, hard disk, or any other machine-readable (e.g., computer-readable) storage medium, or may be a computer program product, not limited to an external form, wherein when the program code is loaded and executed by a machine, such as a computer, that machine becomes an apparatus for participating in the present invention. The program code may also be transmitted via some transmission medium, such as wires or cables, optical fibers, or any transmission method, wherein when the program code is received, loaded, and executed by a machine, such as a computer, that machine becomes an apparatus for participating in the present invention. When implemented in a general-purpose processing unit, the program code, in conjunction with the processing unit, provides a unique apparatus that operates similarly to an application-specific logic circuit.

[0068] The ordinal numbers in this specification and claims, such as "first," "second," "third," etc., are not sequential in any particular order; they are only used to distinguish between two different elements with the same name.

[0069] While the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any person skilled in the art may make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A detection device for detecting a human body part, comprising: A sound generator produces a sound signal; An optical transmitter generates an incident light signal; A composite waveguide transmits the sound signal and the incident light signal to the human body part, so that the human body part transmits a reflected light signal back to the composite waveguide, wherein the composite waveguide generates a mixed light signal based on the incident light signal and the reflected light signal. An optical receiver receives the mixed optical signal; A processor, coupled to the optical receiver, wherein the processor acquires physiological information of the human body part based on the mixed optical signal; as well as A housing element in which the sound generator, the optical transmitter, the composite waveguide, the optical receiver, and the processor are all disposed within the housing element.

2. The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection device is a wearable device.

3. The detection device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wearable device is an earphone device.

4. The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human body part is an eardrum.

5. The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the incident light signal, the reflected light signal, and the mixed light signal are all infrared signals.

6. The detection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composite waveguide comprises an acoustic waveguide and an optical waveguide.

7. The detection device of claim 6, wherein the optical waveguide is surrounded by the acoustic waveguide.

8. The detection device of claim 1, wherein a self-mixing effect occurs between the incident light signal and the reflected light signal within the composite waveguide, thereby forming the mixed light signal.

9. The detection device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: A converter, coupled between the optical receiver and the processor, wherein the converter outputs a primary signal to the processor based on the mixed optical signal.

10. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the housing element is an earphone housing.

11. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the optical transmitter uses a unidirectional emission mechanism.

12. The detection device of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver uses a one-way receiving mechanism.

13. A detection method, comprising the following steps: Generate a sound signal; A light signal is generated. The sound signal and the incident light signal are transmitted to a human body part through a composite waveguide, so that the human body part transmits a reflected light signal back to the composite waveguide. A mixed optical signal is generated based on the incident optical signal and the reflected optical signal through the composite waveguide; Receive the mixed optical signal; and Physiological information of a part of the human body is obtained based on the mixed light signal.

14. The detection method as described in claim 13, wherein the human body part is an eardrum.

15. The detection method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the incident light signal, the reflected light signal, and the mixed light signal are all infrared signals.

16. The detection method as described in claim 13, wherein the composite waveguide comprises an acoustic waveguide and an optical waveguide.

17. The detection method of claim 16, wherein the optical waveguide is surrounded by the acoustic waveguide.

18. The detection method of claim 13, wherein a self-mixing effect occurs between the incident light signal and the reflected light signal within the composite waveguide, thereby forming the mixed light signal.

19. The detection method as described in claim 13, further comprising: A converter outputs a primary signal based on the mixed optical signal.

20. The detection method as described in claim 13, further comprising: The incident light signal is transmitted using a one-sided emission mechanism; as well as The mixed optical signal is received using a one-way receiving mechanism.

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