Abstract:
An optical transducer includes a housing containing a light source and a light detector laterally spaced from the light source; and a deformable membrane mounted over the light source and light detector such that an inner surface of the membrane reflects light from the light source to the light detector to produce, from the light detector, an output electrical signal modulated in accordance with the deformations of the membrane. The inner surface of the membrane has a small central region of high light reflectivity to maximize the output electrical signal produced by the deformations of the membrane, and a large outer region of lower light reflectivity to minimize noise in the output electrical signal produced by multi-reflection of light from the light source to the light detector. The membrane is preferably formed in its outer region with circular corrugations coaxial with each other and with the central region of high light reflectivity to increase the deformability of the central region.
Abstract:
An optical transducer includes a base member, a light source carried on a face of the base member, a light detector carried on the face of the base member laterally spaced from the light source, an optical shield extending from the face of the base member between the light source and light detector, and a displaceable member overlying, and spaced from, the light source, light detector and optical shield, and effective to reflect light from the light source to the light detector. The optical shield includes a transparent plate extending from the face of the base member between the light source and light detector, and carrying a thin layer of a light-blocking material to shield the light detector from direct exposure to the light source. The light source, light detector, and optical shield are all embedded in a transparent plastic potting material. Also described is a method of making such optical transducers by producing an intermediate matrix of a plurality of such light sources, light detectors and optical shields and cutting the matrix into individual optical units.
Abstract:
A mobile telephone including a microphone and an electronic component board for transmitting, receiving and processing of audio and other communication signals, said telephone comprising a housing portionnullan optical microphone, including a microphone head disposed in said housing portion; at leasl two light guides, one leading to a source of light and the other to a photodetector, said source of light feeding light into one of said light guides, said other light guide leading to an input of said photodetector, and an input of said source of light and an output of said photodetector being connected to the input of said electronic component board.
Abstract:
A device for collecting sounds from objects comprises a plurality of microphones whose directivity can be varied depending on the environment in which each object is located. An optical microphone includes a vibration board (2) which vibrates by sound pressure, a light source (3) for emitting a light beam to the vibration board (2), a photodetector (5) which receives the light beam reflected from the vibration board (2) and produces a signal corresponding to the vibration of the vibration board (2), a drive circuit (13) for supplying the light source (3) with predetermined current, and a negative feedback circuit (100) that supplies the drive circuit (13) with a negative feedback signal consisting of a signal output from the photodetector (5). The negative feedback circuit (100) changes the amount of negative feedback depending on the environment.
Abstract:
An optical microphone element comprising a diaphragm (31) vibrating with sound pressure, a case (40) containing the diaphragm (31) and having first and second openings (38, 39) made in symmetric positions and facing the diaphragm (31), a light source (32) for irradiating the diaphragm (31) with a light beam, and a photodetector (35) for receiving the light beam reflected by the diaphragm (31) and outputting a signal corresponding to vibration of the diaphragm (31).