Light field management in an optical biological parameter sensor

Structures and techniques are provided for shaping or steering a light field for an optical biological parameter sensor such that the light is partially or wholly collimated and enters a person's skin at an oblique angle to the person's skin such that the light has a direction component oriented towards or away from a photodetector of the optical biological parameter sensor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/370,303, filed Dec. 6, 2016, and titled “LIGHT FIELD MANAGEMENT IN AN OPTICAL BIOLOGICAL PARAMETER SENSOR.”

BACKGROUND

Personal fitness and health monitoring devices, referred to as biometric monitoring devices herein, may include a variety of different sensors that are used to provide feedback regarding various physiological characteristics of a person. Such sensors may include, but are not limited to, optical biological parameter sensors. Optical biological parameter sensors typically operate by illuminating a portion of a person's skin with light from a light source; some of this light is then diffusively reflected back out of the person's skin. By measuring characteristics of the diffusively reflected light, an optical biological parameter sensor may provide data regarding one or more biological parameters.

One common optical biological parameter sensor is a photoplethysmographic (PPG) heart rate sensor. A photoplethysmogram is an optically-obtained measurement of the volume of an organ. In the case of a PPG heart rate sensor, the volume in question is the local volume of blood vessels in the vicinity of the PPG heart rate sensor—as the blood vessels expand and contract with each heartbeat, the volumes of those blood vessels will correspondingly fluctuate. This volumetric fluctuation causes the amount of light that is diffusively reflected out of the person's skin to fluctuate in synchronicity with the person's heart rate. By measuring the intensity of the diffusively reflected light over time, the PPG heart rate sensor may determine the person's heart rate.

Another example of an optical biological parameter sensor is a blood oxygen sensor, which may measure the oxygen saturation of a person's blood by illuminating the person's skin with various wavelengths of light, such as red and infrared light. In the case of red and infrared light, measuring the relative amounts of this red light and infrared light that are absorbed by the person's blood (as reflected in the relative amounts of this light that are diffusively reflected back out of the person's skin) allows the optical biological parameter sensor to determine the amount of oxygen saturation in the person's blood (oxygenated and deoxygenated blood absorb differently depending on the color of the light).

In some instances, a single optical biological parameter sensor may determine multiple biological parameters. For example, a PPG heart rate sensor may not only determine heart rate, but may also determine blood oxygen saturation if properly configured. While optical biological parameter sensors were initially used primarily in hospitals, they are increasingly being used in portable fitness monitoring devices, such as in the FITBIT CHARGE HR™ and the FITBIT SURGE™ wrist-wearable fitness trackers.

SUMMARY

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn to scale unless specifically indicated as being scaled drawings.

In some implementations, an apparatus may be provided that includes a collimating light source assembly, one or more first photodetectors, and a first optical light field redirector. The collimating light source assembly may be configured to emit partially or wholly collimated light having a first angular distribution with a first angular centroid defining a first angular direction, and the first optical light field redirector may be positioned so as to receive at least some of the partially or wholly collimated light emitted by the collimating light source assembly. The first optical light field redirector may also be configured to redirect the received partially or wholly collimated light such that the redirected received partially or wholly collimated light has a second angular distribution with a second angular centroid defining a second angular direction having a directional component extending towards the one or more first photodetectors to a greater extent than a corresponding directional component of the first angular direction.

In some such implementations, the apparatus may also include a first light barrier that is interposed between the collimating light source assembly and the one or more first photodetectors.

In some such implementations, the first light barrier may have a first surface facing towards the collimating light source assembly and a second surface facing towards the one or more first photodetectors, and the first surface and the second surface may define a mid-plane between them that is within ±10° of parallel with the first angular direction.

In some other or alternative such implementations, the first light barrier may have a first surface facing towards the collimating light source assembly and a second surface facing towards the one or more first photodetectors, and the first angular direction may be within ±10° of parallel with the average normal vector defined by the first surface and the second surface.

In some additional or alternative such implementations, the apparatus may further include a window with one or more transparent portions. In some such implementations, the first light barrier may interface with the window such that light from the collimating light source assembly does not have a direct optical path from the side of the first light barrier facing towards the collimating light source assembly to the side of the first light barrier facing towards the one or more first photodetectors. Furthermore, one of the one or more transparent portions may extend over the collimating light source assembly and another of the one or more transparent portions may extend over the one or more first photodetectors. In such implementations, the first optical light field redirector may be provided by optical light-turning features molded into the window in the transparent portion extending over the collimating light source assembly.

In some further or alternative such implementations, the intensity of light in the second angular distribution associated with the first angular direction may be less than the intensity of light in the first angular distribution associated with the first angular direction.

In some implementations, the apparatus may further include control logic including a memory and one or more processors. The memory, the one or more processors, the collimating light source assembly, and the one or more first photodetectors may be operably connected, and the memory may store computer-executable instructions for controlling the one or more processors to: cause the collimating light source assembly to emit light, obtain detected light measurements from the one or more first photodetectors in association with the emission of light from the collimating light source assembly, and determine a biological parameter based at least in part on the detected light measurements.

In some such implementations, the memory may further store computer-executable instructions for controlling the one or more processors to obtain a photoplethysmogram from the detected light measurements and determine the biological parameter from the photoplethysmogram.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the biological parameter may be heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiration rate, blood perfusion, hydration level, tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), tissue metabolic rate, melanin composition, structural orientation of tissue fibers such as muscle and collagen, bulk cell size, bulk cell density, extracellular matrix size, extracellular matrix density, or combinations thereof.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the first angular direction and the second angular direction may form an included angle between them of between 5° and 50°.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the collimating light source assembly may include a light source and a Fresnel lens interposed between the light source and the first optical light field redirector. In such implementations, the Fresnel lens may be configured to partially or wholly collimate light from the light source and to direct the partially or wholly collimated light towards the first optical light field redirector.

In some other implementations of the apparatus, the collimating light source assembly may include one or more light sources and one or more optical reflectors. In such implementations, each optical reflector may have a corresponding light source and the one or more optical reflectors may be configured to reflect light from the corresponding light sources to generate the partially or wholly collimated light having the first angular distribution.

In some other implementations of the apparatus, the collimating light source assembly may include a light source and a diffractive optic interposed between the light source and the first optical light field redirector. In such implementations the diffractive optic may be configured to partially or wholly collimate light from the light source and direct the collimated light towards the first optical light field redirector.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the apparatus may further include a window with one or more transparent portions. One of the one or more transparent portions may extend over the collimating light source assembly, and another of the one or more transparent portions may extend over the one or more first photodetectors. In some such implementations, the first optical light field redirector may be provided by optical light-turning features molded into the window in the transparent portion extending over the collimating light source assembly.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the apparatus may further include one or more optical light field collection optics positioned so as to receive sample-modulated light traveling along a first direction having a component opposite the first angular direction. In such implementations, the received sample-modulated light may have a third angular distribution with a third angular centroid defining a third angular direction, and the one or more optical light field collection optics may be configured to redirect the received sample-modulated light such that the redirected received sample-modulated light has a fourth angular distribution with a fourth angular centroid defining a fourth angular direction that is tilted away from the one or more first photodetectors to a lesser extent than the third angular direction.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the apparatus may further include an optical lens positioned so as to receive sample-modulated light traveling along a first direction having a directional component opposite the first angular direction and having a third angular distribution with a first half-height width. In such implementations, the optical lens may be configured such that the sample-modulated light, after passing through the optical lens, has a fourth angular distribution with a second half-height width that is less than the first half-height width.

In some implementations of the apparatus, the apparatus may further include one or more second photodetectors and a second optical light field redirector positioned so as to receive at least some of the partially or wholly collimated light emitted by the collimating light source assembly. The second optical light field redirector may be configured to redirect the received partially or wholly collimated light such that the redirected received partially or wholly collimated light has a third angular light distribution with a third angular centroid defining a third angular direction having a directional component extending towards the one or more second photodetectors to a greater extent than a corresponding directional component of the first angular direction.

In some such implementations, the apparatus may also include at least one or more additional photodetectors and at least one or more additional optical light field redirectors. In such implementations, the one or more first photodetectors, the one or more second photodetectors, and the at least one or more additional photodetectors may be located within an annular area centered on the collimating light source assembly, and each of the one or more additional optical light field redirectors may be positioned so as to receive at least some of the partially or wholly collimated light emitted by the collimating light source assembly. Each of the one or more additional optical light field redirectors may also be configured to redirect the received partially or wholly collimated light such that the redirected received partially or wholly collimated light has an angular light distribution with an angular centroid defining a an angular direction having a directional component extending towards a corresponding one of the at least one or more additional photodetectors to a greater extent than a corresponding directional component of the first angular direction.

In some such implementations, the apparatus may further include a first light barrier interposed between the collimating light source assembly and the one or more first photodetectors and a second light barrier interposed between the collimating light source assembly and the one or more second photodetectors.

In some implementations, an apparatus may be provided that includes a collimating light source assembly and one or more first photodetectors. The collimating light source assembly may be configured to emit partially or wholly collimated light having a first angular distribution with a first angular centroid defining a first angular direction, and the one or more first photodetectors may define, in aggregate, a substantially planar photosensitive surface. In such implementations, the first angular direction may be at an angle of between 5° and 50° with respect to a normal vector of the substantially planar photosensitive surface and may include a directional component that is directed towards the first photodetector.

In some such implementations, the apparatus may further include a first light barrier interposed between the collimating light source assembly and the one or more first photodetectors.

In some further or alternative such implementations, the collimating light source assembly may be a surface-emitting laser diode that is mounted on a printed circuit and may be configured to emit laser light along a direction normal to the printed circuit with respect to a surface of the printed circuit at a location corresponding with the surface-emitting laser diode, and the printed circuit may be positioned in space relative to the first photodetector such that a major plane of the printed circuit is at an angle of between 5° and 50° with respect to the substantially planar photosensitive surface.

In some further or alternative such implementations of the apparatus, the collimating light source assembly may include one or more light sources and one or more optical reflectors. In such implementations, each optical reflector may have a corresponding light source, and the one or more optical reflectors may be configured to reflect light from the corresponding light sources to generate the partially or wholly collimated light having the first angular distribution.

In some such implementations, the one or more light sources may be arranged in an array that is substantially parallel to the substantially planar photosensitive surface. In some other such implementations, the one or more light sources may be arranged in an array that is within 5° to 50° of parallel with the substantially planar photosensitive surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to light-steering or light-shaping optical configurations for an optical biological parameter sensor. Such optical biological parameter sensors may be used in biometric monitoring devices (also referred to herein as “biometric tracking devices,” “biometric tracking modules,” “wearable fitness monitors,” or the like), and may include, but are not limited to, optical biological parameter sensors that measure one or more of heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiration rate, blood perfusion, hydration level, tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), tissue metabolic rate, melanin composition, structural orientation of tissue fibers such as muscle and collagen, bulk cell size, bulk cell density, extracellular matrix size, and extracellular matrix density.

For example, a person's respiration rate may be evident from a PPG signal in much the same way that a person's heart rate may be reflected in such a signal, e.g., there may be a lower-frequency periodic signal evident in the PPG signal that is indicative of respiratory rate. In another example, a coherent light source, such as a laser, may be used to illuminate a person's skin to produce speckle patterns that may be analyzed in the time and/or spatial domains in order to determine the velocity of scattering particles, i.e., blood cells, in tissue and thereby determine a measure of blood perfusion—such sensors may utilize laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and laser speckle imaging (LSI) techniques to obtain such measurements.

In yet another example of an optical biological parameter sensor, infrared light may be emitted into a persons's skin; since water is a strong absorber of infrared light, measuring the amount of attenuation of infrared light may provide a measure of the amount of water in the tissue and thus of the level of hydration of the tissue.

In yet further examples of optical biological parameter sensors, red and infrared light may be used to illuminate a person's skin and the measurements of diffusively reflected light originating therefrom may be used to obtain various oxygenation measurements. For example, the SpO2level may be measured by comparing the “AC” characteristics of the detected light signals (red and infrared), and the StO2level may be measured by comparing the “DC” characteristics of such light signals. As noted earlier, the amount of light that is diffusively reflected out of a person's skin varies in time with the person's pulse or heart rate; the time-varying aspect of such a signal is referred to as the “AC” component, and the “constant” portion of such a signal is referred to as the “DC” component. Thus, the DC component may be viewed as the component of the PPG intensity signal that is attributable to light emitted from the background or tissue, whereas the AC component may be viewed as the component of the PPG intensity signal that is attributable to light emitted from pulsatile features, e.g., from changes in blood volume.

In yet another example of an optical biological parameter sensor, melanin composition may be estimated based on the amount of light attenuation that is measured at several different wavelengths. Since melanin absorption of light follows a power-law-like decay as a function of wavelength, it is possible to fit the light attenuation detected at a few wavelengths to an estimate of melanin absorption in order to determine melanin content (since the amount of melanin will govern the amount of absorption).

In a further example, tissue metabolic rate may be related to blood perfusion (oxygen delivery) and the difference in oxygen saturation between arteries and veins, which may be obtained via SpO2 and StO2, respectively. Thus, optical biological parameter sensors that may obtain measurements of these characteristics may be used to also provide an estimate of the tissue metabolic rate.

In yet a further example, light scattering may be determined by taking several measurements as a function of distance from the light source, e.g., such as by positioning multiple photodetectors at varying distances from the light source. By characterizing the light scattering coefficient at multiple wavelengths at these multiple locations, the reduced scattering coefficient vs. wavelength can be fit to a power law model. The amplitude and slope of the resulting curve may correspond to average scattering particle density and size, respectively, and may be used to determine cell/extracellular matrix size and density.

These are but a few of the different types of optical biological parameter sensors that may benefit from the light management concepts discussed herein; these light management concepts may also be applied in other types of optical biological parameter sensor, including sensors not yet developed but sharing the same general characteristics outlined below.

Generally speaking, an optical biological parameter sensor will include at least two components—a light source and a light detector or sensor. The light source of a typical optical biological parameter sensor is a surface-mount light-emitting diode (LED), or one or more pairs of such LEDs. The light detector—also referred to herein as a photodetector—of a typical optical biological parameter sensor is often a single-element photodetector element. The light source and the photodetector are typically located near one another so that light from the light source that is transmitted into a person's skin and diffusively reflected is not completely attenuated by travelling through the person's skin before reaching the photodetector.

Most typical optical biological parameter sensors include an optically opaque barrier of some sort that is interposed between the light source and the photodetector; this barrier limits light from the light source from reaching the photodetector directly, which can saturate the photodetector and affect the accuracy of measurements of the diffusively reflected light from the person's skin. By introducing the barrier in between the light source and the photodetector, light from the light source that reaches the photodetector must first exit the optical biological parameter sensor and then be reflected back into the photodetector by some external object, e.g., through diffusive reflection from the person's skin.

The present inventors have determined that a more efficient optical biological parameter sensor may be realized by shaping and steering the light that is emitted from the light source prior to illuminating a person's skin with the light so as to increase the percentage of the light emitted by the light source that reaches the person's skin. For example, the present inventors determined that the light emitted by a light source used in an optical biometric parameter sensor may be wholly or partially collimated so as to have a narrower angular distribution of light, e.g., a light source that emits 90% of its light within ±20° of a center axis may be collimated such that 90% of the light emitted is within ±3° of the center axis. In perfect collimation, all of the light emitted would be parallel and the angular distribution would collapse to a single angle. In actual practice, however, wholly collimated light, i.e., where all of the light is emitted along parallel directions, is difficult or impossible to achieve, and it is to be understood that “collimated” light, as the term is used herein, is used herein to refer to light that is either wholly collimated or to light that is partially collimated, i.e., where at least 90% of the light energy is emitted along directions within a±10° range of a reference axis. A collimating light source assembly, as the term is used herein, refers to a light source assembly that emits partially or wholly collimated light. A collimating light source assembly may be a light source that emits wholly or partially collimated light without any optical collimating devices, e.g., such as a laser, or a light source, such as an LED, that emits divergent light that may then be wholly or partially collimated by some type of optical collimator, such as a lens or diffractive grating. In the latter case, the collimating light source assembly may be thought of as including both the light source and the optical collimator.

Light from a light source may have a first angular distribution indicating the amount of light (and thus the intensity of light) that is emitted along each angular direction throughout an angular range, e.g., throughout a±90° angular range. In many light sources, such as LEDs, a majority of the light emitted from the light source will be emitted along directions at angles close to a center axis of the light source, and the intensity of the emitted light will then gradually fall off with increasing angular distance from that center axis.

The angular distribution of a light source—regardless of whether or not it is a collimating light source assembly—may be thought of as having an angular centroid. The angular centroid represents the angle or direction at which 50% of the area under the angular distribution curve lies to one side of the angular centroid and the other 50% of the area under the angular distribution curve lies to the other side of the angular centroid. Thus, for example, if a light source emits light in an axially symmetric manner, the angular centroid would define a direction that was collinear with the axis of axial symmetry. In many, although not all, cases, the angular centroid of an angular light distribution may define the direction of peak light intensity. It is to be understood, however, that angular distributions may sometimes be multimodal in nature, and the angular centroid in such cases may be along an angular direction other than the angular directions at which such peaks occur.

Partially or wholly collimated light from a collimating light source assembly may have a first angular distribution with a first angular centroid defining a first angular direction. Such partially or wholly collimated light may then be redirected using some form of optical light field redirector such that the redirected partially or wholly collimated light may have a second angular distribution that has a second angular centroid defining a second angular direction. According to various implementations disclosed herein, the second angular direction may have a directional component oriented towards the photodetector that is larger than a corresponding directional component of the first angular direction, i.e., the second angular direction may be tilted towards the photodetector to a greater extent than the first angular direction. The term light field, as used herein, refers to the angles and intensities of light propagation from a light source. For example, a theoretical point light source may emit light having a spherical light field since light is emitted in all directions simultaneously, where as a theoretical collimated light source may emit light having a generally linear or two-dimensional light field since such light is emitted in only one direction. Light fields may be shaped and/or redirected using optical components. For example, a portion of a spherical light field may be shaped into a columnar light field after passing through a lens and being partially or wholly collimated; the lens may, in this case, be viewed as an optical light field redirector.

The present inventors determined that if optical biological parameter sensors are implemented such that there is collimation of the light from the light source followed by, or in combination with, an angular tilt of the resulting wholly or partially collimated light towards the photodetector, such implementations may offer superior performance as compared with conventional optical biological parameter sensor designs. For example, the collimation effect may “reclaim” light that might otherwise have struck opaque surfaces within the optical biological parameter sensor and have been lost. Such reclaimed light may instead be redirected such that it is incident on a person's skin, where it may contribute to the diffusely reflected light from the optical biological parameter sensor that may be measured by the photodetector. The angled tilt to the partially or wholly collimated light may cause the light that is introduced into a person's skin to suffer less attenuation en route to the photodetector as a function of the altered light path through the tissue. As a result, more of the light produced by the light source may ultimately be received by the photodetector through diffusive reflection, which either increases the signal strength associated with a particular power level of the light source or allows the light source to provide a desired level of signal strength using a lower power level as compared with optical biological parameter sensors that do not include such features.

Discussed below are various specific example implementations of optical biological parameter sensors that incorporate these, and related, concepts.

FIG. 1depicts an example of an optical biological parameter sensor according to the concepts discussed herein. InFIG. 1, an optical biological parameter sensor100is depicted; the optical biological parameter sensor100includes a collimating light source assembly102and a first photodetector118, as well as a first light barrier128that is interposed between the collimating light source assembly102and the first photodetector118.

In the optical biological parameter sensor100, the first photodetector118and the collimating light source assembly102are mounted to a substrate124and operatively connected with control logic provided by a processor152and a memory154. The control logic may store instructions for controlling the collimating light source assembly102to emit wholly or partially collimated light, and for obtaining signals or data from the first photodetector118in connection or association with such light emission, e.g., data indicating detected light measurements. The control logic may include computer-executable instructions for calculating or determining a biological parameter based on the characteristics, e.g., timing, intensity, duration, and/or wavelength, of the emitted light and on the data received from the first photodetector118. In some implementations, the control logic may be configured to obtain a photoplethysmogram from the detected light data obtained from the first photodetector (and additional photodetectors, if used) that is used to determine one or more biological parameters.

It is to be understood that the light sources and photodetectors of any of the implementations discussed herein may be similarly operatively connected with similar control logic or other suitable control elements in order to control the operation of the light source(s) and photodetector(s) and to calculate biological parameters based on data associated with the light source(s) and the photodetector(s), even if such control logic components are not explicitly shown in the remaining Figures.

The collimating light source assembly102may emit partially or wholly collimated light that has a first angular distribution160. The first angular distribution160may have a first angular centroid162that defines a first angular direction164. In this example, the first angular direction164has been assigned a value of 0°, although this is an arbitrary designation. As can be seen, due to the collimation of the light from the collimating light source assembly102, the first angular distribution is quite narrow, and most of the light emitted by the collimating light source assembly102is emitted along directions falling within about ±10° of the 0° mark. In many implementations of optical biological parameter sensor having light barriers, the first angular direction164may be within ±10° of an average normal vector of the sides of the light barrier that face towards the collimating light source assembly102and the first photodetector118. Put another way, the first angular direction164may be within ±10° of a mid-plane located between the sides of the light barrier128that face towards the collimating light source assembly102and the first photodetector118.

The wholly or partially collimated light emitted by the collimating light source assembly102may be received by a first optical light field redirector138, which may be an optical component that causes most or all of the received wholly or partially collimated light to be redirected such that it has a second angular distribution168. The second angular distribution168may have a second angular centroid170that defines a second angular direction172. The angular frame of reference of the second angular distribution168is the same as for the first angular distribution160. As can be seen, the second angular centroid170, and thus the second angular direction172, is shifted to the right of the first angular centroid162, and thus the first angular direction164, with respect to this frame of reference by approximately 20°-30°. Thus, the intensity of the light emitted along the first angular direction may decrease after the light has passed through the first optical light field redirector138.

The redirected received wholly or partially collimated light may, after being redirected by the first optical light field redirector138, passes through a window142, which may be an optically transparent barrier that rests against a person's skin when a device having the optical biological parameter sensor100is worn by the person. The window142may prevent moisture, dirt, oil, or other contaminants from reaching the components of the optical biological parameter sensor100. The redirected received wholly or partially collimated light may then enter a person's skin and pass into the dermis148of the person, where it may encounter blood vessels150. This redirected received wholly or partially collimated light may diffusively reflect off of the blood vessels150as well as off of the surrounding tissue; this diffusive reflection may modulate various characteristics of the diffusively reflected light. A portion of the diffusively reflected light may then exit the dermis148, pass back through the window142, and strike the first photodetector118. The diffusively reflected light that reaches the first photodetector118may be referred to as “sample-modulated” light since one or more characteristics of the light have been modulated by virtue of interacting with the person's dermis (and blood vessels therein) or the person's skin (the “sample”). This sample-modulated light may be measured by the first photodetector118, and this data may be provided to the control logic for use in calculating one or more biological parameters.

In some implementations, multiple photodetectors may be used with a single, common collimating light source assembly.FIG. 2depicts an example of a dual-photodetector optical biological parameter sensor according to the concepts discussed herein. InFIG. 2, an optical biological parameter sensor200is depicted. The optical biological parameter sensor200may include a collimating light source assembly202, a first photodetector218, and a second photodetector220that are mounted to a common substrate224. A first light barrier228may be interposed between the collimating light source assembly202and the first photodetector218; a corresponding second light barrier230may be interposed between the collimating light source assembly202and the second photodetector220. The light barriers228and230may prevent light from the collimating light source assembly202from reaching the photodetectors218and220before first passing through a window242.

The optical biological parameter sensor200also includes a first optical light field redirector238and a second optical light field redirector240; these two optical light field redirectors may be separate components, or may be provided by different regions of a common component. In some cases, these optical light field redirectors may be different portions of the same optical structure, e.g., a ring-shaped optical light field redirector may be centered on the first collimating light source, and a first portion of the ring-shaped optical light field redirector may act as the first optical light field redirector, and a second portion of the ring-shaped optical light field redirector may act as the second optical light field redirector.

Wholly or partially collimated light from the collimating light source assembly202may have a first angular distribution260that has a first angular centroid262that defines a first angular direction264. As inFIG. 1, the first angular direction264has been correlated with a 0° angle with respect to a frame of reference. Due to the collimation provided by the collimating light source assembly202, the majority of the partially or wholly collimated light may be emitted along directions within a small angular range centered on the first angular direction264.

The partially or wholly collimated light from the collimating light source assembly202that is received by the first optical light field redirector238may, as a result of passing through the first optical light field redirector238, be redirected so as to have a second angular distribution268(solid line) with a second angular centroid270defining a second angular direction272. Correspondingly, the partially or wholly collimated light from the collimating light source assembly202that is received by the second optical light field redirector240may, as a result of passing through the second optical light field redirector240, be redirected so as to have a third angular distribution269(dotted line) with a third angular centroid274defining a third angular direction276. For convenience, the second angular distribution268and the third angular distribution269are shown with respect to the same frame of reference, i.e., the frame of reference used to show the first angular distribution260, and in a combined plot.

As can be seen, the second angular direction272is oriented towards the first photodetector218to a greater extent than the first angular direction264, i.e., the second angular direction272has a directional component in a direction facing towards the first photodetector218that is larger in absolute magnitude than the absolute magnitude of a corresponding directional component of the first angular direction264. Similarly, the third angular direction276is also oriented towards the second photodetector218to a greater extent than the first angular direction264, i.e., the third angular direction272has a directional component in a direction facing towards the second photodetector220that is larger in absolute magnitude than the absolute magnitude of a corresponding directional component of the first angular direction264. It is to be understood that multiple optical light field redirectors may be employed to produce further angular distributions that may have characteristics similar to those of the second and third angular distributions discussed above.

The redirected received partially or wholly collimated light that is redirected by the first optical light field redirector238and the second optical light field redirector240may be transmitted through the window242and into a person's dermis248, where it may be diffusively reflected by the dermis248, the epidermis, and/or blood vessels250within the dermis248. The diffusively reflected light, i.e., sample-modulated light, may then be reflected back out of the dermis and into the first photodetector218and the second photodetector220.

The collimating light source assemblies and the optical light field redirectors discussed above may be provided using any of a variety of different technologies. Various specific implementations are discussed further below, although it is to be understood that the concepts discussed herein are not limited to only these example implementations.

FIG. 3depicts an example of an optical biological parameter sensor with a collimating light source assembly that includes a Fresnel lens. InFIG. 3, an optical biological parameter sensor300is shown that includes a light source306and a Fresnel lens308that, in combination, act as a collimating light source assembly. Upon exiting the Fresnel lens308, the partially or wholly collimated light may have a first angular distribution360having a first angular centroid362defining a first angular direction364. The partially or wholly collimated light may then travel from the Fresnel lens308towards a first optical light field redirector338that, in this case, is provided by a number of prismatic reflecting/refracting elements arrayed across the first optical light field redirector338. These prismatic reflecting/refracting elements, also referred to as light-turning features, may cause light that is received along directions generally parallel to the first angular direction364to be redirected such that the redirected light has a second angular distribution368with a second angular centroid370that defines a second angular direction372. The angle between the second angular direction372and the first angular direction364may be an oblique angle, e.g., in the range of 5° to 50° or 10° to 50°. Such angular ranges may also apply to other implementations discussed herein in which wholly or partially collimated light is redirected.

In this example implementation, the first optical light field redirector338is an integral part of a window342, e.g., the window342may be formed with the light-turning features that redirect the light in one operation, e.g., through injection molding, or such features may be imparted to the window342through a separate process, e.g., by thermo-forming or stamping. Thus, for example, the window342may have a first transparent portion that overlays or extends over the collimating light source assembly302and that includes the first optical light field redirector338and a second transparent portion that overlays or extends over the first photodetector318and that includes one or more optical light field collection optics340. In some implementations, the transparent portions may simply be subregions of a larger, contiguous transparent portion, whereas in some other implementations, the transparent portions may be discontiguous portions, e.g., separated by opaque portions of the window342. The one or more optical light field collection optics340may be provided by one or more optical elements, e.g., lenses, diffractive optics, prismatic structures, etc., that may be configured to redirector and/or focus light diffusively reflected out of the person's skin onto the photosensitive area of the first photodetector.

When the optical biological parameter sensor300is placed against the skin of a person, the redirected received wholly or partially collimated light may be transmitted into the dermis348of the person after it exits the first optical light field redirector338. Upon entering the dermis348, the light may diffusively reflect off of the dermis348and, for example, blood vessels350. The light that is then diffusively reflected back out of the dermis348, i.e., sample-modulated light378, and that passes through the window342may have a third angular distribution380with a third angular centroid382that defines a third angular direction384. As can be seen, the third angular distribution380is much broader than the first angular distribution360or the second angular distribution368; this is because the diffusive reflection of the sample-modulated light378has caused more of the light to travel along directions that are further from the third angular direction384as compared with the light of the first angular distribution360or the second angular distribution368. The sample-modulated light may be thought of as traveling along a direction having a directional component opposite the first angular direction.

The sample-modulated light378may pass through the one or more optical light field collection optics340, which may, as with the first optical light field redirector338, be an integral part of the window342or be a separate component. The one or more optical light field collection optics340may collect and/or redirect the sample-modulated light378such that it has a fourth angular distribution390with a fourth angular centroid392defining a fourth angular direction394. In this example, the optical light field collection optics340may be a series of prismatic light-turning structures that may act to redirect diffusively reflected light that may still have a strong directional component, e.g., as may be the case when the light enters and exits the skin at locations closely spaced together, thus resulting in a lower amount of diffusive reflection than may occur in situations where the light enters and exits the skin at locations spaced further apart. Thus, the optical light field collection optics340may primarily re-direct such light without necessarily concentrating the light. The fourth angular direction394may be at an angle with respect to the third angular direction384, such that the redirected sample-modulated light378is oriented more towards the first photodetector318than the non-redirected sample-modulated light378. Such an arrangement may increase the amount of light from the light source306that is ultimately coupled into the dermis348while simultaneously also increasing the amount of diffusively reflected sample-modulated light378that reaches the first photodetector318, thereby increasing the efficiency and performance of the optical biological parameter sensor300.

The optical biological parameter sensor300also includes a feature on the first light barrier328that may mechanically interface with a complementary feature on the window342, e.g., a complementary portion of the light barrier328that is bonded to or otherwise part of the window342. Such features are more fully described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/233,220, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; any of the interlocking or intermeshing features described in the 62/233,220 application may be used in place of the depicted features. In this example, the feature is a triangular groove in the first light barrier328that interfaces with a triangular ridge protruding out of the window342. Such a feature may help prevent light leakage between the first light barrier328and the window342by removing any potential direct optical paths that may exist in a potential gap between the first light barrier328and the window342. Thus, the light from the collimating light source assembly302may not have a direct optical path from the side of the first light barrier328facing the collimating light source assembly302to the side of the first light barrier328facing the first photodetector318. Such complementary interface features may be implemented in a similar fashion in other implementations discussed herein, but are only illustrated inFIG. 3.

FIG. 4depicts another example of an optical biological parameter sensor with a collimating light source assembly that includes a Fresnel lens.FIG. 4is, in many respects, similar toFIG. 3, and like components are indicated by callouts sharing the same last two digits. The above discussion of the components shown inFIG. 3is applicable to the corresponding components ofFIG. 4, with the exception of the optical light field collection optics440, and is not reproduced here in the interest of conciseness.

The optical light field collection optics440in this example are arranged to provide a lensing effect and thus concentrate the diffusively reflected, sample-modulated light emanating from the dermis448on the first photodetector418in addition to potentially providing some light redirection functionality. This arrangement may be well-suited to optical biological parameter sensors in which the light enters and exits the skin at more widely-spaced locations, which may allow for increased diffusive reflection and a decrease in the directionality of the sample-modulated light that exits the dermis448.

FIG. 5depicts an example of an optical biological parameter sensor similar to the optical biological sensor ofFIG. 3. InFIG. 5, an optical biological parameter sensor500is depicted. Many of the elements in the optical biological parameter sensor500are similar to the elements of the optical biological parameter sensor300ofFIG. 3. In the interest of conciseness, such similar elements, which are indicated by callouts sharing the same last two digits, may not be described herein, except, for example, to note aspects in which such components differ. The discussion of the corresponding components with respect toFIG. 3may be referred to for explanation of how such components may operate in the context ofFIG. 5.

InFIG. 5, the one or more optical light field collection optics540are provided by way of a second Fresnel lens508B (the first Fresnel lens, which is part of the collimating light source assembly, is denoted by callout508A). The second Fresnel lens508B may act to not only redirect the sample-modulated light578, but to also focus it on a smaller area, e.g., to concentrate it on the first photodetector518. This may further increase the efficiency of the first photodetector518's ability to collect sample-modulated light578.

A lens such as the second Fresnel lens508B may differ from an optical light field redirector in that an optical light field redirector may typically redirect light without causing the divergence/convergence of the light to change appreciably, whereas a lens may redirect light in a manner that causes the convergence or divergence of the light to change. For example, a lens may allow light passing through the center of the lens to pass through the lens with little or no change in direction, but may cause light passing through the lens at other locations to change direction such that it converges on a focal point of the lens. Thus, for example, the half-height width of the angular distribution of light prior to passing through a lens is typically larger than the half-height width of the angular distribution of light after passing through a lens.

FIG. 6depicts an example plot showing example angular distributions of light both before and after passing through a lens. An angular light distribution678is shown in a dotted line, and is representative of, for example, light prior to passing through a lens. The angular light distribution678may be described as having a bell-curve shaped distribution, and has a half-height width686. An angular light distribution688is also shown using a solid line, and is representative of the same light after passing through the lens. As can be seen, the half-height width696of the angular light distribution688is smaller than the half-height width686of the angular light distribution678. This is due to the focusing effect of the lens, which increases the intensity of the light along the focal axis of the lens (the center of the distributions, in this case), while reducing the intensity of light at the outer edges of the distributions.

FIG. 7depicts an example of an optical biological parameter sensor that uses diffractive gratings for some optical components. InFIG. 7, an optical biological parameter sensor700is depicted that includes a collimating light source assembly702that is provided by a light source706and a first diffractive optic714A. The first diffractive optic714A may have a pattern of slits in it that are spaced apart from one another by a distance that decreases with increasing distance from the center of the light source706; at the same time, the width of each slit may also decrease with increasing distance from the light source706. Such a first diffractive optic714A may have a collimating effect on the light that is emitted from the light source706.

After exiting the first diffractive optic714A, the partially or wholly collimated light may enter a second diffractive optic714B, which may feature a pattern of slits with constant spacing and constant widths; the second diffractive optic714B may serve as the first optical light field redirector738and shift the average direction of the partially or wholly collimated light so as to have a larger directional component directed towards the first photodetector718. Such redirected wholly or partially collimated light may pass through a window742then enter a person's skin and dermis748, where it may diffusively reflect from the dermis748and from, for example, blood vessels750and emanate out of the person's skin as sample-modulated light778. The sample-modulated light778may then pass back through the window742and a Fresnel lens708, which may concentrate the sample-modulated light778on the first photodetector718.

FIG. 8depicts an optical biological parameter sensor that utilizes an array of light sources coupled with light-steering collimator features.FIG. 8depicts an optical biological parameter sensor800that includes a collimating light source assembly802. The collimating light source assembly802, in this implementation, is provided by an array812of collimating light source pixels802′. Each collimating light source pixel802′ may include a light source806, e.g., an LED, and a reflective surface898that may be configured to reflect light rays emitted from the light source806such that the light exits the light source pixel802as partially or wholly collimated light and along an average direction that has a directional component oriented towards a first photodetector818. For example, the array812may emit partially or wholly collimated light that has a first angular distribution860with a first angular centroid862that defines a first angular direction864(with respect to an axis that is normal to a substantially planar surface822of the first photodetector818); the first angular direction864may define the average direction discussed above. In this implementation, the collimation and light-steering functionality provided by separate optical systems in the previously discussed implementations are provided by a single optical system.

The collimated and steered light emitted by the collimating light source assembly802may pass through a window842and be directed into a person's dermis848, where it may diffusively reflect off the dermis848and blood vessels850in the dermis848. The diffusively reflected light may re-enter the window842and, for example, be concentrated on the first photodetector818by a Fresnel lens (pictured) or other optical feature.

In the previous examples of optical biological parameter sensors, the photodetector(s) and light sources have general been mounted to the same substrate and have thus generally had active surfaces that are parallel to one another. As many collimating light source assemblies may emit light primarily along a direction normal to the substrate on which the light source is mounted, the optical light field redirectors discussed earlier herein may be needed to tilt the wholly or partially collimated light towards the first photodetector. However, tilting of the wholly or partially collimated light may also be accomplished by tilting the collimating light source assembly itself instead of redirecting the partially or wholly collimated light after it is emitted by the collimating light source assembly.

FIG. 9depicts an example of an optical biological parameter sensor that has a tilted collimating light source assembly. An optical biological parameter sensor900is shown inFIG. 9; the optical biological parameter sensor900may include a substrate924with a first photodetector918and a collimating light source assembly902, which, in this example, is provided by an array912of collimating light source pixels902′ that is positioned so as to be at an oblique angle with respect to the substrate924, e.g., by a wedge999or other structure. The first photodetector918The wedge999may include circuitry (not shown) to electrically connect the collimating light source pixels902′ in the array912with circuitry in the substrate924. Alternatively, the array912of collimating light source pixels902′ may be mounted to a flexible substrate, e.g., a flexible printed circuit, that is supported by the wedge999and that is electrically connected with circuit traces in the substrate924or with other mechanisms allowing for power and control signals to be sent to the collimating light source pixels. Alternatively, the collimating light source pixels902′ may be mounted to a small, rigid substrate, e.g., a printed circuit board, that is supported by the wedge999and that is electrically connected with the substrate or other mechanism for providing data and/or power signals by a cable or flexible printed circuit.

As can be seen in the detail view (lower left corner of Figure) of one of the collimating light source pixels902′, each collimating light source pixel902′ may include a light source906that is positioned within a parabolic or otherwise curved reflector having a reflective surface998. Divergent light that is emitted by the light source906may reflect off of the reflective surface998such that the divergent light that is emitted by the collimating light source assembly pixel902is partially or wholly collimated (in this example, the light will only be partially collimated since some of the divergent light may exit the collimating light source pixel902′ without reflecting off of the reflective surface998; other types of reflectors may provide more collimation). Thus, the light that is emitted by the array912may be partially or wholly collimated and, by virtue of the angled positioning of the array912, the angular direction associated with the angular centroid of the angular distribution of the partially or wholly collimated light may have a directional component that is directed towards the first photodetector918without using a separate optical light field redirector. For example, the partially or wholly collimated light may have a first angular distribution960, with respect to a normal vector of the substrate924or the substantially planar photosensitive surface of the first photodetector918, with a first angular centroid962that defines a first angular direction964. The first angular direction964may, for example, be within 5° and 50° of such a normal vector.

FIG. 10depicts an example of an optical biological parameter sensor in which a coherent light source is used as a collimating light source assembly.FIG. 10depicts a substrate1024that supports a first photodetector1018and a wedge1099or other structure that may be used to support a printed circuit1026(rigid or flexible) that interfaces with, for example, a surface-emitting laser diode1004. The wedge1099or other structure may tilt the light beam emitted by the surface-emitting laser diode1004such that the light beam follows a direction that forms an angle of approximately 5° to 50° with respect to a normal vector of the substrate1024or the photosensitive area of the first photodetector1018. This is similar to the approach taken in the implementation ofFIG. 9, and has similar effects. In some implementations, the wedge1099or other structure that supports the surface-emitting laser diode1004may be provided by, for example, a flexible printed circuit or other electrical routing component that has been folded into so as to position the surface-mount laser diode1004at the desired angle. A surface-emitting laser is a laser component that emits light in a direction that is generally normal to the substrate to which the surface-emitting laser is mounted. The surface-mount laser diode may provide partially or wholly collimated light, e.g., coherent light, when powered. The partially or wholly collimated light may pass through a window1042before entering a person's dermis1048, where it may be diffusively reflected by the dermis1048and/or blood vessels1050before passing back through the window1042and reaching the first photodetector1018. The window1042may optionally include an optical element, such as the depicted Fresnel lens, that may serve to focus or redirect such diffusely reflected light onto the first photodetector1018. In this example, a first light barrier1028is shown that may be interposed between the surface-mount laser diode1004and the first photodetector1018, although, as discussed further below, such a barrier may be unnecessary in some implementations.

It is to be understood that while many of the examples discussed herein have involved single light sources and single photodetectors, such features also may be provided by clusters, arrays, or other examples of multiple such features. For example, instead of a single photodetector element, a pixelated array of photodetector elements may be used. Such an array may be rectangular, or may, for example, be circular, e.g., a circular array of photodetector elements arranged around the light source. Similarly, the light source may, as with some of the example implementations provided herein, be provided by an array of multiple light sources, e.g., an array of LEDs.

It is also to be understood that the light barriers depicted in the examples herein may be omitted in some implementations. For example, if the collimating light source assembly and the optical light field redirector are configured such that there is little or no risk of light from the collimating light source assembly reaching the photodetector(s) before passing into a person's skin and thereby being turned into sample-modulated light, then the use of a light barrier may be redundant. In such cases, the light barriers may simply be omitted, if desired.

It is to be further understood that the light-transmission structures, i.e., the structures that are “upstream” of the dermis/epidermis, and the light-reception structures, i.e., the structures that are “downstream” of the dermis/epidermis, shown in the various implementations discussed herein may be used in other combinations than the specific combinations shown. For example, any of the collimating light source assemblies discussed herein, as well as other collimating light source assemblies, may be used in the place of any specific example collimating light source assembly of any of the implementations depicted herein. By way of further example, a surface-mount laser light source may be used in place of an LED light source and diffractive optic to provide a collimating light source assembly, and the light therefrom may then be redirected using an optical light field redirector.

The light sources discussed herein may be broad-spectrum, e.g., white light, or may be designed to provide light concentrated within certain spectral bands, e.g., red light, infrared light, yellow light, and/or green light. The particular wavelengths used may be selected based on the optical biological parameter to be determined. For example, light sources emitting primarily green wavelength light may be well-suited to measuring heart rate, but red light and infrared light sources may be more well-suited to measuring blood oxygenation level.

The effects of using light-steering features can have dramatic impact on the strength of a PPG signal. This is illustrated in the following Figures and discussion.

FIG. 11depicts a simulation result showing ray tracings for a light source with a collimating light source having a parabolic reflector and an optical light field redirector having a Fresnel lens. InFIG. 11, a collimating light source1102is shown; the collimating light source may include a parabolic reflector (the side walls of which are depicted) that may emit partially or wholly collimated light1158that is introduced by a light source1106located at the bottom of the parabolic reflector. The partially or wholly collimated light1158may then pass through a first optical wavefront redirector1138, which is, in this case, a Fresnel lens/prism. As can be seen, while some of the partially or wholly collimated light1158received by the first optical wavefront redirector1138is directed to the left as redirected received partially or wholly collimated light1166, most of the partially or wholly collimated light1158received by the first optical wavefront redirector1138is directed to the right as redirected received partially or wholly collimated light1166(as evidenced by the increased density of rays on the right side ofFIG. 11as compared with the left side).

FIG. 12is a picture of an example biometric monitoring device with a PPG sensor having a square photodetector interposed between a left light source equipped with a parabolic reflector and Fresnel lens arrangement as simulated inFIG. 11and a right light source that does not include the Fresnel lens arrangement (although it does include the same parabolic reflector). The four circles along the bottom edge are electrical contacts for charging purposes and are not optical features.FIG. 12′ is a photograph taken of the example biometric monitoring device ofFIG. 12with the light sources activated while a white projection surface is held perpendicular to the photodetector and generally in-line with the light sources so as to show the beam dispersion patterns produced by each light source. The photograph ofFIG. 12′ has been post-processed (the negative image of the original is shown in the upper left corner in greyscale—the light sources used were green light-emitting diodes) to more clearly show contours of different light intensity bands (the darker the band, the greater the light intensity), and has been augmented with annotations showing the two photoemitters (PE), the photodetector (PD), and the edge (the dash-dot-dash line) of the projection surface resting on the biometric monitoring device.FIG. 12′ also includes three white arrows, the middle one of which indicates the normal to the photodetector active area, the left of which highlights the direction of maximum intensity of the light emitted from the left light source, and the right of which highlights the direction of maximum intensity of the light emitted from the right light source. As is clearly evident, the use of light-steering features as discussed herein in the left light source results in a clear biasing of the emitted light towards the photodetector, which will result in a stronger PPG signal at the photodetector. In contrast, the right light source has a lower intensity and is not biased towards the photodetector.

FIG. 13depicts data from simulations and test measurements that shows AC signal intensity as a function of light incidence angle.FIG. 14depicts data from simulations and test measurements that shows DC signal intensity as a function of light incidence angle. In bothFIGS. 13 and 14, the percentage gain of signal intensity at the photodetector of a PPG sensor similar to that shown inFIGS. 11 and 12is shown as a function of increasing angle from a vector that is normal to the photodetector active surface area, e.g., the angle between the angle of maximum light intensity and, for example, the vector indicated by the middle white arrow inFIG. 12′. This angle is referred to as the “center angle” in these Figures. The percentage gain is determined by comparing the signal intensity within a predefined cone angle with a center axis at the center angle against the signal intensity within that same predefined cone angle with a center axis that is, in effect, perpendicular to the substrate/light source emission plane (unsteered—similar to the right light source inFIG. 12′). The percentage gain is shown relative to the signal for a non-light-steered implementation, e.g., a center angle of 0°. Three data sets are shown in each Figure—one data set (circles) showing the results of a Monte Carlo light transport simulation, another data set (triangles) showing measurements averaged across 5 users using a benchtop test setup that allowed the light to be directed along four different angles (the error bars show the standard error for these measurements), and a third data set (squares) showing measurements taken with the light sources in the test device shown inFIG. 12(each light source was activated individually). The “X” markers show the predicted gain for a wearable device having light-steering features that cause the light to have a center angle as high as 50° off center. As can be seen, the use of light-steering features as discussed herein may result in a signal strength that is in the neighborhood of 30-50% higher than for non-light-steered implementations, which is a significant performance gain.

It is to be understood that the above concepts have focused on redirecting partially or wholly collimated light for an optical biological parameter sensor such that it is somewhat “tilted” towards the photodetector of the optical biological parameter sensor in order to increase the amount of light that is then diffusively reflected out of a person's skin and detectable by the photodetector. This may act to increase the signal strength.

However, it is to be understood that, in some scenarios, the opposite approach may be desirable. For example, in current optical biological parameter sensors, packaging and assembly considerations may practically limit the spacing between a light source and a photodetector such that a gap of at least 1 mm or more may exist between such components. However, continuing miniaturization of such components, as well as new packaging arrangements of such components, may lead to such a gap distance decreasing further. If this gap decreases too much, i.e., the photodetector and the light source are positioned too close together, the DC component of the diffusively reflected light may be sufficiently high that the photodetector may not be able to reliably detect the AC component of the diffusively reflected light due to saturation from the DC component. In such cases, it may be desirable to actually tilt the partially or wholly collimated light in the opposite direction, i.e., away from the photodetector, in order to increase the optical path length through the pulsating tissue in the sample, thus increasing the amount of AC modulation in the signal and increasing the AC/DC ratio of the sample-modulated light to allow the photodetector to more reliably detect the AC component of the sample-modulated light. Thus, it is to be understood that all of the concepts discussed above with respect to the depicted implementations may also be practiced so as to, in effect, reverse the tilt angle of the redirected light when evaluated with respect to either the first angular direction or with respect to a vector normal to the photodetector active area. Such further implementations may, as stated above, be beneficial in scenarios where the photodetector and light source are very closely spaced together, e.g., less than 1 mm apart.

Importantly, the concepts discussed herein are not limited to any single aspect or implementation discussed herein, nor to any combinations and/or permutations of such aspects and/or implementations. Moreover, each of the aspects of the present invention, and/or implementations thereof, may be employed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspects and/or implementations thereof. For the sake of brevity, many of those permutations and combinations will not be discussed and/or illustrated separately herein.