LIGHT-BASED DETECTION FOR ACOUSTIC APPLICATIONS
A light-based skin contact detector is described, including a boot having an index of refraction less than or equal to another index of refraction associated with skin at a frequency of light, a light emitter and detector coupled to the boot and configured to measure an amount of light energy reflected by an interface of the boot, and a digital signal processor configured to detect a change in the amount of light energy reflected by the interface.
1 . A device, comprising:
a boot comprising an index of refraction less than or equal to another index of refraction associated with skin at a frequency of light;
a light emitter and detector coupled to the boot and configured to measure an amount of light energy reflected by an interface of the boot; and
a digital signal processor configured to detect a change in the amount of light energy reflected by the interface.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a microphone configured to detect speech.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector is mounted to a side of the boot.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises a moldable material.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises medical-grade silicone rubber.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises an optically clear gel.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the boot comprises a hypoallergenic surface.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the index of refraction of the boot is approximately 1.4 for infrared light.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector comprises an infrared light-emitting diode pair.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the light energy reflected by the interface of the boot is determined based on a shape of the boot and movement of the skin interfacing with the boot.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector is configured to detect contact between the boot and the skin.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitter and detector is configured to detect the amount of the light energy reflected within the boot relative to the shape of the boot and movement of the skin interfacing with the boot.