Wearable devices with flexible optical emitters and/or optical detectors
A light-guiding earpiece configured to be worn by a subject includes a base comprising a speaker and at least one optical detector, a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, and a flexible optical emitter configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the earpiece. The housing encloses the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass. The flexible optical emitter may be integrally formed within the housing, and the housing may include translucent material that forms a light-guiding region through which light from the flexible optical emitter can pass. The optical detector may be a flexible optical detector.
1. A light-guiding earpiece configured to be worn by a subject, the earpiece comprising:
a base comprising a speaker and at least one optical detector;
a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and
a flexible optical emitter configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the earpiece, wherein the flexible optical emitter comprises a liquid crystal matrix configured to allow localized control of light flow to selected areas of the earpiece.
2. The earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the flexible optical emitter is integrally formed within the housing, and wherein the housing comprises translucent material that forms a light-guiding region through which light from the flexible optical emitter can pass.
3. The earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the flexible optical emitter comprises opposite ends, and wherein the flexible optical emitter is mounted to the base via an electrical connector at each of the respective ends.
4. The earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the flexible optical emitter is part of a flexible optical circuit that further comprises a flexible optical detector.
5. The earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical detector is located external to the housing.
6. The earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece is a hearing aid earpiece.
7. The earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the earpiece is an earbud.
8. A light-guiding earpiece configured to be worn by a subject, the earpiece comprising:
a base comprising a speaker and at least one optical detector;
a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and
a flexible optical circuit configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the earpiece, wherein the flexible optical circuit comprises at least one optical emitter, wherein the flexible optical circuit comprises a liquid crystal matrix configured to allow localized control of light flow to selected areas of the earpiece.
9. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible optical circuit further comprises at least one optical detector.
10. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible optical circuit further comprises one or more of the following: an amplifier, a microprocessor, wireless circuitry, signal conditioning electronics.
11. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible optical circuit further comprises a chipset for physiological and environmental detection and for wired/wireless transfer of data to a remote location.
12. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible optical circuit comprises an organic LED (OLED) and an organic optical detector circuit.
13. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible optical circuit is integrally formed within the housing, and wherein the housing comprises translucent material that forms a light-guiding region through which light can pass.
14. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the flexible optical circuit comprises opposite ends, and wherein the flexible optical circuit is mounted to the base via an electrical connector at each of the respective ends.
15. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the earpiece is a hearing aid earpiece.
16. The earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the earpiece is an earbud.
17. An optical cover for an earpiece that is configured to be inserted within an ear canal, the cover configured to at least partially surround a portion of the earpiece and wherein the cover comprises light transmissive material in at least one portion thereof that is configured to guide light from at least one optical emitter associated with the cover to a region of a body of a subject wearing the cover and/or guide light from the body of the subject to at least one optical detector associated with the cover, wherein the optical cover is formed from a resilient material which deforms when inserted within an ear canal of a subject.
18. The optical cover of claim 17 , wherein the optical emitter comprises a flexible optical emitter configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the cover.
19. The optical cover of claim 17 , wherein the optical detector comprises a flexible optical detector configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the cover.
20. The optical cover of claim 17 , wherein the earpiece is a hearing aid earpiece.
21. A light-guiding earpiece configured to be worn by a subject, the earpiece comprising:
a base comprising a speaker and at least one optical detector;
a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and
a flexible optical emitter configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the earpiece, wherein the flexible optical emitter comprises a liquid crystal matrix configured to allow localized control of light wavelength to selected areas of the earpiece.
22. A light-guiding earpiece configured to be worn by a subject, the earpiece comprising:
a base comprising a speaker and at least one optical detector;
a housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the speaker and comprises at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass; and
a flexible optical circuit configured to be conformable to at least a portion of the earpiece, wherein the flexible optical circuit comprises at least one optical emitter, wherein the flexible optical circuit comprises a liquid crystal matrix configured to allow localized control of light wavelength to selected areas of the earpiece.