Device and method for physiological parameter detection

1. A device for detecting light allowing retrieval of a physiological parameter of a user carrying said device, said device comprising:

a light source arranged for emitting light of at least a first wavelength into tissue of the user;

a wavelength converter arranged for receiving at least part of the emitted light after interaction of the emitted light with the tissue and for converting the received light into at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and

a light sensor arranged for receiving light converted by said wavelength converter;

wherein said wavelength converter is formed as a rod or cylinder and is arranged such that it receives light at a lateral side surface and emits converted light at a first front surface.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said wavelength converter comprises a doped material arranged for converting the wavelength of the received light.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said doped material arranged for converting the wavelength of the received light comprises a material doped with fluorescent dye or quantum dots.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said wavelength converter is configured to convert the received light into a second wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said wavelength converter is arranged between the light source and the light sensor.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said wavelength converter is arranged for receiving light reflected from the tissue.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said wavelength converter is arranged at a distance from the light source for receiving light transmitted through the tissue.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said wavelength converter is made of a ceramic material.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said wavelength converter is made of one of the following materials:

glass-ceramics doped with Mn2+; non-cubic crystals incorporated into index-matching matrixes;

glass-ceramics doped with Co3+; non-cubic crystals incorporated into index-matching matrixes;

garnets or cubic crystals doped/co-doped with Cr3+, Nd3+, Tm3+.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 ,

wherein said glass-ceramics doped with Mn2+comprises one or more of garnets or cubic crystals doped/co-doped with Mn2+, Mn4+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Eu3+, Sm3+, Eu2+, Yb2+; and

wherein said non-cubic crystals comprise phosphors doped with Ce3+, Pr3+, Eu2+, Yb2+; and

wherein said Eu3+incorporated into index-matching matrixes comprise_TeO2, SnO/P2O5, or Bi2O3 containing glasses, high-index polyimide;

wherein said glass-ceramics doped with Co3+comprises one or more of garnets or cubic crystals doped/co-doped with Ce3+, Mn2+, Mn4+, Cr3+; and wherein said non-cubic crystals comprise phosphors doped with Ce3+, Pr3+, Eu2+, Yb2+, Eu3+, Tm3+, Sm2+, Cr3+, Ti3+incorporated into index-matching matrixes.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said wavelength converter comprises an outcoupling element.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said outcoupling element comprises at least one of: a tapered outcoupling element, a lens, a fluid, a polymer, a glue, a gel, and a collimator.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said light source comprises one or more LEDs, arrays of LEDs, or lasers.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein said light source comprises two light source elements for emitting light at two different first wavelengths.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said two different first wavelengths comprise a wavelength of visible light and a wavelength of infrared light.

16. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

further comprising a processor arranged for retrieving a physiological parameter of a user carrying said device from the light received by the light sensor.

17. A device for detecting light allowing retrieval of a physiological parameter of a user carrying said device, said device comprising:

a light source arranged for emitting light of at least a first wavelength into tissue of the user;

a wavelength converter arranged for receiving at least part of the emitted light after interaction of the emitted light with the tissue and for converting the received light into at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and

a light sensor arranged for receiving light converted by said wavelength converter;

wherein said wavelength converter comprises a mirror at a first front surface and/or at a second front surface opposite the first front surface for internally reflecting the light.

18. A method for detecting light allowing retrieval of a physiological parameter of a user carrying a device for detecting light, said method comprising:

emitting, using a light source, light of at least a first wavelength into tissue of the user,

receiving at least part of the emitted light after interaction of the emitted light with the tissue,

converting, using a wavelength converter of the device, the received light into at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and

receiving, by a light sensor, the converted light;

wherein said wavelength converter is formed as a disk or ring, wherein the light source is arranged in a central area of the wavelength converter the light sensor is arranged at an edge of the wavelength converter, or comprises a fiber or a multitude of fibers.