Abstract: An optical transducer includes a light source and a light detector mounted on a base member in laterally spaced relation to each other, a deformable membrane overlying the light source and light detector, and a light transparent body between the light source and light detector on one side, and the deformable membrane on the opposite side, such as to direct light emanating from the light source to the membrane, and to direct light reflected from the membrane to the light detector in accordance with the deformations of the membrane. According to the described method of making the optical transducer, the light source and light detector are enclosed in a first casing closed at one end by the base member and open at the opposite end; and the light transparent body is enclosed in a second casing to be closed at one end by the deformable membrane and open at the opposite end.

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: A lightwaveguide panel to be used with a a mobile telephone (MT) or personal digital assistant (PDA), the pannel comprises a first portion for lighting an LCD and/or a keyboard, and a second integral portion, said second portion including a first inclined surface for directing light from a source of light onto a light-reflecting acoustically responsive membrane, and a second inclined surface for directing light from said membrane onto a photo-detector.

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, a displaceable member overlying and spaced from the light source and light detector and effective to reflect light from the light source to the light detector, and light shielding means effective to shield the light detector from exposure to the light source except for the light reflected by the displaceable member from the light source to the light detector. The light detector is configured to substantially surround the light source such as to receive light emitted in substantially all directions from the light source for reflection to the light detector by the displaceable member.

Abstract: A method of making optical transducers by producing an integrated structure including, in a rectangular matrix array, a plurality of discrete light sources, a plurality of discrete light detectors each laterally spaced from a light source, a light shield in the space between a light source and a light detector for shielding the light detector from direct exposure to the light source, and a transparent plastic potting material embedding the light sources, light detectors and light shield; and cutting the integrated structure, along lines of the matrix, into individual optical units, each including a light source, a light detector, a light shield therebetween all embedded in the transparent plastic potting material, and an optical window for outputting light from the light source and for transmitting to the light detector light reflected back from the light source.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a noise suppression phantom power optical microphone system having an optical microphone consisting of a light source having an input terminal, a membrane and a photodetector having an output terminal, the system including a signal amplifier connectable to the output terminal of the photodetector; a processing amplifier connected to the output of the signal amplifier for providing high amplification to relatively weak input signals and low amplification to relatively strong input signals; a first circuit connecting the input terminal of the light source to a phantom power source; a second circuit connecting the output of the signal amplifier to the first circuit, and a third circuit connecting the output of the processing amplifier to the first circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides a head for an optical microphone/sensor, including first and second light guides; the first light guide being coupled at an input end to a source of light and having an output end portion for transmitting light onto a membrane; the second light guide having an input end portion for receiving light reflected from the membrane and an output end coupled to a photodetector; the output end and input end portions each having an upper face and side surfaces and being disposed in close proximity to each other and optically separated along adjacent surfaces; characterized in that in order to utilize maximum light energy transmitted through the light guides by the light source, reflected by the membrane and received by the photodetector, at least one of the faces or surfaces is configured to extend along one or more planes which differ from the plane including the axes of the transmission of the light energy emitted from the light source and received by the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical transducer includes a light source and a light detector mounted on a base member in laterally spaced relation to each other, a deformable membrane overlying the light source and light detector, and a light transparent body between the light source and light detector on one side, and the deformable membrane on the opposite side, such as to direct light emanating from the light source to the membrane, and to direct light reflected from the membrane to the light detector in accordance with the deformations of the membrane. According to the described method of making the optical transducer, the light source and light detector are enclosed in a first casing closed at one end by the base member and open at the opposite end; and the light transparent body is enclosed in a second casing to be closed at one end by the deformable membrane and open at the opposite end.

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, a displaceable member overlying and spaced from the light source and light detector and effective to reflect light from the light source to the light detector, and light shielding means effective to shield the light detector from exposure to the light source except for the light reflected by the displaceable member from the light source to the light detector. The light detector is configured to substantially surround the light source such as to receive light emitted in substantially all directions from the light source for reflection to the light detector by the displaceable member.

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.

Abstract: A method of making optical transducers by producing an integrated structure including, in a rectangular matrix array, a plurality of discrete light sources, a plurality of discrete light detectors each laterally spaced from a light source, a light shield in the space between a light source and a light detector for shielding the light detector from direct exposure to the light source, and a transparent plastic potting material embedding the light sources, light detectors and light shield; and cutting the integrated structure, along lines of the matrix, into individual optical units, each including a light source, a light detector, a light shield therebetween all embedded in the transparent plastic potting material, and an optical window for outputting light from the light source and for transmitting to the light detector light reflected back from the light source.

Abstract: The invention provides a microphone/sensor, including a housing defining a chamber and having an opening; at least one pair of optical waveguides, each having an input end portion and an output end portion, the input end portion of a first waveguide being optically coupled to a source of light and the output end portion of a second waveguide being optically coupled to a light intensity detector; a membrane having two opposite surfaces extending across the opening to form a sealed-off chamber inside the housing; a head, including the input end portion of the second optical waveguide and the output end portion of the first optical waveguide, affixedly located at least in proximity to each other, each of the output end portion of the first waveguide and input end portion of the second waveguide having an optical axis and an output face, the output face being cut at an angle &thgr; with respect to the axis, the axes forming an angle &agr; between them, wherein, upon operation, the light emerging from the output e

Abstract: The invention provides a smart optical microphone/sensor for sensing distances to a membrane or to a light-reflecting surface, including a source of light for illuminating the membrane or light-reflecting surface; a photodetector for receiving light reflected from the membrane or light-reflecting surface and for producing output signals; adjustable means for supplying power to the source of light, and a pre-amplifier for amplifying the output signals, whereby the sensitivity of the microphone/sensor can be adjusted.

Abstract: A dynamic noise suppression system for an optical microphone including an optical microphone having a light source illuminating an acoustically sensitive membrane reflecting light onto a photodetector and an input and an output, a logarithmic amplifier connected to the output of the optical microphone, a variable impedance connected between the output of the amplifier and the input to the optical microphone, the variable impedance receiving control signals from the output of the amplifier, the output of the optical microphone, or an external source.

Abstract: An optical microphone which comprises a source of light connectable to a power source for illuminating an acoustically sensitive membrane; a photo detector having an output for transforming light reflected by the membrane into electrical signals proportional to the intensity of the reflected light; and a circuit for measuring the level of signals at the output of the photodetector for controlling the current fed to the source of light by the power source so that the current is low when the output signals of the photodetector are lower than a defined value, and the current is high when the output signals of the photodetector are higher than the defined value.

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 portion˜an 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: The invention provides an echo-cancelling system for an optical microphone, for eliminating acoustical echoes from a source of acoustical signals to which the microphone is connected, the system including a source of light for illuminating the acoustical membrane; a photodetector for receiving light reflected from the membrane and for producing output signals; means for supplying power to the source of light; a preamplifier for amplifying the output signals; an input terminal for receiving electrical signals from the source of acoustical signals; a time delay circuit for receiving signals from the source of acoustical signals, and a circuit for regulating the amplitude of the delayed electrical signals, connected between the delay circuit and the source of light, for changing the current supplied to the source of light by the light source power means.

Abstract: A communication helmet having an enhanced noise reduction effect. The communication helmet incorporates a microphone disposed in the vicinity of the mouth of the speaker wearing the helmet. The microphone is an optical microphone comprising a diaphragm (31) vibrating with sound pressure, a case (40) containing the diaphragm (31) and having a first opening (38) and a second opening (39) open in symmetric positions and facing the diaphragm (31), a light source (32) for projecting a light beam to the diaphragm (31), and a photodetector (35) receiving part of the reflected light of the light beam projected to the diaphragm (31) and outputting a signal corresponding to the vibration of the diaphragm (31). The optical microphone is fixed to a fixing base (250) at a predetermined angle so that the incoming sound wave may uniformly enter the first opening (38) and the second opening (39).