Abstract: First and second carrier signals, distinguishable by phase, are respectively applied to infrared and red energy emitters. A detector receives the sum of the energy after modulation at the infrared and red wavelengths. The signal received by the detector is then demultiplexed into its original first and second components, thereby allowing determining of both the infrared and red modulation components. The first and second carrier signals may comprise time-varying periodic signals with identical frequency and frequency spectra, such as a pair of sine waves which are indistinguishable except by phase and amplitude. A 90.degree. phase difference is preferred, but any phase other than 0 or an integer multiple of 180.degree. is workable. A carrier frequency which avoids excessive interference from ambient light is preferred.

Abstract: A plurality of carrier signals, distinguishable by amplitudes of signal components (e.g., frequency components), are respectively applied to a plurality of energy emitters (e.g., infrared and red light emitters). A detector receives the sum of the energy after modulation at each emitter wavelength, e.g. by blood tissue of a patient. An output of the detector is then demultiplexed, whereby a component of modulation at each emitter wavelength may be determined. The carrier signals may comprise time-varying periodic signals with identical frequency and frequency components, such as mixtures of identical sets of pure sine waves. When the number of signal components exceeds the number of emitter wavelengths, sufficient information is provided during demultiplexing to detect and correct errors introduced by ambient light sources and other interference.

Abstract: A method of energy-reducing waveform shaping of carrier signals in a photoplethysmographic system, in which a carrier signal may comprise a time-varying periodic waveform comprising a sum of carrier components. The carrier signal has its energy reduced by adding additional carrier components, which reduce the energy envelope for a period of the carrier signal, while preserving the signal information. The method of energy-reducing waveform shaping may be coupled with frequency-division, phase-division and component-amplitude-division multiplexing, and more generally with any method of multiplexing which employs a time-varying periodic carrier signal. Redundant information may be used for error detection and correction.