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`9653-?TSCT
`First Named Inventor Steven Francis LeBoeuf
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`'
`
`UTILITY
`PATENT APPLICATION
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`(Only for new nonprov/slonol applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b)}
`
`Express Mail Label No.
`
`Title
`
`Wearable Light-Guiding Bands and Patches for ...
`
`/
`
`'-
`
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
`
`1. 0
`
`2. 0
`
`Fee Transmittal Form
`(PTO/SB/17 or equivalent)
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`See 37 CFR 1.27
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`[Total Pages 54
`4.0 Specification
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`12.0 English Translation Document
`[Total Sheets 21
`l
`(/f applicable)
`l 13.0 Information Disclosure Statement
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`6. Inventor's Oath or Declaration
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`fl2J3~:§
`Needham J. B~ddie, II
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`Date
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`February 19,2014
`Registration No. 40,519
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`if you need assistance In completing the form, call 1-800-PT0-9199 and select option 2.
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1002
`U.S. Patent No. 8,886,269
`
`0001
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`
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`r 1\J/r\lr\/ I~ \I,• IV)
`Approved for use through 01/31/2014. OMB 0651-0032
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`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid OMB control number.
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`Attorney Docket Number
`
`9653-?TSCT
`
`Application Number
`
`Title of Invention WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
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`Inventor Information:
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`Inventor
`1
`Legal Name
`
`I Remove I
`
`Prefix Given Name
`
`Middle Name
`
`Family Name
`
`Suffix
`
`Steven
`Francis
`LeBoeuf
`Residence Information (Select One) ® US Residency 0 Non US Residency 0 Active US Military Service
`I State/Province I NC
`I Country of ResidencE! I US
`City
`Raleigh
`
`Mailing Address of Inventor:
`
`Address 1
`
`824 Historian Street
`
`Address 2
`I Raleigh
`City
`Postal Code
`
`2
`Inventor
`Legal Name
`
`1 27603
`
`I State/Province
`I Countryi
`1 us
`
`I NC
`
`I Remove I
`
`Prefix Given Name
`
`Middle Name
`
`Family Name
`
`Suffix
`
`Jesse
`Berkley
`Tucker
`Residence Information (Select One) ® US Residency 0 Non US Residency 0 Active US Military Service
`I State/Province I NC
`I Country of ResidencE! I US
`City
`Knightdale
`
`Mailing Address of Inventor:
`
`Address 1
`
`3701 Ramsey Creek Drive
`
`Address 2
`I Knightdale
`City
`Postal Code
`
`1 27545
`
`Inventor
`3
`Legal Name
`
`I State/Province
`I Countryi
`1 us
`
`j NC
`
`I Remove I
`
`Prefix Given Name
`
`Middle Name
`
`Family Name
`
`Suffix
`
`Au mer
`Michael
`Edward
`Residence Information {Select One) @ US Residency 0 Non US Residency 0 Active US Military Service
`
`0002
`
`
`
`r I Vlf"'\lr\1 l"'t \ IJ:.-I..J)
`Approved for use through 01/31/2014. OMB 0651-0032
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`Attorney Docket Number
`
`9653-7TSCT
`
`Application Number
`
`Title of Invention WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
`City I Raleigh
`
`I State/Province I NC
`
`I Country of ResidencJ I US
`
`Mailing Address of Inventor:
`
`Address 1
`
`2218 The Circle
`
`Address 2
`I Raleigh
`City
`Postal Code
`
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`1 us
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`1 27608
`
`I NC
`
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`
`I
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`
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`Title of the Invention
`
`WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
`I Small Entity Status Claimed D
`
`Attorney Docket Number 9653-7TSCT
`
`Application Type
`
`Non provisional
`
`Subject Matter
`
`Utility
`
`Total Number of Drawing Sheets (if any)
`Filing By Reference :
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`D 35 U.S. C. 122(b) and certify that the invention disclosed in the attached application has not and will not be the
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`0003
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`
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`Approved for use through 01/31/2014. OMB 0651-0032
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`12691388
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`61208567
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`12691388
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`61208574
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`12691388
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`Claims benefit of provisional
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`61212444
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`Filing Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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`2010-01-21
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`Filing Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
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`2009-02-25
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`2009-02-25
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`2009-04-13
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`12691388
`
`Claims benefit of provisional
`
`61274191
`
`2009-08-14
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`r I U/1"'\IMJ I~\~~~ IV)
`Approved for use through 01/31/2014. OMB 0651-0032
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`
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`automatically attempt retrieval pursuant to 37 CFR 1.55(h)(1) and (2). Under the POX program, applicant bears the ultimate
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`Applications
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`This application (1) claims priority to or the benefit of an application filed before March 16, 2013 and (2) also
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`NOTE: By providing this statement under 37 CFR 1.55 or 1.78, this application, with a filing date on or after March
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`CCC \1\l"'h '"> "'1 -1-1
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`9653-?TSCT
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`Application Number
`
`Title of Invention WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
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`Applicant 1
`If the applicant is the inventor (or the remaining joint inventor or inventors under 37 CFR 1.45), this section should not be completed.
`The information to be provided in this section is the name and address of the legal representative who is the applicant under 37 CFR
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`proprietary interest) together with one or more joint inventors, then the joint inventor or inventors who are also the applicant should be
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`
`lo Legal Representative under 35 U.S.C. 117
`® Assignee
`lo
`0 Person to whom the inventor is obligated to assign.
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`lo Joint Inventor
`
`Name of the Deceased or Legally Incapacitated Inventor:\
`
`If the Applicant is an Organization check here.
`
`Organization Name I Valencell, Inc.
`Mailing Address Information For Applicant:
`
`~
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Address 1
`
`Address 2
`
`City
`Count.Y J us
`Phone Number
`
`2800-154 Sumner Blvd.
`
`Raleigh
`
`State/Province
`
`NC
`
`I
`
`Postal Code
`
`Fax Number
`
`27616
`
`0006
`
`
`
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`9653-7TSCT
`
`Application Number
`
`Title of Invention WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
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`Complete this section if assignee information, including non-applicant assignee information, is desired to be included on the patent
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`Prefix
`
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`
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`D
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`Mailing Address Information For Assignee including Non-Applicant Assignee:
`
`Address 1
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`Address 2
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`City
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`I
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`Signature:
`NOTE: This form must be signed in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33. See 37 CFR 1.4 for signature requirements and
`certifications.
`
`Signature
`
`First Name
`
`Needham J.
`
`/?;:±7Jc
`I L¥st Name I Boddie, II
`
`~
`
`Date (YYYY-MM-DD) 2014-02-19
`
`Registration Number
`
`40519
`
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`
`0007
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`
`
`r I V/Mir\1 l"t \ 1£.~ IVJ
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`Attorney Docket Number
`
`9653-?TSCT
`
`Application Number
`
`Title of Invention WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.76. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which
`is to file (and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. This
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`
`CCC \/\1..-..h '1 '1 -1-1
`
`0008
`
`
`
`Attorney Docket No. 9653-?TSCT
`
`WEARABLE LIGHT-GUIDING BANDS AND PATCHES
`FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation application of pending U.S. Patent
`
`Application Serial No. 12/691,388, filed January 21, 2010, which claims the benefit
`
`of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/208,567 filed
`
`5
`
`02/25/2009, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/208,574 filed 02/25/2009,
`
`U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/212,444 filed 4/13/2009, and U.S.
`
`Provisional Patent Application No. 61/274,191 filed 8/14/2009, the disclosures of
`
`which are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in their entireties.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates generally to headsets and, more
`
`particularly, to headset earbuds.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`There is growing market demand for personal health and
`
`environmental monitors, for example, for gauging overall health and metabolism
`
`during exercise, athletic training, dieting, daily life activities, sickness, and
`
`physical therapy. However, traditional health monitors and environmental
`
`monitors may be bulky, rigid, and uncomfortable- generally not suitable for use
`
`20
`
`during daily physical activity. There is also growing interest in generating and
`
`comparing health and environmental exposure statistics of the general public
`
`and particular demographic groups. For example, collective statistics may enable
`
`the healthcare industry and medical community to direct healthcare resources to
`
`where they are most highly valued. However, methods of collecting these
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`statistics may be expensive and laborious, often utilizing human-based
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`recording/analysis steps at multiple sites.
`1
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`0009
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`
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`Attorney Docket No. 9653-?TSCT
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`As such, improved ways of collecting, storing and analyzing
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`physiological information are needed. In addition, improved ways of seamlessly
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`extracting physiological information from a person during everyday life activities,
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`especially during high activity levels, may be important for enhancing fitness
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`5
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`training and healthcare quality, promoting and facilitating prevention, and
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`reducing healthcare costs.
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`SUMMARY
`It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce
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`10
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`a selection of concepts in a simplified form, the concepts being further described
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`below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key
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`features or essential features of this disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the
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`scope of the invention.
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`According to some embodiments of the present invention, a
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`15
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`headset configured to be attached to the ear of a person includes a base, an
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`earbud housing extending outwardly from the base that is configured to be
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`positioned within an ear of a subject, and a cover surrounding the earbud
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`housing. The base includes a speaker, an optical emitter, and an optical
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`detector. The cover includes light transmissive material that is in optical
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`20
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`communication with the optical emitter and the optical detector and serves as a
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`light guide to deliver light from the optical emitter into the ear canal of the subject
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`wearing the headset at one or more predetermined locations and to collect light
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`external to the earbud housing and deliver the collected light to the optical
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`detector. The optical emitter, via the light-guiding cover, directs optical energy
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`25
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`towards a particular region of ear and the optical detector detects secondary
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`optical energy emanating from the ear region. In some embodiments, the optical
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`detector may include an optical filter configured to pass secondary optical energy
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`at selective wavelengths. In some embodiments, the light transmissive material
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`of the cover may be configured, for example via the use of cladding and/or light
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`30
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`reflective material, such that the cover serves as a light guide that is coupled in
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`parallel to the optical emitter and detector. In some embodiments, the light
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`transmissive material of the cover may be configured, for example via the use of
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`cladding and/or light reflective material, such that the cover serves as a light
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`guide that is coupled perpendicular to the optical emitter and detector.
`2
`
`0010
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`
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`Attorney Docket No. 9653-7TSCT
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`In some embodiments, the headset may include various electronic
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`components secured to the base. For example, the headset may include one or
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`more environmental sensors configured to detect and/or measure environmental
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`conditions in a vicinity of the headset. The headset may include a signal
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`s
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`processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the optical
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`detector. For example, in some embodiments, a signal processor may be
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`configured to extract secondary optical energy and remove optical noise or
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`environmental noise. The headset may include a signal processor configured to
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`receive and process signals produced by the one or more environmental
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`sensors. In addition, the headset may include a transmitter configured to transmit
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`signals processed by the signal processor to a remote device in real time.
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`Headsets according to embodiments of the present invention may utilize, for
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`example, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, Zig Bee, or other wireless transmitters.
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`In some embodiments, a housing is secured to and overlies the
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`15
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`base so as to enclose and protect the speaker, optical emitter and optical
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`detector, as well as other electronic components secured to the base (e.g.,
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`sensors, processor, transmitter etc.).
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`The earbud housing is in acoustical communication with the
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`speaker and has at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker
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`can pass. The light-guiding cover surrounding the earbud housing also includes
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`at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass. The cover
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`may be formed from a soft, resilient material, such as silicone which deforms
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`when inserted within an ear canal of a subject. In some embodiments, the cover
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`includes an alignment member that facilitates alignment of the earbud housing
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`25 within an ear canal of a subject.
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`Light directed into the ear of a subject from a light emitter and the
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`subsequent collection of light at a light detector, according to embodiments of
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`the present invention, may be utilized for detecting and/or measuring, among
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`other things, body temperature, skin temperature, blood gas levels, muscle
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`30
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`tension, heart rate, blood flow, cardiopulmonary functions, etc.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, the light-guiding
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`cover may include a lens that is in optical communication with the optical emitter
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`and/or optical detector. The lens may be configured to focus light emitted by the
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`optical emitter and/or to focus collected light toward the optical detector. In some
`3
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`0011
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`
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`Attorney Docket No. 9653-7TSCT
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`embodiments, multiple lenses may be incorporated into a light-guiding cover.
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`In some embodiments, the light-guiding cover may include a light
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`diffusion region in optical communication with the light transmissive material that
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`diffuses light emitted by the optical detector.
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`5
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`In some embodiments, the light-guiding cover may include a
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`luminescence-generating region, such as a phosphor-containing region, that is in
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`optical communication with the light transmissive material. The luminescence(cid:173)
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`generating region may be embedded within the light-guiding cover and/or on a
`surface of the light-guiding cover. The luminescence-generating region is
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`10
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`configured to receive light emitted by the optical emitter and convert at least a
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`portion of the received light to light having a different wavelength from that of the
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`received light.
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`In some embodiments, the light-guiding cover includes one or more
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`grooves formed therein. Each groove is configured to direct external light to the
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`15
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`optical detector.
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`20
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`25
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`In some embodiments, the light transmissive material of the light(cid:173)
`guiding cover is configured to direct light from the optical emitter to a plurality of
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`locations at an outer surface of the cover for delivery into an ear canal of a
`subject.
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`In some embodiments, the light transmissive material of the light(cid:173)
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`guiding cover is a translucent material or includes translucent material in
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`selected locations.
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`In some embodiments, a light reflective material is on at least a
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`portion of one or both of the inner and outer surfaces of the light-guiding cover.
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`According to some embodiments of the present invention, a light-
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`guiding earbud for a headset includes light transmissive material that is in optical
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`communication with an optical emitter and optical detector associated with the
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`headset. The light transmissive material is configured to deliver light from the
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`optical emitter into the ear canal of a subject at one or more predetermined
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`30
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`locations and to collect light external to the earbud. housing and deliver the
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`collected light to the optical detector. In some embodiments, the light emitter and
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`light detector may be integral with the earbud. For example, in some
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`embodiments, a flexible optical emitter is incorporated within the earbud and is in
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`optical communication with the light transmissive material.
`4
`
`0012
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`
`
`Attorney Docket No. 9653-7TSCT
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`In some embodiments, an earbud includes at least one lens in
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`optical communication with the light transmissive material. Each lens may be
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`configured to focus light from the optical emitter onto one or more predetermined
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`locations in the ear of a subject and/or to focus collected external light onto the
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`5
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`optical detector
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud may
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`include luminescent material. Luminescent light is generated from optical
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`excitation of the luminescent material by an optical emitter.
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`In some embodiments of the present invention, an earbud may
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`10
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`integrate a sensor module containing a plurality of sensor elements for
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`measuring physiological information and at least one noise source for measuring
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`noise information. A "noise source", as used herein, refers to a sensor, such as
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`an optical sensor, inertial sensor, electrically conductive sensor, capacitive
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`sensor, inductive sensor, etc., and derives it name from the fact that it is a
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`15
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`source of input to a filter, such as an adaptive filter described below.
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`The physiological sensors of the sensor module may generate a
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`signal that includes physiological information plus noise information. The noise
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`may be removed by combining the physiological information and noise
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`information from the sensor module with noise information from the noise source
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`20
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`of the sensor module via an electronic filtering method, such as a signal
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`processing technique. Specific examples of such signal processing techniques
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`include FIR (Finite Impulse Resp