Controlling optical power in a sensor with the use of a faraday cage

Abstract

A patient monitoring sensor having a communication interface, through which the patient monitoring sensor can communicate with a monitor is provided. The patient monitoring sensor includes a light-emitting diode (LED) communicatively coupled to the communication interface and a detector, communicatively coupled to the communication interface, capable of detecting light. The patient monitoring sensor also includes a faraday cage disposed around the detector, wherein the faraday cage includes an aperture configured to limit an amount of light from the LED that the detector is able to detect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor, comprising:
 a body;   a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed on the body;   a detector disposed on the body to detect light emitted by the LED; and   a faraday cage comprising a flap portion of the body, wherein the flap portion folds over the detector and comprises an end that inserts into a slot of the body to align an aperture of the flap portion with the detector.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the flap portion folds over the detector via a hinge portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor of  claim 2 , wherein the end inserts into the slot when the flap portion folds over the detector at the hinge portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the end comprises a tapered end that inserts into the slot of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture comprises one or more openings through the flap portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more openings comprise a plurality of openings through the flap portion. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends beyond a dimension of the detector to facilitate alignment between the aperture and the detector. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the end comprises a locking member to block dislodgement of the end from the slot. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a visual indicator to facilitate alignment between the aperture and the detector. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a sensor, comprising:
 a communication interface to communicate with a monitor; 
 a body comprising a flexible circuit coupled to the communication interface; 
 a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed on the body; 
 a detector disposed on the body to detect light emitted by the LED; 
 a faraday cage comprising a flap portion of the body that adjusts from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration in which an end of the flap portion inserts into a slot of the body and an aperture of the flap portion overlaps the detector to limit an amount of the light received at the detector. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the flap portion adjusts from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration via a hinge portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the hinge portion comprises a notch, and the notch comprises a weak point that bends to adjust the flap portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a cable, and the cable is configured to connect a plug to the body of the sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising the monitor, wherein the sensor is coupled to the monitor via the plug. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is reusable, disposable, partially reusable, partially disposable, or any combination thereof.