1. A showerhead emitting a vibrant spray pattern comprising
an inlet in an upstream end of the showerhead for receiving water from a water source;
an outer showerhead body sealingly connected to the inlet;
a stationary faceplate sealingly connected to a downstream end of the showerhead body wherein the faceplate includes;
multiple elongated troughs for temporary storage of water therein generally parallel to the plane of the faceplate, radiating from the center of the faceplate and formed as a recess in an upstream surface of the faceplate;
the faceplate troughs having one or more spray apertures therein extending through a downstream surface of the faceplate;
at least one faceplate ramp surface in the troughs extending from a downstream surface of the troughs to the spray apertures in the faceplate;
and a rotatable turbine with water outlets therein and with each outlet overlying an upstream edge of multiple troughs in the faceplate;
whereby rotation of the turbine delivers water to the multiple faceplate troughs for ultimate discharge from spray apertures in the faceplate.
2. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein the rotatable turbine also includes upstanding radial and peripheral walls to facilitate temporary storage of water before entering the faceplate.
3. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein the troughs in the faceplate include two or more ramp surfaces with different ramp slopes and length.
4. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein the troughs in the faceplate are curvilinear in shape.
5. The showerhead of claim 1, further comprising a water distributor with downwardly sloped channels directing water from the inlet to the turbine.
6. The showerhead of claim 1 wherein the spray apertures in the faceplate are triangular in cross section.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a frame comprising at least two rigid or semirigid portions coupled to one or more pairs of flexible hinge elements, wherein the one or more pairs of flexible hinge elements are disposed substantially symmetric relative to an optical axis and are configured to allow the frame to expand and contract along the optical axis; and
at least two housings configured to hold optical components disposed on the at least two rigid or semirigid portions of the frame, respectively, along the optical axis, wherein the at least two housings are configured to move along the optical axis without changing orientation relative to one another as the frame expands and contracts along the optical axis.
2. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more pairs of flexible hinge elements comprise one or more pairs of living hinges, pin hinges, or bar links.
3. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises one or more of a thermoplastic material, a metal, a metallic alloy, or a composite material.
4. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two housings comprise an emitter housing configured to receive an emitter and a detector housing configured to receive a detector.
5. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two rigid or semirigid portions comprise an annular structure.
6. The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two rigid or semirigid portions comprise a plurality of flat sides.
7. The sensor assembly of claim 6, wherein the one or more pairs of flexible hinge elements are configured to constrain opposing flat sides of the plurality of flat sides of the frame to remain substantially parallel to one another as the frame expands and contracts along the optical axis.
8. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a frame comprising two or more pairs of rigid or semirigid flat pieces and a plurality flexible hinge elements, wherein each pair of flat pieces comprises a first flat piece disposed on an opposite side of the frame from a second flat piece, and wherein the flexible hinge elements enable the first and the second flat pieces of each of the two or more pairs of flat pieces to remain substantially parallel to one another as the frame expands and contracts; and
an emitter housing and a detector housing respectively disposed on the first and second flat pieces of one of the two or more pairs of flat pieces, wherein the flexible hinge elements enable the one of the two or more pairs of flat pieces to move toward and away from one another as the frame expands and contracts.
9. The sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises one or more of a thermoplastic material, a metal, a metallic alloy, or a composite material.
10. The sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of flexible hinge elements are disposed substantially symmetric relative to an optical axis defined by the emitter housing and the detector housing.
11. The sensor assembly of claim 8, comprising at least one integrated circuit device.
12. The sensor assembly of claim 8, comprising an emitter disposed in the emitter housing configured to emit two or more wavelengths of light; and comprising a detector disposed in the detector housing and configured to detect the light emitted from the emitter.
13. A system, comprising:
a monitor; and
a sensor configured to transmit signals to and from the monitor, the sensor comprising:
a frame comprising at least two rigid or semirigid portions coupled to one or more pairs of flexible hinge elements, wherein the one or more pairs flexible hinge elements are disposed substantially symmetric relative to an optical axis and are configured to allow the frame to expand and contract along the optical axis; and
at least two housings configured to hold optical components respectively disposed on the at least two rigid or semirigid portions of the frame along the optical axis, wherein the at least two housings are configured to move along the optical axis without altering an orientation of the at least two housings relative to one another as the frame expands and contracts along the optical axis.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least two housings comprise an emitter housing and a detector housing.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises an emitter disposed in the emitter housing and a detector disposed in the detector housing, and wherein the emitter is configured to emit at least two wavelengths of light, and wherein the detector is configured to detect the light emitted from the emitter.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more pairs of flexible hinge elements comprise one or more pair of living hinges, pin hinges, or bar links.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the monitor comprises a pulse oximetry monitor.
18. A sensor, comprising:
a frame comprising a first rigid or semirigid annular portion coupled to a second rigid or semirigid portion by at least one pair of flexible hinge elements, wherein the at least one pair of flexible hinge elements is disposed substantially symmetric relative to an optical axis and is configured to allow the frame to expand and contract along the optical axis; and
an emitter housing and a detector housing disposed on the first or second rigid or semirigid portions of the frame along the optical axis, wherein the emitter housing and the detector housing are configured to move relative to one another while remaining aligned along the optical axis.
19. The sensor of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a covering provided over the frame, the emitter housing, and the detector housing.
20. The sensor of claim 18, comprising an emitter disposed in the emitter housing configured to emit two or more wavelengths of light; and comprising a detector disposed in the detector housing and configured to detect the light emitted from the emitter.