OPTICAL MICROPHONE

摘要

The optical microphone disclosed in the present application is an optical microphone which detects acoustic waves propagating through an environmental fluid using light waves. The optical microphone is provided with an acoustic receiving unit (2), a light source (4), a light blocking portion (6), and a photoelectric conversion unit (5). The acoustic receiving unit (2) includes: a propagation medium portion (7), which is configured by a solid propagation medium, has an incident surface through which acoustic waves enter, and propagates the acoustic waves that have entered through the incident surface thereof; and a first support unit (8), which has an aperture for the acoustic waves and supports the propagation medium portion so that the incident surface is exposed in the aperture. The light source (4) is a light source (4) for emitting light waves (3), in which the light waves pass through the propagation medium portion across the acoustic waves which propagate in the propagation medium portion. The light blocking portion (6) has a ridge that is parallel to the incident surface of the propagation medium portion and that divides the light waves that have passed through the propagation medium portion into a blocked portion and an unblocked portion. The photoelectric conversion unit (5) receives the portion of the light waves that have passed through the propagation medium portion (7) not blocked by the light blocking portion and outputs electrical signals.