Optical Switch Activator with Glowable Member
OwnerChristopher E. Cox, Raleigh L. Coxinventors
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Abstract
An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and a part of the activator housing is a glowable diffuse reflector. The switch includes a moveable member that moves in a path in the switch body between an optical path present state and an optical path absent state.
Claims14
An optical switch activator comprising an activator body, and a first and second optical fiber each having distal and proximal ends, said optical fiber distal ends coupled to said activator body, said first optical fiber connectable to a light source at said first optical fiber proximal end, and said second optical fiber connectable to a light detector at said second optical fiber proximal end, said optical switch activator further comprising a moveable member, said moveable member moveable along a path between a first position and a second position on said activator body, where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to an axis defined by at least one of said first optical fiber's distal end or said second optical fiber's distal end, wherein said first and second optical fibers are orientated nearly parallel to one another at the distal ends;
- whereby in said first position, an optical path is present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and in said second position, an optical path is not present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and said activator body further comprises in part a glowable material, where reflection or re-emission of light from said glowable material is used in establishing said first position of optical alignment;
- and wherein said activator body has an axis of light orientation, said axis of light orientation being defined by an axis extending though said distal end of one of said first optical fiber or second optical fiber, and wherein moveable member path is not inline with said axis of light orientation.
An optical switch activator comprising an activator body, and a first and second optical fiber each having distal and proximal ends, said optical fiber distal ends coupled to said activator body, said first optical fiber connectable to a light source at said first optical fiber proximal end, and said second optical fiber connectable to a light detector at said second optical fiber proximal end, said optical switch activator further comprising a moveable member, said moveable member moveable along a path between a first position and a second position on said activator body, where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to an axis defined by at least one of said first optical fiber's distal end or said second optical fiber's distal end, wherein said first and second optical fibers are orientated nearly parallel to one another at the distal ends;
- whereby in said first position, an optical path is present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and in said second position, an optical path is not present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fibers, and said activator housing further comprises in part a glowable material, where reflection or re-emission of light from said glowable material is used in establishing said first position of optical alignment;
- and said optical switch further comprises an exterior housing, said exterior housing being moveable, said activator body coupled to said exterior housing so that said activator body moves in response to movement of said exterior housing, said moveable member moving between said first position and said second position in response to movement of said exterior housing.
An optical switch activator comprising an activator body, and a first and second optical fiber each having distal and proximal ends, said optical fiber distal ends coupled to said activator body, said first optical fiber connectable to a light source at said first optical fiber proximal end, and said second optical fiber connectable to a light detector at said second optical fiber proximal end, said optical switch activator further comprising a moveable member, said moveable member moveable along a path between a first position and a second position on said activator body, where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to an axis defined by at least one of said first optical fiber's distal end or said second optical fiber's distal end, wherein said first and second optical fibers are orientated nearly parallel to one another at the distal ends;
- whereby in said first position, an optical path is present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and in said second position, an optical path is not present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and said moveable member further comprises in part a glowable material, where reflection or re-emission of light from said glowable material is used in establishing said first position of optical alignment;
- and said activator body having a portion that is movable, and said moveable member moving between said first position and said second position in response to movement of said movable activator body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.