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US 4,542,291 AGranted
Optical flex sensor
AssigneeVPL Research, Inc.
InventorThomas G. Zimmerman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical flex sensor is provided and consists of a flexible tube having two ends, a reflective interior wall within the flexible tube and a light source placed within one end of the flexible tube and a photosensitive detector placed within the other end of the flexible tube to detect a combination of direct light rays and reflected rays when the flexible tube is bent.
Claims11
An optical flex sensor which comprises:
- (a) fabric;
- (b) a unitary flexible tube component comprising detecting means providing output parameters continuously indicative of the extent of the bending of said tube;
- (c) means for securing said flexible tube to said fabric;
- and
- (d) means for transmitting said output parameters to an external device whereby said external device can determine when said fabric and secured flexible tube are bent.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.