Back to results
US 5,179,602 AGranted
Magnetically operated fiber optic switch for controlling light transmission
AssigneeNorcross Corporation
InventorRobert A. Norcross, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switching device which uses a pivotable switching element carrying a first magnet and a movable component carrying a second magnet mounted adjacent thereto, the north and south poles of the magnets being arranged so that, when the movable component is moved to a first location, the magnets attract and the pivotable element is in a first switch position and, when the movable component is moved to a second location, the magnets repel and the pivotable element is in a second switch position.
Claims7
A switching device comprising
- a pivotable switching means mounted so as to pivot about one end thereof between a first switch position and a second switch position;
- a first magnet mounted at or near another end of said pivotable switching means opposite to said one end;
- movable means mounted adjacent said pivotable switching means for movement along a path adjacent said pivotable switching means;
- a second magnet affixed to said movable means so as to move in a direction substantially along the path of movement of said movable means and generally perpendicularly to said first magnet;
- said magnets being arranged so that the north and south poles thereof produce an attractive force between them when said movable means is moved to a first location so as to cause said pivotable switching means to pivot to its first position and produce a repelling force between them when said movable means is moved to a second location so as to cause said pivotable switching means to pivot to its second position.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.