Optical switch
AssigneeCox Research & Technology, Inc.
InventorsRaleigh I. Cox, Christopher E. Cox
Life of this patent
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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 are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap.
Claims14
An optical switch comprising a housing having an interior, a powered light source and a powered light detector, said light source and light detector located remote from said housing, said light source connected to said housing with a first light guide, said light detector connected to said housing with a second light guide, said first and second light guides having distal ends positioned into said housing and said distal ends being optically aligned but separated by a gap within said interior and a means to interrupt a light beam, said means to interrupt a light beam adapted to removably occupy said gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.