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US 7,255,009 B1Granted
Variable analog output pressure switch
AssigneeMicro Pneumatic Logic, Inc.
InventorSteve Severson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable analog output pressure switch having a diaphragm attached to a plunger, the plunger controlling the amount of light detected by a photocell or photodetector, the photocell or photodetector outputting voltage roughly proportional to an applied pressure on the diaphragm.
Claims13
A pressure switch comprising:
- a diaphragm for detecting change in pressure;
- a plunger coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said plunger is depressed due to an applied pressure on said diaphragm;
- and
- a light source located on one side of said plunger and a photodetector located on an opposite side of said plunger to detect an amount of light from the light source,
- wherein said switch provides an analog output varying according to the amount of light detected by said photodetector.
2 more elements
A pressure switch comprising:
- a light source and a photodetector relatively positioned such that said light detector detects an amount of light from said light source;
- a diaphragm for detecting change in pressure;
- a plunger coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said plunger is abutted on an outer surface by an actuator;
- and
- a shutter located on said plunger,
- wherein said shutter blocks the light from the light source to the photodetector as said plunger is depressed,
- wherein said variable output pressure switch outputs voltage proportional to light detected by said photocell when said plunger is depressed due to an applied pressure on said diaphragm, and
- wherein said discrete switch outputs a binary signal when said plunger is completely depressed.
5 more elements
A pressure switch comprising:
- an optical mechanism including a light source and a light detector, said light source and light detector being relatively positioned such that said light detector detects an amount of light from said light source;
- a shutter;
- and
- a pressure-sensitive actuation device responding to pressure applied thereto to cause said shutter to move gradually from a first position not in a light path between said light source and light detector to a second position in said light path,
- wherein said detector provides an analog output varying according to the amount of light detected by said detector.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.