Optical switch activator with glowable member

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 with respect to said distal ends, where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to a first axis where said path intersects said first axis, where said first axis is parallel to and extends through said first optical fiber's distal end;

• where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to a second axis where said path intersects said second axis, where said second axis is parallel to and extends through said second optical fiber's distal end, 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, said 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 optical switch activator 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 sufficient 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 with respect to said distal ends of said optical fibers, where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to a first axis where said path intersects said first axis, where said first axis is parallel to and extends through said first optical fiber's distal end;

• and where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to a second axis where said path intersects said second axis, where said second axis is parallel to and extends through said second optical fiber's distal end, wherein said first axis and said second axis are parallel or nearly parallel;
• 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, said 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, and wherein reflection or re-emission of light from said glowable material is used in establishing said optical path between said first and second distal ends when said movable member is in said first position;
• 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 and where said first and said second optical fibers bend between said distal and said proximal ends with movement of said movable activator body portion.