Optical relay
US4187421A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 18, 1977 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 18, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/941
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A relay for electromagnetic radiation occurring in the optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum has a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver senses a propagated beam of electromagnetic radiation providing a signal corresponding thereto which is shaped in an electrical circuit and provided as an excitation signal to the transmitter. An audio alignment feature is included providing audio indications for alignment of the receiver with the beam of electromagnetic radiation which is to be relayed. The transmitter is directionally adjustable to provide a relayed beam of electromagnetic radiation in a direction different from the received beam. The method includes aligning the receiver with the beam of electromagnetic radiation and converting the received electromagnetic radiation beam to a corresponding electrical signal in the receiver. The method further includes exciting the electromagnetic radiation transmitter with the corresponding electrical signal so that the range of the received electromagnetic radiation beam is extended to include the sum of the ranges of the received and transmitted beams.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.