Patent · US Expired

Transparent selective illumination means suitable for use in optically activated electrical switches and optically activated electrical switches constructed using same

US5047623A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
8References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 1990
Grant dateSep 10, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/4295
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A planar transparent light conducting means and an improved optically activated electrical switch made using the novel light conducting means are disclosed. The light conducting means further comprise light scattering means on one or more opposite planar surfaces thereof to transmit light from the light conducting means into adjacent media and reflective means on other surfaces of the light conducting means not containing the light scattering means. The optically activated electrical switch comprises at least two stacked photoconductive wafers, each having electrodes formed on both surfaces thereof, and separated by the planar transparent light conducting means. The light scattering means on the light conducting means face surfaces of the wafers not covered by the electrodes to transmit light from the light conducting means into the photoconductive wafers to uniformly illuminate and activate the switch.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.