Self illuminating touch activated optical switch
US5424533A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 13, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3582
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention teaches a touch activated switch. The switch comprises a light source for generating a light ray. Further, the switch comprises a first lens for collimating the light source's light ray. The first lens, as a result, generates a collimated light ray in a first direction. In a second direction, the first lens forms a first and a second focal point, such that the light source is positioned at the first focal point. Moreover, the switch comprises a second lens for converging the collimated light ray to a surface. This surface scatters the collimated light ray in the direction of the first lens when the surface is substantially touched. The switch also comprises a detector for detecting the collimated light ray which have been scattered by touching the surface, with the detector being positioned at the second focal point, such that the switch is activated in response to touching the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.