Linear operating mechanism for an optical switch
US5952648A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10F55/25
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A linear operating mechanism for a slotted optical switch 10 which produces a guaranteed OFF-point for a consistent linear displacement of a switch operator 58 with respect to a reference surface 66 of the device enclosure 62. The guaranteed OFF-point is consistently repeatable from one device to another. The device enclosure 62 defines an integrally formed support for receiving an emitter 14 and a receiver 18 of the slotted optical switch 10. The enclosure 62 further defines a fixed Off-plane 114 immediately adjacent the receiver 18 and precisely located with respect to a reference surface 66 on an outside surface of the enclosure 62. The switch operator 58 is received within the optical switch slot and has a distal end 86 extending outside the enclosure 62 a precise distance with respect to the reference surface 66 when the operator is in a normally biased first position. A window 74 defined by the operator at a predetermined position with respect to its distal end 84 determines the normal state of the optical switch 10 and changes that state as the operator 58 is linearly moved to a second position in response to an external force applied to its distal end 86. One edge 78/82 of …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.