IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0756397
(2007-05-31)
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등록번호 |
US-7714732
(2010-06-03)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Cox, Raleigh I.
- Cox, Christopher E.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
16 |
초록
▼
An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing, The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The f
An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing, The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. An optical switch comprising a housing having an interior, a powered light source and a powered light detector, said light source and light detector located remote from said housing, said light source connected to said housing with a first light guide, said light detector connected to
We claim: 1. An optical switch comprising a housing having an interior, a powered light source and a powered light detector, said light source and light detector located remote from said housing, said light source connected to said housing with a first light guide, said light detector connected to said housing with a second light guide, said first and second light guides having distal ends positioned into said housing and said distal ends being separated by a gap within said interior, said optical switch further having a means to modify the received characteristics of a light beam (“means to modify”), said means to modify adapted to be movable with respect to at least one of said distal ends of said light guides between a first position A and a second position B. 2. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein said distal ends of said light guides are located in a separator assembly positioned in said housing, said separator assembly having a hollow interior portion, said separator assembly further having a means to dampen said means to modify. 3. The optical switch of claim 2 wherein said means to modify modifies the amplitude, frequency or polarization of a light beam. 4. The optical switch of claim 2 wherein said means to dampen said means to modify is a fluid located in said interior of said separator assembly. 5. The optical switch of claim 4 wherein said separator assembly comprises an ampoule. 6. The optical switch of claim 2 wherein said means to modify is an opaque fluid positioned in said interior of said separator assembly. 7. An optical float switch comprising a housing having an interior, a first and second light guide, said first and second light guides having distal ends positioned into said housing and said distal ends being separated by a gap within said interior, said optical switch further having a means to modify the received characteristics of a light beam (“means to modify”), said means to modify adapted to be movable with respect to at least one of said distal ends of said light guides between a first position A and a second position position B, where said distal ends are optically aligned in at least one of said positions A or B, and where said switch is floatable. 8. An optical switch comprising a housing, a powered light source and a powered light detector, said light source and light detector located remote from said housing, said light source connected to said housing with a first light guide, said light detector connected to said housing with a second light guide, said first and second light guides having distal ends positioned in said housing and said distal ends being separated by a gap and a means to modify a transmitted characteristic of a light beam, said means to modify a transmitted characteristic of a light beam adapted to be movable with respect to at least one of said optically aligned distal ends between a first position A and a second position B. 9. The optical switch of claim 8 wherein said optical switch includes an activator, where said activator is a toggle, push button, rotary dial, rocker, or key activated activator, or mechanical lever of a limit switch. 10. An optical switch comprising a housing having an interior, a powered light source and a powered light detector, said light source and light detector located remote from said housing, said light source connected to said housing with a first light guide, said light detector connected to said housing with a second light guide, said first and second light guides having distal ends positioned in said housing and one of said distal ends being movable between a first position of optical alignment with said second distal end and a second position of non-optical alignment with said second distal end. 11. The optical switch of claim 2, wherein said means to modify is a means to modify optical alignment of said distal ends. 12. A method of detecting the level of a liquid in a hazardous explosion prone environment, the method comprising the steps of deploying an optical switch in a hazardous explosion prone environment, said optical switch comprising a housing having an interior, a powered light source and a powered light detector, said light source and light detector located remote from said housing, said light source connected to said housing with a first light guide, said light detector connected to said housing with a second light guide, said first and second light guides having distal ends positioned into said housing and said distal ends being separated by a gap within said interior, said optical switch further having a means to modify the received characteristics of a light beam (“means to modify”), said means to modify adapted to be movable with respect to at least one of said distal ends of said light guides between a first position A and a second position B, and the step of emitting a light from said light source located remote from said hazardous explosion prone environment for transmission by said first light guide, and the step of examining said second light guide with said light receiver at a location remote from said hazardous explosion prone environment for the presence or absence of a light. 13. The optical switch of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a float adapted to float in a liquid. 14. The optical switch of claim 13 said further having a flexible cable coupled to said housing. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said hazardous environment is within a pumping station or treatment tank. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said light source emits light in pulses at periodic intervals and said step of examining said second light guide with said light receiver is undertaken to detect at the presence or absence of a predetermined number of light pulses over a predetermined time interval. 17. The method of claim 12 where said step of emitting light from said light source is undertaken upon request of a controller. 18. The method of claim 12 where said step of examining said second light guide with said light receiver is undertaken upon request of a controller. 19. The optical float switch of claim 7 further having a magnetic means weakly interacting with a material to delay the relative movement of said means to modify a transmitted characteristic of a light beam with respect to at least one of said distal ends. 20. The optical switch of claim 13 wherein said floatable housing is coupled to a bendable cable at a couple point on said housing, and said position A and position B are located on a linear axis in said housing that passes substantially through said couple point, said wherein one of said position A or position B is located in said gap between said distal ends of said first and second light guides. 21. The optical switch of claim 13 further comprising a paddle insert, said paddle having a top edge, side edge and bottom edge, a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion of said paddle being free to flex in the interior of said housing, said distal ends of said first and second light guides mounted on said paddle. 22. The optical switch of claim 20 further comprising a pump, said pump being activated when said movable means is located at one of said positions A or B, and deactivated when said movable means is at the other of said positions A or B.
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