Opto-electronic timing switch

Claim 2

An optoelectronic timing switch, comprising a monostable switching amplifier having an output signal in one of its two states, said amplifier having a control circuit for maintaining said amplifier in its non-stable state as long as said circuit furnishes an electric input signal above a threshold intensity; a radiation pulse source; a phosphorescent layer optically in front of said source; a radiation detector responsive to the glow intensity of said layer and electrically connected in said amplifieR control circuit to control said electric input signal; said phosphorescent layer having an effective afterglow persistence longer than the pulse duration to maintain said amplifier input signal above said threshold intensity for a prolonged timing period.

Claim 3

An optoelectronic timing switch, comprising primary radiation pulse means for issuing photon pulses, a radiation detector optically coupled with said primary radiation pulse means and having an optically variable electric parameter, a phosphorescent layer interposed between said primary pulse means and said detector, a switching amplifier connected to and controllable by said detector to issue a switch output pulse as long as the amplifier input controlled by said detector is above a threshold magnitude, said phosphorescent layer having an effective afterglow period of longer duration than said respective primary radiation pulses so as to maintain said electric parameter of said detector above a value at which the sum of radiation from said primary radiation pulse means keeps said amplifier input magnitude above said threshold, whereby said switching amplifier stops delivering said output pulse upon elapse of a desired timing period of prolonged duration relative to that of said respective primary pulses.

Claim 4

An optoelectronic timing switch, comprising primary radiation pulse means for issuing photon pulses, a radiation detector optically coupled with said primary radiation pulse means and having an optically variable electric parameter, a phosphorescent layer interposed between said primary pulse means and said detector, a switching amplifier connected to and controllable by said detector to issue a switch output pulse as long as the amplifier input controlled by said detector is above a threshold magnitude, said phosphorescent layer having an effective afterglow period of longer duration than said respective primary radiation pulses so as to maintain said electric parameter of said detector above a value at which the sum of radiation from said primary radiation pulse means keeps said amplifier input magnitude above said threshold, whereby said switching amplifier stops delivering said output pulse upon elapse of a desired timing period of prolonged duration relative to that of said respective primary pulses.

Claim 5

An optoelectronic timing switch, comprising a trigger circuit with a switching amplifier having two states, control means for applying a control signal to said amplifier and feedback means for biasing said amplifier to one of said two states if the control signal is below a threshold value; said control means including a photosensitive member, a primary photo-electric emission device for emitting photons in response to a control voltage, and secondary photon emission means furnishing a fading photoemission upon and after being excited by photons, said secondary photon emission means being arranged between said primary device and said photosensitive member so as to be exposed to the photon emission of said primary device.

Claim 6

An optoelectronic timing switch, comprising a trigger circuit with a switching amplifier having two states, control means for applying a control signal to said amplifier and feedback means for biasing said amplifier to one of said two states if the control signal is below a threshold value; said control means including a photosensitive member, a primary photo-electric emission device for emitting photons in response to a control voltage, and secondary photon emission means furnishing a fading photoemission upon and after being excited by photons, said secondary photon emission means being arranged between said primary device and said photosensitive member so as to be exposed to the photon emission of said primary device.

Claim 7

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said detector being a photo-resistor.

Claim 8

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said phosphorescent layer extending around said radiation detector.

Claim 9

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said phosphorescent layer forming a coating on said radiation detector and being at least in part transparent to said radiation pulses.

Claim 10

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said phosphorescent layer consisting substantially of phosphorescent paint material containing as the active phosphorescent substance at least one of the sulfides of zinc, zinc-cadmium, calcium, barium and strontium.

Claim 11

In a timing switch according to claim 7, said phosphorescent sulfide being embedded in a clear, colorless carrier substance in proximity to the radiation-exposed surface of said detector.

Claim 12

A timing switch according to claim 1, comprising an opaque housing, said amplifier and said detector being mounted in said housing.

Claim 13

In a timing switch according to claim 9, said radiation pulse source being outside of said housing, a lens being mounted on one end of said housing for passing and concentrating said radiation pulses upon said phosphorescent layer in said housing.

Claim 14

In a timing switch according to claim 9, said radiation pulse source being also mounted inside said housing.

Claim 15

In a timing switch according to claim 11, said radiation pulse source being a micro-incandescent lamp.

Claim 16

In a timing switch according to claim 11, said radiation pulse source being a flash lamp.

Claim 17

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said bistate switching amplifier comprising feed voltage supply means having respective positive and negative terminals, two complementary npn- and pnp-transistors, a load and the emitter-collector path of a first one of said transistors being serially connected between said two feed voltage terminals, the emitter-collector path of said second transistor being connected between one of said terminals and the base of said first transistor, a high-ohmic resistor connecting the base of said second transistor to said one terminal, a diode and a current limiting resistor connected in series with said radiation detector between said base of said second transistor and a circuit point intermediate said load and said first transistor, and another high-ohmic resistor connecting said other feed-voltage terminal with a circuit point intermediate said diode and said detector.

Claim 18

In a timing switch according to claim 14, said first transistor being of the pnp-type, said second transistor being of the npn-type, said one feed-voltage terminal being negative, and said other terminal being positive.

Claim 19

In a timing switch according to claim 14, said load being a relay winding.

Claim 20

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said radiation pulse source having a short pulse duration as compared with the interpulse intervals, and said optoelectronic timing switch being a pulse expander for providing an effective electric output pulse of proportionally longer persistence than said pulse duration.

Claim 21

In a timing switch according to claim 1, said radiation pulse source having a periodic pulse output in the form of variable-length trains of individual radiation pulses, and said timing period being longer than the cycle period of the individual pulses in said trains, whereby said optoelectronic switch operates as a digital integrator.