Patent US4082435A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4082435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical switch
Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
•
Filing: 1976-01-07
•
Granted: 1978-04-04
•
Expires: 1996-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A bistable optical switch for use in control of fiber optic light transmission for blocking one path while opening another is provided having at least a single movable member which may be positionable within a guide member for interrupting at least one optical path therethrough. The movement and position of the movable member may be electrically controllable by attracting and repulsing force members while preferably no power is required to maintain a stable position.
Inventors
- 👤 Vernon Zeitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3572; G02B6/351; G02B6/353; G02B6/3538; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3546; G02B6/3548; G02B6/3552; G02B6/358
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A switch for interrupting one of a plurality of optical paths, comprising: a housing, said housing having a plurality of said optical paths therethrough; means for interrupting one of said optical paths while at least one of said optical paths is uninterrupted, said interrupting and uninterruption being a logical OR operation, said means having permanent magnetic properties and being slidably positioned within said housing; and means for alternately attracting and repulsing said interrupting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A switch for interrupting one of a plurality of optical paths, comprising: a housing, said housing having a plurality of said optical paths therethrough; means for interrupting one of said optical paths while at least one of said optical paths is uninterrupted, said interrupting and uninterruption being a logical OR operation, said means having permanent magnetic properties and being slidably positioned within said housing; and means for alternately attracting and repulsing said interrupting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said interrupting means includes a permanently magnetized rectilinear slug member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The switch of claim 2 wherein said slug member is free to move within said housing, said slug being oriented to have one of its poles pointing in one direction of movement and the other of its poles pointing in the opposite direction of movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The switch of claim 3 wherein said alternately attracting and repulsing means includes a pair of electromagnets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The switch of claim 4 wherein said housing contains an elongate guideway and wherein said slug magnet is free to travel from one end of said guideway to the other end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The switch of claim 5 wherein said pair of electromagnets are positioned on each end of said slug travel path in said guideway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The switch of claim 6 wherein said pair of electromagnets are simultaneously and complementarily activated to provide alternating fields of magnetic force resulting in same pole presentation to both ends of said magnetic slug, said magnets being each connected to a current driver wherein driver operation is controlled by an output from a complementary outputted flip flop.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-03 | 1981-10-03 | 1982-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-03 | 1985-10-03 | 1986-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-03 | 1989-10-03 | 1990-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |