US4100422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light conductor in a signal isolator
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1976-08-18
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Granted: 1978-07-11
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Expires: 1996-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A conductor for the transport of light between a photo-emitter and a photosensitive receiver. Light conductor comprising a conductor element having total reflection the main face of which has substantially the shape of a hemispherical surface part and in which the emitter and the receiver are situated diametrically in the vicinity of the spherical surface part. Application especially to photocouplers having a semiconductor emitter and receiver.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Claude Thillays
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/4295
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A light conductor, comprising at least one element for conducting light by total reflection, said element being formed from a material having an index of refraction n 1 and has a first main face which bounds an exterior medium having an index of refraction n 2 which is lower than n 1 , the first main face having the shape of a part of the surface of a sphere, said part being situated on a side of an arch of a great circle on the sphere, an injection zone of light situated in the proximity of a first end of the arch, a collecting zone of light situated in the proximity of a second end of said arch, the location of the injection and collection zones being such that the distance between each of the collection and injection zones and the center of the sphere being at most equal to the radius of the said sphere and at least equal to the product of the radius of the sphere and the sine of a limit angle equal to the arcsine n 2 /n 1 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A light conductor, comprising at least one element for conducting light by total reflection, said element being formed from a material having an index of refraction n 1 and has a first main face which bounds an exterior medium having an index of refraction n 2 which is lower than n 1 , the first main face having the shape of a part of the surface of a sphere, said part being situated on a side of an arch of a great circle on the sphere, an injection zone of light situated in the proximity of a first end of the arch, a collecting zone of light situated in the proximity of a second end of said arch, the location of the injection and collection zones being such that the distance between each of the collection and injection zones and the center of the sphere being at most equal to the radius of the said sphere and at least equal to the product of the radius of the sphere and the sine of a limit angle equal to the arcsine n 2 /n 1 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the injection zone is provided at a distance to the center of the sphere situated between the radius of the sphere and the 11/10 of the product of the said radius and the sine of said limit angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arch of the great circle of the conductor element is substantially a half great circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arch of the great circle of the conductor element is substantially a great circle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first main face of the conductor element is a part of a symmetrical hemispherical zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor element is also bounded by a second main face which lies opposite to the first.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductor element is bounded laterally by two flat bases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said conductor element has substantially the shape of a spherical notch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said conductor element has substantially the shape of a symmetrical spherical segment having two bases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said conductor element has substantially the shape of a hemisphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductor element has substantially the shape of a sphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second main face is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the tangent at the summit of the said first main face.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said second main face has a cavity bordered by an edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 13 wherein said cavity is a spherical surface part which is coaxial to the first main face.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first and second main faces are concentric and homothetic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 13 wherein the dimensions and the position of the said cavity are such that it is enclosed in part of the sphere, that the surface of the cavity is concentric with the part of the spherical surface which forms the first main face, and wherein the radius of the cavity is equal to the product of the radius of the spherical surface of the said first main face with the sine of the limit angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 14, wherein the radius of said spherical surface which forms the second main face is larger than the product of the value of the radius of the spherical surface of the first main face with the sine of the limit angle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the height of said spherical segment is smaller than 2R sin θ, where R is the radius of the sphere corresponding to the first main face and where θ is equal to said limit angle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the height of said spherical segment is larger than 2R sin θ, where R is equal to the radius of the sphere corresponding to said first main face and where θ is equal to said limit angle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said conductor element is elongated by an extra conductor in the firm of a cylindrical column the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the radius of the first main face of the said conductor element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one means for transferring the light between the conductor element and the exterior medium including optical fiber having a suitable section which reaches one of the ends of the arch of the great circle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 21, wherein said fiber has a section of a dimension which is smaller than the product of the radius of the first main face with the difference between 1 and the sine of the limit angle, and wherein said fiber reaches substantially between the end of the main diameter and the point of which the distance to the center is equal to the product of the said radius with the sine of said limit angle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one place for transmission between the conductor and the exterior medium is provided with a space for accommodating opto-electronic elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductor comprises glass.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A light conductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductor comprises plastic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light emitter on one side of said great arch, and a light receiver on the other side of said great arch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the first main face of the conductor element is hemispherical and that the bases for the transfer of the light from the light emitter to the conductor and from the conductor to the light receiver are substantially coplanar.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one place for the transfer of light is directly on the second main face of the conductor element.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said conductor supports separately on the one hand the emitter and on the other hand the light receiver.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said conductor bears on a support.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said conductor is of a plastic material and that it is moulded on at least the emitter and the light receiver.
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) | 1981-07-10 | 1982-01-09 | 1982-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-01-09 | 1986-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-10 | 1990-01-09 | 1990-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |