US4429231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical system for interrogation of the status of a switch
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1981-11-25
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Granted: 1984-01-31
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Expires: 2001-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A system (FIG. 1) for interrogating the ON-OFF status of an electrical switch (31) comprises a semiconductor body (4) containing a PN junction and means (5) for electrically connecting an auxiliary switch (32) coupled to the interrogated switch, or alternately (FIG. 2) the interrogated switch (32), across the PN junction. Light (7) of a first wavelength incident on the semiconductor body causes light of a second wavelength (11) to be emitted from the body when the switch is open (OFF), whereas no light is emitted from the body when the switch is closed (ON). Therefore, photoelectric detection of the emission vs. non-emission of light of the second wavelength from the semiconductor body indicates the OFF vs. ON status of the switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard C. De Loach, Jr.
- 👤 Richard C. Miller
- 👤 Bertram Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:23
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08C; G08C23/00; G08C23/06; H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2589; H04B10/25891; H10; H10F; H10F55/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for interrogating the ON-OFF condition of an electrical switch comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) electrically conductive connection means adapted for connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (c) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength optically coupled to the semiconductor body; and (d) photoelectric means, optically coupled to the semiconductor body, for discriminating and detecting radiation of a second wavelength, a substantial amount of the radiation of the second wavelength being emitted from the semiconductor body in response to incidence thereon of the first wavelength when the electrical switch is in the OFF condition, but not emitted when the switch is in the ON condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for interrogating the ON-OFF condition of an electrical switch comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) electrically conductive connection means adapted for connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (c) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength optically coupled to the semiconductor body; and (d) photoelectric means, optically coupled to the semiconductor body, for discriminating and detecting radiation of a second wavelength, a substantial amount of the radiation of the second wavelength being emitted from the semiconductor body in response to incidence thereon of the first wavelength when the electrical switch is in the OFF condition, but not emitted when the switch is in the ON condition.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
115 words
A system comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) an electrical switch having an ON and an OFF condition; (c) electrically conductive connection means connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (d) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength optically coupled to the semiconductor body; and (e) photoelectric means, optically coupled to the semiconductor body, for discriminating and detecting radiation of a second wavelength, a substantial amount of the radiation of the second wavelength being emitted from the semiconductor body in response to incidence thereon of the first wavelength when the electrical switch is in the OFF condition, but not emitted when the switch is in the ON condition.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
115 words
A system comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) an electrical switch having an ON and an OFF condition; (c) electrically conductive connection means connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (d) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength optically coupled to the semiconductor body; and (e) photoelectric means, optically coupled to the semiconductor body, for discriminating and detecting radiation of a second wavelength, a substantial amount of the radiation of the second wavelength being emitted from the semiconductor body in response to incidence thereon of the first wavelength when the electrical switch is in the OFF condition, but not emitted when the switch is in the ON condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the photoelectric means is located at a central location and the semiconductor body is located at a separate location physically remote from the central location.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for interrogating the ON-OFF condition of an electrical switch comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) electrically conductive connection means adapted for connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (c) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength; (d) a principal optical fiber having a first end optically coupled to the source by means of a bidirectional optical coupling device, the fiber having a second end optically coupled to the semiconductor body, whereby the fiber and coupling device couple radiation of the first wavelength from the source to the semiconductor body; and (e) a photodetector for detecting light of a second wavelength emitted by the semiconductor body, the photodetector being coupled to the first end of the fiber by means of the coupling device such that radiation of the second wavelength is coupled from the semiconductor body to the photodetector.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for interrogating the ON-OFF condition of an electrical switch comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) electrically conductive connection means adapted for connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (c) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength; (d) a principal optical fiber having a first end optically coupled to the source by means of a bidirectional optical coupling device, the fiber having a second end optically coupled to the semiconductor body, whereby the fiber and coupling device couple radiation of the first wavelength from the source to the semiconductor body; and (e) a photodetector for detecting light of a second wavelength emitted by the semiconductor body, the photodetector being coupled to the first end of the fiber by means of the coupling device such that radiation of the second wavelength is coupled from the semiconductor body to the photodetector.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
147 words
A system comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) an electrical switch having an ON and an OFF condition; (c) electrically conductive connection means connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (d) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength; (e) a principal optical fiber having a first end optically coupled to the source by means of a bidirectional optical coupling device, the fiber having a second end optically coupled to the semiconductor body, whereby the fiber and coupling device couple radiation of the first wavelength from the source to the semiconductor body; and (f) a photodetector for detecting light of a second wavelength emitted by the semiconductor body, the photodetector being coupled to the first end of the fiber by means of the coupling device such that radiation of the second wavelength is coupled from the semiconductor body to the photodetector.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
147 words
A system comprising: (a) a semiconductor body containing a PN junction; (b) an electrical switch having an ON and an OFF condition; (c) electrically conductive connection means connecting the electrical switch across the PN junction; (d) a source of optical radiation of a first wavelength; (e) a principal optical fiber having a first end optically coupled to the source by means of a bidirectional optical coupling device, the fiber having a second end optically coupled to the semiconductor body, whereby the fiber and coupling device couple radiation of the first wavelength from the source to the semiconductor body; and (f) a photodetector for detecting light of a second wavelength emitted by the semiconductor body, the photodetector being coupled to the first end of the fiber by means of the coupling device such that radiation of the second wavelength is coupled from the semiconductor body to the photodetector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The system of claim 2 or claim 5 further comprising means for coupling the electrical switch to a primary switch having an ON and an OFF condition, whereby the ON-OFF condition of the electrical switch switches whenever the ON-OFF condition of the primary switch switches, and whereby the controlled terminals of the electrical switch are electrically isolated from the primary switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 2 or claim 5 further comprising: (a) a primary switch having an ON and an OFF condition; and (b) means coupling the primary switch to the electrical switch, the controlled terminals of the electrical switch being electrically isolated from the primary switch, whereby the ON-OFF condition of the electrical switch switches whenever the ON-OFF condition of the primary switch switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 2 or claim 5 further comprising one or more additional electrical switches, each having an ON and an OFF condition, the connection means further connecting in series with the PN junction the one or more additional switches in series with the electrical switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4202000A
Cited
US4286171A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-30 | 1987-08-01 | 1988-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-30 | 1991-08-01 | 1992-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-30 | 1995-08-01 | 1996-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |