US4437728A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photo-switch
Assignee: Nihon Kaiheiki Industry Co Ltd
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Filing: 1981-09-25
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Granted: 1984-03-20
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Expires: 2001-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A photo-switch having a switch case, a plurality of photo-transmissive bodies inserted into the switch case with their ends arranged in a side-by-side relation, and an intermediate photo-transmissive body or a reflecting member carried by a switching means. The switching means is operable to move the ends of the intermediate photo-transmissive body or the reflecting member into and out of optical connection with the ends of the plurality of photo-transmissive bodies thereby to selectively interrupt the transmission of light between the photo-transmissive bodies. When the intermediate photo-transmissive body or the reflecting member is moved away from the ends of the photo-transmissive bodies, a light shielding member is brought into the gap therebetween to improve the resolution of the photo-switching operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeo Ohashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3574; G02B6/351; G02B6/3512; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/3552; G02B6/358; G02B6/3582
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A photo-switch comprising: a switch case; a first and a second photo-transmissive body introduced into said switch case and having ends arranged in parallel with each other; a third photo-transmissive body which is bent to have parallel ends opposing said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies; a shielding member adapted to shield the ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies from each other; and a switching means operable in accordance with the operation of a handle rockably mounted on said switch case, in such a manner that, when said ends of said third photo-transmissive body are brought to oppose said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies with a small gap therebetween or into contact with the same, said shielding member is moved away from said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies whereas, when said ends of said third photo-transmissive body are moved away from said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies, said shielding member is brought into the space between the ends of the first and second photo-transmissive bodies to optically insulate them from each other, thereby to selectively interrupt the transmission of light between said first and second-photo-transmissive bodies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A photo-switch comprising: a switch case; a first and a second photo-transmissive body introduced into said switch case and having ends arranged in parallel with each other; a third photo-transmissive body which is bent to have parallel ends opposing said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies; a shielding member adapted to shield the ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies from each other; and a switching means operable in accordance with the operation of a handle rockably mounted on said switch case, in such a manner that, when said ends of said third photo-transmissive body are brought to oppose said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies with a small gap therebetween or into contact with the same, said shielding member is moved away from said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies whereas, when said ends of said third photo-transmissive body are moved away from said ends of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies, said shielding member is brought into the space between the ends of the first and second photo-transmissive bodies to optically insulate them from each other, thereby to selectively interrupt the transmission of light between said first and second-photo-transmissive bodies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third photo-transmissive body is bent in an U or V-like form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein a reflecting member adapted for reflecting the light coming from either one of said first and second photo-transmissive bodies is used in place of said third photo-transmissive body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switching means includes a switching element operatively connected to said handle, said third photo-transmissive body being fixed to said switching element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said shielding member is adapted to be moved in accordance with the movement of said switching element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein a part of said switching element is used as said shielding member for shielding the light between said first and second photo-transmissive bodies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ends of said first to third photo-transmissive bodies have tapered end surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of combinations of first to third photo-transmissive bodies are incorporated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A photo-switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second photo-transmissive bodies are introduced into said switch case from the same side of the latter.
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) | 1987-03-20 | 1987-09-19 | 1988-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-20 | 1991-09-19 | 1992-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-20 | 1995-09-19 | 1996-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |