US4634877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical transmitter receiver switch
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1985-06-10
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2005-06-10
Abstract
Abstract An optical transmitter receiver switch incorporating a fiber optic light guide for communicating between electrically isolated circuits. Each switch has a photoemitter and a photosensor in optical communication with each other and with one end of the light guide. The photosensor and photoemitter are enclosed in an opaque housing and communicate with each other and the light guide via a transparent optical cavity. There results an unusually versatile optical isolator which, when in optical communication with a second optical transmitter receiver switch, forms the preferred relay.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry D. Wills
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3504; G02B6/354; G02B6/3554; G02B6/3556; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3574
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch comprising: a photoemitting transducer having leads for electrically exciting the photoemitting transducer; a photodetecting transducer having leads for detecting the light induced electrical response of the photodetecting transducer; a fiber optic light guide having a first end; an optial coupler simultaneously optically coupling the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and the first end of the light guide; and an opaque housing enclosing the optical coupler, the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and the first end of the light guide; wherein the photoemitting transducer and the photodetecting transducer are electrically isolated from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch comprising: a photoemitting transducer having leads for electrically exciting the photoemitting transducer; a photodetecting transducer having leads for detecting the light induced electrical response of the photodetecting transducer; a fiber optic light guide having a first end; an optial coupler simultaneously optically coupling the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and the first end of the light guide; and an opaque housing enclosing the optical coupler, the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and the first end of the light guide; wherein the photoemitting transducer and the photodetecting transducer are electrically isolated from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch according to claim 1 wherein the photoemitting transducer comprises a light emitting diode and the photodetecting transducer comprises a photosensitive semiconductor diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch according to claim 1 wherein the optical coupler comprises a body of substantially transparent material embedding the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and the first end of the light guide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch according to claim 3 wherein the outer surface of the optical coupler comprises an internally reflective coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch according to claim 4 wherein the internally reflective coating includes a white particulate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical transmitter receiver switch according to claim 4 wherein the photoemitting transducer is a laser diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
An optical electronic relay comprising: first and second optical transmitter receiver switches, and a fiber optic light guide having first and second ends associated respectively with the first and second switches; each optical transmitter receiver switch including; a photoemitting tranducer having leads for exciting the photoemitting transducer; a photodetecting transducer having leads for detecting the light induced electrical response of the photodetecting transducer; an optical coupler embedding the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and one end of the light guide in optical communication; and an opaque housing enclosing the optical coupler, the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and one end of the light guide; wherein each transducer is electrically isolated from the other transducers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
An optical electronic relay comprising: first and second optical transmitter receiver switches, and a fiber optic light guide having first and second ends associated respectively with the first and second switches; each optical transmitter receiver switch including; a photoemitting tranducer having leads for exciting the photoemitting transducer; a photodetecting transducer having leads for detecting the light induced electrical response of the photodetecting transducer; an optical coupler embedding the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and one end of the light guide in optical communication; and an opaque housing enclosing the optical coupler, the photoemitting transducer, the photodetecting transducer, and one end of the light guide; wherein each transducer is electrically isolated from the other transducers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical electronic relay according to claim 7 wherein each photoemitting transducer comprises a light emitting diode and each photodetecting transducer comprises a photosensitive semiconductor diode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical electronic relay according to claim 8 wherein each optical coupler comprises a body of substantially transparent material coated with an internally reflective layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
An optical electronic relay according to claim 9 wherein the first end of the light guide is fixedly mounted in optical contact with the optical coupler of the first optical transmitter receiver switch and the second end of the light guide is removably mounted in optical contact with the optical coupler of the second optical transmitter receiver switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A optical electronic relay according to claim 9 wherein each internally reflective layer includes white particulate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |