Optical information transmitting device

Claim 1

A system for optically transmitting information between first and second electrical devices spaced by a substantial distance from each other by an air space absent any optical coupling means therein, comprising: (a) a first electrical device; (b) a solid, transparent, bar-shaped optical transmitting means disposed in said first electrical device, said transmitting means having an obverse face, end faces orthogonal and contiguous to said obverse face, and a rear face opposite said obverse face finished to have a mirror surface, said rear face opposite said obverse face having a cut-out disposed substantially equidistant between said end faces; (c) light emitting means disposed in said cut-out for directing a first portion of light containing said information through said obverse face toward said second electrical device through said air space, said obverse face totally reflecting a second portion of the light incident thereon toward said end faces; (d) scattering means on said end faces for directing light outwardly therefrom in plural directions over at least a 180 degree range with respect to said end faces to locations which include said second electrical device, the first portion of light emitted from said obverse face and the second portion emitted from said scattering means conjointly forming a light information beam for transmitting optical information to said second electrical device over at least a 180 degree range with respect to the rear face of said light emitting means; and (e) light receiving means in said second electrical device for optically receiving said information from either said first or second portions of light which constitute said light information beam, said second electrical device being selectively positionable within the range of said light information beam.

Claim 2

A system for optically transmitting information between first and second electrical devices spaced by a substantial distance from each other by an air space absent any optical coupling means therein, comprising: (a) a first electrical device; (b) a solid, transparent, bar-shaped optical transmitting means disposed in said first electrical device, said transmitting means having an obverse face, end faces orthogonal and contiguous to said obverse face, and a rear face opposite said obverse face finished to have a mirror surface, said rear face opposite said obverse face having a cut-out disposed substantially equidistant between said end faces; (c) light emitting means disposed in said cut-out for directing a first portion of light containing said information through said obverse face toward said second electrical device through said air space, said obverse face totally reflecting a second portion of the light incident thereon toward said end faces; (d) scattering means on said end faces for directing light outwardly therefrom in plural directions over at least a 180 degree range with respect to said end faces to locations which include said second electrical device, the first portion of light emitted from said obverse face and the second portion emitted from said scattering means conjointly forming a light information beam for transmitting optical information to said second electrical device over at least a 180 degree range with respect to the rear face of said light emitting means; and (e) light receiving means in said second electrical device for optically receiving said information from either said first or second portions of light which constitute said light information beam, said second electrical device being selectively positionable within the range of said light information beam.