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US4873448A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Input circuit having a photo-coupler with bi-directional indicator

Assignee: Omron Corp
•
Filing: 1987-04-27
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Granted: 1989-10-10
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Expires: 2007-04-27
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is an input circuit using a photo-coupler for circuit isolation which comprises a photo-coupler (9) and an indicator (11) for indicating the presence of an input signal both of which are adapted for an AC input signal as well as a DC input signal of either polarity. Typically, the input end of the photo-coupler (9) comprises a pair of light emitting diodes (9a, 9b) which are connected in parallel with each other directionally opposite and the indicator (11) likewise comprises a pair of light emitting diodes (11a, 11b) which are connected in a similar manner. Thereby, the input circuit can be adapted to input signals of all kinds and the indication of the presence of an input signal is accurate because the indicator (11) is directly driven by the input signal and is not affected by the condition of any external circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hironobu Shirai

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:45
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/18; H03K17/51; H03K17/78; H03K17/795; H03K17/7955; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/16; H01H9/167

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 56 words
An input circuit for accepting an external input signal by way of a photo-coupler for circuit isolation, comprising: a photo-coupler having an input end comprising a bi-directional element; and an indicator of a bi-directional type which is connected in series with the input end of the photo-coupler and comprises a pair of light emitting diode chips.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 56 words
An input circuit for accepting an external input signal by way of a photo-coupler for circuit isolation, comprising: a photo-coupler having an input end comprising a bi-directional element; and an indicator of a bi-directional type which is connected in series with the input end of the photo-coupler and comprises a pair of light emitting diode chips.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the pair of chips are connected in parallel to each other but directionally opposite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 56 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a circuit board carrying a plurality of pairs of said light emitting diode chips, a spacer plate having a plurality of windows corresponding to the positions of the light emitting diode pairs, and a light dispersing film which is placed over the spacer plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 3, wherein the chips are placed adjacent to each other and the indicator further comprises a light dispersing element which covers the pair of chips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 1, wherein the chips which are connected in parallel to each other but directionally opposite and formed into an integral single device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
An input circuit as defined in claims 1 to 5, wherein the input end of the photo-coupler comprises a pair of light emitting diodes which are connected in parallel with each other but directionally opposite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 2, wherein the input end of the photo-coupler comprises a pair of light emitting diodes which are connected in parallel with each other but directionally opposite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 3, wherein the input end of the photo-coupler comprises a pair of light emitting diodes which are connected in parallel with each other but directionally opposite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 4, wherein the input end of the photo-coupler comprises a pair of light emitting diodes which are connected in parallel with each other but directionally opposite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
An input circuit as defined in claim 5, wherein the input end of the photo-coupler comprises a pair of light emitting diodes which are connected in parallel with each other but directionally opposite.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4041331A Cited
US4063121A Cited
US4143287A Cited
US4658145A Cited
US4636655A Cited
US4612670A Cited
US4628303A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-10-09 1993-04-10 1993-10-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-10-09 1997-04-10 1997-10-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-10-09 2001-04-10 2001-10-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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