Optical fiber elastomeric switch device

Abstract

Abstract An optical switch device, comprising enclosed switch chamber, preferably in the form of a cylinder, in which an elastomeric rubber optical cable is positioned and formed into a loop. The cable, preferably comprising an optical wave transmitting core and a clad, and preferably formed into a 180° loop, -terminates in a connector for transmitting light through the cable. An elastomeric encapsulating material fills the enclosed chamber with the cable, and includes an exposed portion forming an actuation member for actuating the switch device upon contact on the actuation member. The elastomeric encapsulating material deforms upon actuation to transmit pressure to the cable to transmit both flattening forces to flatten a portion of the cable and compressive forces to radially inwardly compress the cable. Light which is being transmitted through the cable is altered by those two forces. The switch is mounted in a predetermined location. The connector may include a light emitter and a light receiver as well as a signal unit for providing a signal when the light transmitted through the cable is altered by the flattening forces and the compressive forces. In a preferred embodiment, fiber optic cables are used for transmitting light from the light emitter to the cable and from the cable to the light receiver.

Inventors

• 👤 J. Jerry Bohlinger

Bibliographic Details