Method and apparatus for using a close proximity probe for optical communication with a device external to the probe
First Claim
1. A probe for bi-directional optical communication with a device external to the probe, the probe comprising:
- an optical transmitter for mounting in proximity to an external device, the optical transmitter including a high intensity light emitting diode (LED) that generates light pulses in accordance with a data signal; and
an optical receiver for mounting in proximity to the external device, the optical receiver for generating an electrical data signal from an optical data signal impinging upon the optical receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical communication probe enables a diagnostic tool to optically communicate with an external device, such as an appliance, through a low intensity indicator light of the external device. The communication probe includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver mounted within a housing. The optical transmitter is a high intensity light emitting diode (LED) and the optical receiver is a sensitive phototransistor. The high intensity LED helps compensate for the relatively high optical threshold of a standard photodetector or LED used as an optical receiver at the appliance and the sensitive phototransistor helps compensate for the relatively low intensity light generated by the indicator light of an appliance.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A probe for bi-directional optical communication with a device external to the probe, the probe comprising:
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an optical transmitter for mounting in proximity to an external device, the optical transmitter including a high intensity light emitting diode (LED) that generates light pulses in accordance with a data signal; and
an optical receiver for mounting in proximity to the external device, the optical receiver for generating an electrical data signal from an optical data signal impinging upon the optical receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A probe for bi-directional optical communication with a device external to the probe, the probe comprising:
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an optical transmitter for mounting in close proximity to an external device, the optical transmitter for generating light pulses in accordance with a data signal; and
an optical receiver for mounting in close proximity to the external device, the optical receiver including a sensitive phototransistor for generating an electrical data signal from an optical data signal impinging upon the optical receiver. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for bi-directional optical communication with a device external to the probe, the method comprising:
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generating high intensity light pulses in accordance with a data signal from a diagnostic tool; and
generating an electrical data signal from an optical data signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification