OPTICAL INTERRUPTION SENSOR WITH OPPOSED LIGHT EMITTING DIODES
First Claim
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1. A photo sensor-photo detector assembly comprising:
- a support defining an unobstructed light path through a gap from a first to a second position;
a solid-state light transmitter and solid-state light receiver attached to the support in the first and second positions so that light from the solid-state light transmitter may be received by the solid-state light receiver, the gap sized to permit an optical blocking element to pass into and out of the gap to block the light from the solid-state light transmitter to the solid-state light receiver; and
wherein the solid-state light transmitter and solid-state light receiver are both light emitting diodes.
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Abstract
An optical-interrupter provides a mechanically integrated electric light source and electric light sensor positioned across a gap to transmit a light beam across the gap that may be interrupted with an opaque vane. The optical-interrupter uses conventional LEDs for both the light source and a light receiver. An integrated circuit comparator may be used to provide an adjustable threshold for the determination of whether the light beam is blocked.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A photo sensor-photo detector assembly comprising:
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a support defining an unobstructed light path through a gap from a first to a second position; a solid-state light transmitter and solid-state light receiver attached to the support in the first and second positions so that light from the solid-state light transmitter may be received by the solid-state light receiver, the gap sized to permit an optical blocking element to pass into and out of the gap to block the light from the solid-state light transmitter to the solid-state light receiver; and wherein the solid-state light transmitter and solid-state light receiver are both light emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A photosensor-photodetector assembly comprising:
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a movable light opaque vane; a housing defining a light path through an open space from a first to a second position, the open space sized to permit movement of the vane into the space in a first state and out of the space in a second state; a light source and light detector fixed with respect to the housing at respective first and second positions so that light from the light source may be received by the light receiver across the open space in the first state and blocked from the light receiver in the second state; and wherein both the light source and light receiver are light emitting diodes designed to emit light of a same frequency when biased for light emission, the light emitting diodes having direct band open space semiconductor materials forming a PN junction held within a case and supported on an opaque substrate, the case having a non-opaque portion permitting light to pass into and out of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification