Passive line-of-sight optical switching apparatus

• US 4,727,593 A
• Filed: 10/18/1985
• Issued: 02/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pinchas Goldstein
• Original Assignee: Pinchas Goldstein
• Inventors: Goldstein, Pinchas
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Jr., Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US06/789,163
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 455/603, 455/605, 455/604, 200/61.02, 340/555, 340/556, 340/557
• US Class Current: 398/170
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/64 Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/183 by interruption of a radiation beam or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/184 using radiation reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/189 using passive radiation detection systems

Abstract

Line of sight optical communications apparatus comprising a plurality of optical beam reflectors arranged in a protected region for optical communication therebetween, at least one of the reflectors being arranged to reflect a signal received at the reflectors to a base location remote from the protected region. Stabilized reflector apparatus which is insensitive to rotation about axes lying in a given plane and which is particularly useful in the line of sight optical apparatus is also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for switching power to an electrical device comprising:

optically controllable first switching means for switching power to said electrical device including;

(a) power control means for controlling the power to said electrical device, (b) means for emitting unguided radiation from said first switching means, and (c) radiation detection means for detecting reflected and modulated unguided radiation and providing a signal for controlling said power control means; and

second switching means, remote from said first switching means and only optically coupled thereto for reflecting and modulating said unguided radiation from said first switching means back to said first switching means, including;

(a) reflection means for reflecting said unguided radiation, (b) a manually operative switch, having at least two positions, (c) modulating means for modulating said unguided radiation in accordance with a position of said switch;

wherein the power to the electrical device is controlled depending upon the reflected and modulated unguided radiation from said second switching means and returned to said first switching means.

2. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power control means is a relay.

3. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said reflection means includes a retroreflector and said modulating means is disposed between said retroreflector and said first switching means such that said unguided radiation is reflected by said retroreflector, passes through said modulation means where it is modulated, and returns to said first switching means, thereby defining an optical path between said first and second switching means.

4. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said modulating means includes a polarizer.

5. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said modulating means includes at least one filter which is selectably interposed across said path.

6. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said filter is a color filter.

7. Remote switching apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said radiation detection means includes logic circuit means for identifying modulated radiation received by said radiation detection means and for providing and signal to said power control means, such that said power control means controls the power to the electrical device in response to said signal.

8. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said detection means generates detection signals depending upon the unguided and modulated radiation incident upon said first switching means, and wherein said logic circuit means includes coincident gate means for receiving said detection signals and generating coincidence signals therefrom, and wherein said logic circuit means generates said signal in response to said coincidence signals.

9. A remote switching apparatus to claim 8 wherein said logic circuit means comprises a memory device and comparison means for generating said signal when comparison means determines agreement between said coincidence signals and a sequence stored in said memory device means.

10. Apparatus for switching power to an electrical device comprising:

optically controllable first switching means for switching power to said electrical device including;

(a) power control means for controlling the power to said electrical device, (b) means for emitting unguided radiation from said first switching means, and (c) radiation detection means for detecting reflected and modulated unguided radiation and providing a signal for controlling said power control means; and

second switching means, remote from said first switching means and only optically coupled thereto for reflecting and modulating said unguided radiation from said first switching means back to said first switching means, including;

(a) reflection means for reflecting said unguided radiation, (b) a manually operative switch, having at least two positions, (c) polarization means for polarizing or not polarizing said unguided radiation in accordance with a position of said manually operative switch;

wherein the power to the electrical device is controlled depending upon the reflected unguided radiation from said second switching means and returned to said first switching means.

11. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said power control means is a relay.

12. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said reflection means includes a retroreflector and said polarization means is disposed between said retroreflector and said first switching means such that said unguided radiation is reflected by said retroreflector, passes through said polarization means where it may be polarized, and returns to said first switching means, thereby defining an optical path between said first and second switching means.

13. Remote switching apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said detection means includes logic circuit means for identifying polarized radiation received by said radiation detection means and for providing said signal to said power control means, such that said power control means controls the power to the electrical device in response to said signal.

14. A remote switching apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said detection means generates detection signals depending upon the unguided radiation incident upon said first switching means, and wherein said logic circuit means includes coincident gate means for receiving said detection signals and generating coincidence signals therefrom, and wherein said logic circuit means generates said signal in response to said coincidence signals.

15. A remote switching apparatus to claim 14 wherein said logic circuit means comprises a memory device and comparison means for generating said signal when said comparison means determines agreement between said coincidence signals and a sequence stored in said memory device.