Fiber optic input device having a light transmissive body with parallel grooves

• US 5,122,656 A
• Filed: 12/13/1990
• Issued: 06/16/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Slaughter, John, Williams, Rodney D., Garcia, Felix Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US07/626,939
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.11, 250/227.24, 250/227.30, 250/227.20, 250/227.21, 250/227.31, 250/227.28, 250/227.14, 350/96.24, 350/96.27, 350/96.25, 350/96.10
• US Class Current: 250/227.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A sensor which comprises a light transmitting body having first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface having a first plurality of parallel grooves therein and wall members spacing the first grooves from each other, the second surface having a second plurality of parallel grooves therein extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first grooves, each of the second grooves optically coupled to one of the wall members, a first array of photoresponsive devices disposed at one end portion of the first grooves, the first array having a photoresponsive device associated with each groove of the first grooves and a second array of photoresponsive devices disposed at one end portion of the second grooves, the second array having photoresponsive device associated with each groove of the second grooves.

Claims

1. A sensor which comprises, in combination:

(a) a light transmitting body having first and second opposing surfaces, said first surface having a first plurality of parallel grooves therein and wall members spacing said first grooves from each other, said second surface having a second plurality of parallel grooves therein extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first grooves, each of said second grooves optically coupled to one of said wall members;

(b) a first array of photoresponsive devices disposed at one end portion of said first grooves, said first array having a photoresponsive device associated with each groove of said first grooves; and

(c) a second array of photoresponsive devices disposed at one end portion of said second grooves, said second array having photoresponsive device associated with each groove of said second grooves.

2. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is a group III-V semiconductor material.

3. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photoresponsive devices are phototransistors.

4. A sensor as set forth in claim 2 wherein said photoresponsive devices are phototransistors.

5. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photoresponsive devices are charge coupled devices.

6. A sensor as set forth in claim 2 wherein said photoresponsive devices are charge coupled devices.

7. A sensor as set forth in claim 1, further including a clad fiber optic device disposed in each of said first and second grooves, the cladding of said fiber optic devices on a portion of the surface thereof facing said first surface being removed.

8. A sensor as set forth in claim 2, further including a clad fiber optic device disposed in each of said first and second grooves, the cladding of said fiber optic devices on a portion of the surface thereof facing said first surface being removed.

9. A sensor as set forth in claim 3 further including a clad fiber optic device disposed in each of said first and second grooves, the cladding of said fiber optic devices on a portion of the surface thereof facing said first surface being removed.

10. A sensor as set forth in claim 4, further including a clad fiber optic device disposed in each of said first and second grooves, the cladding of said fiber optic devices on a portion of the surface thereof facing said first surface being removed.

11. A sensor as set forth in claim 5, further including a clad fiber optic device disposed in each of said first and second grooves, the cladding of said fiber optic devices on a portion of the surface thereof facing said first surface being removed.

12. A sensor as set forth in claim 6, further including a clad fiber optic device disposed in each of said first and second grooves, the cladding of said fiber optic devices on a portion of the surface thereof facing said first surface being removed.

13. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 further including a third array of photoresponsive devices disposed at the end portion of said first grooves opposite said first array, said third array having a photoresponsive device associated with each groove of said first grooves and a fourth array of photoresponsive devices disposed at the end portion of said second grooves opposite said second array, said fourth array having photoresponsive device associated with each groove of said second grooves.

14. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 further including first reflecting means disposed at the end portion of said first grooves opposite said first array to reflect light impinging thereon toward said first array and second reflecting means disposed at the end portion of said second grooves opposite said second array to reflect light impinging thereon toward said second array.

15. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is polymethylmethacrylate.

16. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the surfaces of said grooves comprise a light reflecting coating having greater light reflectivity than said body.

17. A sensor as set forth in claim 2 wherein the surfaces of said grooves comprise a light reflecting coating having greater light reflectivity than said body.

18. A sensor as set forth in claim 1 further including a half silver mirror disposed at the entrance to each of said first plurality of parallel grooves.

19. A sensor as set forth in claim 15 further including a half silver mirror disposed at the entrance to each of said first plurality of parallel grooves.

20. A sensor as set forth in claim 16 further including a half silver mirror disposed at the entrance to each of said first plurality of parallel grooves.

21. A sensor as set forth in claim 17 further including a half silver mirror disposed at the entrance to each of said first plurality of parallel grooves.