Optical fiber elastomeric switch device

• US 5,222,165 A
• Filed: 05/29/1992
• Issued: 06/22/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fibri-Lite Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fibri-Lite Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bohlinger, J. Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US07/890,444
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 385/13, 385/14, 385/16, 385/32, 385/140, 385/147, 385/88, 385/89, 385/92, 385/94, 385/100, 73/800, 250/227.16, 250/231.19, 250/227.11
• US Class Current: 385/16
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/264 with optical elements between opposed fibre ends which perform a function other than beam splitting having lens focusing means G02B6/32; utilising prism or grating G02B6/34
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3502 involving direct waveguide displacement, e.g. cantilever type waveguide displacement involving waveguide bending, or displacing an interposed waveguide between stationary waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3552 1x1 switch, e.g. on/off switch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3574 Mechanical force, e.g. pressure variations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape

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.

Claims

1. An optical switch assembly, comprising:

an enclosed switch chamber having a longitudinal axis;

an elastomeric optical cable positioned in said enclosed cylindrical switch chamber and formed into a loop to form an apex along said longitudinal axis, said optical cable terminating in connection means for transmitting light through said optical cable, said connection means including light emitting means and light receiving means and including fiber optic means for transmitting light from said light emitting means to said optical cable and from said optical cable to said light receiving means;

elastomeric means encapsulating said optical cable in said switch chamber including an exposed portion proximate said apex of said loop for application of pressure on said exposed portion along said longitudinal axis transmitting flattening forces to a portion of said optical cable proximate said apex and compressive forces to radially inwardly compress said optical cable to thereby alter light transmitted through said optical cable providing means for actuating said switch device; and

signal means providing a signal when said light transmitted through said optical cable is altered by said flattening forces and said compressive forces.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said enclosed switch chamber is a cylinder.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said elastomeric encapsulating means is silicone rubber.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric rubber optical cable comprises an optical wave transmitting core and a clad formed into a 180°

loop, said clad being adapted to transmit said flattening forces and said compressive forces to said core to alter the optical wave transmission of light being transmitted therein.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said connection means for transmitting light through said cable includes a light emitting means and a light receiving means, said device further including signal means for providing a signal when said light transmitting through said cable is altered by said flattening forces and said compressive forces.

6. The device of claim 5, which further includes fiber optic means for transmitting light from said light emitting means to said cable and from said cable to said light receiving means.