Fibre optic security and communications link

• US 5,374,921 A
• Filed: 11/13/1991
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xmark Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Instantel, Inc. (Positiveid Corporation)
• Inventors: Martin, Brian W., Loubert, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/791,195
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/555, 340/556, 340/571, 340/572, 340/573, 340/568, 340/815.31, 340/693, 359/127
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A beacon is contained in a waterproof housing which is devoid of any electrical contact points. At a location at which a signal is to be applied to or received from the beacon, the housing is made sufficiently thin to allow light to pass therethrough. A light energy transmitter coupled to receive the signal to be transmitted into or out of the housing is located immediately adjacent or abutted against the translucent portion of the housing. A light energy receiver is similarly disposed adjacent or abutted against the other side of the housing, to receive the light energy. In this manner no electrical contacts need pass through the housing, and the beacon circuit is entirely protected by the waterproof housing, from water, soap, sweat, body oils, etc.

Claims

1. A body strap for retaining a radio frequency beacon disposed in a housing to a body, comprising an optical fiber for encircling a body part, the housing having at least one light transmissive wall region, the ends of the optical fiber abutting an outside surface of said wall region, means for applying light energy to an inside surface of said at least one wall region whereby said light energy may be coupled through said wall region of the housing into one end of the optical fiber, and said coupled light energy may be received in the housing through said at least one wall region of the housing from the other end of the fiber.

2. A beacon and comparator disposed in a housing for attachment to a person or object, comprising a strap retaining an optical fiber for encircling a body part or said object with said strap, the housing having at least one light transmissive wall region, the ends of the optical fiber being abutted to an outside surface of said at least one wall region of the housing, means for generating light energy inside the housing adjacent an inside surface of said wall region for transmission through said at least one wall region into one end of the optical fiber, and means in the housing for receiving said light energy from the other end of the fiber through said at least one wall region, whereby a comparison may be made by the comparator of the generated and received light energy and thus the presence, absence of malfunction of the optical fiber determined.

3. A beacon as disposed in claim 2, in which portions of the housing are made of material sufficiently thin as to be translucent, the ends of the optical fiber abutting said portions of the housing so as to have light energy coupled from and coupled into the housing, a light energy source disposed inside the housing adjacent one of said portions, a light energy receiver disposed inside the housing adjacent the other of said portions, whereby light energy from said receiver may be coupled through the housing into the optical fiber and said coupled light energy may be coupled from the optical fiber through said housing, into said housing.

4. A beacon as defined in claim 3 in which said housing is waterproof.

5. A beacon as defined in claim 4 in which said housing is shaped similar to a wrist watch housing having edges which are much thinner than the diameter of the housing, said portions of the housing being located on opposite sides of the housing in said edges.

6. A beacon as defined in claim 5 further comprising circular holes extending from the outside of said edges of said housing part way through said housing, said portions being comprised of remaining housing walls having thickness from the bottom of said holes to the opposite wall of said housing, the diameters of said holes being similar to the diameter of the optical fiber, the ends of the optical fibers being disposed in said holes.

7. A beacon as defined in claim 6 in which the housing is comprised of plastics material.

8. A beacon as defined in claim 7, in which the optical fiber is imbedded in said strap, and protrudes at its ends.

9. A waterproof housing for retaining and protecting an electronic circuit, the housing having at least one wall portion which is comprised of translucent material, and means for coupling light energy modulated with a signal to be transmitted out of said housing or into said housing via said translucent material from one side of said translucent material to the other, disposed adjacent one side of said translucent wall portion, and means for receiving said light energy disposed adjacent the other side of said translucent wall portion, whereby said light energy may be coupled through the material of said translucent wall portion of said waterproof housing.

10. In combination with a housing as defined in claim 9, a radio frequency telemetry circuit contained within the housing, an optical fiber having one end adjacent the outside of said housing at said translucent portion, a light energy receiver connected to said telemetry circuit located adjacent the inside of said housing at said translucent portion, and means for applying light energy to the other end of the optical fiber representative of a signal to be transmitted to the telemetry circuit.

11. The combination defined in claim 10, in which said signal to be transmitted is representative of a biological function, for transmission by the telemetry circuit.

12. The combination defined in claim 11, in which said signal is a control signal for modifying operation of said telemetry circuit.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 in which said control signal is a programming signal.

14. In combination with a housing as defined in claim 9, a circuit contained within the housing, a light energy transmitter connected to said circuit disposed within the housing adjacent said translucent portion for transmitting via light energy a signal representative of a state of said circuit, and a light energy receiver connected to said circuit disposed adjacent said translucent portion outside said housing for receiving said light energy signal, whereby said state of said circuit within the waterproof housing may be determined from said light energy signal received outside of said housing without opening said housing.