Optoisolator comprising walls having photosensitive inner surfaces
First Claim
1. An optoisolator comprising:
- (a) an enclosure including walls defining a compartment, each of said walls having an inner surface, said inner surface of at least two of said walls having a photosensitive portion, said photosensitive portions having different orientations with respect to each other, and each of said photosensitive portions producing at least one electrical signal when illuminated;
(b) a light source within said compartment providing light to illuminate said inner surfaces when said light source is energized;
(c) electrical contacts for providing electricity to energize said light source; and
(d) electrical contacts for receiving said at least one electrical signal from said photosensitive portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optoisolator includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) within a compartment defined by walls of photocells, where the majority of light emitted by the LED impinges directly upon a photocell and is converted to electricity with a minimum of loss. The photocells are attached together by abutting the end of one photocell to the surface of another, as in a butt joint. In one embodiment, the LEDs is inserted into an opening in the compartment and secured by filling the compartment with a light-transmissive, non-conductive material. In another embodiment, the LEDs and photocells are mounted to a substrate. Optionally, each photocell has more than one electrically-independent photosensitive surface.
22 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optoisolator comprising:
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(a) an enclosure including walls defining a compartment, each of said walls having an inner surface, said inner surface of at least two of said walls having a photosensitive portion, said photosensitive portions having different orientations with respect to each other, and each of said photosensitive portions producing at least one electrical signal when illuminated; (b) a light source within said compartment providing light to illuminate said inner surfaces when said light source is energized; (c) electrical contacts for providing electricity to energize said light source; and (d) electrical contacts for receiving said at least one electrical signal from said photosensitive portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An optoisolator comprising:
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(a) an enclosure including walls composed substantially of photocells and defining a compartment, each of said photocells having a photosensitive inner surface that is a single contiguous photosensitive area producing an electrical signal when illuminated; (b) at least one light-emitting diode within said compartment providing light to illuminate said photosensitive inner surfaces when said at least one light-emitting diode is energized; (c) electrical contacts for providing electricity to energize said at least one light-emitting diode; and (d) electrical contacts for receiving said electrical signals from said photosensitive inner surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optoisolator comprising:
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(a) an enclosure including walls composed substantially of photocells and defining a compartment, each of said photocells having a photosensitive inner surface that is a single contiguous photosensitive area producing an electrical signal when illuminated; (b) the junction of each pair of adjacent walls is formed by an edge of a first of said pair of adjacent walls abutting said inner surface of a second of said pair of adjacent walls such that said inner surface of said first of said pair of adjacent walls extends outside of said compartment; (c) at least one light-emitting diode within said compartment providing light to illuminate said photosensitive inner surfaces when said at least one light-emitting diode is energized; (d) electrical contacts for providing electricity to energize said at least one light-emitting diode; (e) electrical contacts for receiving said electrical signals from said photosensitive inner surfaces; and (f) said compartment having an opening through which said light-emitting diode electrical contacts extend out of said compartment, and wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is secured within said compartment by a light-transmissive, non-electrically-conductive material that substantially fills said compartment.
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18. An optoisolator comprising:
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(a) an enclosure including at least three walls defining a compartment, each of said walls having an inner surface, each of said inner surfaces having a photosensitive portion, said photosensitive portions having different orientations with respect to each other, and each of said photosensitive portions producing at least one electrical signal when illuminated; (b) a light source within said compartment providing light to illuminate said inner surfaces when said light source is energized; (c) electrical contacts for providing electricity to energize said light source; and (d) electrical contacts for receiving said at least one electrical signal from said photosensitive portions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification