Waveguide switch

• US 5,838,218 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Kill, Theodore P., Swisher, William F., Rupert, Lawrence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US08/758,162
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 335/4.5, 340/545-555, 73/290 R, 385/41, 385/15-17, 385/21, 385/22, 385/8-11, 385/47, 385/50, 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 335/4
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3504 Rotating, tilting or pivoting the waveguides, or with the waveguides describing a curved path rotary joint G02B6/3628
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3558 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3596 With planar waveguide arrangement, i.e. in a substrate, regardless if actuating mechanism is outside the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3598 Switching means directly located between an optoelectronic element and waveguides, including direct displacement of either the element or the waveguide, e.g. optical pulse generation based on changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00; optical pulse generation in optical transmitters H04B10/508; optical pulse generation by controlling laser operation H01S3/00

Abstract

A waveguide switch is provided in which energy such as ultrasonic optical, electromagnetic or infrared waves travel in a first waveguide having fixed length formed in a first member connected to a second member having multiple waveguides of varying lengths which may be rotatably mounted to the first waveguide in order that upon rotation of the first or second member, different waveguides may be aligned to form an overall position identifying waveguide of varying lengths in order to provide a means for controlling a component attached to the switch. A transmitter and a receiver are mounted within the waveguide and connected to a detector in order to convert the time-of-flight data of the waves to an electrical signal.

Claims

1. A waveguide switch comprising:

a first waveguide having a uniform length formed in a first member of the switch;

a plurality of second waveguides of varied lengths formed in a second member of the switch, wherein the first and second member pivotally mount to one another and combine thereto to align the first waveguide and one of the second waveguides into an enlarged waveguide;

a transmitter mounted at a first end of the enlarged waveguide;

a receiver mounted at said first end of the enlarged waveguide; and

a detector connected to the transmitter and receiver for detecting the amount of change in the length of the enlarged waveguide.

2. The waveguide switch of claim 1 wherein the first waveguide, and the second waveguides are both oriented parallel to an axis of rotation of the first and second member relative to one another.

3. The waveguide switch of claim 1 wherein the first waveguide, and the second waveguides are both oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first and second member relative to one another.

4. The waveguides switch of claim 2 wherein the switch provides a multi-function switch for an automobile wherein the first member is a molded plastic cylindrical stalk having a diameter and the first waveguide molded within the first member and the second member being a cylindrical member being approximately equal to the diameter of the first member and mounted at an end of the first member so that the second member may rotate in order to align one of the second waveguides formed within the second member to the first waveguide.

5. The waveguides switch of claim 4 wherein the switch is pivotally mounted to a housing in order to provide additional control mechanisms for the switch.

6. The waveguide switch of claim 1 wherein the enlarged waveguide is formed to a cavity having rigid nonbendable walls.

7. The waveguide switch of claim 2 wherein the first member is a cylindrical shaped disk having the first waveguide running approximately through a radius of the disk perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the first member.

8. A waveguide switch comprising:

a housing;

a waveguide molded in the housing;

a switch member slideably mounted within the waveguide to be moveable between a plurality of discrete positions; and

a detector connected to the waveguide for detecting a change in the position of the switch member.

9. The waveguide of claim 8 wherein the detector detects a change in the rate at which the switch member is moved from the first position to the second position.