Infrared energy transmissive member and radiation receiver
First Claim
1. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube, the tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, infrared energy being conducted by the plastic tube from the first end through the tube to the second end between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the tube, the second end of the member being disposed adjacent the infrared responsive circuit component so that infrared energy in the hollow plastic tube between the outer diameter and the inner diameter is transmitted to the circuit component.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component of an infrared receiver, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube. Preferably, the plastic tube comprises an ester based polyurethane tube and has a malleable rod disposed in the hollow plastic tube to allow the hollow plastic tube to be bent into a claimed configuration. The infrared responsive circuit component may control, e.g., a fluorescent lamp dimming circuit or a window treatment control circuit, thereby allowing remote control of the lamp or window treatment.
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Citations
58 Claims
- 1. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube, the tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, infrared energy being conducted by the plastic tube from the first end through the tube to the second end between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the tube, the second end of the member being disposed adjacent the infrared responsive circuit component so that infrared energy in the hollow plastic tube between the outer diameter and the inner diameter is transmitted to the circuit component.
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14. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube;
and further wherein the flexible plastic tube has a malleable rod disposed in the hollow tube thereby allowing the flexible plastic tube to be bent into a desired configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube;
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and further comprising an end cap disposed at the first end of the member; wherein the end cap comprises a lens for focusing infrared energy onto the first end of the member.
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17. An infrared energy transmissive member having a first end and a second end for transmitting infrared energy from the first end to the second end, the second end being adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising:
an infrared transmissive flexible plastic hollow tube, the hollow tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having an RMS surface roughness of approximately 1-10 microinches. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component comprising:
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an infrared energy transmissive flexible plastic hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter; and a malleable rod disposed coaxially in said hollow plastic tube, the malleable rod being bendable to enable bending of said plastic tube into a desired configuration; the malleable rod having a specified diameter, the inner diameter of the hollow plastic tube being equal to or greater than the diameter of said malleable rod. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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- 44. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube, a bend being provided in the tube, the bend being provided in a location adapted to be exposed to infrared energy for controlling the infrared responsive circuit component, the bend coupling infrared energy into the tube.
- 50. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube, an end cap being disposed at the first end of the tube for focusing infrared energy onto the first end of the tube.
- 54. An infrared energy transmissive member for conducting infrared energy from a first end of the infrared energy transmissive member to a second end disposed adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising a flexible hollow plastic tube disposed so as to receive infrared energy substantially perpendicular to the first end, the tube extending out through an opening in an adjacent member, the tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, infrared energy being conducted by the plastic tube from the first end through the tube to the second end between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the tube, the second end of the member being disposed adjacent the infrared responsive circuit component so that infrared energy in the hollow plastic tube between the outer diameter and the inner diameter is transmitted to the circuit component.
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56. An infrared energy transmissive member having a first end and a second end for transmitting infrared energy from the first end to the second end, the second end being adjacent an infrared responsive circuit component, the member comprising:
an infrared transmissive flexible plastic hollow tube, the hollow tube having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface having an RMS surface roughness of approximately 1-10 microinches. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
Specification