Variable analog output pressure switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pressure switch comprising:
- a diaphragm for detecting change in pressure;
a plunger coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said plunger is depressed due to an applied pressure on said diaphragm; and
a light source located on one side of said plunger and a photodetector located on an opposite side of said plunger to detect an amount of light from the light source,wherein said switch provides an analog output varying according to the amount of light detected by said photodetector.
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Abstract
A variable analog output pressure switch having a diaphragm attached to a plunger, the plunger controlling the amount of light detected by a photocell or photodetector, the photocell or photodetector outputting voltage roughly proportional to an applied pressure on the diaphragm.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A pressure switch comprising:
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a diaphragm for detecting change in pressure; a plunger coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said plunger is depressed due to an applied pressure on said diaphragm; and a light source located on one side of said plunger and a photodetector located on an opposite side of said plunger to detect an amount of light from the light source, wherein said switch provides an analog output varying according to the amount of light detected by said photodetector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A pressure switch comprising:
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a light source and a photodetector relatively positioned such that said light detector detects an amount of light from said light source; a diaphragm for detecting change in pressure; a plunger coupled to said diaphragm, wherein said plunger is abutted on an outer surface by an actuator; and a shutter located on said plunger, wherein said shutter blocks the light from the light source to the photodetector as said plunger is depressed, wherein said variable output pressure switch outputs voltage proportional to light detected by said photocell when said plunger is depressed due to an applied pressure on said diaphragm, and wherein said discrete switch outputs a binary signal when said plunger is completely depressed. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A pressure switch comprising:
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an optical mechanism including a light source and a light detector, said light source and light detector being relatively positioned such that said light detector detects an amount of light from said light source; a shutter; and a pressure-sensitive actuation device responding to pressure applied thereto to cause said shutter to move gradually from a first position not in a light path between said light source and light detector to a second position in said light path, wherein said detector provides an analog output varying according to the amount of light detected by said detector. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification