Multi-input optical switch

• US 7,292,741 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Stanley Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Urabe, Hideki, Ishiyama, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood; Kevin S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bedtelyon; John M
• Application Number:
  US11/565,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20070122076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 385/12, 385/13, 385/16, 385/19, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/00 Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/42 Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/425 Optical features semiconductor laser arrays H01S5/40; hybrid LED arrays H01L25/0753; monolithic LED arrays H01L27/153

Abstract

A multi-input optical switch can include a base plate that carries at least one photo sensor and multiple LEDs which are arranged at positions separated by approximately the same angular interval. A first mask can be formed in an approximately cylindrical shape and can include multiple through holes. A second mask can be formed as an approximately flat light blocking plate, and can include a translucent area. A translucent light guiding body can include an approximately flat plate portion, a protruded portion which extends downward from a center portion of the plate portion, a rod portion which extends upward from the center portion of the plate portion, a first total reflection surface and a second total reflection surface. A third mask can be provided with a tubular cup shape that diverges downward, and has an opening at a bottom end, a step portion at an intermediate position thereof, and at least one through hole on an upper cylindrical wall above the step portion. A rod portion of the light guiding body can be operated to freely tilt, rotate, and move up and down.

Claims

1. A multi-input optical switch comprising:

a base plate including a top portion and a bottom portion;

at least one photo sensor located adjacent the base plate;

a plurality of LEDs which are arranged at positions separated by approximately the same angular interval and at a diametrical distance from each other about a substantial circle about the photo sensor, the plurality of LEDs configured to emit light in a direction that is substantially parallel with a surface of the base plate and toward the photo sensor, and in an upward direction with respect to the surface of the base plate;

a first mask having a substantially cylindrical shape with an inner diameter and an outer diameter that is smaller than the diametrical distance of the substantial circle upon which the LEDs are arranged, the first mask including a plurality of through holes which are disposed on respective imaginary lines connecting respective LEDs and the photo sensor;

a second mask formed as a substantially flat light blocking plate, and including a translucent area configured to allow light traveling upward from the LEDs to pass therethrough;

a light guiding body made of a translucent material and having a substantially flat plate portion, a protruded portion which extends downward from a center portion of the plate portion, a rod portion which extends upward from the center portion of the plate portion, a first total reflection surface provided on an outer peripheral portion of the light guiding body and being configured to reflect light received from the LEDs toward a center portion of the light guiding body, and a second total reflection surface which is configured to reflect light received from the first total reflection surface toward the protruded portion; and

a third mask configured in a tubular cup shape with an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the first mask, diverges downward, and has an opening at a bottom end, a step portion located at an intermediate position thereof, and at least one through hole on an upper cylindrical wall above the step portion, the at least one through hole being located at a position such that, upon the third mask being pushed down, light from at least one of the LEDs passes through the at least one through hole of the third mask to an inside of the third mask,

wherein the second mask is located adjacent the protruded portion of the light guiding body, a top end portion of the third mask is located adjacent an end surface of the protruded portion, and the rod portion is configured to freely tilt, rotate, and move up and down while the photo sensor and the end surface of the protruded portion of the light guiding body face each other.

2. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 1, wherein respective LEDs emit pulsed light in a sequential time-division manner according to a unique modulation code.

3. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the photo sensor is selected from a group consisting of a photodiode, a PIN photodiode, and a phototransistor.

4. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first mask is configured such that, upon tilting of the light guiding body, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs mounted on a side opposite to a tilted-down side passes through at least one of the plurality of through holes provided on the first mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

5. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the second mask is configured such that, upon the light guiding body being rotated, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs passes through the translucent area provided on the second mask, enters into the light guiding body, is guided through the light guiding body, and emerges from the end surface of the protruded portion, and is detected by the photo sensor.

6. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the first mask and the third mask are configured such that, upon the light guiding body being moved down, light emitted from at least one of the plurality of LEDs sequentially passes through at least one of the through holes provided on the first mask and through at least one of the through holes provided on the third mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

7. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the photo sensor is selected from a group consisting of a photodiode, a PIN photodiode, and a phototransistor.

8. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the first mask is configured such that, upon tilting of the light guiding body, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs mounted on a side opposite to a tilted-down side passes through at least one of the plurality of through holes provided on the first mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

9. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 3, wherein the first mask is configured such that, upon tilting of the light guiding body, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs mounted on a side opposite to a tilted-down side passes through at least one of the plurality of through holes provided on the first mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

10. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the second mask is configured such that, upon the light guiding body being rotated, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs passes through the translucent area provided on the second mask, enters into the light guiding body, is guided through the light guiding body, and emerges from the end surface of the protruded portion, and is detected by the photo sensor.

11. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 3, wherein the second mask is configured such that, upon the light guiding body being rotated, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs passes through the translucent area provided on the second mask, enters into the light guiding body, is guided through the light guiding body, and emerges from the end surface of the protruded portion, and is detected by the photo sensor.

12. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 2, wherein the first mask and the third mask are configured such that, upon the light guiding body being moved down, light emitted from at least one of the plurality of LEDs sequentially passes through at least one of the through holes provided on the first mask and through at least one of the through holes provided on the third mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

13. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 3, wherein the first mask and the third mask are configured such that, upon the light guiding body being moved down, light emitted from at least one of the plurality of LEDs sequentially passes through at least one of the through holes provided on the first mask and through at least one of the through holes provided on the third mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

14. A multi-input optical switch comprising:

a base plate including a top portion and a bottom postion;

at least one photo sensor located adjacent the base plate;

a plurality of LEDs which are arranged at positions separated by approximately the same angular interval and at a diametrical distance from each other about a substantial circle about the photo sensor, the plurality of LEDs configured to emit light in a direction that is substantially parallel with a surface of the base plate and toward the photo sensor, and in an upward direction with respect to the surface of the base plate;

a first mask located adjacent the plurality of LEDs, the first mask having a substantially cylindrical shape and including a plurality of through holes;

a second mask located adjacent the plurality of LEDs, the second mask including a translucent area configured to allow light traveling upward from at least one of the LEDs to pass therethrough;

a translucent light guiding body including a plate portion that has a center portion, a protruded portion which extends downward from the center portion of the plate portion, a rod portion which extends upward from the center portion of the plate portion, a first total reflection surface which is located at an outer peripheral portion of the light guiding body and is configured to reflect light received from at least one of the LEDs toward a center portion of the light guiding body, and a second total reflection surface which is configured to reflect light received from the first total reflection surface toward the protruded portion; and

a third mask configured in a tubular shape and including at least one through hole that passes through the tubular shape, the at least one through hole located at a position such that, upon the third mask being pushed down, light from at least one of the LEDs passes through the at least one through hole to an interior area of the third mask,

wherein the second mask and third mask are attached to the light guiding body, and the second mask, third mask, and light guiding body are configured to tilt, rotate, and move up and down with respect to the base plate.

15. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 14, wherein respective LEDs emit pulsed light in a sequential time-division manner according to a unique modulation code.

16. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 14, wherein the photo sensor is selected from a group consisting of a photodiode, a PIN photodiode, and a phototransistor.

17. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 14, wherein the first mask is configured such that, upon tilting of the light guiding body, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs mounted on a side opposite to a tilted-down side passes through at least one of the plurality of through holes provided on the first mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.

18. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 14, wherein the second mask is configured such that, upon the light guiding body being rotated, the light emitted from at least one of the LEDs passes through the translucent area of the second mask, enters into the light guiding body, is guided through the light guiding body, and emerges from the end surface of the protruded portion, and is detected by the photo sensor.

19. The multi-input optical switch according to claim 14, wherein the first mask and the third mask are configured such that, upon the light guiding body being moved down, light emitted from at least one of the plurality of LEDs sequentially passes through at least one of the through holes provided on the first mask and through at least one of the through holes provided on the third mask, and is detected by the photo sensor.