The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 08, 1977
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1976
Adolph Lee Lewis, La Mesa, CA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An electro-mechanically actuated light switch is provided for transferring ight energy into or out of a fiber optic light transmission path. Liquid material contained within the switch provides a continuity between two fiber optic terminals in the fiber optic light transmission path. The liquid material is chosen to have an index of refraction higher than the material which contains it, so that substantially total internal reflection is sustained along the optical axis of the fiber optic light transmission path. A transparent member is movably mounted in a port in the switch and resiliently supported for extension into the liquid material. An electromagnetic-solenoid arrangement is adapted to extend an angularly disposed reflective end of the transparent member into the liquid material for redirecting light energy which it intercepts. Such redirected light energy in the form of light intercepted in the optical path may be detected by a suitable sensor; alternatively light signals from a suitable source such as a light emitting diode may be introduced into the transparent member and reflected to propagate along the optical path.