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:
Jul. 13, 1982
Filed:
May. 15, 1980
Abstract
A light transmitter directs light via a first polarizing filter, so that it is polarized in one plane, to a retro-reflecting device across a region to be monitored and the retro-reflector produces depolarization, or rotates the plane of polarization of the light, prior to directing it to a light receiver positioned adjacent the light transmitter. A second polarizing filter crossed relative to the first is positioned in front of the light receiver so that the light receiver will only recognize light whose plane of polarization has been appropriately rotated by the retro-reflector but not light reflected from a strongly reflecting object which interrupts the light barrier. Threshold circuitry evaluates whether a signal from a photoelectric convertor embodied in the receiver lies above or below a given threshold. Weakly reflecting objects are not recognized, because light reflected therefrom will be too weak to generate a signal above the required threshold. Various polarizing arrangements are described.