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:
Dec. 31, 1991
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1991
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Heidenheim, DE;
Abstract
The invention is directed to an optical switch for a sensor. The optical switch conducts radiation emitted from a radiation source into a fiber leading to the sensor and conducts radiation returning from this fiber onto an optoelectric receiver. The optical switch includes a filter having wavelength-dependent transmission and reflection characteristics as well as optical components for collimating or focusing. The optical components together with the filter define a component unit in the form of an acute angle optical switch. The optical switch also has a first beam splitter mounted downstream of the component for collimating the radiation emitted by the radiation source. The beam splitter splits off a component of the radiation emitted by the radiation source as a reference beam and the reference beam is guided via deflecting prisms and spacers to a second beam splitter. The second beam splitter geometrically superposes the reference beam onto the measurement beam returning from the fiber via the optical switch. An air gap is provided ahead of the second beam splitter for accommodating a movable diaphragm therein which alternately interrupts the measurement beam or the reference beam.