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. 08, 1992
Filed:
May. 31, 1991
Jackie C Sullivan, Wendell, NC (US);
Edwin R Newell, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Keith D Wheeler, Raleigh, NC (US);
Stanley H Edwards, Jr, Raleigh, NC (US);
Square D Company, Palatine, IL (US);
Abstract
The rotational optical switch of the present invention includes a switch enclosure, a light conductor, an optical shutter, a torsion spring biasing the shutter towards a bistable state, and a shutter actuator. The switch enclosure generally encloses the remaining components. The light conductor is received in the switch enclosure and extends between the enclosure and a transceiver, which provides a signal reflective of the state of the optical shutter. The optical shutter is pivotally mounted within the switch enclosure and is bistable between a reflective state which reflects light into the light conductor, and a nonreflective state which does not reflect light into the light conductor. The shutter pivots on arms to either end of a support cylinder which have knife edges. The shutter actuator is pivotally connected to the optical shutter by the torsion spring to cause the optical shutter to snap between the bistable states. The optical shutter has two reflectors in opposite reflective states. A second conductor is always in the opposite reflector condition.