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:
Sep. 16, 1997
Filed:
May. 30, 1995
Karen Elizabeth Benjamin, Harrisburg, PA (US);
Jeffrey Byron McClinton, Harrisburg, PA (US);
Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr, Harrisburg, PA (US);
Earl Chester Myers, Jr, Harrisburg, PA (US);
John Joseph Consoli, Harrisburg, PA (US);
The Whitaker Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
An infrared communications adapter (10) is provided having a two part housing (22, 24) that snaps together to form a housing assembly (12) having an interior cavity (30). The interior cavity contains a circuit board (32) having communications circuitry and components thereon, including light emitting diodes (42, 44, 46) for indicating operating status of the unit and a photodiode array (34) for receiving and transmitting infrared signals. The adapter (10) includes a light pipe (50) having three light conducting channels (204, 206, 208) that conduct light from the three light emitting diodes (42, 44, 46) to viewing facets (190, 192, 194) on the light pipe that extend through openings in the housing (12). A lens (20) is arranged in a front end of the housing directly in front of the photodiode array (34). An articulated coupling 60 removably couples a stand (14) to the housing assembly (12) and permits aiming of the unit for receiving and transmitting the infrared signals. A cable (16) is terminated at one end to the circuitry on the circuit board (32) and at the other end to a connector (18) that is connected to an input/output data port of a computer or other equipment.