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. 27, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
George B Wolfe, Plymouth, MI (US);
Michael W Malesko, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Assignee:
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
385 16 ; 385 19 ; 385140 ;
Abstract
A switch apparatus includes a carrier for an optical cable. The carrier supports the optical cable in a U-shaped configuration with parallel leg portions of the optical cable extending along opposite sides of the carrier. A pushbutton is supported by the optical cable. The pushbutton has actuation arms which engage the parallel leg portions of the optical cable. The optical cable is held by flexible arms which form channels into which the leg portions of the optical cable are snapped. Upon manual actuation of the pushbutton, the optical cable is deformed to reduce the intensity of a light beam transmitted through the optical cable.