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:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1999
Alvin R. Wirthlin, Springfield, MO (US);
Other;
Abstract
An optical transducer includes a light source, a fluorescent-doped fiber optic spaced from the light source for receiving radiant energy from the light source, and a light blocking member interposed between the fiber optic and the light collector. A photosensor is positioned adjacent each end of the fiber optic. The light blocking member extends between the light source and at least a portion of the fiber optic for blocking at least a portion of the radiant energy from the fiber optic. The light blocking member is movable with respect to the fiber optic in response to an applied force on the light blocking member for varying the position of the radiant energy incident on the fiber optic to thereby vary the amount of radiant energy transmitted to the fiber optic ends. With this arrangement, the amount of radiant energy received by the fluorescent-doped fiber optic and detected by the photosensor is indicative of the applied force. The applied force may be in the form of acceleration, gravity, rotation, torque, torsion, bending, fluid flow, vibration, and the like.