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. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1999
Robert W. Fayfield, Excelsior, MN (US);
Banner Engineering Corp., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A hand operated optical touch button switch configured for insertion of a human hand into an opening. The opening having a beam of light emitted from an emitter and traveling to a photo detector. The housing includes switching circuitry for operating a controller coupled to a relay which actuates the operation of electrical machinery. The switching circuitry also includes a self check circuit adapted to continuously provide feedback regarding proper function of all components comprising the optical touch button switching circuitry. The continuous feedback provided by the self check circuitry generates data within the output signal that informs the controller of component failures which may result in unintended actuation of a machine to which the switch is coupled when the human hand is not inserted in the opening of the switch housing.