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:
Nov. 15, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2008
Andrew G. Edwards, Morganville, NJ (US);
Charles J. Burns, Cinnaminson, NJ (US);
George S. Hartigan, Jr., Jackson, NJ (US);
Andrew G. Edwards, Morganville, NJ (US);
Charles J. Burns, Cinnaminson, NJ (US);
George S. Hartigan, Jr., Jackson, NJ (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
An optical system and method are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical input system comprises a fiber optic cable defining an axial beam path, the fiber optic cable configured to reversibly deform at a bend location; an optical source coupled to the fiber optic cable and configured to inject an optic signal along the axial beam path; a detector coupled to the fiber optic cable and configured to receive a reflected signal from the fiber optic cable, the detector further configured to generate a distance parameter corresponding to the origin of the reflected signal; and a signal decoder configured to select a first input code from a plurality of input codes, the first input code corresponding to the distance parameter.