US3783274A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid-state switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-06
•
Granted: 1974-01-01
•
Expires: 1992-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A switch utilizing a solid-state circuit in place of ohmic contacts. A light-emitting diode illuminates a photosensitive solid-state device to make the circuit conductive or nonconductive, depending upon whether the light path from the diode to the photosensitive device is interrupted by a shutter or not. The shutter is controlled by an actuator to move between ''''on'''' and ''''off'''' positions. Motion of the shutter may be made more sudden and tease-proof by attaching the shutter to a magnetic device attracted to a fixed member to prevent the shutter from moving until enough force is applied via the actuator to overcome the magnetic attraction. Movement may be further speeded by connecting the shutter and actuator by a lost motion device and placing a compression spring between the shutter and actuator to store energy to overcome the magnetic field and then release the stored energy sharply. Another fixed magnetic member at the other end of travel of the shutter provides audible detection of operation and some energy storage and release for return motion.
Inventors
- 👤 H Rapp
- 👤 H Towne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:10
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F99/00; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/12; H01H71/24; H01H71/2409; G; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/08; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A solid-state switch comprising: a solid-state radiator of electromagnetic waves; a solid-state detector having one condition of conductivity when irradiated by said waves and a different condition of conductivity in the absence of radiation from said radiator; a housing opaque to said radiation, said emitter and said detector being located in said housing, whereby said waves from said radiator can reach said detector; a shutter movable between a first position, in which said shutter allows said radiation to pass from said radiator to said detector, and a second position, in which said shutter prevents said waves from said radiator from reaching said detector; means connected to said shutter for urging said shutter from one of said positions toward the other, and spring means resiliently biasing said shutter toward said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A solid-state switch comprising: a solid-state radiator of electromagnetic waves; a solid-state detector having one condition of conductivity when irradiated by said waves and a different condition of conductivity in the absence of radiation from said radiator; a housing opaque to said radiation, said emitter and said detector being located in said housing, whereby said waves from said radiator can reach said detector; a shutter movable between a first position, in which said shutter allows said radiation to pass from said radiator to said detector, and a second position, in which said shutter prevents said waves from said radiator from reaching said detector; means connected to said shutter for urging said shutter from one of said positions toward the other, and spring means resiliently biasing said shutter toward said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The switch of claim 1 in which said radiator is a light-emitting diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
emitter and collector output electrodes; and a load impedance connected in series with said output electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
emitter and collector output electrodes; and a load impedance connected in series with said output electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The switch of claim 1 in which said detector comprises a photo-Darlington amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The switch of claim 1 in which said detector comprises; a radiation-responsive solid-state device comprising:
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switch of claim 4 comprising, in addition, a Schmitt trigger comprising an input circuit connected across said load impedance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switch of claim 4 in which said load impedance is directly connected to said emitter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switch of claim 4 in which said load impedance is directly connected to said collector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The switch of claim 1 comprising, in addition, an actuator slidably mounted in said housing and extending therefrom and movable between first and second positions corresponding to said first and second positions, respectively, of said shutter, said actuator comprising means engaging said shutter to move said shutter in at least one direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The switch of claim 8 in which said shutter comprises a head portion, and said means engaging said shutter comprises a generally C-shaped member, engaging recess means below said head portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said means urging said shutter from one of said positions toward the other comprises permanently magnetized means attached to said shutter to move therewith, and means stationarily mounted within housing magnetically cooperating with said permanently magnetized means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The switch of claim 10 comprising, in addition, compression spring means between said shutter and said actuator to store energy when said actuator is depressed and to release said energy suddenly when the magnetic attraction between said permanently magnetized means and said fixed magnetic means is overcome, whereby said shutter moves sUddenly from said one of said positions to the other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
The switch of claim 10 in which said shutter comprises; a first portion that moves into and out of the path of said radiation from said radiator to said detector, and a head at one end; and in which said switch comprises, in addition, a connecting member comprising; means engaging said head, and lost motion means connecting said connecting member to said actuator to impart motion from said actuator to said connecting member only after said actuator has moved part of the way from one of its end positions to the other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The switch of claim 12 in which said permanently magnetized means comprises an annular magnet encircling said shutter between said first portion and said head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The switch of claim 13 in which said connecting member has a channel extending therethrough with an inwardly directed shelf to engage said head, said switch comprising, in addition, a compression spring confined within said channel and engaging said actuator when the latter is depressed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |