Patent US3800204A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3800204A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Contactless selector switch
Assignee: LUCAS LEDEX Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-16
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1993-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A contactless switch mechanism for successively energizing individual load devices selected from a plurality of load devices comprises confronting printed circuit boards, each making contact along one margin with a supporting chassis assembly which houses, or may have terminals for connection to, a source of operating power and which houses or may have terminal connections to the plurality of load devices. A first printed circuit board supports a plurality of continuously operating light-emitting devices, one light-emitting device for each load device, the light-emitting devices positioned in a predetermined array and each mounted to direct light toward the second printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board supports a plurality of light detector devices, one associated with each light-emitting device, and each responsive to light received from its associated light-emitting device. Each light detector is coupled to a solid state driver circuit responsive to the associated light detector to energize a load device coupled thereto. Each of the plurality of lightemitters is thus capable of causing energization of an associated load device without a mechanical movement such as normally required for the closure of switch contact. Interposed between the confronting printed circuit boards is a light shield having a single aperture. Selection of individual loads to be energized from amongst the plural loads available for energization is accomplished by means of a stepping motor operated to advance the light shield along a predetermined course and through plural positions along said course, each of said plural positions aligning said aperture. With a single one of said light emitters so as to allow energization of a single load device.
Inventors
- 👤 P Kenney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:46
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/965; H03K17/968
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
In a contactless switch mechanism for successively energizing load devices selected from a plurality of load devices, the combination comprising: a plurality of light detectors, there being a different light detector for each of said load devices, a source of light effective to energize said light detectors, each light detector, when energized, producing an electrical signal, a plurality of signal amplifiers, each signal amplifier continuously coupled between one of said load devices and one of said light detectors and operative to energize its coupled load device upon receiving an electrical signal from its coupled light detector, an emitter board, a detector board, and chassis means supporting said boards in confronting relation, said emitter board supporting said source of light and having means electrically connecting said source of light to said chassis means, said detector board supporting said light detectors in a first predetermined array confronting said light source, said detector board having means electrically connecting said light detectors to said chassis means, a generally opaque light shield having a light-transmitting opening, said light shield interposed between said light detectors and said source of light, and motive means to advance said light shield to successive positions in each of which said openings is aligned to admit light to different of said light detectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a contactless switch mechanism for successively energizing load devices selected from a plurality of load devices, the combination comprising: a plurality of light detectors, there being a different light detector for each of said load devices, a source of light effective to energize said light detectors, each light detector, when energized, producing an electrical signal, a plurality of signal amplifiers, each signal amplifier continuously coupled between one of said load devices and one of said light detectors and operative to energize its coupled load device upon receiving an electrical signal from its coupled light detector, an emitter board, a detector board, and chassis means supporting said boards in confronting relation, said emitter board supporting said source of light and having means electrically connecting said source of light to said chassis means, said detector board supporting said light detectors in a first predetermined array confronting said light source, said detector board having means electrically connecting said light detectors to said chassis means, a generally opaque light shield having a light-transmitting opening, said light shield interposed between said light detectors and said source of light, and motive means to advance said light shield to successive positions in each of which said openings is aligned to admit light to different of said light detectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The switch mechanism of claim 1 in which said light source comprises a plurality of individual light emitters, there being one light emitter for each of said light detectors, said emitter board supporting said light emitters in a second predetermined array wherein each light emitter confronts an individual one of said light detectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The switch mechanism of claim 2 in which said first and second arrays are confronting co-axial circular arrays, said motive means comprising a stepping motor to rotate said light shield stepwise about the common axis of said circular arrays and means drivingly connecting said stepping motor to said light shield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The switch mechanism of claim 3 in which said opening is spaced from said common axis a distance substantially equal to the radius of one of said circular arrays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The switch mechanism of claim 4 in which said light emitters and said light detectors are arranged in confronting pairs at equal angular intervals along their respective circular arrays, said stepping motor adapted to step said light shield through rotary steps substantially equal in rotary angle to said angular intervals, said stepping motor adapted to align said opening between a different emitter and detector pair at the end of each rotary step thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The switch Mechanism of claim 5 wherein said opening is an aperture through said light shield and said aperture subtends an angle about said common axis which is smaller than the rotary step of said stepping motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stepping switch of claim 5 in which said opening is an aperture through said light shield and said aperture subtends an angle about said common axis which exceeds the rotary step of said stepping motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The switch mechanism of claim 1 in which said light detectors are photo-sensitive transistors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The switch mechanism of claim 8 in which each said signal amplifier is a current amplifier responsive to the passage of current through its coupled photo-sensitive transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
The switch mechanism of claim 1 in which said plurality of light detectors are mounted to one face of said detector board, said signal amplifiers are mounted to said one face of said detector board, said detector board having a voltage terminal on said one face, conductive means on said one face connecting said voltage terminal to each of said current amplifiers, said detector board having a plurality of load terminals printed thereon, there being one load terminal for each of said signal amplifiers, said circuit board supporting a plurality of conductors, there being a different conductor connecting each of said load terminals to a different one of said signal amplifiers, at least one of said load terminals printed on a face of said detector board which is different from the face to which at least one other of said load terminals is printed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The switch mechanism of claim 10 in which any load terminals printed on one face of said detector board are staggered with respect to any load terminals printed on another face of said detector board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The switch mechanism of claim 1 in which said emitter board includes conductor means series connecting said plurality of emitter devices, said conductor means passing through the thickness of said emitter board intermediate each pair of series-adjacent emitter devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The switch mechanism of claim 1 wherein said motive means includes a stepping motor and command means for initiating successive steps of said stepping motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switch mechanism of claim 13 wherein said command means includes a manually operable switch device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a contactless switch mechanism for successively energizing load devices selected from a plurality of load devices, said mechanism comprising a plurality of light detectors, there being a different light detector connected to each of said load devices, a source of light effective to energize said light detectors, each light detector, when energized, producing an electrical signal, means for each light detector responsive to its electrical signal to energize its connected load device, a prime mover, and means driven by said prime mover to selectively admit light from said source to successively different light detectors, the improvement comprising a detector board, an emitter board, and chassis means supporting said detector and emitter boards in confronting relation, said emitter board supporting said source of light and having means electrically connecting said source of light to said chassis means, said detector board supporting said light detectors in a predetermined array confronting said light source, said detector board having means electrically connecting said light detectors to said chassis means, said means to selectively admit light from said source to successively different light detectors comprising a generally opaque light shield having a light transmitting opening, said light shield interposed between said emitter and detector boards.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a contactless switch mechanism for successively energizing load devices selected from a plurality of load devices, said mechanism comprising a plurality of light detectors, there being a different light detector connected to each of said load devices, a source of light effective to energize said light detectors, each light detector, when energized, producing an electrical signal, means for each light detector responsive to its electrical signal to energize its connected load device, a prime mover, and means driven by said prime mover to selectively admit light from said source to successively different light detectors, the improvement comprising a detector board, an emitter board, and chassis means supporting said detector and emitter boards in confronting relation, said emitter board supporting said source of light and having means electrically connecting said source of light to said chassis means, said detector board supporting said light detectors in a predetermined array confronting said light source, said detector board having means electrically connecting said light detectors to said chassis means, said means to selectively admit light from said source to successively different light detectors comprising a generally opaque light shield having a light transmitting opening, said light shield interposed between said emitter and detector boards.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |