US3816745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optically-coupled sensing and control system
Assignee: Innovation Ind Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-20
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1992-11-20
Abstract
Abstract In an optically coupled sensing and control system, a train of light wave pulses are generated and directed along a first pathway in a first direction with the light wave pulses in said pathway diverging by a predetermined amount. Reflector apparatus receives the light wave pulses in said first pathway and directs the received pulses in a second direction opposite the first direction along a second pathway spatially displaced from the first pathway. Detection apparatus is positioned in the second pathway to detect whether the light waves in either the first or second pathway are interrupted. When light wave pulses are detected by the detection apparatus, an enabling signal is generated and then applied via gating circuitry to memory circuitry. The gating circuitry opens for a predetermined period of time after each light wave pulse is generated to allow any enabling signal to pass to the memory circuit. The memory circuit is reset in response to the generation of each light wave pulse and is set upon receipt of an enabling signal via the gating circuitry from the detecting apparatus. The memory circuit generates an output signal whenever the circuit is in the set condition. Thus, when the light wave pulses in either the first or second pathway are interrupted, the memory circuit is placed in a reset condition and when the light wave pulses are uninterrupted, the memory circuit is alternately placed in the set and reset conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 R Primm
- 👤 Keown W Mc
- 👤 J Copeland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:29
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B13/00; B66B13/24; B66B13/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An optically coupled sensing and control system including means for generating light waves, lens means for directing said light waves along a first pathway generally in a first direction and for causing said light waves to diverge by a preselected amount along said pathway, reflector means for receiving light waves from said lens means and for directing the received waves in a second direction generally opposite said first direction along a second pathway spatially displaced from said first pathway, and means responsive to the interruption of light waves in either said first or second pathway for generating a first signal and responsive to receipt of light waves in said second pathway for generating a second signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
An optically coupled sensing and control system including means for generating light waves, lens means for directing said light waves along a first pathway generally in a first direction and for causing said light waves to diverge by a preselected amount along said pathway, reflector means for receiving light waves from said lens means and for directing the received waves in a second direction generally opposite said first direction along a second pathway spatially displaced from said first pathway, and means responsive to the interruption of light waves in either said first or second pathway for generating a first signal and responsive to receipt of light waves in said second pathway for generating a second signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as in claim 1 further including a filter means for substantially filtering out those light waves in the visible spectrum in said second pathway received at said signal generating means and for transmitting therethrough the remaining light waves in said second pathway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 2 wherein said filter means includes first and second polarizers whose polarization axes are oriented at right angles with respect to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said light wave generating means includes means for generating pulses of light waves having a certain frequency range and wherein said signal generating means includes means for detecting light wave pulses in said second pathway and for generating a third signal in response thereto, logic means responsive to the generation of a light wave pulse by said light wave pulse generating means for assuming a first condition to thereby generate said first signal and responsive to said third signal for assuming a second condition to thereby generate said second signal, and gate means interconnecting said detecting means and said logic means and responsive to said light wave pulse generating means for assuming a conductive condition for a predetermined period of timE after each light wave pulse is generated to thereby allow passage of said third signal from said detecting means to said logic means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said signal generating means further includes timing means connected to said gate means and said logic means and responsive to said first signal for commencing to time over a predetermined interval and for generating a fourth signal at the end of said interval if said third signal is not received from said gate means before the end of said interval, said timing means being responsive to said third signal for terminating the timing operation, and means for applying said fourth signal to said logic means for causing said logic means to assume said second condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said light wave pulse generating means includes a light-emitting diode responsive to pulses of electrical current for generating corresponding pulses of infrared light waves, means for generatig successive pulses of electrical current, and means for applying said pulses of electrical current to said light emitting diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said detecting means includes a photo detector positioned in said second pathway for generating a signal whose magnitude is proportional to the intensity of the light in said second pathway and threshold means for generating said third signal when the magnitude of the signal from said photo detector exceeds a first threshold level and for terminating the generation of said third signal when the magnitude of the signal from said photo detector falls below a second threshold level which is less than said first threshold level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system as in claim 7 further including a second lens means positioned in said second pathway for directing the light waves in said second pathway onto said photo detector, said second lens being positioned relative to the photo detector so that the photo detector is located between said second lens and the focal point of said second lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as in claim 8 further including filter means positioned in said second pathway between said second lens means and said photo detector for substantially filtering out those light waves outside of said certain frequency range and for transmitting therethrough light waves in said certain frequency range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said lens means produces a pathway of light waves which diverges substantially ten degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said reflector means includes structure having first and second spaced substantially flat reflective surfaces whose planes are oriented substantially at a right angle with respect to each other, the plane of said first surface being oriented at an angle of substantially 45* with respect to the direction of said first pathway and the plane of said second surface being oriented at an angle of substantially 45* with respect to the direction of said second pathway.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 1 further including means responsive to said signal generating means for generating a visual indication of the intensity of the light waves receives by said signal generating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means includes a photo detector positioned in said second pathway for generating a signal whose magnitude is proportional to the intensity of light impinging thereon, said system further including a second lens means positioned in said second pathway for directing light waves in said second pathway onto said photo detector, said photo detector being positioned between said second lens and the focal point of said second lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
An optically coupled sensing and control system including means for generating a train of light wave pulses having a certain frequency range, means for directing said light wave pulses in a certain pathway, means for detecting light wave pulses in said certain pathway and for generating an enabling signal in response thereto, Logic means which assumes a reset state in response to the generation of a light wave pulse by said light wave pulse generating means and which assumes a set state in response to a signal generated by said detecting means, for generating an output signal when in the set state, and gate means interconnecting said detecting means and said logic means and responsive to the generation of a light wave pulse by said light wave pulse generating means for thereafter temporarily opening to allow transfer from said detecting means to said logic means of said enabling signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
An optically coupled sensing and control system including means for generating a train of light wave pulses having a certain frequency range, means for directing said light wave pulses in a certain pathway, means for detecting light wave pulses in said certain pathway and for generating an enabling signal in response thereto, Logic means which assumes a reset state in response to the generation of a light wave pulse by said light wave pulse generating means and which assumes a set state in response to a signal generated by said detecting means, for generating an output signal when in the set state, and gate means interconnecting said detecting means and said logic means and responsive to the generation of a light wave pulse by said light wave pulse generating means for thereafter temporarily opening to allow transfer from said detecting means to said logic means of said enabling signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A system as in claim 14 further including timing means for causing said logic means to assume the set state a predetermined period of time after said logic means ceases to generate said output signal unless an enabling signal is generated by said detecting means during said predetermined period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 14 further including a filter means positioned in said certain pathway near said detecting means for inhibiting the transfer therethrough of light waves having a frequency outside of said certain frequency range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system as in claim 14 wherein said directing means includes lens means for directing the light wave pulses generated by said light wave pulse generating means along a first pathway generally in a first direction, the light waves in said first pathway diverging by a predetermined amount, and reflector means for receiving light wave pulses from said lens means and for directing the received light wave pulses in a second direction generally opposite said first direction along a second pathway which is displaced from said first pathway by a predetermined distance.
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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) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |