DD219076A3 - COUNTER - Google Patents

Abstract

In a switch, the optical radiation of a radiation source is supplied to a radiation receiver by optical fibers, generally provided with envelopes, and is preferably influenced manually. The switch is used to operate light sources, electrical and electronic devices as well as the input and output of data. It should be versatile in use, easy to operate and to a high degree of operation and functionally reliable even under heavily loaded or aseptic environmental conditions. The switch should be designed using the purely optical principle of Strahlenfuehrung without moving components. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the optical fibers lie next to one another on a bearing surface and that the adjacent optical fibers on the side which are opposite the contact points of the optical fibers with the sensing surface have no encasing. Fig. 1

Description

v.Dehn Rotfeiser, Heinrich ', P 919

Baumgärtel, Werner - 23.O5.84

Dr, Ueumärker, Gottfried Dallendörfer, Roland

Title of the invention · Switch '.-'.- Field of application of the invention

The invention relates to a switch in which the optical radiation of a, radiation source supplied by basically provided with sheaths optical fiber to a radiation receiver and is preferably influenced manually to produce a switching state. The switch can be used both as a simple on-off switch for light sources and electrical or electronic devices and as a key for data input in electronic devices,.

solutions

There are already known sensor switch, with which switch positions are realized by utilizing the Hall effect. Since a change in potential occurs in the change in distance between the components used, a Hall generator with threshold triggering, electrical means for assessing this change are additionally provided.

r '': '- <' s Γ

- 2 - ' ^{P 919}

In addition, mechanical tolerance-containing means are required to change the state itself, which on the one hand require a voluminous construction and on the other hand require special protection in a chemically or physically active atmosphere.

Other known switching elements make use of a contact which is preferably located in an inert gas atmosphere and closes or opens under the action of a variable magnetic field. Apart from the fact that in this Pail mechanical or electrical means for changing the intensity of acting on the contact magnetic field must be provided, are circuit measures for 'debouncing the contact and the use of precious metals or rare and therefore expensive metals for making contact inevitable,; '

Further, sensor switches are known in which a current flow between two contact surfaces via the skin resistance of the human body to control the contact is done. Or the leakage current is evaluated from a contact surface via the human body to an electrical mass. Although these sensor switches avoid voluminous mechanical means for changing the distance between individual components, however, the associated physical stress on the human body when operating the sensor switch is considered to be disadvantageous and stressful.

In addition, rare or noble metals are necessary to prevent corrosion on the contact surface of the switch.

- 3 -. ? 919

Ss are also contactless JSingabe devices for manual input of information in electrical devices are known in which the radiation-sensitive energy converter falling radiation of one or more radiation sources is geometrically influenced. This arrangement is very complex in construction and very susceptible to contamination.

In another embodiment, movable mechanical parts are used to influence the radiation guidance, which increase the volume of the input device and which themselves must be designed with a sufficient dimensional accuracy to avoid 7 clamps and displacements. ^ ·. ·.

Finally, the use of optical fibers to input information into electronic devices is known; In these cases, there is also a geometric separation of the beam guidance by separation of the optical fibers and insertion of diaphragms or closures in the separation point. Also known ^: at the end of the optical fibers facing the light source for rejection of non-parallel rays, the optical fibers are correspondingly or not sheathed so that the rays which are not parallel to the optical fiber are absorbed or emerge from the optical fiber. A physical influence on the transmitted luminous flux, in particular by contact, does not take place here. , ,

- 4 -? 919

, By, the invention, the disadvantages should be avoided and a versatile applicable switch are created, which is characterized by a high reliability and a simple structure, 'It should exercise long term no harmful effects on the human body. ,

Presentation of the invention.

The invention has for its object to provide a switch that based on a purely optical principle, no moving components, requires its control and avoids the flow of current through the human body.

According to the invention, this object 'is achieved by the fact that the optical fibers are adjacent to each other on at least one support surface and that the juxtaposed optical fibers are provided only on the side facing the support surface with sheaths. This makes it possible to influence the light pipe through the optical fiber physically-optically. For this purpose, a denser medium than that of the light guide, a pinger or a cover, with the

-Contact the optical fibers, which have no envelope, brought into contact. As a result, the total reflection of the light in the light guide is canceled at these points and the intensity of the radiation source from the radiation receiver. Weakened light weakened. The reduction of the constant .Lichtstromes is used via the radiation receiver and an evaluation circuit for controlling the element performing the circuit.

The cover may be formed as a membrane which is resiliently disposed over the non-enveloped parts of the light guide so that it 'with the finger against these parts' can be pressed. The. Membrane allows a denser seal against a mechanically and / or chemically active atmosphere and thus against contamination. The arrangement can also be made so that all elements of the switch are poured into a block and thus protected against dust, water, gases and vapors or that there is only between the membrane and the light guides a small, lying in the deflection of the membrane air gap. -

The invention is energy-saving with a radiation? source and a radiation receiver usable, which are operated in a clock ratio. It is also possible to apply a plurality of light guide strands and radiation receivers with one radiation source. Such an embodiment of the invention is important when it is desired to control a plurality of remotely located elements carrying out the circuit. Irrespective of whether one or more radiation receivers are assigned to a radiation source, in an advantageous application of the invention a common coding, feeding and decoding unit can be provided between the radiation receivers and the associated elements carrying out the circuit. In this way, the sensors controlling the circuit-carrying elements can be operated separately or several executing elements can be operated coded via a common line.

This line can also be taken over by the Iletz installation. The switch according to the invention can at

- 6 -. , P 919

highest environmental requirements are used and operated with minimal staining forces.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawing. Ss show:

Pig. 1 shows the invention in a longitudinal section of the elevation, <

Fig. 2 the. Invention in plan view and

Fig..3 the enlarged cross section through a lying on the sensing surface, light guide.

In Fig. 1 and 2, a carrier 1 is provided with a support surface 2. In the carrier 1 are a radiation source with contacts 4, a radiation receiver 5 ^; with contacts 6 and one of optically active fibers (Fig. 3) existing optical fiber bundle 8 is poured with his.Enden. Each fiber 7 is provided with a cladding 9 and thus forms a light guide in which the fiber 7 has a higher refractive index than the cladding 9. The light guide bundle 8 is adapted with its light entrance surface 10 at the radiation source 3 and with its light exit surface 11 at the radiation receiver 5 arranged and has in the vicinity of its light inlet and outlet sf lache a cylindrical shape, the optical fiber bundle 8 extends in such a fanned out ¹ over the support surface. 2, that on the support surface 2 only one layer of light guides 8 is arranged

t.

- 7 - P 919

On the opposite side of the support surface 2, the light guides 8 in a region 12 no enclosure 9 on the touch surface 2 is at a distance from the region 12 of the light guide 8, a resilient membrane 2 'attached, the distance by a on de-m carrier 1 attached spacer body 1 ^! given and with the membrane 2 * firmly connected.

The light emanating from the radiation source 3 as a continuous current or pulse is received by the light guide bundle 8 through the light entry surface 10 and transmitted through the light entry surface 10. If the optical fiber bundle S in the region 12 is touched, for example, with the pinger via the membrane 2J whose refractive index is greater than that of the fibers 7, then the point of contact is formed clears the total reflection, and the light leaves the Paser 7 at this point, so that less or no light falls on the radiation receiver 5 and in this no pulse is generated.

Claims (3)

- 8th .'-·- . ρ 919 Srningungsansgruch 1. Switch, in which the optical radiation v / at least one radiation source by basically provided with envelopes ^ light conductor at least one radiation receiver supplied and preferably manually influenced to produce a switching state, characterized in that the light 'conductors on at least one support surface * side by side lie and dass.die juxtaposed light guide only on the. the bearing surface facing side is provided with enclosures. 2 "S _c holder according to item 1, characterized in that over the light guides lying on the support surface at a distance a diaphragm is arranged resiliently, whose refractive index is preferably greater than the refractive index of the light guide. 3. Switch according to item 2, characterized in that a plurality of radiation receivers and the same number Taatflachen are provided and that on each touch surface, the optical fibers for Verbindung'der the respective radiation source with the associated. Radiation receiver arranged side by side. are. , For this 1 page drawings