A light actuated switch apparatus is described in which no movable switch contacts are employed. The switch uses a light source and shutter to activate an array of light sensitive devices to generate a binary code that provides the switching function. One embodiment of the switch apparatus is employed inside a control knob providing a binary code generated by shutter action of a light source on an array of photo-transistors. Another embodiment employes employs the above control knob including switch apparatus as well as a second knob and printed board to form a dual switch apparatus. As no switch contacts are employed there is considerable reduction in electrical components. Additionally, this also greatly reduces the space required for mounting the switch, is readily serviceable or replaceable as no parts are located within an instrument, and is less expensive as no contacts eliminate any wear and potential problems associated with movable through stationary contacts.
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14. An optoelectronic switch, comprising
a rotatable housing, a masking member mounted within and coupled to said housing for rotation therewith, said member including a plurality of light transmissive windows, stationary light sensitive means disposed within said housing facing one side of said masking member for detecting incident light and generating an electrical signal proportional thereto, and stationary light source means disposed within said housing facing the opposite side of said masking member for directing light toward said light sensitive means, 1ight from said source means passing through certain of said windows at different rotational positions of said housing to illuminate said light sensitive means and thereby produce electrical output signals at such positions.
1. An optoelectronic switch, comprising:
a movable housing member, stationary radiation source means disposed inside said movable housing member, said stationary radiation source means for providing electromagnetic radiation; movable masking means operably disposed in said movable housing member, said masking means for selectively masking said electromagnetic radiation to provide a coded electromagnetic radiation; and stationary radiation sensitive means disposed inside said movable housing member, said stationary radiation sensitive means for collecting said coded electromagnetic radiation to provide an output electrical signal proportional to said coded electromagnetic radiation.
2. The switch according to
connecting means disposed within said movable housing member, said connecting means for connecting said movable housing means and said movable masking means together.
3. The switch according to
4. The switch according to
5. The stationary radiation source member according to
6. The switch according to
7. The movable masking means according to
8. The switch according to
9. The switch according to
10. The switch according to
coupled device. 11. An optoelectronic switch, comprising: a first movable housing member; a second movable housing member operatively disposed within said first movable housing member; stationary radiation source means disposed within said second movable housing member, said stationary radiation source means for providing electromagnetic radiation; movable masking means operatively disposed in said second movable housing member, said movable masking means for selectively masking said electromagnetic radiation to provide a coded electromagnetic radiation; stationary radiation sensative sensitive means disposed inside said second movable housing member, said stationary radiation sensitive means for collecting said coded electromagnetic radiation to provide an electrical signal proportional to said coded electromagnetic radiation; and means operatively disposed inside said first housing member, said means for selectively receiving said electricl electrical signal to provide a selectable electrical signal. 12. The switch according to claim 11 wherein said first and said second movable housing members move independently from one another. 13. The switch according to claim 11 wherein said means operatively disposed inside said first movable housing member defines a circuit board means including selectable connection members. 15. The switch of
16. The switch of
17. The switch of
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Previously, several switches have been made which relate in general to electrical circuits whether singular or in a dual assembly in which two different switches are operated independently by means of a common shaft or which can be operated together. In these switches, accomodate accommodate both of the aforementioned criterion criteria, spacer spring member 100 is preferably a chemically milled "MYLAR" polyester and shown in detail in FIG. 3E. Two parallel support members 101 and 102 are connected together via a plurality of V-shaped truss members 103. Each of the parallel supports has one end which is truncated inwardly towards each other a minute amount, then again parallel. The truncated end portion provides the spacer-spring member with a connecting means. As shown in FIG. 3A, such spring is circular in shape and provided as such by weaving the connecting means first between two of the plurality of V-shaped truss members, then over one, and back between any adjacent two. Thus, connecting requires that the truncated end portion have a width slightly less than the width of the V-shaped truss members. It has been determined that the V-shaped truss members provide a spring whose stress-strain relationship follows a linear path and has good spring-back characteristics as required. It is to be understood however, that the spring as shown is one of many forms and is the preferred form. For instance, the V-shaped truss members can take various shapes and the truncated end portion can traverse outwardly, etc. The spring can be formed, a plurality at a time, very simply and inexpensively. Additionally, the length of such member can vary depending upon the design characteristics required.
A next portion of the switch apparatus which is keyed to and guided by shaft assembly 55 is the light collector assembly 125 which includes a radiation collector, or detector or sensitive, means 126 mounted thereon. A plurality of openings 127 through a metal disc portion 128 enable contact means 130 (stationary contact means 53 shown in FIG. 4), which are a portion of the radiation collector, or detector or sensitive means 126, to be received through an insulator and support member 129. A plurality of connection members 54 are provided for mounting the entire switch assembly onto an instrument panel or the like as previously shown and described. The radiation collector, or detector or sensitive, means 126 collects the masked electromagnetic radiation and provides an output proportional to such masked radiation. In the present invention, such radiation collector, or detector or sensitive, means 125 is is an array of 5 phototransistor chips mounted on a lead frame, wired in parallel and encapsulated by transfer molding in transparent epoxy with integrally molded focusing lenses as well as mounting stubs in a manner resembling a dual-in-line DIP package suitable for pluging plugging into an etched circuit board, soldering or other conventional connection means. Other types of collector means can be used which are well known in the art such as, for example, charge coupled devices (CCD's). The requirement for such substitution radiation collector, or detector or sensitive means requires that an output porportional proportional to the masked electromagnetic radiation be produced. The entire switch apparatus is completed when a conventional retaining spring member 140 is disposed into the recessed area 203 of knob shell 50.
In the preferred embodiment of the above described switch apparatus, the knob switch is made with five elements in the optoelectronic array, thus is capable of 25 or 32 coded positions; a switch having 32 positions would have 111/4° per step. A switch having, say, 18 positions or 20° per step would, of course, have the detent steps more defined relative to the 32 position switch. The desired number of switch positions are determined by the number of teeth provided on the detent gear member 68 and the traverse of the switch is determined by the stop protuberancies 79.
Shown in FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a dual optoelectronic switch according to the present invention. Such switch apparatus includes the previously mentioned knob shell 50, shaft assembly 55', detent follower and stop assembly 65, spring member 73, light holder assembly 75, baffle member 90, coded disc 95, spring and spacer 100, light collector assembly 125 and the retaining spring 140. In addition, a second knob shell 50', indicator panel 145, a second detent follower and stop assembly 150, circuit board member 160, insulator 165, and additional mounting member 170, and a second retaining spring member 180. A minor difference exists however, between the shaft assembly 55 and shaft assembly 55' of FIG. 5, the latter having an elongated area of greater length to accommodate the extra components of the dual switch. As previously mentioned, another alternative would be a coaxially mounted shaft within the elongated area to accommodate the extra components of the dual switch. Knob shell 50' includes a recess area into which a retaining spring 180 is disposed and as such, must be of sufficient length and area so that knob shell 50 can be rotated when disposed therein as in any type dual switch. Indicator panel 145 when secured by, say, contact cement or other conventional securing means to the second detent and stop assembly 150 provides an indication as to the switch position defined by rotation of inner knob shell 50. Detent follower and stop assembly 150 consists of a housing member 151, a spring member 152, a roller member 153, a detent wheel member 154 and a contact member 155. Detent wheel member 154 is provided with a plurality of holes 157 which have one end beveled (not shown), such holes for receiving the connection members 54 (see FIG. 3A) on the light collector assembly 125. A plurality of securing means such as the screw 158 connects the units together, such a screw being disposed into the beveled end for obvious reasons. In addition, the detent wheel member includes gear teeth members 156 into which the detent roller 153 is engaged. As the assembly differs only slightly from that already described no further description will be given. A switch contact member 155 is carried by the housing member 151 for contacting circuit board conductive areas or a circuit board member to be next discussed; as the contact is well known it will not be discussed in detail. The remainder of the detent and stop assembly 150 is similar to the detent follower and stop assembly 65 and as such will not be discussed.
A circuit board member 160 is next carried by the shaft assembly 55' and includes a plurality of etched circuit board conductive areas 161. These areas or paths are preselected to provide the desired switching functions. The circuit board also includes a plurality of aperatures 162 for receiving the contact members of the light collector, or detector or sensitive means already discussed. A plurality of conductive members 163 are also provided on the circuit board to provide the electric path required by such switch for inputing and outputing the desired switching currents. An insulator member 165 provides insulation between circuit board member 160 and the mounting member 170. Mounting member 170 is similar to light collector assembly 125 except no light collector, or detector or sensitive member is provided. Again, a spring member 180 when placed into the recess area of knob shell 50' completes the assembly.
While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. For example, two complete optoelectronic switches, say as described in FIG. 3 could be connected in a dual switch assembly. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
| Oct 31 1977 | Tektronix, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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