Patent ID: 6181847
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G02B,H03K

Abstract:
An optical switch comprising:a first transmitting light pipe having a first end and a second end;a first illumination source coupled to the second end of the first transmitting light pipe for transmitting light into the second end and toward the first end of the first transmitting light pipe;a first receiving light pipe having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first receiving light pipe is aligned with and spaced from the first end of the first transmitting light pipe, forming a first gap therebetween;a switch cap including a first cap portion and a second cap portion; anda first light transmitting tower coupled to the first cap portion and extending from the first cap portion into the first gap when the switch cap is disposed in a first position of said switch cap and into a location away from the first gap when the switch cap is disposed in a second position of said switch cap,wherein when the switch cap is disposed in the first position, light transmitted by the first illumination source into the first transmitting light pipe is transmitted through the first end of the first transmitting light pipe and into the first light transmitting tower to illuminate the first portion of the switch cap and when the switch cap is disposed in the second position the light transmitted by the first illumination source into the first transmitting light pipe is transmitted through the first gap into the first receiving light pipe.