Patent ID: 7296753
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling a control surface of an aircraft comprising: an optical triggering circuit at a first location within a substantially benign electronic environment including a cockpit of the aircraft, wherein said optical triggering circuit generates an optical trigger signal; a power circuit located at a second location remote from the first location within a substantially harsh electronic environment including a wing structure of the aircraft containing the control surface, wherein said power circuit includes at least one photoconductor that is responsive to the optical trigger signal generated by the optical triggering circuit; and an optical cable coupling the optical triggering circuit to the power circuit; wherein the power circuit is directly driven by the transmission of the optical trigger signal from the optical triggering circuit to the power circuit via the optical cable; wherein the power circuit includes at least one leg including a pair of transistors, each transistor including a base coupled in series to a corresponding photoconductor, wherein activation of the corresponding photoconductor turns on the transistor coupled thereto; wherein at least one corresponding photoconductor comprises a photoconductive diode including a modified electrode structure comprising a plurality of strips formed on a surface of the photoconductive diode.