Abstract:
An optoelectrical integrated circuit (“IC”) is disclosed. The relay comprises an observing opening on the surface for facilitating the determination whether the relay is normally operated by means of observing the internal elements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to relays, and more particularly to an optoelectronic IC relay in which an observing opening is provided on the surface of the relay for facilitating the determination whether the relay is normally operated. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that the optoelectrical integrated circuit (“IC”) relay mainly comprises a optoelectrical conversion element having a light-emitting means and a light-receiving means which are optical coupling in nature. The optoelectrical IC relay is employed to maintain in an insulated state as long as it is not activated by a condition change. In other words, the condition change means that the light-emitting means is activated by an input current signal, and then the current signal is converted into a light signal for transmitting to the light-receiving means for further converting into an electrical signal. By utilizing this conversion, the optoelectrical IC relay can acts as an isolator, or a noise suppressor in a circuit, or as filtering out noise in the load of a circuit. 
     In the application of as the isolator, the optoelectrical IC relay is widely implemented in an OR gate, a NAND gate, or a NOR gate of a logic circuit. 
     It is also implemented in a current source circuit for comparing an output voltage with a predetermined threshold voltage for generating a feedback signal to control the output voltage. As such, the output voltage is maintained at a regulated level. Alternatively, it is implemented as a solid state relay. 
     In the application of as the noise suppressor, the optoelectrical IC relay is driven in a current mode due to its low input impedance. Such that noise with a high impedance may be filtered out. 
     As the optoelectrical IC relay employed in the junction of a transistor-transistor-logic (“TTL”) circuit and a high-noise-interference-logic (“TNIL”) circuit activated by different current sources, noise will not adversely affect the TNIL circuit. 
     As the optoelectrical IC relay employed in the clipping circuit, the response is acceptable and there is no adverse effect on the signal circuit. 
     As the optoelectrical IC relay employed to filter out noise in the load of a circuit, noise spike generated in the load side will not feedback to the logic circuit side. 
     Typically, a layer of opaque material insulated material is coated on the surface of the optoelectrical IC relay for preventing an external light from entering into the light-emitting means, and also preventing light emitted by the light-emitting means from transmitting to the external. 
     One drawback is that a user can not see the internal elements of the relay for determining whether the relay is normally operated. The only method to determine whether the relay is normal is by pulling the relay out of the operating circuit. Then, conduct a test on it by a testing device. It is quite inconvenient. 
     Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved optoelectrical IC relay construction to overcome the above drawback. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an optoelectrical IC relay in which an observing opening is provided on the surface of the relay for facilitating the determination whether the relay is normally operated by means of observing the internal elements. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optoelectrical IC relay according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, an optoelectrical IC relay  1  is shown. The optoelectrical IC relay  1  comprises a light-emitting means  11  having a light-emitting body  13  and a lead  14  extended from one side of the light-emitting means  11 , and a light-receiving means  12  having a light-receiving body  15  and a lead  16  extended from one side of the light-receiving means  12 . A body of transparent insulated material  2  is wrapped around the light-emitting means  11  and the light-receiving means  12 . As such, the light-emitting means  11  and the light-receiving means  12  are not in a conductive communication, while the light emitted by the light-emitting means  11  is received by the light-receiving means  12 . 
     Further, a layer of opaque material  21  is coated on the surface of the body of transparent insulated material  2  for preventing an external light from entering into the relay  1 . In addition, as characterized by the invention, a top-to-bottom tapered observing opening  22  is provided on the surface of the opaque material layer  21  for facilitating the determination whether the relay  1  is normally operated by means of observing the light-emitting means  11  and the light-receiving means  12 . Further, a transparent plastomer  25  is filled in the observing opening  22  for preventing external dust from entering into the relay  1 . 
     In the first embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 2, a transparent raised round member  23  is provided between the junction surface of the observing opening  22  and the body of transparent insulated material  2 . The transparent raised round member  23  acts as refracting and amplifying the light for further facilitating the determination whether the relay  1  is normally operated by means of observing the light-emitting means  11  and the light-receiving means  12 . 
     In the second embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, a layer of transparent material  24  is provided between the junction of the opaque material layer  21  and the body of transparent insulated material  2  as well as between the junction of the transparent raised round member  23  and the body of transparent insulated material  2 . 
     In the fourth embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4, the observing opening  22  has a rectangular cross-section. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.