Patent ID: 8742319

Claim:
A sensor assembly, comprising: a sensor; an optical data conduit coupled to the sensor; and a sensor signal processing and control component coupled to the optical data conduit, wherein the sensor and the sensor signal processing and control component are configured to exchange light signals via the optical data conduit, wherein the sensor comprises a photo-detector that is configured to generate a first electrical driving signal, a directional coupler that is configured to direct the electrical driving signal to an element that is configured to generate an electromagnetic field in response to the electrical driving signal and to a light source, wherein the light source is configured to generate a reverse reflected optical signal in response to reflection of the electrical driving signal in the element and a forward reflected signal with properties based on properties of the electrical driving signal, and wherein the sensor signal processing and control component comprises a photo-detector that is configured to convert the reverse reflected optical signal to a reverse reflected processing signal that identifies the proximity of an object to the sensor.