Patent ID: 7672594

Claim:
An optical communication system for conveying signals between a first and a second housing element of a device, where the first and second housing elements are adapted to move relative to one another, the communication system comprising: an optical light source for producing light in a direction of travel having an angle, the optical light source being coupled to one of the first and second housing elements; an optical detector coupled to the other one of the first and second housing element, to which the optical light source is not coupled; a light guide having a length corresponding to the length of intended movement of the first housing element relative to the second housing element, where at least one of the optical light source and the optical detector travels along at least partially the length of the light guide, when the first housing element moves relative to the second housing element; and a first light redirection unit, associated with one of the optical light source and the optical detector, where the first light redirection unit is located proximate the light guide at a variable position along the length of the light guide corresponding to a current position of the associated one of the optical light source and the optical detector relative to the length of the light guide, which redirects the angle of the direction of travel of the light produced by the optical light source relative to the light guide, between an angle which will allow the light to be largely confined by the light guide as the light travels along the length of the light guide, and an angle which will allow the light to exit the light guide.