Patent ID: 8867867

Claim:
A fiber optic switch comprising: a plunger; a loaded member; a strain sensor mounted on the loaded member to sense strain applied to the loaded member; a snap-action mechanism connected between the plunger and the loaded member, wherein when the plunger is deactuated, the snap-action mechanism is in a first state; wherein actuation of the plunger causes the snap-action mechanism to change rapidly from the first state to a second state; wherein deactuation of the plunger causes the snap-action mechanism to change rapidly from the second state to the first state; and wherein the first state is substantially different from the second state; and a housing enclosing the loaded member, strain sensor, snap-action mechanism, and a substantial part of the plunger when the plunger is actuated; wherein the snap-action mechanism puts the loaded member into a first condition when the snap-action mechanism is in the first state, and into a second condition when the snap-action mechanism is in the second state; and wherein the strain sensed by the strain sensor when the loaded member is in the first condition is substantially different from the strain sensed by the strain sensor when the loaded member is in the second condition.