Patent ID: 8810805

Claim:
A light source for an optoelectronic sensor ( 10 ), which transmit light ( 14 ) in different observation directions, comprising a light transmitting element ( 40 ) for generation of transmitted light ( 14 ) and a deflection unit ( 41 ), with which the transmitted light ( 14 ) is deflected in different directions, characterized in that the deflection unit ( 41 ) comprises a curved light-guiding element ( 42 ) into which the transmitted light ( 14 ) is coupled, and a channel ( 44 ) immediately adjacent to a convex side of said light-guiding element ( 42 ), the channel ( 44 ) containing two polar fluids ( 46 and 48 ) having different refractive indexes, wherein the fluids are not mixed and are moved in said channel ( 44 ) in the longitudinal direction ( 64 ) by electrical forces due to the effect of electrowetting, wherein the refractive index of the first fluid ( 46 ) is smaller than that of the light-guiding element ( 42 ), so that the transmitted light ( 14 ) coupled into the light-guiding element ( 42 ) is totally reflected in those sections in which the first fluid ( 46 ) is adjacent said light-guiding element ( 42 ), and the refractive index of the second fluid ( 48 ) is equal to or greater than that of the light-guiding element ( 42 ), so that the coupled transmitted light ( 14 ) is uncoupled from the light-guiding element ( 42 ) in those sections ( 50 ) in which the second fluid ( 48 ) is adjacent to said light-guiding element ( 42 ).