Patent ID: 8658962

Claim:
An optical switch activator comprising an activator body, and a first and second optical fiber each having distal and proximal ends, said optical fiber distal ends coupled to said activator body, said first optical fiber connectable to a light source at said first optical fiber proximal end, and said second optical fiber connectable to a light detector at said second optical fiber proximal end, said optical switch activator further comprising a moveable member, said moveable member moveable along a path between a first position and a second position with respect to said distal ends of said optical fibers, where said path between said first position and said second position is not substantially perpendicular to both axes defined by said first optical fiber's distal end and said second optical fiber's distal end, where said path intersects each of said axes, whereby in said first position, an optical path is present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and in said second position, an optical path is not present between said distal ends of said first and second optical fibers when light is transmitted through said first optical fiber, and said activator body further comprises in part a glowable material, where reflection or re-emission of light from said glowable material is used in establishing said first position of optical alignment; and wherein said activator body has an axis of light orientation, said axis of light orientation being defined by an axis extending through said distal end of one of said first optical fiber or second optical fiber, and wherein moveable member path is not completely inline with said axis of light orientation.