Patent ID: 6882768

Claim:
An optical switch for a fast, non-contacting determination of spacing, based on a confocal imaging principle, said switch comprising: a nearly point-shaped light-emitting element; imaging optics, adapted to image the light-emitting element onto a switching range that is predetermined by an image-forming characteristics of the imaging optics; a nearly point-shaped light-receiving element, arranged at a same location as the light-emitting element or arranged confocal to the light-emitting element; and a light detection device, coupled to the light-receiving element, wherein the light detection device is designed such that a signal is emitted if an object moves into the switching range and the light from the light-emitting element that impinges via the imaging optics onto the object is scattered back at least in part and an image of the scattered-back light is formed by the imaging optics on the light-receiving element.