Optical Switch System and Apparatus

The present invention relates to an optical switch system and apparatus for use in controlling the operations of retracting or extending a stairway (gangway) from an aircraft or opening or closing power windows of a motor vehicle.

Recently, large aircraft have been designed so that passengers can have direct access thereto from a jetway. On the other hand, smaller aircraft mainly intended to fly in and out of small local airports are generally equipped with a retractable stairway in the cabin thereof that can be extended to provide access for passengers. The mechanism for extending the stairway down to the ground or retracting it, to be accommodated in the cabin, is operated by hydraulic pressure, for example, with many pipes harnessed to the frame of the aircraft. However, such hydraulic pipes are cumbersome to handle. Instead, therefore, an electric signal has been conventionally used for controlling the operation of the stairway. In order to achieve the control by the electric signal, the necessary number of cables must be laid and provided with associated control switches. A similar approach is taken for operating power windows of a vehicle. However, because of the great number of wires that have to be harnessed, the method described above suffers from problems as to the difficulty involved in installation work and obtrusiveness of the wire harness. Further, such a conventional method with the cluttered wires may cause another problem that an erroneous operation is liable to occur particularly in an environment that is subject to heavy electromagnetic interference.

To avoid the above problems, an optical fiber cable may be used. However, in this case, it is necessary to install a light source at the operating site and, as a result, accompanying wire harnesses are still required for supplying power to the light source. Thus, the problem of limiting in the number of wires has not conventionally been sufficiently solved by employing an optical fiber cable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-described problems of the conventional switch apparatus. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical switch system and apparatus capable of reducing the number of wires to be harnessed.

Further, it is another object of the invention to provide an optical switch system and apparatus simple in construction and for which the number of steps involved in installation work is reduced, thereby lowering the chance of error in the installation work.

The foregoing and other objects can be achieved by the provision of an optical switch system including an optical switch apparatus which, according to the present invention, comprises a light source emitting light of a certain wavelength, a single optical fiber cable for transmitting the light to a terminal switch, radiating means for radiating the light transmitted over the optical fiber cable, a reflector provided in the optical path of the radiated light at such a position that the reflected light will reach the radiating means, a shutter adapted to be inserted into or removed from the optical path of the radiated light, and a light extractor for detecting the reflected light that has passed through a return path in said optical fiber cable.

According to the present invention, the type of light to be reflected varies by changing the position of the shutter, so that the operator only need monitor the type of reflected light in order to identify the operational position of the switch. Further, at least one type of light is always reflected, and hence an abnormality can be identified merely by detecting the presence of absence of light.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an optical system to which optical switch apparatuses of first and third embodiments of the present invention are applied;

FIGS. 2 to 5 show operational conditions of filters according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the overall construction of the switch system apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an aircraft where a stairway is retracted into the cabin and FIG. 7A shows the stairway extended to the ground;

FIG. 8 shows a refracting portion of a reflector according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a front sectional view showing the reflector;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of an optical system to which an optical switch apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIGS. 11 to 14 show operational conditions of shutters according to the second embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 15 to 17 show operational conditions of a reflector unit according to the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an optical system to which optical switch apparatuses of first and second embodiments of the present invention are applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system includes an optical converter 1 for transmitting light and detecting the same, a terminal switch 3 which is operated by an operator to perform control over the retraction or extension of the stairway of an aircraft, and a terminal switch 4 which is operated by an operator to perform control over the retraction or extension of the stairway. The terminal switch 3 corresponds to a first embodiment of the present invention, whereas terminal switch 4 corresponds to a second embodiment.

In the optical converter 1, light-emitting diodes 12a-12e are driven by a driver 11 to emit light at respective different wavelengths .lambda.1 to .lambda.5. The light having wavelengths .lambda.1 to .lambda.3 is supplied to an optical coupler 13a, whereas the light having wavelengths .lambda.4 and .lambda.5 is supplied to an optical coupler 13b. The light supplied to the optical coupler 13a is transmitted over an optical fiber cable 14a, and the light supplied to the optical coupler 13b is transmitted over an optical fiber cable 14b. Directional couplers 15a and 15b are disposed in the path of the optical fiber cables 14a and 14b, respectively, for extracting independently the advancing light and the reflected light. The extracted light part of the advancing light is detected by a monitor circuit 16, and an output of the monitor circuit is supplied to a gain adjusting circuit 22 to control light-emitting diodes 12a-12e in such a way that they emit a constant intensity of light.

The light transmitted over the optical fiber cable 14a is divided into two beams by a distributor 31 provided in the terminal switch 3 and the beams are launched into lenses 32a and 32b which serve as light converging means. That is, the light transmitted over the optical fiber cable 14a is converged by these lenses and radiated therefrom. At the same time, these lenses converge the reflected light and supply it into the optical fiber cable 14a. Thus, a single optical fiber cable of the invention transmits light in two directions, that is, advancing and reflected light beams.

The light radiated from the lens 32a is supplied to a stationary filter 33a. A movable filter 34a is provided between the filter 33a and the lens 32a. The filter 34a can be inserted into the optical path of the light to block it or it can be removed from the optical path as required. The stationary filter 33a is adapted to reflect light in such a way that it returns effectively to the lens 32a. The filter 34a is installed at such an angle that when it is inserted into the optical path of the light of interest at a position where it blocks the light, the reflected light will return effectively to the lens 32a. A similar positional relationship is satisfied by lens 32b and stationary filter 33b and movable filter 34b.

The reflectors described above are so designed that they pass light of certain wavelengths, but reflect light of the other wavelengths, as shown below in Table 1.

If both filters 34a and 34b are removed from the optical path as shown in FIG. 2, the light having wavelengths of .lambda.1 to .lambda.3 that is radiated from the lens 32a reaches the filter 33a, through which light having wavelengths of .lambda.1 and .lambda.3 is passed. On the other hand, light having a wavelength of .lambda.2 is reflected by the filter 33a, converged by the lens 32a, and then launched into the optical fiber cable 14a through the distributor 31. The lens 32b and filters 33b such that 34b operate in a similar way and only light having a wavelength of .lambda.2 is supplied to the optical fiber cable 14a.

In the case shown in FIG. 2, light having a wavelength of .lambda.2 is reflected by both filters 33a and 33b, and the reflected beams are combined together in the distributor 31. If the two signals are the same in phase, they are added to each other, thereby producing an amplitude twice the amplitude of either signal.

If only the filter 34a is inserted into the optical path as shown in FIG. 3, light having wavelengths of .lambda.1 and .lambda.2 is reflected by that reflector, and thus reflected light having wavelengths of .lambda.1 and .lambda.2 is launched into the optical fiber cable 14a.

Similarly, if only the stationary filter 34b is inserted into the optical path as shown in FIG. 4, light having wavelengths of .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 is reflected and launched into the optical fiber cable 14a. If both filters 34a and 34b are inserted into the optical path as shown in FIG. 5, light having wavelengths .lambda.1 to .lambda.3 is launched into the optical fiber cable 14a through the distributor 31.

In the cases shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, light having wavelengths .lambda.1 and .lambda.3 is reflected by only one reflector, whereas light having wavelength .lambda.2 is reflected by both reflectors, so that the amplitude of the light having the wavelength .lambda.1 or .lambda.3 is one half the amplitude of the light having the wavelength .lambda.2.

The reflected light supplied into the optical fiber cable 14a is extracted by directional coupler 15a and divided by divider 17a into separate beams according to wavelength, which beams are then supplied for detection by light-receiving diodes 18a to 18c. The resulting detection outputs are supplied to a decoder 19 which decodes the signals corresponding to the input wavelengths and produces outputs representing a specific condition of the terminal switch 3 as shown in Table 2.

Underlining in Table 2 means that the relevant light has an amplitude one half the amplitude of light having wavelengths not underlined. Single bars " " mean that any wavelength will suffice, and double bars " " mean that no consideration was given to the relevant reflector.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the overall construction of the switch system apparatus shown in FIG. 1. Filters 34a and 34b in terminal switch 3 correspond to the buttons marked with "UP" and "DN", respectively, of a switch apparatus 3' in FIG. 6. Reflector unit 42 in the terminal switch 4 (described below in detail) corresponds to a switch marked "RETRACT" and "EXTEND" of a switch apparatus 4' in FIG. 6. That is, the switch apparatus 3' is arranged in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, whereas the switch apparatus 4' is arranged in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

When either the RETRACT or EXTEND side of the switch apparatus 4' is depressed or the UP or DN button of the switch apparatus 3' is pushed, the shaft of a control device 7 moves accordingly to cause the stairway to be retracted into the cabin of an aircraft, as shown in FIG. 7A, or extended to the ground, as shown in FIG. 7B.

A terminal switch according to a second embodiment of the present invention is hereunder described with reference to FIGS. 8-14. The circuit configuration of the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and hence the following description will concern only the essential part, i.e., terminal switch 103.

As shown in FIG. 10, light that has been transmitted over the optical fiber cable 14a is launched into a lens 131 in the terminal switch 103, which is a light-converging device. The light is converged by lens 131 and radiated therefrom. At the same time, reflected light is converged by the lens 131 and launched into the optical fiber cable 14a.

The light radiated from lens the 131 of the terminal switch 103 is transmitted to a filter 132a, which reflects only light having a wavelength .lambda.1 and transmits light having other wavelengths. Thus, light having wavelength .lambda.1 is directed toward a reflector 133a, whereas light having other wavelengths is directed toward a filter 132b. Filter 132b reflects only light having a wavelength of .lambda.2 and allows light having a wavelength of .lambda.3 to pass therethrough. Thus, light having a wavelength .lambda.2 is directed toward a reflector 133b, whereas light having a wavelength .lambda.3 is directed toward a reflector 133c. Filters 132a and 132b form a refracting portion that divides light into separate beams according to wavelength and refracts those beams in different directions. Reflectors 133a to 133c are provided in the optical paths of the respective beams, which are reflected by those reflectors to return to the lens 131 through the filters 132a and 132b.

A shutter 134a is provided between the reflector 133a and the filter 132a in such a way that it can be inserted into or removed from the optical path between these two optical devices. A shutter 134b is provided between the reflector 133c and the filter 132b, also in such a way that it can be inserted into or removed from the optical path between these two optical devices. If either shutter is inserted into the optical path at a position where it blocks the light of interest, the light is no longer capable of arriving at the associated reflector and hence will not return to the lens 131. No shutter is provided between the filter 132b and the reflector 133b so that light having a wavelength .lambda.2 is always reflected by the reflector 133b to return to the lens 131.

If both shutters 134a and 134b are removed from the optical paths of interest as shown in FIG. 14, light having wavelengths .lambda.1 to .lambda.3 passed through the lens 131 is separated into three different beams by the filters 132a and 132b. The beams having wavelengths .lambda.1, .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 are reflected by the reflectors 133a, 133b and 133c, respectively. The reflected beams reach the lens 131 after passing through the filters 132a and 132b and are converged for launching into the optical fiber cable 14a.

If the shutter 134b is inserted into the optical path as shown in FIG. 12, light at wavelength .lambda.3 is blocked and will not reach reflector 133c. Thus, the only reflected light that is launched into the optical fiber cable 14a is light having wavelengths .lambda.1 and .lambda.2. Similarly, if the shutter 134a is inserted into the optical path as shown in FIG. 13, reflected light at wavelengths .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 is launched into the optical fiber cable 14a. If both shutters 134a and 134b are inserted into the optical paths as shown in FIG. 11, only light having wavelength .lambda.2 is launched into the optical fiber cable 14a.

The operations described above are summarized in Table 3 below.

The construction of the switch apparatus according to the second embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 shows a refracting portion denoted by 232 which is housed within the terminal switch 3. Light launched into the switch from the left side of FIG. 8 passes through a hole 132d of an ingot 132c and reaches a filter 132a mounted on the oblique rear end of the ingot 132c. Light having a wavelength of .lambda.1 is reflected by the filter 132a and passes through a hole 132e in the ingot 132c to reach a prism 132f. The light having a wavelength .lambda.1 is then refracted by the prism 132f and travels toward the filter 133a mounted on an inside surface of the enclosure.

Light having wavelengths .lambda.2 and .lambda.3 which has passed through the filter 132a passes through a hole 132h in an ingot 132g and reaches a filter 132b. Light having wavelength .lambda.2 is reflected by the filter 132b and passes through a hole 132i in an ingot 132f until it reaches a prism 132j. The light having wavelength .lambda.2 is then refracted by the prism 132j and travels toward the filter 133b mounted on the inside surface of the enclosure. Light having wavelength .lambda.3 passes through the filter 132b and reaches the reflector 133c. The light reflected by each of the filters 133a, 133b and 133c passes along the same path in the return direction.

FIG. 8 shows the terminal switch 3 with the front cover taken away so that shutters 134a and 134b are not seen. The structure of the shutter 134a is shown in FIG. 9, which is a cross section of FIG. 8 taken on a line IX--IX. As shown in FIG. 9, a button 132n is combined integrally with the shutter 134a by means of a connecting member 132m. A spring 132l is inserted into the connecting member 132m and the button 132n, urged by this spring, protrudes beyond the faceplate. In this state, the optical path 132k of light having wavelength .lambda.1 is not interrupted by the shutter 134a. When the button 132n is depressed, the shutter 134a is inserted into the optical path 134k to block light having wavelength .lambda.1. While FIG. 9 shows only that part of the terminal switch 3 which is associated with the movable shutter 134a, it should be understood that a similarly designed shutter 134b is provided between the filter 132b and the reflector 133c.

The embodiments described above are designed to detect not only the operational position of the control switches but also failure of the circuit, since no shutter is provided for the optical path of light having a predetermined wavelength. If it is not necessary to detect circuit failure, this arrangement for enabling reflected light wave to be always present may be omitted. In order to control the extension and retraction of a stairway, light having a plurality of wavelengths is necessary. However, light having only one wavelength will suffice if it is desired to only detect a certain single state.

Hereinbelow, a terminal switch 4 constructed according to the third embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 15-17.

Light having wavelengths .lambda.4 and .lambda.5 transmitted from light-emitting diodes 12d and 12e is radiated from lens 41 toward reflector 42 as in the first and second embodiments. Reflector 42 is composed of sectors of reflecting elements 42a, 42b and 42c which are coupled together at their edges as shown in FIG. 1. Light radiated from the lens 41a will illuminate the major surface of one of reflecting elements 42a to 42c, and the reflected light will return to the lens 41. The reflecting element 42a reflects light having wavelength .lambda.4 and allows light having wavelength .lambda.5 to pass therethrough; the reflecting element 42b reflects both light at .lambda.4 and light at .lambda.5; and reflecting element 42c reflects light having wavelength .lambda.5 and allows light having wavelength .lambda.4 to pass therethrough.

Thus, depending upon the rotational position of the reflector 42, light having different wavelengths is reflected as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17. The reflected light is extracted by directional coupler 15b, divided into separate beams with divider 17b according to wavelength, and detected with light-receiving diodes 18d and 18e. The resulting signals are supplied to the decoder 19, where they are decoded to the position of the terminal switch 4 as summarized below.

Thus, the three different statuses of the terminal switch 4 can be used to control the retraction and extension of a stairway. For example, when a switch apparatus 4' shown in FIG. 6 is depressed on the RETRACT side thereof, the status of the terminal switch 4 is as shown in FIG. 15, when the switch apparatus 4' is in a position "OFF", the status of the terminal switch is as shown in FIG. 16, and when the switch apparatus 4' is depressed on the EXTEND side thereof, the status is as shown in FIG. 17.

As one can see from Tables 1 to 3, the switch apparatus of the present invention is so constructed that light having a certain wavelength is always detected irrespective of the operational status of the terminal switches. Therefore, if a circuit failure due to broken fibers in the optical cable occurs, the circuit failure can be judged by the absence of light of any detectable wavelength detectable.

The decoder 19 is so constructed that it decodes input signals in the way described in Tables 3 and 4. It produces a signal representing a "failure" condition at terminal 19a, a "retract" signal at terminal 19b, and an "extend" signal at terminal 19c. These signals are supplied to the control unit 7, with the "retract" signal passing through transistors 21a and 21b and a relay 5a, and with the "extend" signal passing through transistors 21c and 21d and a relay 5b. The control unit 7 performs mechanical control over, the operations of retracting and extending the stairway. The decoder 19 is also supplied with a signal from the monitor circuit so that no output signal will be transmitted if there is any abnormal condition in the optical signal.

In the embodiments described above, the optical signals are assumed to have a constant amplitude. If desired, they may be modulated at low frequency, with output detection signals being supplied through filters. Having a band limiting capability, this technique contributes to a higher S/N ratio and offers the advantage that the switch apparatus can be used in environments where electromagnetic interference is heavy.

In the embodiments described above, two or three different wavelengths are used to control the operations of retracting and extending the stairway. If there are more states to be identified, one only need increase the number of wavelengths to be used.

As described above, the present invention employs merely a single optical fiber cable for transmitting both an advancing wave and a reflected wave, and selection between generation or non-generation of reflected waves is made in accordance with the operational position of a terminal switch. Hence, a particular status of the terminal switch can be detected using merely one optical fiber cable. Therefore, the number of wires which need be included in a harness can be significantly reduced. Further, the use of light having more than one wavelength enables detection of two or more status of the terminal switch. In addition, light having a predetermined wavelength is reflected at all times during the operation of the switch apparatus, which has the added advantage of allowing the detecting of a circuit failure or broken fibers in the optical cable. Since light reflected at the terminal switch is detected, no light source is required at the terminal switch. This eliminates the need for providing a power supply at the terminal switch and the consequent decrease in the number of wires that have to be placed in a harness contributes to a decreased number of steps involved in the installation work and hence to a lower chance of occurrence of errors in the work.