REMOTE INDICATOR

Abstract

A remote indicator system comprising a housing and a display unit located remotely from the housing. The housing comprises a first light source and a first end of an end-emitting fibre optic cable. The display unit comprises a second end of the fibre optic cable. The housing includes manual switching means configurable to allow light from the first light source to pass into the first end of the optical fibre cable and further configurable to prevent light from the first light source from passing into the first end of the optical fibre cable.

Claims

1. A system for providing a remote indicator comprising a housing located at a first location and a display unit located remotely from the housing at a second location, the housing comprising a first light source and a first end of an end-emitting fibre optic cable; the display unit comprising a second end of the fibre optic cable; wherein the housing includes manual switching means configurable to allow light from the first light source to pass into the first end of the optical fibre cable and further configurable to prevent light from the first light source from passing into the first end of the optical fibre cable, and wherein the manual switching means is operable by an individual at the first location to provide a signal to the display unit.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the manual switching means for aligning the first end of the optical fibre cable with the at least one light source comprises one of: a moveable optical fibre cable and a moveable first light source.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the fibre optic cable is incorporated into a moveable assembly and the manual switching means comprises movement of the assembly to effect alignment or unalignment of the first end of the fibre optic cable with the first light source, the moveable assembly having an aligned position in which the first end of the fibre optic cable is aligned with the first light source and an unaligned position in which the first end of the fibre optic cable is unaligned with the first light source.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the moveable assembly is manually rotatable between the aligned and unaligned positions.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the moveable assembly is manually slidable between the aligned and unaligned positions.

6. A system according to claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of different coloured light sources and the moveable assembly has a plurality of aligned positions in which the first end of the fibre optic cable is aligned with each of the light sources in turn.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of first ends of a plurality of fibre optic cables, and a plurality of display units, each display unit including a second end of one of the fibre optic cables.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the fibre optic cable is aligned with the first light source and the manual switching means comprises a manually moveable shutter positioned between the first light source and the first end of the fibre optic cable, the shutter having at least one aperture, wherein the shutter has at least two positions: a first position in which the aperture is substantially aligned with the first light source and light from the first light source passes into the first end of the optic fibre cable, and a second position in which the aperture unaligned with the first light source and the shutter prevents light from the first light source passing into the first end of the optic fibre cable.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the shutter comprises a plurality of apertures, each aperture being provided with a different coloured filter, and wherein the shutter is moveable to a plurality of positions such that each aperture is alignable with the first light source.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the or each light source is an LED.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the or each light source is located remotely from the housing and the light therefrom transferred to the housing via optical fibre cabling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the Drawings, which illustrate the prior art and preferred embodiments of an apparatus

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a stylistic plan view of a system according to the invention including three lights sources and a single fibre optic cable;

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the system of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a stylistic plan view of a system according to the invention which includes one light source, a single fibre optic cable and a rotating shutter;

[0024] FIG. 4a illustrates a cross-sectional view through the system of FIG. 3, with the shutter aperture aligned with the light source;

[0025] FIG. 4b illustrates a cross-sectional view through the system of FIG. 3, where the shutter aperture is not aligned with the light source;

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a moveable shutter comprising a plurality of apertures;

[0027] FIG. 6a illustrates a stylistic cross-sectional view through part of an alternative system including one light source and a sliding shutter with the shutter aperture aligned with the light source;

[0028] FIG. 6b illustrates a stylistic cross-sectional view through part of an alternative system including one light source and a sliding shutter where the shutter aperture is not aligned with the light source;

[0029] FIG. 7a illustrates a stylistic plan view of an alternative system including one light source and a plurality of fibre optic cables;

[0030] FIG. 7b illustrates a stylistic cross-sectional view through the system of FIG. 7a;

[0031] and

[0032] FIG. 8 illustrates a stylistic cross-sectional view through an alternative system where the light sources comprise fibre optic cables.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a housing 10 containing a plurality of light sources 12, preferably in the form of different coloured LEDs. The light sources 12 are constantly illuminated. The housing 10 also contains a first end 14 of an end-emitting fibre optic cable 16. End-emitting fibre optic cables transmit light from one end to the other via total internal reflection. The housing also includes a rotatable switch 18 and the first end 14 of the fibre optic cable is arranged to rotate with the switch 18. By rotating the switch 18 the first end 14 of the fibre optic can be aligned which each of the different LEDs 12.

[0034] The system also includes a remote display unit 20, situated remotely from the housing 10. The second end 22 of the fibre optic cable 16 is located within the display unit 20.

[0035] Light from the LED aligned with the first end 14 of the fibre optic cable is transmitted through the cable 16 and can be viewed on the display unit 20. Labels 24 and an arrow 26 on the exterior of the housing 10 may indicate the colour of light to be transmitted. For example, if the switch is aligned to “Red”, the first end 14 of the fibre optic cable is aligned with the red LED and red light is transmitted through the cable to the second end 22 of the cable where it is and viewable through a window 24 at the display unit 20. The labels on the housing may also indicate the signal that the user requires to be transmitted to the display unit. For example, if the system is being used in a nursing home the resident may wish to indicate to staff that assistance is required.

[0036] In the simplest arrangement, there may be just one light source within the housing and rotating the knob, and hence the cable, allows light to be either transmitted or not transmitted to the display. In this way a user can turn on a light, for example to indicate that assistance is required, without actually activating an electrical circuit, since the LED is permanently lit. The rotating knob may be provided with a detent system as a means to resist or arrest the rotation of the knob to ensure the cables are at the optimum position.

[0037] The system could also be reversed, such that the first end of the fibre optic cable is held static within the housing and the light or lights are rotated with the knob to bring them into alignment with the first end of the fibre optic cable.

[0038] FIGS. 3, 4a and 4b illustrate an alternative example of the invention, in which a rotating shutter 26 is used, rather than rotating the optical fibre cable itself. In the simplest arrangement the housing includes one LED 12 which is aligned with the first end 14 of the optical fibre cable 16. A rotating shutter 26 is located between the LED 12 and the optical fibre cable and the rotating shutter 26 comprises one aperture 28. The aperture 28 in the shutter 26 may be aligned with the LED 12, allowing light to pass into the first end 14 of the optical fibre cable, as shown in FIG. 4a, or it may not be aligned with the cable, as shown in FIG. 4b so that light from the LED 12 is blocked from entering the first end 14 of the optical fibre cable. In this way the light at the remote display can be turned ‘on’ or ‘off’ by rotating the shutter, as the labels 24′ on the exterior of the housing 10′ indicate. This turning on or off of the light at the display unit is therefore achieved without completing an electrical circuit.

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an alternative rotating shutter 26′ which comprises a plurality of apertures 28, 28′, 28″. The different apertures may be provided with different coloured lenses or filters. Using this arrangement, the user can change the colour of light displayed at the remote display without needing a plurality of different coloured LEDs within the housing.

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the shutter need not necessarily rotate. FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a comparable arrangement with a sliding shutter 30. In FIG. 6a the aperture 32 of the sliding shutter 30 is aligned with the LED 12 and allows light to enter the first end 14 of the optical fibre cable, whereas in FIG. 6b the shutter has been moved so that the aperture 30 is no longer aligned with the LED12 and light is therefore blocked from entering the first end 14 of the optical fibre cable.

[0041] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, a user can signal to various locations, labelled ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’ in the example. The housing 10″ includes a plurality of optical fibre cables 16, each of which may terminate at a different remote display unit, each in a different location. Rotating the switch 18 allows a different cable to be aligned with the LED, allowing a user to transmit a signal to a plurality of different locations from the one housing.

[0042] The light source or sources need not be directly present within the housing. Instead, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the light source or sources may be located remotely and transmitted to the housing via optical fibre cabling 34. This arrangement may be useful in areas where live power sources are not desirable, for example in a bathroom environment or in a child's room.