Light triggered light switch

Abstract

A light switch is disclosed to turn on or off the light signal in a light channel by means of the response of piezoelectric material to the electric field of light in the light channel. The LIGHT TRIGGERED LIGHT SWITCH is a light switch that is actuated by light of sufficient power. Light of different frequencies may travel in a light channel together without hindering each other, as long as the channel is the right size for both frequencies of light. The light that actuates the switch may be a different frequency than the light signal that is switched on or off. Fiber optic communication channels are among the channels that these switches may be used for.

1. An on and off switch for light in a channel comprising a transparent piezoelectric light channel that is made
 A. larger in cross section by the action of the electric field of light passing through the channel there by opening to the passage of the light signals for the switch to be in the on condition    B. smaller in cross section by the action of the electric field of light passing through the channel there by closing to the passage of the light signals for the switch to be in the off condition.    
     
     
       2. An on and off switch for light in a channel comprising a channel next to a piece of piezoelectric material where the channel carrying the light is made
 A.  larger in cross section by the action of the  an electric field of the light in the channel on the piece of piezoelectric material that by contracting opens the light carrying channel to light signals causing the on condition 
 B.  and is made smaller in cross section by the action of the electric field of the light in the channel on the piece of piezoelectric material that by expanding into the light carrying channel closes the light channel to light signals causing the off condition,  
   said electric field changing the size of said cross section of said piezoelectric material without said light impinging on said piezoelectric material .  
 
     
     
       3. An on and off switch for light signals in a channel comprising a compressible fluid portion of the channel with a side that is composed of a piezoelectric material that responds to the  an electric field in  of the light in the channel to
 A. Contract  contract the piezoelectric wall of the channel  material to open up the channel to larger dimensions so that the light signal easily passes through the channel causing the on condition.  
 B. Expanding  and to expand the piezoelectric material into the light channel to close the light channel to smaller dimensions so that the light signal may not pass.  through the channel causing the off condition,  
   said electric field changing the size of said piezoelectric material without said light impinging on said piezoelectric material.    
 
     
     
       4. A light switch as claimed in claims one, two, or three that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is the same wavelength as the light signal in the channel that is switched on and off. 
     
     
       5. A light switch as claimed in claims one, two, or three that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is a shorter wavelength than the light signal in the channel that is switched on and off. 
     
     
       6. A light switch as claimed in claims one, two, or three that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is a longer wavelength than the light signal via the channel that is switched en and off. 
     
     
       7. A light switch for light signals as claimed in claim one where the piezoelectric material is transparent to the light passing through it. 
     
     
       8. A light switch for light signals as claimed in claim three  according to  claim 3  where the compressible fluid is a gas. 
     
     
       9. A light switch to, light signals as claimed in claim three  according to  claim 3  where the compressible fluid is a mixture of gases. 
     
     
       10. A light,  switch for light signals as claimed in claim three  according to  claim 3  where the compressible fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
       11. A light switch for light signals as claimed in claim three  according to  claim 3  where the compressible fluid is a mixture of liquids. 
     
     
       12. A light switch for light signals as claimed in claims two-three  according to  claim 2  where more than one wall of the switch is piezoelectric material that responds to the power of the light in the channel turning the switch on and off. 
     
     
       13. A light switch for light signals as claimed in claims one, two or three where the piezoelectric material responds to the power level of the light in the channel turning the switch on and off. 
     
     
       14. A light switch for light signals as claimed in claims one, two, or three where the light that accomplishes the switching of the light signal in the channel is imposed upon a conductor near the light channel with the signal that is switched in it. 
     
     
       15. A light triggered light switch comprising an optical channel having a cross- sectional area that increases and decreases responsive to an electric field of light passing therethrough, at least a portion of said optical channel being formed of piezoelectric material that changes shape without said light impinging on said piezoelectric material.    
     
     
       16. A light switch according to  claim 2  that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is the same wavelength as the light signal in the channel that is switched on and off.  
     
     
       17. A light switch according to  claim 2  that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is a shorter wavelength that the light signal in the channel that is switched on and off.  
     
     
       18. A light switch according to  claim 2  that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is a longer wavelength than the light signal via the channel that is switched on and off.  
     
     
       19. A light switch according to  claim 2  where the piezoelectric material responds to the power level of the light in the channel turning the switch on and off.  
     
     
       20. A light switch according to  claim 2  where the light that accomplishes the switching of the light signal in the channel is imposed upon a conductor near the light channel with the signal that is switched in it.  
     
     
       21. A light switch according to  claim 3  that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is the same wavelength as the light signal in the channel that is switched on and off.  
     
     
       22. A light switch according to  claim 3  that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is a shorter wavelength than the light signal in the channel that is switched on and off.  
     
     
       23. A light switch according to  claim 3  that is actuated by the power of the switching light, which is a longer wavelength than the light signal via the channel that is switched on and off.  
     
     
       24. A light switch according to  claim 3  where more than one wall of the switch is piezoelectric material that responds to the power of the light in the channel turning the switch on and off.  
     
     
       25. A light switch according to  claim 3  where the piezoelectric material responds to the power level of the light in the channel turning the switch on and off.  
     
     
       26. A light switch according to  claim 3  where the light that accomplishes the switching of the light signal in the channel is imposed upon a conductor near the light channel with the signal that is switched in it.