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Title: Photoelectric coupler
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An opto-electric coupler device comprising semi-conductor light emitter means having an active surface, a semi-conductor photo detector means having an active surface disposed in spaced face-to-face relation with the active surface of said light emitter means, an electrically insulating light transmissive solid medium interposed between and imbedding the active surfaces of said light emitter means and said photo detector means, a light reflective surface layer on said light transmissive medium, surrounding said light emitter means and photo detector means and providing a concave curved surface extending approximately in the direction of propagation of light from said light emitter means toward said photo detector means for reflecting internally of said light transmissive medium and toward said photo detector means light from said emitter means that is incident on said curved surface, and a protective housing surrounding said light transmissive medium, said reflective layer providing electrical insulation between said light transmissive medium and said housing. 2. A coupler device according to claim 1, wherein said reflective layer comprises a plastic material loaded with a powder selected from the group of oxides consisting of titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2), magnesium oxide (MgO), beryllium oxide (BeO), and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3). 3. A coupler device according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting means comprises a plastic material loaded with a powdered beryllium compound. 4. A coupler device according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting means comprises plastic material loaded with particles of resin. 5. A coupler device according to claim 1, wherein said reflective layer comprises an evaporated insulating oxide selected from the group comprising titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2), magnesium oxide (MgO), beryllium oxide (BeO), and alumina (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3). 6. A coupler device according to claim 1, wherein said housing for said device comprises a mass of plastic material. 7. A coupler device according to claim 1, wherein said reflective means comprises a resin. 8. A coupler device according to claim 7, wherein said resin is polytetrafluoroethylene. 9. An opto-electric coupler device comprising semiconductor light emitter means disposed in side-by-side relation with a semiconductor photo detector means, said light emitter means and said photo detector means electrically and physically mounted on electrical strip-leads and each having an active surface facing in a commmon direction, an electrically insulating light transmissive single composition solid body surrounding and imbedding said light emitter means and said photo detector means to provide an encapsulating package for and integral with said light emitter means and said photo director means, said strip leads extending externally of said solid body as a coplanar array and transversely of said side-by-side light emitter means and photo detector means, and a light reflective layer on a surface area of said light transmissive medium facing said active surfaces for reflecting internally of said light transmissive medium light from said light emitter means toward said photo detector means. 10. A coupler device according to claim 9, wherein said light transmissive medium comprises a resin body having a substantially flat surface facing said active surfaces of said light emitter means and said photodetector means, and wherein said light transmissive medium comprises a layer of light reflective material covering at least said substantially flat surface of said light transmissive medium. 11. A coupling device according to claim 10, wherein said light transmissive body has a substantially rectangular cross-section and the said light emitter means and said photo detector means are disposed adjacent a surface of said light transmissive body opposite said substantially flat surface thereof and wherein said leads provide a single co-planar array of electrical leads extend externally and laterally from said light transmissive body, and a protective housing for said device comprising said light transmissive medium and said light reflective layer thereon. 12. A coupler device according to claim 11, wherein said light reflective means comprises a layer of reflective paint on an outer surface area of said light transmissive medium. 13. A coupler device according to claim 9, wherein said light transmissive body has a dome-shaped surface, the active surfaces of said light emitter means and said photodetector means being directed toward said dome-shaped surface, and said light reflective means includes a light reflective layer covering said dome-shaped surface. 14. A coupler device according to claim 13, and further including a cup-shaped electrically insulating light reflecting layer disposed between said light emitting means and said photodetector means on a surface of said light transmissive body opposite said dome-shaped surface thereof. Other info: Inventors: Breval, Marcel (Mer, FR) Prudhomme, Marc (Vence, FR) Application Number: 580251 Filing Date: 1975-05-23 Publication_date: 1977-10-18 Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated (Dallas, TX) Primary Class(es): 250/551 250/239, 257/E31.108 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: La Roche, Eugene R. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Levine; Harold, Comfort; James, Donaldson; Richard |
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