Positioning means for optically couplable circuit elements

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG.
1, the circuit 10 in which the improvement of the present invention is incorporated includes a substrate 12, typically formed of a non-conductive material such as ceramic.
A thick film circuit is applied to the surface of plate 12.
The circuitry may include elements such as conductors 14 or resistors 16 formed in the thick film itself, or other discrete elements, such as capacitor 18 or the like.
Other portions of the circuit may be formed of lead frame elements such as the lead frame element 20.
The circuitry includes a power circuit containing a silicon controlled rectifier 22 and an optically coupled control circuit which controls the operation of the power circuit.
The controlled rectifier is used to establish power levels in the power circuitry by the conduction intervals of the rectifier.
The present circuit employs a light actuated silicon controlled rectifier (LASCR) 22 in the power circuit.
Such a rectifier is rendered conductive by applying light to a photon sensitive area of the silicon controlled rectifier when the anode and cathode voltages are appropriate for conduction.
It will be appreciated that other light responsive elements such as a triac or transistor may be utilized as a power controlling element.
It will further be understood that the term "light" is not limited to visible light but encompasses infrared, ultraviolet, or other appropriate portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The light source used to trigger controlled rectifier 22 may comprise a light emitting diode.
As shown more clearly in FIGS.
2 and 3, controlled rectifier 22 has an anode 24, mechanically fastened and electrically coupled to thick-film conductor 14a by a conductive bonding agent or solder 26.
Controlled rectifier 22 also includes a conventional gate 28 having a connecting lead 29, and a cathode 30 connected to lead 32.
The light emitting diode must be positioned so that the light emitted by the diode when the diode is energized will fall on a photo-sensitive area as at 33 of the silicon controlled rectifier to permit the controlled rectifier 22 to become conductive