# US 10,122,416 B2 · Interface for transferring power and data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,416 B2 - Document ID: US10122416B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/487,044 - Filed: 2017-04-13 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-30 - Assignees: Panosense Inc. - Applicants: Panosense, Inc. - Inventors: Adam Berger; Brian Pilnick; Denis Nikitin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122416B2 ## CPC - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - H04B 5/26: using coils - H04B 10/1143: {Bidirectional transmission} - H04B 10/116: Visible light communication - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture - H04Q 2209/88: Providing power supply at the sub-station - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract An interface for transferring power and data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body may include a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body, and a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device. The interface may further include a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body, and a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter. The interface may also include a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body, and a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter. The wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver may include an inductive coupling, and the first data transmitter and the first data receiver may each include an optical communication device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interface for transferring power and data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body having an axis of rotation, the interface comprising: a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transfer electrical power; a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device via a wireless coupling; a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to transmit data signals; a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter via a wireless coupling; a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit data signals; and a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling, wherein the wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver comprises an inductive coupling, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver each comprise an optical communication device, and the wireless coupling between the first data transmitter and the first data receiver comprises an optical coupling, and wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an inductive coupling. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The interface of claim 3, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the first data transmitter is configured to send data signals relating to sensor data from the rotating body to the first data receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for regulating power to the second data receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for controlling operation of the rotating body to the second data receiver. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the rotating body is substantially cylindrical and the non-rotating body comprises a substantially planar surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The interface of claim 1, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are configured to provide uni-directional data transfer, and wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are configured to provide bi-directional data transfer. ### Claim 10 An interface for transferring power and data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body having an axis of rotation, the interface comprising: a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transfer electrical power; a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device via a wireless coupling; a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to transmit data signals; a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter via a wireless coupling; a second data transmitter coupled to one of the non-rotating body or the rotating body; and a second data receiver coupled to one of the non-rotating body or the rotating body, wherein the wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver comprises an inductive coupling, wherein the first data transmitter is configured to send data signals relating to sensor data from the rotating body to the first data receiver via an optical coupling, and wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The interface of claim 10, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver each comprise an optical communication device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The interface of claim 10, wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The interface of claim 10, further comprising: wherein the second data transmitter is coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit data signals, and wherein the second data receiver is coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The interface of claim 13, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for regulating power to the second data receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The interface of claim 13, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for controlling operation of the rotating body to the second data receiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The interface of claim 13, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an inductive coupling. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The interface of claim 16, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The interface of claim 10, wherein the rotating body is substantially cylindrical, and the non-rotating body comprises a substantially planar surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The interface of claim 10, further comprising: wherein the second data transmitter is coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit data signals, and wherein the second data receiver is coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are configured to provide uni-directional data transfer, and wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are configured to provide bi-directional data transfer. ### Claim 20 A sensor assembly comprising: a rotating body comprising at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data signals obtained during rotation of the rotating body; a non-rotating body associated with the rotating body such that the rotating body rotates about an axis of rotation that passes through the non-rotating body; and an interface for transferring power and data between the non-rotating body and the rotating body, the interface comprising: a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transfer electrical power; a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device via a wireless coupling; a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to transmit data signals; a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter via a wireless optical coupling; a second data transmitter coupled to one of the non-rotating body or the rotating body; and a second data receiver coupled to one of the non-rotating body or the rotating body, wherein the wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver comprises an inductive coupling, wherein the first data transmitter is configured to send data signals relating to sensor data from the rotating body to the first data receiver, and wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the interface is configured to supply electrical power to the at least one sensor and at least partially control operation of the at least one sensor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, further comprising a housing associated with the rotating body and configured to protect the at least one sensor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The sensor assembly of claim 23, wherein the housing comprises a lens configured to provide an optical path from the at least one sensor to the surroundings. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the non-rotating body defines a substantially planar surface, and wherein the axis of rotation of the rotating body is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the non-rotating body and the rotating body are coupled to one another. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver each comprise an optical communication device. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, further comprising: wherein the second data transmitter is coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit data signals, and wherein the second data receiver is coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The sensor assembly of claim 29, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for regulating power to the second data receiver. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The sensor assembly of claim 29, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for controlling operation of the rotating body to the second data receiver. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) The sensor assembly of claim 20, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an inductive coupling. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The sensor assembly of claim 32, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.