Slip ring apparatus

A slip ring apparatus, comprising:

• a first slip ring component, said first slip ring component comprising a first slip ring component substrate that comprises a circular platter having a first planar interface surface defined thereon, and at least one first dynamic interface component supported by said first slip ring component substrate;
• and
• a second slip ring component, said second slip ring component comprising a second slip ring substrate that comprises a circular platter having a second planar interface surface defined thereon, and at least one second dynamic interface component supported by said second slip ring component substrate;
• wherein said first and second slip ring components are rotatably coupled together so that said first and second interface surfaces are disposed in mating facing relationship to form a slip ring boundary therebetween, and so that said first and second dynamic interface components are positioned to interact with each other to communicate at least one signal across said slip ring boundary at the same time at least one of said first and second slip ring components is rotating relative to the other of said first and second slip ring components.

A camera system, comprising:

• a first slip ring apparatus, said first slip ring apparatus comprising:
• a moving first slip ring component, said first slip ring component comprising a first slip ring component substrate that comprises a circular platter having a first planar interface surface defined thereon, and at least one first dynamic interface component supported by said first slip ring component substrate, and
• a stationary second slip ring component, said second slip ring component comprising a second slip ring substrate that comprises a circular platter having a second planar interface surface defined thereon, and at least one second dynamic interface component supported by said second slip ring component substrate,
• wherein said first and second slip ring components are rotatably coupled together so that said first slip ring component rotates relative to said second slip ring component, so that said first and second interface surfaces are disposed in mating facing relationship to form a slip ring boundary therebetween, and so that said first and second dynamic interface components are positioned to interact with each other to continuously communicate at least one signal across said slip ring boundary at the same time said first slip ring component is rotating relative to said second slip ring component;
• and
• an optical block coupled to said first slip ring apparatus so that it rotates with said first slip ring component relative to said second slip ring component, said first slip ring component being coupled between said optical block and said second slip ring component.

A method of communicating at least one signal across a slip ring boundary, comprising:

• providing a slip ring apparatus, comprising:
• a first slip ring component, said first slip ring component comprising a first interface surface and at least one first dynamic interface component, and
• a second slip ring component, said second slip ring component comprising a second interface surface and at least one second dynamic interface component,
• wherein said first and second slip ring components are rotatably coupled together on an axis of slip ring rotation so that said first and second interface surfaces are disposed in facing relationship to form said slip ring boundary therebetween, said axis of slip ring rotation being perpendicular to the plane of said slip ring boundary, and said first and second dynamic interface components being positioned to interact with each other to communicate at least one signal across said slip ring boundary;
• rotating at least one of said first and second slip ring components about said axis of slip ring rotation relative to the other of said first and second slip ring components;
• and
• using said first and second dynamic interface components to communicate said at least one signal across said slip ring boundary simultaneously with said rotation.