# US 2024/0201460 A1 · Optical Slip Ring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0201460 A1 - Document ID: US20240201460A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/287,433 - Filed: 2022-04-19 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-22 - Assignees: Overair, Inc. - Applicants: Overair, Inc. - Inventors: Sean Rieb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201460A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/43: Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections - H04B 10/80: Optical aspects relating to the use of optical transmission for specific applications, not provided for in groups H04B10/03 - H04B10/70, e.g. optical power feeding or optical transmission through water - B64D 47/02: Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices - G02B 6/3604: {Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends} - G02B 6/4206: {Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence)} - H04B 10/25: Arrangements specific to fibre transmission - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract In one aspect, disclosed herein is a simple, robust, and redundant slip ring for transferring electrical signals over a rotary joint. One embodiment comprises light guides configured to blend light from multiple light emitters and guide the blended light towards an array of light receivers—the slip ring is configured to transfer data across the rotating joint even when a receiver or emitter has failed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A slip ring for transferring information across a rotary joint comprising a first and second light emitter and a first and second light receiver configured to transfer information using the same nominal frequency of light, wherein the first and second light emitter are configured to rotate relative to the first and second light receiver. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 wherein the slip ring is configured to transfer information even if one of the light emitters or light receivers is inoperable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The slip ring of claim 2 wherein the light emitters are arranged in a first circular array and the light receivers are arranged in a second circular array and the first and second array share a center-point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The slip ring of claim 3 wherein the first circular array and the second circular array are co-planar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The slip ring of claim 2 additionally comprising a first light guide interposed between the first light emitter and the first light receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The slip ring of claim 5 additionally comprising a second light guide interposed between the first light emitter and the first light receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The slip ring of claim 6 wherein one of the light guides is configured to diffuse the light from the first light emitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The slip ring of claim 6 wherein one of the light guides is configured to combine the light from the first and second light emitter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The slip ring of claim 5 wherein the light guide is configured to blend the light from the first and second light emitter so that each light receiver can receive a usable light signal at any slip ring azimuthal angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The slip ring of claim 9 wherein the first emitter and the first receiver are aligned along the axis of rotation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The slip ring of claim 9 comprising diffusers on either the receiver side light guide or the emitter side light guide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 additionally comprising third and fourth emitter and a third and fourth receiver and wherein the first and second receivers and emitters are arranged in first set and the third and fourth receivers and emitters are arranged in a second set. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 additionally comprising at least two light guides wherein at least one of the light guides comprises a focus feature along the side of the light guide directed towards the second light guide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 additionally comprising a faraday cage configured to protect the slip ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 configured for a second data communication path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 additionally comprising conductive interference and susceptibility isolation between a stator circuit and a rotor circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The slip ring of claim 1 wherein the first light emitter and the first light receiver overlap a common radius and face each other. ### Claim 18 An aircraft comprising a slip ring comprising a first and second light emitter and a first and second light receiver that transfer information using the same nominal frequency of light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The aircraft of claim 18 wherein the slip ring is configured to transfer information even if any single light emitter or light receiver is inoperable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The aircraft of claim 19 wherein the light emitters are arranged in a first circular array and the light receivers are arranged in a second array and the first and second array share a common center-point. ### Claim 21 A slip ring comprising five light emitters and five light receivers configured to transfer information using the same nominal frequency of light. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The slip ring of claim 21 wherein the slip ring is configured to transfer information even if one of the light emitters or light receivers is inoperable.