Multi-channel rotating transformer

A transformer, comprising:

• a first stationary element having a first element winding and a second element winding;
• and
• a second element having a plurality of windings and being mounted for rotation about a rotational axis, one of said plurality of windings being at a first distance from the axis, and another being at a different second distance from the axis, each of said plurality of windings extending about the rotational axis in an arc which is less than a full circle;
• wherein said second element is rotationally positional such that each of the plurality of windings on the second element may be positioned adjacent to one of said first and second windings on said first element, wherein only one of the plurality of windings on the second element interacts with said first or second winding on the first element at a given time.

A rotary transformer for use in a recording device wherein a number of read and write currents are transferred from a stationary element to a rotating element, comprising:

• a rotating element having an axis of rotation and including four read channel blades, each blade having a planar surface defining a 45.degree. semicircle, the blade having a winding provided about the blade at a first radius from the axis of rotation, each blade having an outer arcuate edge at a second, different radius from said axis, and
• four write channel blades, each blade having a planar surface defining a 45.degree. semicircle, each blade having a winding provided about the blade at a third radius, different from said first and second radii, from the axis of rotation, and being interposed between ones of the read channel blades such that the rotating element has alternating read and write channel blades, the write channel blades having an outer arcuate edge defined by a fourth radius, different from said first, second, and third radii, from the axis of rotation;
• and
• a stationary element, having an arcuate shape defined by a planar surface having a first and second stationary windings at distances equal to the first and third radii from the axis of rotation, positioned adjacent the rotating element in close proximity thereto such that each planar surface defined by the blades is parallel to the planar surface defined by the stationary element.

A data storage unit, comprising:

• a housing;
• a rotating head assembly, including a spin motor having a rotational axis and a voice coil actuator, for transferring data to and from a data tape advancing in a longitudinal direction, including
• a rotating head drum at a forward end of said rotating head assembly;
• a plurality of transducers affixed to said rotating head drum and proximate to said data tape for transmitting and receiving data signals;
• and
• control means for providing information to said plurality of transducers and providing control signals to said spin motor and said voice coil actuator, the control means including a preamplifier circuit driving a read current or a write current to each of the plurality of heads;
• and
• a rotary transformer including at least two rotating elements rotating about the rotational axis of the drum, a first of the rotating elements including a first winding positioned at a first radial distance from the axis of the drum, and a second of the rotating elements including a second winding positioned at a second, different radial distance from the axis of the drum, each winding defining a partial arc about rotational axis, and a stationary element positioned adjacent the rotating elements, the stationary element having a first winding positioned at the first radial distance from the axis and a second winding positioned at the second radial distance from the axis, such that the first and second stator windings and the first and second rotor windings only interact when one of the first or second rotor windings is positioned adjacent the respective first and second stator winding.