Optical data communication system
AssigneeForfas
InventorMark Davies
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical slip ring system (1) has a rotor interface (2) which can bolt on to a high speed rotor in a modular manner. The rotor interface (2) has circular circuit boards (7) containing the necessary drive circuits and power supply circuits for transducers mounted on the rotor. The drive circuit on the boards (7) drive three rings of emitter LEDs (9). The drive is frequency modulated and there are a number of transducers associated with each ring of emitter LEDs (9). These signals are frequency division multiplexed to ensure real time processing takes place. A fixed support (3) has a single receiver LED (15) associated with each ring of emitter LEDs (9). Contactless power is provided by an inductive power supply having a primary winding (16) on the fixed support bracket (3) and a secondary winding (10) on the rotor interface (2).
Claims17
An optical slip ring for communication of data with a rotor, the slip ring comprising at least one light emitter mounted on the rotor or on an adjacent fixed support, at least one light receiver on the other of the rotor or fixed support, a drive means for delivering data signals to each light emitter, and a receiver means for receiving data signals from each light receiver and providing an output signal, wherein
- each light emitter emits light in an emission field diverging at an angle of divergence of at least 30.degree.,
- the drive means comprises means for connecting to a transducer, a voltage to frequency converter, and means for delivering frequency modulated data signals to each light emitter,
- the receiver means comprises means for demodulating said frequency modulated data signals, and
- the slip ring further comprises:
- a rotor interface comprising a flange for removable on-axis attachment to the rotor and means for supporting the drive means and each light emitter or the receiver means and each light receiver,
- a fixed support for the other of the light receiver and the receiver means or the light emitter and the drive means, and
- means for moving the fixed support relative to the rotor interface in a sliding motion to a position at which the light receivers and emitters are within range and there is no physical connection between the fixed support and the rotor interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.