US 8,786,385 B1Granted

Rotary joint for radio frequency electromagnetic waves and light waves

OwnerCurtis D Lorencinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

One embodiment of an axial rotary joint having rotary transmission lines for the bi-directional propagation of radio frequency electromagnetic waves and light waves across a rotary interface. Each section is capable of fully independent rotation about a common longitudinal axis. The radio frequency rotary transmission line comprises waveguide tubing at each end that transitions to a coax transmission line at the rotary interface. The waveguide tubing also functions as the axial support structure. The second transmission line for light wave propagation is fully integrated into the waveguide-to-coax transition and the inner coaxial conductor, and uses optical coupling devices to form an optical coupling path across the rotary interface. This embodiment of the rotary joint can be sealed and pressurized to minimize contamination of the optics and to increase the electromagnetic wave power handling. The second transmission line in another embodiment is a combined millimeter wave and optical transmission line supporting simultaneous millimeter wave and light wave propagation across the rotary interface. Combining and decombining filters incorporated into the physical rotary transmission lines in other embodiments create a multitude of channels on various frequencies and wavelengths, greatly increasing the usefulness of the device.

An axially configured rotary joint containing two sections that can be mechanically rotated independently with respect to each other on a common axis of rotation during propagation of radio frequency electromagnetic waves and light waves across a single common rotary interface plane, each section comprising:

a) a radio frequency electromagnetic wave rotary transmission line including:
i) a pair of coaxial transmission lines, each coaxial transmission line comprised of a concentric inner and outer coaxial conductor, each said coaxial transmission line including a rotary interface attachment end and an input/output port end;
ii) said rotary interface attachment ends of said pair of coaxial transmission lines affixed on opposite sides of said common rotary interface plane such that said rotary attachment ends of said coaxial transmission lines are facing each other across said common rotary interface plane and aligned on said common axis of rotation;
iii) a means for coupling electromagnetic wave energy across the common rotary interface plane;
iv) a means for permitting rotational movement about the axis of rotation;
and
v) a means for maintaining precision alignment including a dielectric sleeve bearing between said rotary attachment ends of said inner coaxial conductors of said pair of coaxial transmission lines;
and
b) a light wave rotary transmission line including:
i) a pair of optical fiber transmission lines, each optical fiber transmission line running through an interior pathway in said inner coaxial conductor of a corresponding one of said coaxial transmission lines,
ii) a pair of optical coupling devices, each optical coupling device including a rotary interface attachment end and a transmission line attachment end,
iii) said pair of optical fiber transmission lines being transmissively and fixedly attached to said transmission line attachment ends of a corresponding one of said pair of optical coupling devices,
iv) each said optical coupling device being positioned and affixed within said interior pathway of said inner coaxial conductor of a corresponding one of said coaxial transmission lines so that said rotary interface attachment ends of each of said optical coupling devices are facing each other across said common rotary interface plane and aligned with said common axis of rotation.

10 more elements

Facts

Application

12/590,633Filed 12 Nov 2009

Granted

22 Jul 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H01P 1/062
Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints: the relative movement being a rotation
G02B 6/3604
Mechanical coupling means: rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
H01P 1/067
With an unlimited angle of rotation: the energy being transmitted in only one line located on the axis of rotation
H01P 5/103
For coupling balanced lines or devices with unbalanced lines or devices: hollow-waveguide/coaxial-line transitions

Abstract

Claims15