SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GIMBAL MOUNTED OPTICAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE
First Claim
1. An optical communication system comprising:
- a gimbal comprising;
a first rotational member configured to rotate about a first axis;
a second rotational member configured to rotate about a second axis; and
a moveable portion affixed to the first rotational member, wherein the moveable portion is oriented in a desired position by at least one of a first rotation of the first rotational member and a second rotation of the second rotational member;
a first optical rotary joint comprising a first rotor and a first stator, wherein the first stator is affixed to the first rotational member;
a second optical rotary joint comprising a second rotor and a second stator, wherein the second stator is affixed to the second rotational member; and
an optical connector coupled to the first stator and the second stator,wherein the optical connector is substantially stationary as the gimbal orients the moveable portion in the desired position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical communication systems and methods are operable to communicate optical signals across a gimbal system. An exemplary embodiment has a first optical rotary joint with a rotor and a stator, a second optical rotary joint with a rotor and a stator, and an optical connector coupled to the stators of the first and the second optical rotary joints. The stator of the first optical rotary joint is affixed to a first rotational member of the gimbal system. The stator of the second optical rotary joint is affixed to a second rotational member of the gimbal system. A first optical connection coupled to the rotor of the first optical rotary joint and a second optical connection coupled to the rotor of the second optical rotary joint remain substantially stationary as the gimbal system orients an optical communication device in a desired position.
29 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical communication system comprising:
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a gimbal comprising; a first rotational member configured to rotate about a first axis; a second rotational member configured to rotate about a second axis; and a moveable portion affixed to the first rotational member, wherein the moveable portion is oriented in a desired position by at least one of a first rotation of the first rotational member and a second rotation of the second rotational member; a first optical rotary joint comprising a first rotor and a first stator, wherein the first stator is affixed to the first rotational member; a second optical rotary joint comprising a second rotor and a second stator, wherein the second stator is affixed to the second rotational member; and an optical connector coupled to the first stator and the second stator, wherein the optical connector is substantially stationary as the gimbal orients the moveable portion in the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for holding optical connections of a gimbal system stationary during movement of a moveable portion of the gimbal system, the method comprising:
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rotating a first rotational member of the gimbal system about a first axis, wherein a stator of a first optical rotary joint affixed to the first rotational member rotates about the first axis, and wherein an end of a first optical connection coupled to a rotor of the first optical rotary joint remains substantially stationary as the stator of the first optical rotary joint rotates about the first axis; and rotating a second rotational member of the gimbal system about a second axis, wherein a stator of a second optical rotary joint affixed to the second rotational member rotates about the second axis, and wherein an end of a second optical connection coupled to a rotor of the second optical rotary joint remains substantially stationary as the stator of the second optical rotary joint rotates about the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for communicating optical signals from an optical communication device affixed to a moveable portion of a gimbal system, the method comprising:
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communicating an optical signal from the optical communication device over a first optical connection, the first optical connection having an end coupled to a rotor of a first optical rotary joint; communicating the optical signal from the end of the first optical connection through an optical connector, the optical connector having a first end coupled to a stator of the first optical rotary joint and a second end coupled to a stator of a second optical rotary joint; and communicating the optical signal from the second end of the optical connector to an end of a second optical connection, the end of the second optical connector coupled to a rotor of the second optical rotary joint, wherein the end of the first optical connection remains substantially stationary as the stator of the first optical rotary joint rotates about a first axis, wherein the end of the second optical connection remains substantially stationary as the stator of the second optical rotary joint rotates about a second axis; and wherein the optical connector remains substantially stationary as the stator of the first optical rotary joint rotates about the first axis and as the stator of the second optical rotary joint rotates about the second axis. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification