Off-axis optical rotary joint
First Claim
1. An optical rotary joint for off-axis optical signal transfer comprising:
- a source of light;
an annular optical waveguide member having optical discontinuity means for intercepting a light beam emanating from said source and directing the light beam into said waveguide member;
means for reflecting light out of said waveguide member; and
detector means adjacent said reflecting means for intercepting light reflected out of said waveguide member;
said light source being rotatable relative to said waveguide member, reflecting means and detector means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an off-axis rotary joint for optical signal transfer. An annular waveguide has optical discontinuity means, such as a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced apart notches directed inwardly thereof, which discontinuities intercept a light beam emanating from a light source near the waveguide. The discontinuities direct light into the waveguide, along which it travels until it meets an internal reflecting member which, in turn reflects the travelling light out of the waveguide to a suitable detector. The light source and the waveguide/reflector/detector are relatively rotatable so that the signal strength at the detector is an indication of the position of the light source relative to the waveguide. The invention has practical applicability in apparatus, such as turrets and CT scanners, in which the central shaft or axis area must be occupied by equipment or personnel rather than componentry of the rotary joint.
40 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An optical rotary joint for off-axis optical signal transfer comprising:
- a source of light;
an annular optical waveguide member having optical discontinuity means for intercepting a light beam emanating from said source and directing the light beam into said waveguide member;
means for reflecting light out of said waveguide member; and
detector means adjacent said reflecting means for intercepting light reflected out of said waveguide member;
said light source being rotatable relative to said waveguide member, reflecting means and detector means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- a source of light;
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2. An optical rotary joint for off-axis bi-directional optical signal transfer comprising:
- first and second sources of light;
first and second adjacent annular optical waveguide members, each having optical discontinuity means for intercepting a light beam emanating from a respective one of said sources and directing the beam into the respective waveguide member;
first and second means for reflecting light out of a respective said waveguide member; and
first and second detector means adjacent a respective said reflecting means for intercepting light reflected out of the adjacent waveguide member;
said first waveguide member, reflecting means and detector means being rotatable relative to said second waveguide member, reflecting means and detector means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- first and second sources of light;
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29. An optical rotary joint for off-axis optical signal transfer, comprising:
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a source of light; an optical waveguide member having an axis of propagation; means directing a light beam from said source toward said waveguide and generally transversely of said axis of propagation; optical discontinuity means for intercepting said light beam and coupling at least a portion of said light beam into said waveguide member for travel within said waveguide member along said axis of propagation; means for reflecting light out of said waveguide member; and detector means adjacent said reflecting means for intercepting light reflected out of said waveguide member, said light source being rotatable relative to said waveguide member, reflecting means and detector means. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification