Transmission lines applied to contact free slip rings

• US 8,138,849 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxis, Inc. (Topcon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Voxis, Inc. (Topcon Corporation)
• Inventors: West, Joseph Newhall, Kiser, Jon Robert, Dimsdale, Jerry Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, GERALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/212,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 333/24.R, 333/27, 333/33, 333/238, 333/257, 333/260, 333/261, 385/26, 385/139, 455/269, 455/270, 455272-274, 455/281, 455/282, 455/292, 455/320
• US Class Current: 333/24.R
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/068 the energy being transmitted in at least one ring-shaped transmission line located around the axis of rotation, e.g. "around the mast" rotary joint H01P1/069 takes precedence; coaxial line with solid inner conductor H01P1/067
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A non-contacting rotary interface has a first core with a first pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the first core and a second core moveable in relation to the first core with a second pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the second core and configured to receive signals from the first pair of balanced transmission lines. The first pair of balanced transmission lines has a first transmit wire coupled to a first transceiver at a first end of the first transmit wire, a second transceiver coupled to the first transmit wire at a second end of the first transmit wire, a second transmit wire coupled to a third transceiver at a first end of the second transmit wire, and a fourth transceiver coupled to the second transmit wire at a second end of the second transmit wire. The balanced transmission lines may be electrical traces on a circuit board.

Claims

1. A non-contacting rotary interface comprising:

a first core;

a first pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the first core;

a second core rotatable in relation to the first core; and

a second pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the second core and configured to receive signals from the first pair of balanced transmission lines;

wherein the first pair of balanced transmission lines comprises;

a first transmit wire coupled to a first transceiver at a first end of the first transmit wire;

a second transceiver coupled to the first transmit wire at a second end of the first transmit wire;

a second transmit wire coupled to a third transceiver at a first end of the second transmit wire; and

a fourth transceiver coupled to the second transmit wire at a second end of the second transmit wire.

2. A non-contacting rotary interface comprising:

a first core;

a first pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the first core;

a second core rotatable in relation to the first core; and

a second pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the second core and configured to receive signals from the first pair of balanced transmission lines;

wherein the first pair of balanced transmission lines are electrical traces on a first circuit board coupled to the first core and the second pair of balanced transmission lines are electrical traces on a second circuit board coupled to the second core.

3. A non-contacting interface comprising:

a first member;

a first transmission line coupled to the first member;

a second member moveable in relation to the first member; and

a second transmission line coupled to the second member and configured to receive signals from the first transmission line;

wherein the first transmission line is a pair of balanced transmission lines and the second transmission line is a pair of balanced transmission lines;

wherein the first pair of balanced transmission lines comprises;

a first transmit wire coupled to a first transceiver at a first end of the first transmit wire;

a second transceiver coupled to the first transmit wire at a second end of the first transmit wire;

a second transmit wire coupled to a third transceiver at a first end of the second transmit wire; and

a fourth transceiver coupled to the second transmit wire at a second end of the second transmit wire.

4. A non-contacting interface comprising:

a first member;

a first transmission line coupled to the first member;

a second member moveable in relation to the first member; and

a second transmission line coupled to the second member and configured to receive signals from the first transmission line;

wherein the first transmission line is a pair of balanced transmission lines and the second transmission line is a pair of balanced transmission lines;

wherein the first pair of balanced transmission lines are electrical traces on a first circuit board coupled to the first member and the second pair of balanced transmission lines are electrical traces on a second circuit board coupled to the second member.