Interface for transferring data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body

• US 10,109,183 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoox Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Panosense Inc.
• Inventors: Franz, Joshua, Andrews, Riley, McMichael, Ryan, Benemann, Arthur, Nikitin, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, Md
• Application Number:
  US15/706,413
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411, 455 412, 455 413
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/80 Arrangements in the sub-station, i.e. sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1301 Optical transmission, optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An interface for transferring data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body of a sensor assembly using a bidirectional communication link. For instance, the interface may include a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to transmit first data signals representing sensor signals generated by the sensor assembly. A first data receiver is coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive the first data signals via a first wireless coupling. The interface further includes a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit second data signals. A second data receiver is coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive the second data signals via a second wireless coupling. In some instances, the first data signals may be transmitted using a first wavelength and the second data signals may be transmitted using a second, different wavelength.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly comprising:

a rotating body;

a non-rotating body positioned adjacent to the rotating body such that the rotating body rotates about an axis of rotation that passes through the non-rotating body;

a first optical transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to transmit first light representing first data signals;

a first optical receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive the first light representing the first data signals;

a second optical transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transmit second light representing second data signals;

a second optical receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive the second light representing the second data signals;

a first beam splitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to reflect at least a portion of the first light toward the first optical receiver and transmit at least a portion of the second light from the second optical transmitter; and

a second beam splitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to reflect at least a portion of the second light toward the second optical receiver and transmit at least a portion of the first light from the first optical transmitter.

2. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first optical transmitter transmits the first light at a first wavelength;

the second optical transmitter transmits the second light at a second wavelength; and

the first wavelength is different than the second wavelength.

3. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the rotating body includes at least one sensor configured to generate sensor signals; and

the first data signals represent the sensor signals.

4. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver are offset from the axis of rotation; and

the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver are offset from the axis of rotation.

5. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver are aligned with the axis of rotation, and the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver are offset from the axis of rotation;

or

the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver are offset from the axis of rotation, and the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver are aligned with the axis of rotation.

6. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first optical receiver and the second optical receiver are aligned with the axis of rotation; and

the first optical transmitter and the second optical transmitter are offset from the axis of rotation.

7. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first optical transmitter comprises at least a first light emitting component that emits the first light at a first wavelength and a second light emitting component that emits third light at a second wavelength; and

the second optical transmitter comprises at least a third light emitting component that emits the second light at a third wavelength and a fourth light emitting component that emits fourth light at a fourth wavelength.

8. The sensor assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a switch coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive first data representing the first data signals from the first optical receiver;

a microcontroller coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive the first data from the switch;

a computer coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive the first data from the switch;

a physical layer coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive second data representing the second data signals from the second optical receiver; and

a field-programmable gate array coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive the second data from the physical layer.

9. An interface for transferring data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body having an axis of rotation, the interface comprising:

a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to emit first light representing first data signals;

a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive the first light from the first data transmitter;

a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to emit second light representing second data signals;

a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive the second light from the second data transmitter;

a first beam splitter coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to reflect at least a portion of the first light toward the first data receiver and transmit at least a portion of the second light from the second data transmitter; and

a second beam splitter coupled to the rotating body and configured to reflect at least a portion of the second light toward the second data receiver and transmit at least a portion of the first light from the first data transmitter.

10. The interface as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the first data transmitter is configured to emit the first light at a first wavelength;

the second data transmitter is configured to emit the second light at a second wavelength; and

the first wavelength is different than the second wavelength.

11. The interface as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the first data transmitter is configured to send, to the first data receiver, the first data signals relating to sensor data from a sensor disposed on the rotating body; and

the second data transmitter is configured to send, to the second data receiver, the second data signals for controlling an operation of the rotating body.

12. The interface as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of:

the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are aligned with the axis of rotation;

the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are offset from the axis of rotation;

the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are aligned with the axis of rotation;

or

the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are offset from the axis of rotation.

13. The interface as recited in claim 9, wherein the first light is emitted at a first wavelength and the second light is emitted at a second wavelength, and wherein the interface further comprises:

a first coating disposed on the first beam splitter, wherein the first coating is configured to reflect a greater amount of light at the first wavelength than light at the second wavelength; and

a second coating disposed on the second beam splitter, wherein the second coating is configured to reflect a greater amount of light at the second wavelength than light at the first wavelength.

17. The interface as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotating body rotates about the axis of rotation.

18. The interface as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the second data receiver is offset from the axis of rotation; and

the second light diverges from the second data transmitter such that second data receiver receives the light during a rotation of the rotating body.

14. A method comprising:

generating sensor signals from one or more sensors disposed about a rotating body of a sensor assembly, wherein the rotating body is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation that passes through a non-rotating body of the sensor assembly;

emitting, using a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body, first light that represents first data signals, the first data signals representing the sensor signals;

receiving, using a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body, the first light;

emitting, using a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body, second light that represents second data signals;

receiving, using a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body, the second data light;

causing, using a first beam splitter coupled to the non-rotating body, at least a portion of the first light to be reflected toward the first data receiver; and

causing, using a second beam splitter coupled to the rotating body, at least a portion of the second light to be reflected toward the second data.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the first data transmitter emits the first light at a first wavelength;

the second data transmitter emits the second light at a second wavelength; and

the first wavelength is different than the second wavelength.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

sending, via the first data receiver, and using a protocol, first data representing the first data signals to a switch;

sending, by the switch, the first data to at least one of a microcontroller or a computer; and

sending, via the second data receiver, and using the protocol, second data representing the second data signals to at least one of a field-programmable gate array or a physical layer.