INTERFACE FOR TRANSFERRING POWER AND DATA BETWEEN A NON-ROTATING BODY AND A ROTATING BODY

• US 20180191404A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoox Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Panosense Inc.
• Granted Patent: US 10,122,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• 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 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• 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 power and data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body may include a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body, and a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device. The interface may further include a first data transmitter coupled to the rotating body, and a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter. The interface may also include a second data transmitter coupled to the non-rotating body, and a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter. The wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver may include an inductive coupling, and the first data transmitter and the first data receiver may each include an optical communication device.

Claims

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

a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transfer electrical power;

a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device via a wireless coupling;

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

a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter via a wireless coupling;

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

a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second d

at a transmitter via a wireless coupling,

wherein the wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver comprises an inductive coupling, and

wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver each comprise an optical communication device, and the wireless coupling between the first data transmitter and the first data receiver comprises an optical coupling.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an inductive coupling.

5. The interface of claim 4, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first data transmitter, the first data receiver, the second data transmitter, and the second data receiver each comprise an optical communication device, and wherein the wireless coupling between the first data transmitter and the first data receiver comprises an optical coupling, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an optical coupling.

7. The interface of claim 6, wherein the first data transmitter and the second data transmitter are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body, and the first data receiver and the second data receiver are axially offset from the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

8. The interface of claim 6, wherein the first data receiver and the second data receiver are positioned along the axis of rotation of the rotating body, and the first data transmitter and the second data transmitter are axially offset from the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

9. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first data transmitter is configured to send data signals relating to sensor data from the rotating body to the first data receiver.

10. The interface of claim 1, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for regulating power to the second data receiver.

11. The interface of claim 1, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for controlling operation of the rotating body to the second data receiver.

12. The interface of claim 1, wherein the rotating body is substantially cylindrical and the non-rotating body comprises a substantially planar surface.

13. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are configured to provide uni-directional data transfer, and wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are configured to provide bi-directional data transfer.

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

a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transfer electrical power;

a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device via a wireless coupling;

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

a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter via a wireless coupling,

wherein the wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver comprises an inductive coupling, and

wherein the first data transmitter is configured to send data signals relating to sensor data from the rotating body to the first data receiver.

15. The interface of claim 14, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver each comprise an optical communication device, and the wireless coupling between the first data transmitter and the first data receiver comprises an optical coupling.

16. The interface of claim 14, wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

17. The interface of claim 14, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

18. The interface of claim 14, further comprising:

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

a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling.

19. The interface of claim 18, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for regulating power to the second data receiver.

20. The interface of claim 18, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for controlling operation of the rotating body to the second data receiver.

21. The interface of claim 18, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an inductive coupling.

22. The interface of claim 21, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

23. The interface of claim 18, wherein the first data transmitter, the first data receiver, the second data transmitter, and the second data receiver each comprise an optical communication device, and wherein the wireless coupling between the first data transmitter and the first data receiver comprises an optical coupling, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an optical coupling.

24. The interface of claim 23, wherein the first data transmitter and the second data transmitter are positioned along the axis of rotation of the rotating body, and the first data receiver and the second data receiver are axially offset from the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

25. The interface of claim 23, wherein the first data receiver and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body, and the first data transmitter and the second data transmitter are axially offset from the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

26. The interface of claim 14, wherein the rotating body is substantially cylindrical, and the non-rotating body comprises a substantially planar surface.

27. The interface of claim 14, further comprising:

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

a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling,

wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are configured to provide uni-directional data transfer, and wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are configured to provide bi-directional data transfer.

28. A sensor assembly comprising:

a rotating body comprising at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data signals obtained during rotation of the rotating body;

a non-rotating body associated with the rotating body such that the rotating body rotates about an axis of rotation that passes through the non-rotating body; and

an interface for transferring power and data between the non-rotating body and the rotating body, the interface comprising;

a power transfer device coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to transfer electrical power;

a power receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive electrical power from the power transfer device via a wireless coupling;

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

a first data receiver coupled to the non-rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the first data transmitter via a wireless coupling,

wherein the wireless coupling between the power transfer device and the power receiver comprises an inductive coupling, and

wherein the first data transmitter is configured to send data signals relating to sensor data from the rotating body to the first data receiver.

29. The sensor assembly of claim 28, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor.

30. The sensor assembly of claim 28, wherein the interface is configured to supply electrical power to the at least one sensor and at least partially control operation of the at least one sensor.

31. The sensor assembly of claim 28, further comprising a housing associated with the rotating body and configured to protect the at least one sensor.

32. The sensor assembly of claim 31, wherein the housing comprises a lens configured to provide an optical path from the at least one sensor to the surroundings.

33. The sensor assembly of claim 28, wherein the non-rotating body defines a substantially planar surface, and wherein the axis of rotation of the rotating body is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface.

34. The sensor assembly of claim 28, wherein the non-rotating body and the rotating body are coupled to one another.

35. The sensor assembly of claim 28, wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and wherein the power transfer device and the power receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

36. The sensor assembly of claim 28, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver each comprise an optical communication device, and the wireless coupling between the first data transmitter and the first data receiver comprises an optical coupling.

37. The sensor assembly of claim 36, wherein the first data transmitter and the first data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

38. The sensor assembly of claim 28, further comprising:

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

a second data receiver coupled to the rotating body and configured to receive data signals from the second data transmitter via a wireless coupling.

39. The sensor assembly of claim 38, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for regulating power to the second data receiver.

40. The sensor assembly of claim 38, wherein the second data transmitter is configured to send data signals for controlling operation of the rotating body to the second data receiver.

41. The sensor assembly of claim 38, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver each comprise an inductive coil, and the wireless coupling between the second data transmitter and the second data receiver comprises an inductive coupling.

42. The sensor assembly of claim 41, wherein the second data transmitter and the second data receiver are axially aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotating body.

43. A method for transferring power and data between a non-rotating body and a rotating body, the method comprising:

transferring electrical power from the non-rotating body to the rotating body via an inductive coupling; and

transferring data signals from the rotating body to the non-rotating body via a wireless coupling,

wherein the data signals relate to sensor data from the rotating body.