PCB-based conductive slip ring

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of electrically conductive slip rings based on PCB, belong to rotary electrical connector technical field, it includes rotor assembly and stator assembly, rotor assembly takes a rotor PCB as mandrel, multiple electrically conductive rings are fixed thereon, and are connected to rotor integrated contact point at its end portion by rotor PCB internal circuit, stator assembly includes two stator PCBs arranged in parallel, each stator PCB is equipped with multiple pairs of electrically conductive parts, and is connected to stator integrated contact point by its internal circuit, the electrically conductive part on two stator PCBs respectively with the different electrically conductive ring of mutually interlaced on rotor contact.The utility model replaces traditional wire with high stability PCB internal passage, greatly simplifies assembly maintenance process and reduces volume, and the two independent stator PCBs set can be used as redundancy backup or parallel connection enhanced line according to demand, application flexible, its neat integrated contact point array realizes the fixation of wiring, and can be matched with automatic wiring program.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and in particular to a rotary conductive connector for transmitting current or signals between two relatively rotating components, namely a PCB-based conductive slip ring. Background Technology

[0002] Slip rings, also known as collector rings or bus rings, are key components for transmitting image, data, and power signals between two relatively rotating mechanisms. Traditional slip rings typically use a metal or plastic shaft as a support, with multiple copper conductive rings fixed to the shaft surface. Numerous independent wires are threaded through the shaft and then manually soldered to the corresponding conductive rings and external terminals. The stator section contacts the conductive rings via spring-loaded brushes (usually metal wire bundles or carbon brushes).

[0003] The traditional structure in existing technology has many drawbacks: First, the numerous internal wires require manual wiring, soldering, and arrangement, which is not only inefficient but also prone to problems such as poor soldering, incorrect soldering, or wire wear due to human error, resulting in poor product consistency. Second, the complex internal wiring and mechanical fixing structure occupy a large amount of space, hindering product miniaturization and weight reduction, and failing to meet the space requirements of modern precision equipment. Furthermore, the assembly process is cumbersome, and once an internal fault occurs, effective repair is almost impossible, usually requiring the entire product to be scrapped, resulting in high maintenance costs. In addition, the highly manual manufacturing process makes it difficult to adapt to large-scale, automated modern production models.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of conductive slip ring that is simple in structure, reliable in performance, small in size, and easy to automate in production to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a PCB-based conductive slip ring to solve the technical problems of traditional slip rings in the prior art, such as complex internal wiring, reliance on manual labor, large size, poor reliability, high assembly and maintenance difficulty, and difficulty in automated production.

[0006] The above-mentioned technical objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: a conductive slip ring based on a PCB, comprising: Rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprising: The rotor PCB, which serves as the spindle, has multiple conductive contacts arranged in a dot matrix at its ends, forming an integrated rotor contact. Multiple conductive rings are fixedly arranged along the length direction of the rotor PCB; The rotor PCB has an internal circuit for electrically connecting the plurality of conductive rings to the corresponding conductive contacts in the rotor integrated contacts. Stator assembly, the stator assembly comprising: At least one stator PCB, wherein the ends of the stator PCB are provided with multiple conductive contacts distributed in a dot matrix pattern to form stator integrated contacts; The stator PCB is also provided with multiple sets of conductive parts; The stator PCB has an internal circuit for electrically connecting the multiple sets of conductive parts to the corresponding conductive contacts in the stator integrated contacts. The rotor assembly is rotatably disposed in the stator assembly, and the conductive part on the stator PCB corresponds to the conductive ring on the rotor assembly and forms an electrical contact.

[0007] Furthermore, the stator assembly includes two stator PCBs arranged in parallel opposite positions.

[0008] Furthermore, the conductive part on one stator PCB is in contact with the first group of conductive rings in the conductive ring, and the conductive part on the other stator PCB is in contact with the second group of conductive rings in the conductive ring, with the first and second groups of conductive rings being distributed alternately.

[0009] Furthermore, the conductive parts on the stator PCB are arranged in pairs, and each pair of conductive parts forms an electrical contact with a conductive ring by interference clamping.

[0010] Furthermore, the stator assembly also includes: The stator base is a cylindrical structure with an open top, and PCB mounting surfaces are formed on both sides of its outer wall; positioning pins and power connection ports are provided on the PCB mounting surfaces; and at least one heat dissipation vent is also provided on the stator base. Both stator PCBs are provided with mounting holes that cooperate with the positioning pins, and the stator PCBs are mounted on the PCB mounting surface through the cooperation of the mounting holes and the positioning pins. And a housing for encapsulating the stator base.

[0011] Furthermore, the rotor assembly also includes an upper inner sliding bearing and a lower inner sliding bearing fixed to both ends of the conductive ring assembly; The stator assembly also includes an upper outer bearing sleeve and a lower outer bearing sleeve fixed to the inner wall of the stator base; The upper inner sliding bearing and the lower inner sliding bearing are respectively rotatably engaged with the upper outer bearing sleeve and the lower outer bearing sleeve.

[0012] Furthermore, the stator PCB is provided with multiple test posts on its exterior, and each of the multiple test posts corresponds to one of the multiple sets of conductive parts and is electrically connected to them.

[0013] Furthermore, the stator PCB is also provided with multiple stator distributed contacts, each group of conductive parts is connected to a corresponding stator distributed contact, and the multiple stator distributed contacts are connected to the stator integrated contacts through the internal circuit of the stator PCB.

[0014] Furthermore, the rotor assembly also includes a plurality of insulating pads, which are alternately arranged with the conductive rings to isolate adjacent conductive rings.

[0015] Furthermore, the rotor PCB is provided with a plurality of rotor distributed contacts, each of the conductive rings is fixed and electrically connected to a corresponding rotor distributed contact, and the plurality of rotor distributed contacts are connected to the rotor integrated contacts through the internal circuit of the rotor PCB.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: This invention replaces the independent wire connections inside the traditional slip ring with the internal circuitry of a printed circuit board (PCB). This structure allows external electrical connections to be made directly through the array of contacts integrated on the PCB, simplifying the product assembly and maintenance process. Furthermore, by eliminating the wiring space for internal wires, it helps to reduce the overall size of the slip ring.

[0017] The printed circuits inside a PCB have a fixed geometry and location, and the consistency of their electrical properties (such as resistance and impedance) can be guaranteed through automated etching processes. Compared to traditional hand-soldered wires, this fixed circuit structure reduces the risk of wire displacement, wear, or desoldering due to vibration or impact.

[0018] This invention provides multiple operating modes for end applications by setting up multiple (two in this example) independent stator PCBs. Users can use different stator PCBs as primary and backup redundant circuits to improve system reliability, or connect their corresponding paths in parallel to improve the current carrying capacity of specific channels, depending on application requirements.

[0019] This invention provides a standardized and fixed integrated contact array on the stator and rotor PCBs, offering a standard connection interface for automated equipment. This allows for automated processes (such as automated soldering or testing equipment) to handle the wiring of the slip rings when integrated into the final product, thus improving the overall production efficiency of the product line. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a PCB-based conductive slip ring according to this utility model from one perspective. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a PCB-based conductive slip ring according to this utility model from another perspective; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the rotor assembly of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the rotor PCB of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the outer shell and the stator base of this utility model; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the stator PCB and stator base of this utility model; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the stator base of this utility model; Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the stator PCB of this utility model from one perspective; Figure 9 This is a structural schematic diagram of the stator PCB of this utility model from another perspective; Figure 10 This is an assembly diagram of the rotor PCB, stator base, and stator PCB of this utility model; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the rotor assembly and the stator PCB of this utility model.

[0021] In the diagram: 1. Rotor PCB; 101. Rotor distributed contacts; 102. Rotor integrated contacts; 2. Upper inner sliding bearing; 3. Lower inner sliding bearing; 4. Insulating gasket; 5. Conductive ring; 6. Housing; 7. Stator base; 701. Heat dissipation vent; 702. PCB mounting surface; 703. Positioning pin; 704. Power connection port; 8. Upper outer bearing sleeve; 9. Lower outer bearing sleeve; 10. Stator PCB; 1001. Mounting hole; 1002. Stator distributed contacts; 1003. Test post; 1004. Conductive part; 1005. Stator integrated contacts. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0023] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0024] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0025] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] The conductive slip ring disclosed in this embodiment has an overall structure consisting of a rotatable rotor assembly and a fixed stator assembly. For example... Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the rotor assembly is housed at the center of the stator assembly, and smooth relative rotation between the two is achieved through a bearing system. The stator assembly forms continuous electrical contact with the conductive ring system on the rotor assembly through its conductive part system, thereby establishing a stable and reliable electrical path between the stationary and rotating ends.

[0027] Specifically, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The core framework of the rotor assembly is a T-shaped rotor PCB1, made of a high-rigidity multilayer printed circuit board substrate (such as FR-4) to ensure mechanical strength and stability during rotation. Multiple rotor distributed contacts 101 are sequentially machined along the length of the long strip of the rotor PCB1, serving as the base for electrical connections. At the top of the rotor PCB1, rotor integrated contacts 102 are arranged in a dot matrix pattern for final electrical connection to external devices at the rotating end. The rotor PCB1 integrates multilayer printed circuits, which precisely wire each rotor distributed contact 101 to a corresponding contact in the array of rotor integrated contacts 102. Multiple independent conductive rings 5 ​​and insulating pads 4 are alternately fitted and fixed to the long strip of the rotor PCB1 (such as...). Figure 3 As shown, each conductive ring 5 forms a stable physical fixation and electrical connection with a corresponding rotor dispersion contact 101 through its inner diameter. The conductive ring 5 is preferably made of a material with excellent conductivity and wear resistance, such as a gold-plated copper ring, to ensure long-term stable, low-resistance electrical contact. The insulating gasket 4 is made of a material with high insulation performance to ensure reliable electrical isolation between adjacent conductive rings 5. At the beginning and end of the alternating conductive rings 5 ​​and insulating gaskets 4, upper inner sliding bearings 2 and lower inner sliding bearings 3 are fixedly installed, respectively. They are preferably made of engineering plastics with a low coefficient of friction (such as polyoxymethylene POM or polyetheretherketone PEEK), which not only provide structural fixation and support for the ring assembly, but also serve as precision inner sliding bearing surfaces. In the rotor assembly, the rotor PCB 1 not only serves as a conductive electrical path, connecting each conductive ring 5 to the rotor integrated contact 102, but more importantly, it also acts as the mechanical support frame and rotating spindle of the entire rotor assembly. All the conductive rings 5, insulating gaskets 4, and inner sliding bearings 2 and 3 are fixed and assembled around it.

[0028] Please see Figures 5 to 9The base of the stator assembly is a stator base 7, which can be made of metal (such as aluminum alloy) or high-strength engineering plastic, and has an overall cylindrical structure with an open top and closed bottom. Its symmetrical outer walls are flattened to form two parallel PCB mounting surfaces 702 with high flatness requirements. Each PCB mounting surface 702 has a precisely sized electrical interface 704 and a positioning pin 703 for precision positioning. Two identical stator PCBs 10 are securely mounted on the PCB mounting surfaces 702 on both sides of the stator base 7 through the precise engagement of their mounting holes 1001 and positioning pins 703, ensuring high positional accuracy after installation. Each stator PCB 10 has multiple sets of conductive parts 1004 made of precious metal alloy material arranged in pairs to ensure low noise and long lifespan of the contact. The conductive part 1004 is preferably a conductive brush. The base of each pair of conductive parts 1004 is connected to the same stator distributed contact 1002. These stator distributed contacts 1002, which are usually hidden inside the PCB, are connected to a contact in the stator integrated contact 1005 array located at the bottom of the PCB through the printed circuit inside the PCB. Considering that the conductive parts 1004 and the stator distributed contacts 1002 cannot be directly contacted from the outside after assembly, in order to facilitate production inspection and later maintenance, this embodiment also sets test posts 1003 on the outside of the stator PCB10, which are connected to each of the internal conductive parts. The specific application scenario is: in the quality inspection stage before the product leaves the factory, the automated testing equipment can simultaneously contact all test posts 1003 and the rotor integrated contact 102 at the top of the rotor assembly through the probe array to quickly measure the conduction resistance value of each channel from the stator end to the rotor end, so as to ensure the quality of welding and assembly. Furthermore, during later maintenance or troubleshooting, repair personnel can easily determine whether the fault lies inside the slip ring by measuring the connectivity between the test post 1003 and the corresponding rotating end contact, without completely disassembling the slip ring body. This greatly improves diagnostic efficiency. The upper outer bearing sleeve 8 and lower outer bearing sleeve 9 are also fixed to the top and bottom of the inner wall of the stator base 7, serving as the fixed outer rings of the bearing system and rotating with the upper and lower inner sliding bearings 2 and 3 on the rotor assembly. Finally, the entire stator assembly can be encapsulated by a housing 6 to provide comprehensive physical protection. The stator base 7 also has heat dissipation vents 701 to promote internal air convection and effectively dissipate heat when the slip ring generates heat due to the transmission of large currents.

[0029] The assembly and working principle of this embodiment are as follows: During assembly, the complete rotor assembly is first vertically inserted into the cavity of the stator base 7 through the top opening. The upper and lower inner sliding bearings 2 and 3 on the rotor and the upper and lower outer bearing sleeves 8 and 9 fixed on the stator base form a precise and smooth rotational fit, constraining the rotor to rotate around the center of the stator assembly. Subsequently, the stator PCBs 10 on both sides are installed from the PCB mounting surface 702 outside the stator base 7. During installation, the pairs of conductive parts 1004 arranged in an alternating manner on the stator PCB 10 extend into the cavity of the stator base through the contact ports 704. Due to the elasticity of the conductive parts themselves, they clamp the corresponding conductive rings 5 ​​on the rotor in an interference fit, forming a stable and reliable physical and electrical contact.

[0030] The electrical principle of this embodiment is that the two stator PCBs 10 on each side are responsible for independent electrical paths, and the staggered layout achieves extremely high space utilization. Specifically, each pair of conductive parts 1004 on the left stator PCB 10 contacts the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc., odd-numbered conductive rings 5 ​​on the rotor; while each pair of conductive parts 1004 on the right stator PCB 10 contacts the 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc., even-numbered conductive rings 5. Each independent path uses a "double-brush clamping" method to ensure contact reliability, that is, a pair of conductive parts 1004 on one side of the stator PCB contacts a corresponding conductive ring 5 on the rotor, forming a redundant contact with two points in parallel. A complete single electrical path (taking one path on the left stator PCB as an example) is as follows: external wiring at the fixed end → stator integrated contact 1005 → internal circuit of stator PCB 10 → stator distributed contact 1002 → a pair of conductive parts 1004 → conductive ring 5 → rotor distributed contact 101 → internal circuit of rotor PCB 1 → rotor integrated contact 102 → external equipment at the rotating end.

[0031] Of course, the two independent stator PCBs 10 provided by this invention also offer high flexibility for end applications. For example, in applications with extremely high reliability requirements, technicians can use one stator PCB 10 as the main working circuit and the other as a redundant backup circuit, achieving automatic switching in case of a main circuit failure through external circuitry. In applications requiring the transmission of large currents, corresponding paths on the two stator PCBs 10 can be connected in parallel, thereby doubling the current carrying capacity of a specific channel.

[0032] This invention provides a standardized connection interface for automated production by setting up a standardized and fixed array of integrated contacts 102 and 1005 on the rotor PCB1 and stator PCB10. This standardized interface target plate allows the wiring process of the slip ring integrated into the final product to be automated (such as by an automated welding robot or automated testing equipment), which helps to improve the production efficiency and quality consistency of the entire product line.

[0033] In summary, this embodiment of the invention utilizes a rotor PCB 1 and a stator PCB 10 to construct the core conduction path, replacing traditional manual wires with printed circuits. This structure simplifies the overall construction of the slip ring, reduces product size, and lowers the complexity of assembly and maintenance. Simultaneously, the inherent physical stability of the PCB circuit improves the reliability of electrical connections compared to traditional wires. The two independent stator PCBs 10 in this design allow users to use the circuit for redundancy or parallel reinforcement according to application requirements, increasing the product's application flexibility. The standardized and fixed integrated contacts 102 and 1005 provide a standard interface for automated wiring equipment, enabling automation of the slip ring integration into the final product's wiring process, thus improving production efficiency.

[0034] This specific embodiment is merely an explanation of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art can make modifications to this embodiment without contributing any inventive step, but as long as they are within the scope of the claims of the present utility model, they are protected by patent law.

Claims

1. A conductive slip ring based on a PCB, characterized in that, include: Rotor assembly, the rotor assembly comprising: The rotor PCB (1), which serves as the spindle, has multiple conductive contacts arranged in a dot matrix pattern at its ends, forming a rotor integrated contact (102). Multiple conductive rings (5) are fixedly arranged along the length direction of the rotor PCB (1); The rotor PCB (1) has an internal circuit for electrically connecting the plurality of conductive rings (5) to the corresponding conductive contacts in the rotor integrated contacts (102); Stator assembly, the stator assembly comprising: At least one stator PCB (10), wherein the ends of the stator PCB (10) are provided with multiple conductive contacts distributed in a dot matrix pattern to form stator integrated contacts (1005). The stator PCB (10) is also provided with multiple sets of conductive parts (1004). The stator PCB (10) has an internal circuit for electrically connecting the multiple sets of conductive parts (1004) to the corresponding conductive contacts in the stator integrated contacts (1005); The rotor assembly is rotatably disposed in the stator assembly, and the conductive part (1004) on the stator PCB (10) corresponds to the conductive ring (5) on the rotor assembly and forms an electrical contact.

2. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stator assembly includes two stator PCBs (10) arranged in parallel opposite positions.

3. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 2, characterized in that, The conductive part (1004) on one stator PCB (10) is in contact with the first group of conductive rings in the conductive ring (5), and the conductive part (1004) on the other stator PCB (10) is in contact with the second group of conductive rings in the conductive ring (5). The first and second groups of conductive rings are interleaved.

4. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive parts (1004) on the stator PCB (10) are arranged in pairs, and each pair of conductive parts (1004) forms an electrical contact with a conductive ring (5) by interference clamping.

5. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 2, characterized in that, The stator assembly further includes: The stator base (7) has a cylindrical structure with an open top, and PCB mounting surfaces (702) are formed on both sides of its outer wall; the PCB mounting surfaces (702) are provided with positioning pins (703) and power connection ports (704); and the stator base (7) is also provided with at least one heat dissipation port (701). Both stator PCBs (10) are provided with mounting holes (1001) that cooperate with the positioning pins (703), and the stator PCBs (10) are mounted on the PCB mounting surface (702) through the cooperation of the mounting holes (1001) and the positioning pins (703). And a housing (6) for encapsulating the stator base (7).

6. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 5, characterized in that, The rotor assembly also includes an upper inner sliding bearing (2) and a lower inner sliding bearing (3) fixed at both ends of the conductive ring (5) group. The stator assembly also includes an upper outer bearing sleeve (8) and a lower outer bearing sleeve (9) fixed to the inner wall of the stator base (7). The upper inner sliding bearing (2) and the lower inner sliding bearing (3) are respectively rotatably engaged with the upper outer bearing sleeve (8) and the lower outer bearing sleeve (9).

7. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stator PCB (10) is also provided with a plurality of test posts (1003) on its exterior. The plurality of test posts (1003) correspond one-to-one with the plurality of conductive parts (1004) and are electrically connected respectively.

8. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stator PCB (10) is also provided with a plurality of stator distributed contacts (1002), each group of conductive parts (1004) is connected to a corresponding stator distributed contact (1002), and the plurality of stator distributed contacts (1002) are connected to the stator integrated contacts (1005) through the internal circuit of the stator PCB (10).

9. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotor assembly also includes a plurality of insulating pads (4), which are alternately arranged with the conductive rings (5) to isolate adjacent conductive rings (5).

10. The PCB-based conductive slip ring according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotor PCB (1) is provided with a plurality of rotor distributed contacts (101), each of the conductive rings (5) is fixed and electrically connected to a corresponding rotor distributed contact (101), and the plurality of rotor distributed contacts (101) are connected to the rotor integrated contact (102) through the internal circuit of the rotor PCB (1).

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