Contactless Energy Data Transmission Alignment Head

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing directional heads for aligning and tracking targets, such as aircraft, face challenges in minimizing aerodynamic influences and maintaining low weight while ensuring contactless energy and data transmission, especially when components need to rotate and are subject to mechanical stress, making traditional sliding contacts unsuitable for long-term use.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a contactless energy and data transmission arrangement using annular and rotatably interlocking bearing flanges with modular transmission elements, including low-loss segmented core structures with radially arranged U-cores and annular windings, allowing for coaxial alignment of beam paths with energy and data transmission modules, and utilizing capacitive signal transmission through integrated annular or cylindrical capacitor plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sliding contacts are used for energy and data transmission in rotating components, then mechanical connection is established, but maintenance-free long-term use is excluded due to wear and mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance-free operationVSAvoidcontactless transmission system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical sliding contacts with an inductive coupling system using magnetic fields. A transmitter coil in the stationary part and a receiver coil in the rotating part create a magnetic coupling that transfers energy and data without mechanical contact, eliminating wear and enabling maintenance-free operation while allowing continuous rotation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the stationary and rotating parts. The magnetic field serves as the medium for energy and data transmission, allowing the system to overcome the limitation of mechanical contacts while maintaining reliable coupling across the air gap

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If beam paths are superimposed in parallel to achieve common aperture, then aerodynamic influences are minimized, but alignment precision becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic influencesVSAvoidbeam alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the beam paths of the laser and tracker sensors into a common aperture by superimposing them in parallel. This integration allows both optical paths to share the same opening, minimizing aerodynamic interference while maintaining precise alignment through careful optical design and positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses alignment precision by introducing additional degrees of freedom in the positioning system. Multiple adjustment mechanisms allow alignment in both azimuth and elevation directions, enabling precise beam superposition while maintaining the parallel configuration that reduces aerodynamic effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Use of energy by moving object

If transformer coils are arranged coaxially in tubular parts for contactless energy transmission, then electromagnetic induction is achieved, but rotational movement and alignment flexibility are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy transmission efficiencyVSAvoidrotational alignment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the transmitter and receiver assemblies to serve multiple functions: they provide inductive energy transmission through coaxial coil arrangements while simultaneously enabling rotational movement and azimuth/elevation alignment. The universal design allows the same structure to achieve both efficient energy transfer and flexible positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic capabilities to the inductive coupling system by allowing the transmitter and receiver assemblies to rotate and align in multiple directions. The coils maintain their coaxial relationship during movement, enabling the system to adapt its orientation while preserving efficient electromagnetic coupling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This arrangement enables maintenance-free, long-term operation by allowing for efficient energy and data transmission without mechanical contacts, minimizing size and weight, and facilitating easy assembly and heat dissipation, while maintaining beam path alignment and stability under rotational stress.

Implementation Method 1

a transformer that makes it possible to transmit electrical energy by electromagnetic induction between a first coil and a second coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

capacitive signal transmission, which are integrated into the modules in an annular or cylindrical design

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2128835B1Alignment head for contact-free energy and data transfer
Publication Date: 2017.07.05 MBDA DEUTSCHIAND GMBH
  • EP2128835B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2128835B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2128835B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The arrangement has a transmission unit designed as a transmission module, and contactlessly bridging an air gap. The transmission unit is arranged around a central free space (20) as a circular module bank with module halves that are moveably supported relative to each other. A ball bearing arranged between bearing rings that are held by a circular plate screwed with a bar of the bearing rings. The transmission module serves to transform a signal transmission that exhibits twisted tapping, which is controlled via a rotary drive.