Mirror-Ring Assembly for Bi-Directional Optical Rotor Stator Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical rotary joints for communication between a rotor and a stator are limited to unidirectional data transmission, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity due to the need for large numerical aperture detectors and rotary encoder information for maintaining data integrity during rotation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a mirror-ring apparatus with tangentially directed optical channels and curved mirrors on the stator, allowing for bi-directional communication by transmitting data packets orthogonally to the radial direction, enabling smaller acceptance angles and reduced detector requirements without the need for rotary encoder information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional radial optical transmission is used, then data transmission between rotor and stator is achieved, but the system requires large numerical aperture detectors and complex rotary encoder information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional radial optical transmission approach by implementing tangential optical channels. Instead of transmitting light radially between rotor and stator, the system uses tangential channels where light travels parallel to the rotor surface, eliminating the need for large numerical aperture detectors and rotary encoder information while maintaining data transmission capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If unidirectional data transmission is implemented, then optical rotary joint functionality is achieved, but bi-directional communication protocols and error-correction techniques cannot be practically applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the optical rotary joint to support both unidirectional and bi-directional communication modes. The tangential optical channel design allows simultaneous operation of multiple communication protocols including error-correction techniques, making the system universally compatible with modern communication standards while maintaining high data transmission rates.
3Quantity of substance
If predominantly radial optical signal transmission is used, then optical communication between rotor and stator is achieved, but an unfavorable trade-off exists between using many optical sources/detectors and using large numerical aperture receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of optical transmission direction from radial to tangential. This parameter change allows the system to reduce both the number of optical components required and the numerical aperture of detectors, as tangential channels provide more efficient light coupling and reduced optical path complexity compared to conventional radial transmission.
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 solution enables efficient bi-directional data transmission across rotary interfaces, reducing the number of optical receivers and detectors needed, ensuring continuous data transfer during rotor rotation without interruptions, and optimizing the optical channel design for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a curved mirror arranged on the stator to direct the optical beam between the rotor and the stator
Data Source
AI summary
An optical rotary joint communication apparatus for communicating between a rotor and a stator. Optical sources and detectors are arranged on both the rotor and the stator to provide bi-directional communication. As the rotor rotates, downlink detectors on the rotor sequentially communicate via line-of-sight optical channels with corresponding downlink receivers on the stator. Each downlink receiver is provided a curved mirror reflecting the downlink beam onto the downlink receiver when the rotation angle of the rotor is within a corresponding angle interval. When the rotation angle moves past the angle interval, the downlink beams transition to another mirror and another downlink receiver. The downlink beams are directed predominantly tangential to the rotor circumference. Adjacent downlink transmitters transmit redundant data, and transitions between downlink receivers are staggered for adjacent downlink transmitters to occur at non-overlapping rotation angles in order to prevent loss of data during transitions.