Off-axis Fiber Optic Slip Ring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing off-axis fiber optic rotary joints face challenges with high optical loss, incompatibility with single mode fibers, and issues like debris, component tolerances, and backlash, which limit their effectiveness and usability, especially for large diameters.
Innovation Solution
A passive, bidirectional off-axis optic slip ring design that eliminates the need for numerous fiber bundles and photodiodes, utilizing a mirror array, rhomboid and right angle prisms, and collimators to maintain low-loss signal transmission for both multi-mode and single mode fibers, with a through bore allowing optical signals to pass through without central obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple fiber bundles are arranged on rotatable members to transmit optical signals, then multi-channel data transmission is achieved, but the device complexity and mechanical handling difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fiber bundles from the rotatable members and places them only on the stationary member. The optical signals are transmitted through free space between the stationary fiber bundles and the rotating collimators/prisms, eliminating the complexity of arranging and handling numerous fibers on moving parts while maintaining multi-channel transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mirrors and prisms as intermediary optical elements that facilitate signal transmission without requiring physical fiber connections to rotating components. These intermediaries reflect and redirect light paths, enabling optical communication while avoiding the mechanical complexity of fiber management on rotatable members.
2Reliability
If conventional off-axis slip ring design is used, then optical signal transmission is achieved, but optical loss increases and single mode fiber compatibility is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical fiber bundle coupling system with an optical system using collimators, mirrors, and prisms. This substitution eliminates the need for precise mechanical alignment of numerous fiber bundles, reducing both optical loss and the inability to support single mode fibers, while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
3Area of stationary object
If photodiode receivers and multiple inputs are used to maintain signal levels, then data transmission across large diameters is achieved, but electrical power requirements increase and time jitter is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive optical elements (mirrors and prisms) that automatically redirect light paths without requiring active electronic components like photodiodes. This self-service optical system maintains signal levels through geometric optics alone, eliminating the need for electrical power and avoiding time jitter while enabling transmission across large diameters.
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
The solution provides a low-loss, time-jitter-free, passive off-axis optic slip ring capable of handling both multi-mode and single mode fibers, reducing mechanical complexity and optical loss, and enabling efficient data transmission across large diameters without the need for high electrical power or photodiode receivers.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of mirror arrays, each having a plurality of mirrors equispaced and arranged in parallel
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of rhomboid and right angle prisms equispaced and arranged in parallel
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of rhomboid and right angle prisms equispaced and arranged in parallel
Implementation Method 4
A plurality of collimators equispaced and arranged in parallel
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-channel off-axis optic slip ring system is disclosed. The invention eliminates the huge number of fiber bundles and photodiodes in most published patents. A couple of conventional optical components such as mirrors and prisms are used to transmit optical signals with high quality and low optic losses. The optical signal pick-up is realized through a pair of prisms mounted on gear transmission systems. It is a true passive, bi-directional rotational optical transmission device which could be used for both multi-mode and single mode fibers without the limitation to the through bore diameters.