Optical Rotary Joint Beam Launcher Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data transmission methods across rotating interfaces, such as in large-diameter open-axis rotary joints, face challenges with high data rates, signal power, waveform distortion, and time-delay variations, which limit data throughput and are costly due to complex alignments and components.
Innovation Solution
An optical rotary joint design featuring a rotating rotor and stationary stator with optical transmit beam launchers and receivers, utilizing an optical splitter to distribute signals across multiple fibers, ensuring continuous data capture with minimal time delay variation and reduced component count, allowing for simultaneous bidirectional data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrical or optical methods are used for non-contacting data transmission, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity and alignment precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary joint is divided into a stationary housing and a rotating component, with optical transmit beam launchers mounted on the stationary housing and optical receivers mounted on the rotating component. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each subsystem and simplifies alignment requirements, as the optical paths are established between fixed transmit elements and rotating receive elements rather than requiring precise maintenance of alignment between two rotating surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary system using multiple optical fibers, transmit beam launchers, and receivers to transfer data across the rotating interface. This intermediary optical path eliminates the need for direct mechanical electrical contacts, enabling high-speed data transmission while isolating the alignment requirements to fixed-to-rotating interfaces rather than rotating-to-rotating interfaces.
2Productivity
If multiple optical fibers and components are used to maintain continuous data flow, then data throughput is improved, but component count and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple optical receivers positioned at different angular locations on the rotating component, each capable of receiving data from at least one optical transmit beam launcher. This arrangement ensures continuous data reception throughout the rotation cycle, as at least one receiver maintains an active optical path with a transmitter at all times, eliminating gaps in data transmission without requiring excessive redundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical receivers are designed to be multi-functional, each capable of receiving data from multiple different transmit beam launchers at different positions. This universality allows a smaller number of receivers to handle data from multiple transmitters, reducing the total component count while maintaining continuous data flow capability throughout the rotation cycle.
3Reliability
If precise alignment of optical components is implemented, then signal quality is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts a dynamic alignment approach where the optical receivers are positioned to sweep through different angular positions during rotation, naturally sampling multiple transmit beam launcher positions. This dynamic configuration reduces the need for extremely precise static alignment, as the system is designed to accommodate reasonable manufacturing tolerances while maintaining reliable optical paths throughout the rotation cycle through the inherent motion of the rotating component.
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
Enables multi-gigabit-per-second data transmission with reduced signal distortion and time delay, maintaining continuous data flow without the need for burst transmission techniques, while minimizing component count and alignment complexities, thus enhancing data throughput and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The optical splitter may comprise an optical device that splits the optical signal from the transmit data source into essentially identical replicas for each of the plurality of optical fibers
Implementation Method 2
The transmit beam launchers comprises a collimator coupled to the respective optical fiber, wherein the collimator is directed to the receiver face
Implementation Method 3
the optical receivers may comprise a photodetector and a lens configured to direct a received optical signal to the photodetector and wherein the lens is configured to provide no more than a predetermined time delay variation in optical path length
Implementation Method 4
the optical receivers may comprise a photodetector and a lens configured to direct a received optical signal to the photodetector
Data Source
AI summary
An optical rotary joint includes a first annular portion and a second annular portion configured to rotate with respect to each other. Optical receivers on a receiver face of the second annular portion receive from optical transmit beam launchers on an emitter face of the first annular portion. The transmit beam launchers transmit optical signals to the optical receivers as the second annular portion rotates with respect to the first annular portion.