Rotatable Antenna Wireless Interconnect for Continuous Pointing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotatable antenna systems face challenges in efficiently changing pointing directions without mechanical wear and wire wrap issues, especially in mobile applications like aircraft, watercraft, and terrestrial vehicles, due to the need for mechanical joints and wired connections.
Innovation Solution
A wireless rotatable interconnect using a stator coil pad and a rotor coil pad with magnetic resonance coupling, allowing bi-directional communication and power transfer, enabling continuous rotation without mechanical joints or contacts, thus reducing wear and eliminating wire wrap.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical joints and wired connections are used in rotatable antenna systems, then the antenna can change pointing direction, but mechanical wear and wire wrap issues occur reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical joints and wired connections with a wireless power and data transfer system using electromagnetic coupling between a stator coil pad and rotor coil pad. This eliminates mechanical wear and wire wrap issues by transferring power and data wirelessly across the rotation interface, allowing continuous rotation without physical contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary between the stator and rotor coil pads to transfer power and data. The stator coil pad generates electromagnetic fields that couple with the rotor coil pad, enabling wireless communication and power transfer without direct mechanical or electrical contact, thus eliminating wear and wrap issues.
2Reliability
If continuous rotation is enabled without mechanical contacts, then mechanical wear is eliminated, but power and data transfer across the rotation interface becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical power and data transfer mechanisms with electromagnetic coupling. The stator coil pad and rotor coil pad establish magnetic resonance coupling to transfer power and data wirelessly across the rotation interface, eliminating the need for mechanical contacts while maintaining efficient energy transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes magnetic resonance coupling at specific frequencies to enable efficient wireless power and data transfer. By tuning the resonant frequencies of the stator and rotor coil pads, the system achieves high coupling efficiency despite the rotational movement and spacing between the coils.
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-friction interface for continuous rotation of the antenna system, extending its serviceable life by avoiding mechanical wear and allowing dynamic pointing direction adjustments without physical limitations, enhancing mobility and reliability in satellite communication.
Implementation Method 1
A wireless rotatable interconnect can include a stator coil pad and a rotor coil pad that are spaced apart and that are in bi-directional communication with each other
Implementation Method 2
The rotor coil pad is rotatable about an axis. Changes in a rotation of the rotor coil pad about the axis change a pointing direction of the radiating element
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable antenna is disclosed comprising a wireless rotatable interconnect comprising: a stator coil pad, a rotor coil pad, and a radiating element coupled to the rotor coil pad. In an embodiment, changes in a rotation of the rotor coil pad about an axis change a pointing direction of the radiating element. Moreover, a first channel of a plurality of wireless channels transfers power from the stator coil pad to the rotor coil pad and a second channel of the plurality of wireless channels transfers data between the stator coil pad and the rotor coil pad. Also, a data encoder may be coupled to the rotor coil pad that modulates at least a portion of the data transmitted through the second channel of the plurality of wireless channels onto a radio frequency (RF) signal, and provides the RF signal to the radiating element.