Patent ID: 6353693
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: G02B,H04B,H05K

Abstract:
An optical communication device for communicating between a circuit arranged on a side of a stator and a circuit arranged on a side of a rotor having an axis of rotation,the optical communication device comprising a pair of optical couplers arranged between said stator and said rotor, for permitting signals to be bidirectionally transmitted between said circuit arranged on said side of said stator and said circuit arranged on said side of said rotor, one of said pair of optical couplers having a rotor-side light-receiving element arranged on said rotor such that said axis of rotation extends therethrough, and a stator-side light-emitting element arranged on said stator at a location away from said axis of rotation and having an optical axis directed toward said rotor-side light-receiving element, and another of said pair of optical couplers having a stator-side light-receiving element arranged on said stator such that said axis of rotation extends therethrough, and a rotor-side light-emitting element arranged on said rotor at a location away from said axis of rotation and having an optical axis directed toward said stator-side light-receiving element.