Patent ID: 9170378
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: A61B,G02B,H04B

Abstract:
1. A fiber optic rotary joint for enabling the transmission of a substantially-uninterrupted digital optical signal across the interface between facing surfaces of a rotor and a stator, comprising: a plurality of light sources mounted on one of said rotor and stator, each light source including a first light source arranged to selectively generate an optical signal and a second light source arranged to selectively generate said optical signal; a first plurality of light emitters spaced equidistantly along the surface of said one of said rotor and stator and separated individually by a first arc distance for transmitting said optical signal received from said light sources toward the facing surface of the other of said rotor and stator; a first plurality of first optical fibers severally communicating respective ones of said light sources with respective ones of said light emitters for conveying said optical signal from each respective light source to the associated emitter; wherein each of said first optical fibers has a core and wherein each of said first and second light sources is operatively arranged to emit said optical signal directly into an end of the associated first optical fiber; wherein said first light source is arranged to normally generate said optical signal and wherein said second light source is arranged to generate said optical signal only if said first light source fails to generate said optical signal; a second plurality of light receptors spaced equidistantly along the surface of the other of said rotor and stator and separated individually by a second arc distance; at least one light detector mounted on the other of said rotor and stator; and a second plurality of second optical fibers severally communicating respective ones of said light receptors with said light detector(s); said light sources, first optical fibers, light emitters, light receptors, second optical fibers and detector(s) being so configured and arranged that the aggregate propagation delay of the optical signal transmitted from said light sources to said detector(s) is less than about one-quarter of the bit width of said optical signal; whereby said fiber optic rotary joint is capable of transmitting said optical signal across said interface with reduced jitter.