Patent ID: 8041225

Claim:
An apparatus for enabling transmission of signals and data via a means of infrared (IR) light for a wind turbine, the apparatus comprising: a rotary joint disposed between a non-rotating portion of a wind turbine and a rotatable wind turbine hub, wherein the rotary joint forms one portion of a low-voltage signal and data communication bus; and a plurality of IR data communication elements attached to the rotary joint and configured to provide unidirectional or bidirectional IR data and signal exchange via the low-voltage signal and data communication bus between the non-rotating portion of the wind turbine and the rotatable wind turbine hub in response to rotation of a rotating portion of the wind turbine, wherein the plurality of IR data communication elements communicate in the axial direction of the rotary joint, and further wherein the rotary joint comprises a rotating section and a stationary section, wherein the rotating section comprises at least one slot configured to receive at least one diode separator element extending from the stationary section toward the rotating section.