Litton Systems, Inc.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Robert Thomas Rogers

Anthony L Bowman

Norris E Lewis

Michael P Duncan

Alex Nalendra Persaud

Norris Earl Lewis

The present invention is directed to segmented waveguide for a fiber optic rotary joint. The segmented waveguide is mountable to the existing stator surface. The segmented waveguide is capable of receiving signals from the rotor. The fiber optic rotary joint includes a rotor and an existing stator surface. The rotor is rotatable through a full 360&deg; and is concentric to the existing stator surface. The rotor has one of a plurality of light transmitters and light receivers connected to a first circumference of the rotor. The segmented waveguide includes a reflective waveguide surface shaped to match a potion of existing stator surface. At least one waveguide support supports the reflective waveguide surface and is connectable to the existing stator. At least one of a light transmitter or light receiver is optically coupled to a reflective waveguide surface.

Segmented waveguide for large diameter fiber optic rotary joint

The present invention is directed to a fiber optic rotary joint comprised of multiple segmented waveguides. Each of the multiple segmented waveguides is located on the stator. The segmented waveguides are circumferentially spaced from each other. Spaces between the segmented waveguides are non-reflective. Each of the segmented waveguides has an optical pickup. There are a plurality of optical transmitters located on the rotor. In the preferred embodiment there are sixteen transmitters with eight transmitters transmitting at one time and eight transmitters turned off at that time.

Parallel data transmission through segmented waveguides of large diameter

Unidirectional and bi-directional fiber optic rotary joints are disclosed for coupling at least one optical signal across a rotary interface. The unidirectional joint includes a stator having a waveguide. A rotor is rotatable through a full 360.degree. revolution and is concentric to the stator. Light transmitters are positioned on a first circumference and connected to one of the stator and the rotor. Each of the transmitters emits an optical signal. Light receivers are positioned on a second circumference and connected to the other one of the stator and the rotor. Each of the transmitted optical signals is emitted tangentially into the waveguide and is reflected in short chordal lengths along the waveguide. Each optical signal is received by at least one of the second plurality of light receivers through the full 360.degree. revolution of the rotor. The number of light receivers is greater than the number of light transmitters. Certain receivers do not receive an optical signal during a portion of the 360.degree. revolution of the rotor.

Fiber optic rotary joint

Unidirectional and bidirectional fiber optic rotary joints are disclosed for coupling at least one optical signal across a rotary interface. The unidirectional joint includes a stator having a waveguide. A rotor is rotatable through a full 360.degree. revolution and is concentric to the stator. Light transmitters are positioned on a first circumference and connected to one of the stator and the rotor. Each of the transmitters emits an optical signal. Light receivers are positioned on a second circumference and connected to the other one of the stator and the rotor. Each of the transmitted optical signals is emitted tangentially into the waveguide and is reflected in short chordal lengths along the waveguide. Each optical signal is received by at least one of the second plurality of light receivers through the full 360.degree. revolution of the rotor. The number of light receivers is greater than the number of light transmitters. Certain receivers do not receive an optical signal during a portion of the 360.degree. revolution of the rotor.

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Blacksburg, VA, United States of America

Robert Thomas Rogers