Ball contact rotary connector

Abstract

A rotary connector employing rolling conductive members. Two or more electrically isolated assemblies comprising pairs of primed wiring boards or flexprint circuits are disposed in a housing. The printed wiring boards have conductors disposed on adjacent surfaces. The conductors are electrically connected using the rolling conductive members. An insulating spacer is disposed between the metallic conductors of each of the printed wiring boards that hold them in place. The assemblies are disposed adjacent each other, and a shaft is secured to selected printed wiring boards. The shaft is rotatably secured to the housing using a rotary bearing, and the other printed wiring boards are secured to the housing. The printed wiring boards have electrical wires soldered thereto that permits the flow of electrical signals through the rotary connector, and which may be routed to electrical connectors or sensors. A retainer secures the assemblies together to maintain pressure between the metallic conductors and the rolling conductive members. Thus, the shaft is secured to one set of printed wiring boards and is rotatable relative to the housing due to the bearing. The other printed wiring boards are fixed relative to the housing. The rotation of the shaft therefore causes rotation of the one set of printed wiring boards relative to the other set of boards, while electrical conduction is maintained between the conductors by means of the plurality of rolling conductive members.