The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1998
Arthur J Einhorn, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved optical rotary joint is achieved by transmitting information in the form of an optical signal from a part of the de-spun portion outside the rotational axis to the spun portion, or vice versa, thereby creating a continuous communication path 360.degree. about the rotational axis. The optical rotary joint includes either a plurality of transmitters on one portion and a detector on the other portion, or a transmitter on one portion and a plurality of detectors on the other portion. In the former, the transmitters are controlled such that only the transmitters transmitting optical signals that will be detected by the detector at a given point in the rotation are activated and the remaining transmitters are deactivated. In the latter, the detectors are controlled such that only the detectors detecting the optical signal transmitter by the transmitter at a given point in the rotation are activated and the remaining detectors are deactivated.