CN111071164B

CN111071164B - Hidden shaft type rotating device and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN111071164B
Application number: CN201811222132.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李斌; 柴晨喜; 庞文鹏
Original assignee: Zhejiang Sunny Optical Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Sunny Optical Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-19
Filing date: 2018-10-19
Publication date: 2023-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-19
Also published as: CN111071164A

Abstract

The invention discloses a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof. The hidden shaft type rotating device is used for installing a functional module and comprises a base component, a rotating component, a driving mechanism and a hidden shaft mechanism. The rotating assembly has a central region, an edge region surrounding the central region, and a central axis passing through the central region. The driving mechanism is arranged between the rotating component and the base component to drive the rotating component to rotate around the central axis. The hidden shaft mechanism is fixedly arranged in the edge area of the rotating assembly so as to form a complete installation space between the hidden shaft mechanism and the central area of the rotating assembly, and the functional module is installed in the central area of the rotating assembly so as to drive the functional module to rotate around the central axis through the rotating assembly.

Description

Hidden shaft type rotating device and manufacturing method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of complete machine or equipment operation platforms, in particular to a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof.

Background

With the rapid development of science and technology, unmanned technology has also developed rapidly. While it is desirable to ensure the safety and reliability of unmanned vehicles, the most basic requirement is to use various sensors such as lidar, cameras or thermal imaging to sense the surrounding environment of the vehicle to obtain information about the surrounding road conditions, vehicle posture and other obstacles, so as to facilitate control of the steering and speed of the vehicle. Since most sensors can sense or detect information in only one direction, various sensors are typically mounted on a rotary platform to rotate the various sensors 360 degrees using the rotary platform, so that the sensors mounted on the rotary platform can sense and detect in various directions to obtain surrounding environment information in all directions.

However, conventional rotary platforms on the market today are all rotary platforms built based on a central shaft, resulting in various sensors being mounted to the rotary platform only around the central shaft. Although this solution is not problematic for use in conventional products, in the trend of miniaturization of products, such as 360-degree scanning lidar used in unmanned vehicles, the central axis of the rotating platform will occupy the central area of the rotating platform, and the limited central area of the rotating platform is partitioned, which greatly limits the installation of various sensors, resulting in a product with a size that cannot meet the miniaturization requirement, and thus is not ideal.

In addition, since the central area of the rotary platform is occupied by the central shaft, various sensors can only be eccentrically mounted on the rotary platform, so that the moment of inertia of the whole product relative to the central shaft is unevenly distributed, and therefore, the rotary platform can generate larger runout or shake during rotation, and the normal operation or service life of the rotary platform is seriously affected.

Disclosure of Invention

An objective of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the hidden shaft type rotating device does not provide any physical central shaft, so as to release a central area of a rotating component of the hidden shaft type rotating device, which is helpful for satisfying the trend of miniaturization development of the whole machine product.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, various functional modules can be mounted to a central area of the rotating assembly, so as to ensure that moment of inertia of the hidden shaft type rotating device relative to a central axis is uniformly distributed, which is beneficial to improving dynamic balance stability of a complete machine product.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, a hidden shaft mechanism of the hidden shaft type rotating device is disposed between a top cover assembly and the rotating assembly, so that the hidden shaft mechanism replaces a conventional solid central shaft, thereby helping to improve the structural stability of the whole product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, at least two brackets of the hidden shaft mechanism are symmetrically disposed around the rotating assembly, so as to prevent the hidden shaft mechanism from damaging the stability of the hidden shaft type rotating device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, the hidden shaft mechanism is fixedly arranged on the rotating assembly to rotate synchronously with the rotating assembly, so as to avoid the hidden shaft mechanism from affecting the sensing or detecting functions of various functional modules due to shielding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden axis type rotating apparatus and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, a driving mechanism of the hidden axis type rotating apparatus has a central axis channel extending along the central axis for providing an optical communication channel for an optical communication module when the rotating module is driven to rotate by the driving mechanism, so as to stably transmit data between the rotating module and a base module of the hidden axis type rotating apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, the hidden shaft type rotating device adopts the optical communication assembly to replace a traditional slip ring communication scheme, which is not only beneficial to improving the reliability of communication, but also greatly increasing the transmission amount of data.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, a rotor of the driving mechanism is correspondingly disposed inside a stator of the driving mechanism with the central axis as an axis, so as to reduce moment of inertia of the driving mechanism of the hidden shaft type rotating device, and help to improve stability of a whole product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, a hollow base of the driving mechanism forms the central shaft channel, and a stable positional relationship between the stator and the rotor can be ensured by the hollow base.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, an electrical transmission assembly of the hidden shaft type rotating device is correspondingly disposed between a hollow cylinder of the driving mechanism and the hollow base, so as to replace the conventional slip ring transmission scheme, thereby improving the reliability and service life of electrical power transmission of the hidden shaft type rotating device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, a conductive body of the driving mechanism is embedded in the hollow cylinder, so as to simplify a conductive structure between the output coil and the rotating assembly, and help ensure safety and stability of power transmission.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, an optical coding component is used to replace a conventional contact angle measurer for the hidden shaft type rotating device, so as to accurately obtain a rotation angle of the rotating component, and meanwhile, avoid abrasion caused by rotation, which is helpful for prolonging the service life of the hidden shaft type rotating device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hidden shaft type rotating device and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein in an embodiment of the present invention, a sealing ring is disposed at a connection portion between the top cover assembly and the base assembly, so as to form a sealing space between the top cover assembly and the base assembly, isolate the driving mechanism and the various functional modules from an external environment, and prevent the driving mechanism and the various functional modules from being contaminated.

To achieve at least one of the above objects and other objects and advantages, the present invention provides a hidden axis type rotating device for mounting a functional module, comprising:

a base assembly;

a rotating assembly, wherein the rotating assembly has a central region, an edge region located around the central region, and a central axis passing through the central region;

a drive mechanism disposed between the rotating assembly and the base assembly to drive the rotating assembly to rotate about the central axis;

a top cover assembly, wherein the top cover assembly is correspondingly arranged on the base assembly so as to form an accommodating space between the top cover assembly and the base assembly; and

The bottom end of the hidden shaft mechanism is fixedly arranged in the edge area of the rotating assembly, the top end of the hidden shaft mechanism is rotatably connected with the top cover assembly to form a hidden shaft between the top cover assembly and the rotating assembly, and a mounting space is formed between the hidden shaft mechanism and the central area of the rotating assembly, so that the functional module is mounted in the central area of the rotating assembly, and is driven to rotate around the central axis through the rotating assembly.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden shaft mechanism includes at least two brackets and a top frame, wherein the top frame is rotatably disposed to the top cover assembly with the central axis as an axis, and each of the at least two brackets extends from the edge region of the rotating assembly to the top frame to form the installation space between the top frame and the central region of the rotating assembly.

In some embodiments of the invention, the top frame of the hidden axle mechanism is rotatably coupled to the top cover assembly in a bearing connection.

In some embodiments of the invention, the at least two brackets are arranged symmetrically about the central axis at the edge region of the rotating assembly.

In some embodiments of the invention, the top cover assembly includes a top cover body and a light transmissive annular window, wherein the annular window is disposed between the top cover body and the base assembly, and the annular window is configured to be in a detection path of the functional module.

In some embodiments of the invention, the top cover assembly further comprises a pair of sealing rings, one of which is disposed between the annular window and the top cover body and the other of which is disposed between the annular window and the base assembly to form the sealed receiving space between the top cover assembly and the base assembly.

In some embodiments of the invention, the top cover has a first annular recess, wherein the annular window includes an annular window and a first annular clip, and the first annular clip extends integrally inward from an upper edge of the annular window to removably connect the annular window to the top cover by snap-fit.

In some embodiments of the invention, the base assembly further has a second annular recess, wherein the annular window further includes a second annular clip, and the second annular clip extends integrally inward from a lower edge of the annular window to removably connect the annular window to the base assembly by snap-fit.

In some embodiments of the invention, the drive mechanism has a central shaft channel, and the central shaft channel extends along the central axis from the central region of the rotating assembly to the base assembly.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes a stator, a rotor and a hollow cylinder, wherein the hollow cylinder is coaxially disposed between the base assembly and the rotating assembly with the central axis as an axis, so as to form the central axis channel in the center of the hollow cylinder, wherein the rotor is fixedly disposed on the hollow cylinder, the stator is correspondingly disposed on the base assembly with the central axis as an axis, so as to drive the rotor and the hollow cylinder to rotate around the central axis through the stator, and the rotating assembly is fixedly disposed on the hollow cylinder.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the driving mechanism further comprises a hollow base, wherein the hollow base is fixed to the base assembly with the central axis as an axis, wherein the stator is fixed to the hollow base, and the hollow cylinder is rotatably connected to the hollow base in a bearing connection manner.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hollow base includes an annular base plate fixed to the base assembly with the central axis as an axis, an outer frame integrally extending from an outer periphery of the annular base plate toward the rotating assembly, and an inner frame integrally extending from an inner periphery of the annular base plate toward the rotating assembly to form the central axis passage inside the inner frame and an annular space between the outer frame and the inner frame to accommodate the stator and the rotor.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hollow barrel has a fixed end and a free end integrally extending from the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the hollow barrel is fixedly connected to the rotating assembly, wherein the free end of the hollow barrel is inserted into the annular space of the hollow base to be bearing-connected to the inner sidewall of the hollow base, wherein the stator is fixed to the inner frame of the hollow base, and the rotor is nested in the free end of the hollow barrel such that the rotor is positioned around the stator.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hollow barrel has a fixed end and a free end integrally extending from the fixed end, wherein the fixed end of the hollow barrel is fixedly connected to the rotating assembly, wherein the free end of the hollow barrel is inserted into the annular space of the hollow base to be bearing-connected to the inner side wall of the hollow base, wherein the stator is fixed to the outer frame of the hollow base, and the rotor is nested in the free end of the hollow barrel such that the stator is positioned around the rotor.

In some embodiments of the invention, the base assembly comprises a base and a fixed circuit board mounted to the base, wherein the drive mechanism is disposed on the base and the drive mechanism is electrically connectable to the fixed circuit board, wherein the rotating assembly comprises a rotating table and a rotating circuit board mounted to the rotating table, wherein the rotating table is correspondingly disposed on the drive mechanism and the rotating table is configured to mount the functional module, wherein the rotating circuit board is configured to be electrically connectable to the functional module.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hollow base further comprises a set of support legs, wherein each support leg extends downwardly from the annular base plate and is fixedly connected to the base after passing through the fixed wiring board to retain the fixed wiring board between the base and the annular base plate.

In some embodiments of the invention, the hidden axis type rotating device, wherein the rotating assembly further comprises a set of support arms, wherein each support arm extends downward from the rotating table and is fixedly connected with the hollow cylinder of the driving mechanism after passing through the rotating circuit board so as to hold the rotating circuit board between the rotating table and the hollow cylinder.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden axis type rotating device further comprises at least one optical communication component, wherein the optical communication component is disposed between the base component and the rotating component, and an optical path of the optical communication component is located in the central axis channel of the driving mechanism, so as to transmit data between the rotating component and the base component through the optical communication component.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden axis type rotating device further comprises an optical communication assembly, wherein the optical communication assembly includes a transmitting element communicatively disposed on the rotating circuit board and a receiving element communicatively disposed on the fixed circuit board, wherein a transmitting path of the transmitting element is located in the central axis channel, and the corresponding receiving element is correspondingly located in the transmitting path of the transmitting element.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden axis type rotating device further includes another optical communication component, wherein the another optical communication component includes another transmitting element communicatively disposed on the fixed circuit board and another receiving element communicatively disposed on the rotating circuit board, wherein a transmitting path of the another transmitting element is located in the central axis channel, and the another receiving element is correspondingly located in the transmitting path of the another transmitting element.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden shaft type rotating device further comprises an electrical transmission assembly, wherein the electrical transmission assembly comprises an input coil electrically connectable to the fixed circuit board and an output coil electrically connectable to the rotating circuit board, wherein the input coil is coaxially disposed on the annular substrate of the hollow base about the central axis, and the output coil is coaxially fixed to the free end of the hollow cylinder about the central axis, wherein the input coil transmits electrical energy from the fixed assembly to the rotating assembly through the output coil when the output coil rotates about the central axis.

In some embodiments of the invention, the drive mechanism further comprises an electrical conductor embedded in the hollow barrel, wherein one end of the electrical conductor is electrically connectable to the output coil of the electrical transmission assembly and the other end of the electrical conductor is electrically connectable to the rotary circuit board.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden shaft type rotation device further includes an optical encoder assembly, wherein the optical encoder assembly includes an optical encoder code wheel having a ring structure and an optical encoder chip, wherein the optical encoder code wheel is coaxially disposed on the hollow base of the driving mechanism with the central axis as an axis, and the optical encoder chip is correspondingly disposed on the rotation circuit board, wherein when the rotation circuit board rotates around the central axis, the optical encoder chip is driven to scan along the optical encoder code wheel to obtain rotation angle data of the rotation assembly.

In some embodiments of the invention, the optical encoder code wheel is secured to the top of the outer frame of the hollow base.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the hidden shaft type rotating device further includes an optical encoder assembly, wherein the optical encoder assembly includes an optical encoder code wheel having a ring structure and an optical encoder chip, wherein the optical encoder code wheel is coaxially disposed on the rotating circuit board with the central axis as an axis, and the optical encoder chip is correspondingly disposed on top of the outer frame of the hollow base, wherein when the rotating circuit board rotates around the central axis, the optical encoder code wheel is driven by the rotating circuit board to rotate around the central axis, so that the optical encoder chip scans along the optical encoder code wheel to obtain rotation angle data of the rotating assembly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a hidden shaft type rotary device, comprising the steps of:

correspondingly, a driving mechanism with a middle shaft channel is arranged between a base component and a rotating component, wherein the rotating component is provided with a central area, an edge area positioned around the central area and a central axis passing through the central area, and the middle shaft channel of the driving mechanism extends along a central axis of the rotating component so as to drive the rotating component to rotate around the central axis through the driving mechanism; and

And arranging a hidden shaft mechanism on the edge area of the rotating assembly so as to form an installation space between the hidden shaft mechanism and the central area of the rotating assembly, and installing a functional module on the central area of the rotating assembly.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for manufacturing the hidden shaft type rotating device further includes the steps of:

and correspondingly arranging a top cover assembly on the base assembly to form an accommodating space between the top cover assembly and the base assembly so as to accommodate the driving mechanism, the rotating assembly and the hidden shaft mechanism, wherein the top cover assembly is rotatably connected with the hidden shaft mechanism.

arranging a transmitting element in the central area of the rotating assembly so that a transmitting path of the transmitting element is positioned in the middle shaft channel of the driving mechanism; and

and correspondingly arranging a receiving element on the base assembly, so that the receiving element is positioned on the transmitting path of the transmitting element, and optical communication is carried out between the rotating assembly and the base assembly through the transmitting element and the receiving element.

an input coil is arranged on an annular substrate of a hollow base of the driving mechanism by taking the central axis as an axis, wherein the input coil is connected with the base component in an electrified way; and

an output coil is disposed at a free end of a hollow barrel of the drive mechanism about the central axis, wherein the output coil is electrically connectable to the rotating assembly for transferring electrical energy between the base assembly and the rotating assembly through the input coil and the output coil.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become fully apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hidden shaft type rotating device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hidden axis type rotating apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a driving mechanism of the hidden shaft type rotating device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial view of a top cover assembly of the hidden shaft type rotating apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial view of an optical encoder assembly of the hidden-axis type rotating device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A and 6B show a first variant of the hidden-axis type rotation device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows a second variant of the hidden-axis type rotation device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing a method for manufacturing a hidden shaft type rotating device according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The preferred embodiments in the following description are by way of example only and other obvious variations will occur to those skilled in the art. The basic principles of the invention defined in the following description may be applied to other embodiments, variations, modifications, equivalents, and other technical solutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the present disclosure, the terms "longitudinal," "transverse," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," etc. refer to an orientation or positional relationship based on that shown in the drawings, which is merely for convenience of description and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore the above terms should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

In the present invention, the terms "a" and "an" in the claims and specification should be understood as "one or more", i.e. in one embodiment the number of one element may be one, while in another embodiment the number of the element may be plural. The terms "a" and "an" are not to be construed as unique or singular, and the term "the" and "the" are not to be construed as limiting the amount of the element unless the amount of the element is specifically indicated as being only one in the disclosure of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. In the description of the present invention, unless explicitly stated or limited otherwise, the terms "connected," "connected," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be mechanically or electrically connected; may be directly connected or indirectly connected through a medium. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art according to the specific circumstances.

In the description of the present specification, a description referring to terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms are not necessarily directed to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples may be combined and combined by those skilled in the art without contradiction.

The conventional rotary platforms on the market at present are all built on the basis of a central shaft. Because the central shaft occupies the central area of the conventional rotary platform, the limited installation space is divided into annular spaces, so that other parts or various functional modules (such as a laser radar or a camera module and other sensors) can only be installed and fixed around the central shaft, the central shaft can greatly limit the installation of various functional modules under the trend of miniaturization and multifunction of products, and the product size cannot meet the requirement of miniaturization and cannot achieve the ideal effect. In addition, because the central area of the rotary platform is occupied by the central shaft, various sensors can only be eccentrically arranged on the rotary platform, so that the moment of inertia of the whole product relative to the central shaft is unevenly distributed, and therefore, the rotary platform can generate larger jump or shake during rotation, the normal work or the service life of the rotary platform is seriously influenced, and the sensing or detecting precision of various functional modules is further influenced.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a hidden axis type rotary device and a manufacturing method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are illustrated. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the central shaft design of the traditional rotating platform is replaced by the hidden shaft mechanism, so that the central area of the hidden shaft type rotating device can be used for installing various functional modules without affecting the rotating function of the hidden shaft type rotating device, thereby being beneficial to reducing the whole volume of the whole product and further meeting the requirement of miniaturized development trend of the product.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the hidden axis type rotating device 10 includes a base assembly 11, a rotating assembly 12, a driving mechanism 13, and a hidden axis mechanism 15. The driving mechanism 13 is disposed between the base assembly 11 and the rotating assembly 12 to drive the rotating assembly 12 to rotate about a central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12 by the driving mechanism 13. The rotating assembly 12 has a central region 121 and an edge region 122, wherein the edge region 122 is located about the central region 121 and the central axis 120 passes through the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12. The hidden shaft mechanism 15 is fixed to the edge region 122 of the rotating assembly 12, so as to form a complete installation space 150 between the hidden shaft mechanism 15 and the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12, for installing a functional module 20 on the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12. When the rotating assembly 12 is driven by the driving mechanism 13 to rotate around the central axis 120, the rotating assembly 12 is used to drive the functional module 20 to rotate 360 degrees around the central axis 120, so that the functional module 20 can sense or detect the surrounding environment in all directions. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the functional module 20 may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a sensor capable of directionally sensing or detecting an external environment, such as a laser radar, a camera module, a thermal imaging sensor, etc., to collect environmental data through the functional module 20, wherein the environmental data may be obstacle distance information, road condition information, self-posture information, etc., to which the present invention is not limited.

Further, as shown in fig. 2, the hidden-axis type rotating device 10 further includes a top cover assembly 14, wherein the top cover assembly 14 is correspondingly disposed on the base assembly 11, so as to form an accommodating space 100 between the top cover assembly 14 and the base assembly 11, so as to accommodate the rotating assembly 12, the driving mechanism 13, the hidden-axis mechanism 15, and the functional module 20 mounted on the rotating assembly 12. In addition, one end of the hidden shaft mechanism 15 is fixedly connected with the edge region 122 of the rotating assembly 12, and the other end of the hidden shaft mechanism 15 is rotatably connected to the top cover assembly 14 with the central axis 120 as an axis, so that the hidden shaft mechanism 15 can replace the central axis of a conventional rotating platform to ensure the stability of the overall mechanism of the hidden shaft type rotating apparatus 10.

Notably, when the rotating assembly 12 is driven by the driving mechanism 13 to rotate about the central axis 120, the hidden shaft mechanism 15 is driven by the rotating assembly 12 to rotate about the central axis 120, such that the hidden shaft mechanism 15 does not occupy or separate the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12 while replacing the central axis in a conventional rotating platform to ensure structural stability of the hidden shaft type rotating apparatus 10, so as to facilitate mounting the functional module 20 to the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12 to reduce the overall size of the hidden shaft type rotating apparatus 10. In other words, since the hidden shaft mechanism 15 is fixed to the edge region 122 of the rotating assembly 12, not occupying the center of the rotating platform as the center shaft of a conventional rotating platform, the hidden shaft type rotating apparatus 10 can form a complete installation space between the hidden shaft mechanism 15 and the center region 121 of the rotating assembly 12, facilitating the integral installation of the functional module 20 to the center region 121 of the rotating assembly 12, so as to reduce the overall size of the hidden shaft type rotating assembly 12 and also facilitate the replacement of the functional module 20.

In addition, since the function module 20 can be mounted to the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12, and the central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12 passes through the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12, the function module 20 can be disposed such that the center of gravity of the function module 20 is located at the central axis 120, so that the moment of inertia of the function module 20 is minimized, and thus, when the rotating assembly 12 drives the function module 20 to rotate around the central axis 120, the centrifugal force applied to the function module 20 is very small, so that the function module 20 is prevented from being damaged due to the excessive centrifugal force, thereby contributing to the prolongation of the service life of the function module 20.

In this way, when installing the functional module 20, it is only necessary to ensure that the center of gravity of the functional module 20 is located at the central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12, regardless of the type or weight of the functional module 20, so that the hidden axis type rotating apparatus 10 can accommodate various types or weights of the functional module 20. It should be understood that, for the conventional rotary platform, since the central shaft occupies the central area of the conventional rotary platform, the functional module can only be eccentrically mounted to the conventional rotary platform, and it is necessary to perform the dynamic balance detection and calibration of the conventional rotary platform mounted with the functional module, so that the conventional rotary platform can only adapt to the functional module of a specific size and weight, that is, once the functional module of a different type or weight is replaced, the dynamic balance of the conventional rotary platform is seriously damaged, resulting in that the conventional rotary platform cannot work normally.

More specifically, the hidden shaft mechanism 15 includes at least two brackets 152 and a top frame 151, wherein the top frame 151 is connected to the top cover assembly 14 in a bearing connection manner, and each of the brackets 152 extends from the edge region 122 of the rotary assembly 12 to the top frame 151 to rotatably support the top cover assembly 14 through the hidden shaft mechanism 15, so that the hidden shaft mechanism 15 is used to replace a central shaft of a conventional rotary platform while enhancing the overall structural strength of the hidden shaft type rotary device 10, to enhance the rotational stability of the rotary assembly 12.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 2, the at least two brackets 152 are symmetrically disposed about the central axis 120 in the edge region 122 of the rotating assembly 12, and the top frame 151 is coaxially disposed about the central axis 120 in the top cover assembly 14, so as to ensure that the center of gravity of the hidden axle mechanism 15 is located on the central axis 120, thereby helping to reduce the moment of inertia of the hidden axle mechanism 15 and thus the hidden axle rotating device 10.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top cover assembly 14 of the hidden axis type rotating apparatus 10 is fixedly disposed at the base assembly 11 to form the accommodation space 100 between the top cover assembly 14 and the base assembly 11, wherein the rotating assembly 12, the driving mechanism 13, the hidden axis mechanism 15, and the functional module 20 mounted at the rotating assembly 12 are accommodated in the accommodation space 100 to protect the rotating assembly 12, the driving mechanism 13, the hidden axis mechanism 15, and the functional module 20 accommodated in the accommodation space 100.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the top cover assembly 14 includes a top cover body 141 and a transparent annular window 142, wherein the annular window 142 is disposed between the top cover body 141 and the base assembly 11, and the annular window 142 is located in a detection path of the functional module 20, so that the functional module 20 can sense or detect the surrounding environment of the hidden axis type rotating device 10 through the annular window 142. It will be appreciated that the annular window 142 is made of a transparent material such as glass, transparent plastic, transparent polymer material, etc. to isolate the receiving space 100 from the external environment by the top cover assembly 14 and the base assembly 11, while also allowing light to pass through the annular window 142 to be received by the functional module 20 to ensure that the functional module 20 normally senses the surrounding environment of the hidden axis type rotating device 10.

Preferably, the top cover assembly 14 further includes a pair of sealing rings 143, wherein one sealing ring 143 is disposed at the junction of the annular window 142 and the top cover body 141, and the other sealing ring 144 is disposed at the junction of the annular window 142 and the base assembly 11 to seal the rotating assembly 12, the driving mechanism 13, the hidden shaft mechanism 15, and the functional module 20 to the accommodating space 100, so that the accommodating space 100 is implemented as a sealed space, effectively preventing dust or water from entering the accommodating space 100 to protect the driving mechanism 13 and the functional module 20.

Further, as shown in fig. 4, the annular window 142 of the cap assembly 14 includes an annular window 1421 and a first annular clamp 1422, wherein the first annular clamp 1422 integrally protrudes inward along the upper edge of the annular window 1421 to extend into a first annular groove 1410 of the cap body 141 of the cap assembly 14, such that the annular window 142 is connected to the cap body 141 in a snap-fit manner.

Correspondingly, the annular window 142 further includes a second annular chuck 1422, wherein the second annular chuck 1422 integrally protrudes inward along the lower edge of the annular window 1421 to be inserted into a second annular groove 110 of the base assembly 11, such that the annular window 142 is connected to the base assembly 11 in a snap-fit manner, so as to prevent the annular window 142 from loosening with respect to the top cover 141 or the base assembly 11.

Of course, in some other embodiments of the present invention, the annular window 142 may be detachably connected to the top cover 141 and the base assembly 11, such as by screwing, bonding, flange connection, etc., so that the receiving space 100 can be opened only by removing the annular window 142 when repairing or replacing the functional module 20, thereby helping to save repairing and maintenance costs.

It should be noted that, in order to transmit the environmental data collected by the functional module 20, a slip ring is generally used by a conventional rotary platform for data transmission. However, the slip ring has limited data transmission amount, is only suitable for data transmission of about 16 lines at most, and has unreliable data transmission quality, which obviously cannot meet the requirements of various application scenes (such as unmanned vehicles) on data transmission speed and data transmission quality, and further greatly limits the application range of the conventional rotary platform.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, as shown in fig. 2, the hidden axis type rotating apparatus 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes at least one optical communication assembly 16, wherein each optical communication assembly 16 is disposed between the base assembly 11 and the rotating assembly 12, and each optical communication assembly 16 is capable of transmitting data between the base assembly 11 and the rotating assembly 12 in an optical signal manner, so as to replace a slip ring in a conventional rotating platform to realize data transmission, not only greatly improving the data transmission amount, but also increasing the reliability of data transmission.

Illustratively, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the hidden axis type rotation device 10 includes two optical communication assemblies 16, wherein each of the optical communication assemblies 16 includes a transmitting element 161 and a receiving element 162. The transmitting element 161 of one of the optical communication assemblies 16 is communicatively disposed at the rotating assembly 12, wherein the receiving element 162 of the one of the optical communication assemblies 16 is communicatively disposed at the base assembly 12, and the receiving element 162 is located in a transmitting path of the transmitting element 161, wherein when the transmitting element 161 disposed at the rotating assembly 12 transmits an optical signal to transmit environmental data, the receiving element 162 disposed at the base assembly 11 will receive the optical signal to obtain the environmental data, thereby achieving an effect of transmitting the environmental data from the rotating assembly 12 to the base assembly 11.

Accordingly, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the transmitting element 161 of the other optical communication module 16 is communicably disposed at the base module 11, and the receiving element 162 of the other optical communication module 16 is communicably disposed at the rotating module 12, and the receiving element 162 is located at a transmitting path of the transmitting element 161, wherein when the transmitting element 161 disposed at the base module 11 transmits an optical signal to transmit control signal data, the receiving element 162 disposed at the rotating module 12 will receive the optical signal to obtain the control signal data, thereby achieving an effect of transmitting the control signal data from the base module 11 to the rotating module 12, thereby achieving an effect of data transmission (i.e., full duplex communication or half duplex communication) between the base module 11 and the rotating module 12. Of course, in other embodiments of the present invention, the hidden axis type rotating device 10 may also include only one optical communication assembly 16, so as to implement single channel data transmission between the base assembly 11 and the rotating assembly 12.

It should be appreciated that the transmitting element 161 may be implemented, but is not limited to being implemented as a laser transmitter and the receiving element 162 may be implemented, but is not limited to being implemented as a receiver, such that various data (e.g., the environmental data, control signal data, etc.) are transmitted between the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162 by the laser.

In particular, as shown in fig. 2, the base assembly 11 includes a base 111 and a fixed wiring board 112 mounted to the base 111, wherein the fixed wiring board 112 of the base assembly 11 is communicably connected with the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162 provided to the base assembly 11. Accordingly, the rotary assembly 12 includes a rotary table 123 and a rotary circuit board 124 mounted to the rotary table 123, wherein the rotary circuit board 124 is communicably connected to the transmitting member 161 and the receiving member 162 provided to the rotary assembly 12, and the rotary circuit board 124 is communicably connected to the function module 20 mounted to the rotary table 123.

Therefore, after the functional module 20 collects environmental data, the functional module 20 transmits the collected environmental data to the rotary circuit board 124, so as to be transmitted to the reflective element 161 mounted on the rotary component 12 via the rotary circuit board 124, and then the reflective element 161 transmits the environmental data to the receiving element 162 mounted on the base component 11 in an optical communication manner, and finally transmits the environmental data to the fixed circuit board 112 of the base component 11 to be stored or utilized. In addition, when it is required to control the opening and closing or the operation of the functional module 20, the fixed circuit board 112 can also generate a control signal based on a control command and send the control signal to the transmitting element 161 mounted on the base assembly 11; next, the transmitting element 161 transmits the control signal to the rotary circuit board 124 of the rotary assembly 12 in an optical communication manner; finally, the control signal is transmitted to the functional module 20 through the rotary circuit board 124 to control the opening and closing or the operation of the functional module 20.

Illustratively, the fixed wiring board 112 of the base assembly 11 is disposed between the drive mechanism 13 and the base 111, and one of the transmitting element 161 and one of the receiving element 162 are directly mounted to the fixed wiring board 112 so as to communicatively connect the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162 directly with the fixed wiring board 112. Accordingly, the rotary wiring board 124 of the rotary assembly 12 is disposed between the rotary table 123 and the driving mechanism 13, and the other of the transmitting element 161 and the other of the receiving element 162 is directly mounted to the rotary wiring board 124 so as to communicably connect the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162 directly with the rotary wiring board 112.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12 is located at the center of the rotating table 123, and the edge region 122 of the rotating assembly 12 is located at the outer periphery of the rotating table 123, that is, the at least two brackets 152 of the hidden axle mechanism 15 are fixed to the outer periphery of the rotating table 123, so as to avoid the at least two brackets 152 occupying the center of the rotating table 123, so as to provide sufficient installation space for the functional module 20.

Notably, the emitting element 161 of each of the optical communication assemblies 16 is disposed to be located adjacent the central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12; likewise, the receiving element 162 of each of the optical communication assemblies 16 is disposed to be located adjacent the central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12. In this way, when the rotating assembly 12 rotates about the central axis 120 and the base assembly 11 is stationary relative to the central axis 120, the transmitting element 161 is always positioned adjacent to the central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12 such that the receiving element 162 can always be in the transmitting path of the transmitting element 161 to receive the light signal from the transmitting element 161, so that the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162 can continuously perform data transmission during the rotation of the rotating assembly 12.

Since the driving mechanism 13 is disposed between the rotating assembly 12 and the base assembly 11, the driving mechanism of the conventional rotating platform has a solid center axis to block the transmission path of the transmitting element 161 of the optical communication assembly 16. Therefore, in order to prevent the driving mechanism 13 from blocking the transmission path of the transmitting element 161 of the optical communication assembly 16, so as to avoid that the driving mechanism 13 affects the normal data transmission between the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162, the driving mechanism 13 of the hidden axis type rotating apparatus 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with a central axis channel 130, wherein the central axis channel 130 extends from the rotating assembly 12 to the base assembly 11 along the central axis 120, and the transmission path of each transmitting element 161 is located in the central axis channel 130, so that the optical signal from the transmitting element 161 can be received by the corresponding receiving element 162 through the central axis channel 130, so as to complete the data transmission.

As illustrated in fig. 2 and 3, the driving mechanism 13 includes a stator 131, a rotor 132 and a hollow cylinder 133, wherein the hollow cylinder 133 is disposed between the base assembly 11 and the rotating assembly 12 with the central axis 120 as an axis, so as to form the central shaft channel 130 at the center of the hollow cylinder 133, wherein the stator 131 is disposed in the base assembly 11, and the rotating assembly 12 is fixed to the hollow cylinder 133, wherein the rotor 132 is fixed to the hollow cylinder 133, and the rotor 132 is correspondingly located inside the stator 131, so as to drive the rotor 132 to rotate about the central axis 120 through the stator 131, and the hollow cylinder 133 and the rotating assembly 12 are driven by the rotor 132 to rotate about the central axis 120, such that the transmitting path of each transmitting element 161 is always located within the central shaft channel 130 and the corresponding receiving element 162 is always located in the transmitting path 161 of the transmitting element when the driving mechanism 13 drives the rotating assembly 12 to rotate. It should be appreciated that since the rotor 132 is located inside the stator 131 such that the distance between the rotor 131 and the central axis 120 is small, the moment of inertia of the rotor 132 with respect to the central axis 120 is small, contributing to the enhanced stability of the hidden-shaft type rotary device 10.

Further, as shown in fig. 2, the driving mechanism 13 further includes a hollow base 134, wherein the hollow base 134 is fixed to the base assembly 11 with the rotation axis 120 as a shaft, and the stator 131 is coaxially fixed to the hollow base 134, and the hollow cylinder 133 is coaxially and rotatably disposed on the hollow base 134, so as to ensure that a positional relationship between the rotor 132 and the stator 131 is kept stable, so that the rotor 132 can be stably driven by the stator 131 to drive the hollow cylinder 133 to stably rotate around the central axis 120.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the hollow base 134 includes an annular base plate 1341, an outer frame 1342, and an inner frame 1343, and has an annular space 1344 that accommodates the stator 131 and the rotor 132. The annular base plate 1341 is coaxially fixed to the base assembly 11 with the central axis 120 as an axis, the outer frame 1342 integrally extends upward from the outer periphery of the annular base plate 1341 along the central axis 120, and the inner frame 1343 integrally extends upward from the inner periphery of the annular base plate 1341 along the central axis 120 to form the central axis channel 130 inside the inner frame 1343 of the hollow base 134 and form the annular space 1344 between the inner frame 1343 and the outer frame 1342.

More specifically, the stator 131 is fixed to the inner side of the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134, wherein the inner frame 1343 of the hollow base 134 extends into the hollow cylinder 133, and the inner frame 1343 is connected to the hollow cylinder 133 in a bearing connection manner so as to stably hold the rotor 132 fixed to the hollow cylinder 133 between the stator 131 and the hollow cylinder 133 to stably drive the rotor 131 to rotate around the central axis 120 together with the hollow cylinder 133 by the stator 131.

In other words, as shown in fig. 3, the hollow cylinder 133 includes a fixed end 1331 and a free end 1332 integrally extending from the fixed end 1331, wherein the fixed end 1331 of the hollow cylinder 133 is fixedly connected with the rotating assembly 12, wherein the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133 is inserted into the annular space 1344 of the hollow base 134, and the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133 is connected with the inner frame 1342 of the hollow base 134 in a bearing connection manner, wherein the rotor 132 is fixedly provided at the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133, so as to stably hold the rotor 132 between the stator 131 and the hollow cylinder 133, and ensure that a gap between the stator 131 and the rotor 132 remains constant, helping the stator 131 stably drive the rotor 131 to rotate around the central axis 120 together with the hollow cylinder 133.

Preferably, the rotor 132 is fixed to the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133 in a nested manner, so that not only can the rotor 132 be firmly fixed to the hollow cylinder 133, but also the distance between the rotor 132 and the central axis 120 can be reduced, so that the transverse dimension of the driving mechanism 13 can be reduced, and the hidden shaft type rotating device 10 can meet the requirement of miniaturization development trend.

More preferably, as shown in fig. 3, the hollow base 134 of the driving mechanism 13 further includes a set of support legs 1345, wherein each of the support legs 1345 extends downward from the annular base plate 1341 of the hollow base 134 and is fixedly connected with the base 111 of the base assembly 11 through the fixing circuit board 112, so as to firmly fix the driving mechanism 13 to the base 111 of the base assembly 11. In this way, since each of the support legs 1345 passes through the fixed wiring board 112 to support the annular base plate 1341 of the hollow base 134 above the fixed wiring board 112 by each of the support legs 1345, the support legs 1345 can also avoid damaging the fixed wiring board 112 due to the pressing of the driving mechanism 13.

Correspondingly, as shown in fig. 3, the rotating assembly 12 further includes a set of support arms 125, where each support arm 125 extends downward from the rotary table 123 and is fixedly connected to the fixed end 1331 of the hollow cylinder 133 of the driving mechanism 13 through the rotating circuit board 124, so as to firmly fix the rotary table 123 to the hollow cylinder 133. In this way, since each of the support arms 125 passes through the rotary wiring board 124 to support the rotary table 123 above the rotary wiring board 124 by each of the support arms 125, the support arms 125 can also avoid damage to the rotary wiring board 124 due to the pressing of the rotary table 123.

It should be noted that, in order to supply the functional module 20 with electric power, a conventional rotary platform generally employs a slip ring for power transmission. However, the slip rings transmit electric energy through direct contact, and when the conventional rotating platform rotates, the slip rings inevitably generate sliding friction, noise is generated in the process of transmitting electric energy, abrasion of the slip rings is caused by the sliding friction, the service life of the slip rings is greatly shortened due to abrasion of the slip ring genes, and moreover, the functional module 20 is accidentally powered off due to poor contact of the slip rings and cannot work normally.

Accordingly, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the hidden axis type rotary apparatus 10 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises an electric transmission assembly 17, wherein the electric transmission assembly 17 comprises an input coil 171 electrically connected to the fixed wiring board 112 and an output coil 172 electrically connected to the rotary wiring board 124, wherein the input coil 171 is disposed on the hollow base 134 of the driving mechanism 13 with the central axis 120 as an axis, and the output coil 172 is disposed on the hollow cylinder member 133 of the driving mechanism 13 with the central axis 120 as an axis, so that when the hollow cylinder member 133 rotates relative to the hollow base 134, electric power can still be transmitted between the input coil 171 and the output coil 172 in a wireless transmission manner, so that electric power from the fixed wiring board 112 is stably transmitted to the rotary wiring board 124 through the electric transmission assembly 17, and then the electric power is transmitted to the functional module 20 through the rotary wiring board 124. It should be appreciated that since the fixed circuit board 112 of the fixed assembly 11 does not rotate, the fixed circuit board 112 can be electrically connected directly to an external power source through a power line so as to transmit electric power to the hidden axis type rotating apparatus 10 and the functional module 20 through the fixed circuit board 112.

Specifically, the input coil 171 is fixed to the annular base plate 1341 of the hollow base 134, and the output coil 172 is fixed to the free end 1332 of the hollow barrel 133. In this way, the input coil 171 and the output coil 172 are both positioned in the annular space 1344 of the hollow base 134, and the output coil 172 is positioned adjacent to the input coil 171, which helps to improve the power transmission efficiency between the input coil 171 and the output coil 172, so as to reduce power transmission loss.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 3, the driving mechanism 13 further includes an electric conductor 135 embedded in the hollow cylinder 133, wherein one end of the electric conductor 135 is connected to the output coil 172, and the other end of the electric conductor 135 is connected to the rotary circuit board 124, so as to conduct the output coil 172 and the rotary circuit board 124 through the electric conductor 135. In this way, not only is it convenient to simplify the power transmission structure between the output coil 172 and the rotary circuit board 124 of the rotary assembly 12, but it also helps to ensure the safety and stability of power transmission.

In general, when the driving mechanism 13 of the hidden axis type rotating device 10 drives the functional module 20 to rotate so as to sense or detect the surrounding environment through the functional module 20, it is also necessary to know from which direction of the hidden axis type rotating device 10 the environmental data collected by the functional module 20 comes, so as to facilitate analysis and processing of the environmental data. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hidden-axis type rotating device 10 further includes an optical encoder assembly 18, wherein the optical encoder assembly 18 is disposed between the rotating assembly 12 and the base assembly 11 to measure the rotation angle of the rotating assembly 12 relative to the base assembly 11, so as to determine the detection direction of the functional module 20 mounted on the rotating assembly 12, so as to determine that the environmental data collected by the functional module 20 comes from a specific direction.

As shown in fig. 2 and 5, the optical encoder assembly 18 includes an optical encoder disk 181 and an optical encoder chip 182, wherein the optical encoder disk 181 has a ring structure and is coaxially disposed on the hollow base 134 of the driving mechanism 13 with the central axis 120 as an axis, wherein the optical encoder chip 182 is correspondingly mounted on the rotating circuit board 124 of the rotating assembly 12, and wherein the optical encoder chip 182 is driven to perform 360-degree scanning along the optical encoder disk 181 when the rotating circuit board 124 rotates around the central axis 120, so as to obtain rotation angle data of the rotating assembly 12. Further, the optical encoder chip 182 is communicably connected with the transmitting element 161 mounted to the rotary wiring board 124 to transmit the rotation angle data from the optical encoder chip 182 together with the environmental data to the receiving element 162 mounted to the fixed wiring board 112 by way of an optical signal through the transmitting element 161.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 5, the optical encoder code wheel 181 is fixed on the top of the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134, so as to shorten the distance between the optical encoder code wheel 181 and the optical encoder chip 182 as much as possible, which is helpful for improving the scanning accuracy of the optical encoder chip 182, so as to obtain accurate rotation angle data. In addition, the optical encoder code wheel 181 is fixedly arranged on the top of the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134, so that other components of the hidden-axis rotating device 10 can be prevented from shielding or interfering with the normal scanning of the optical encoder chip 182, so as to improve the anti-interference capability of the optical encoder assembly 18.

Of course, in some other embodiments of the present invention, the optical encoder code wheel 181 may be fixed on top of the inner frame 1343 of the hollow base 134, may be fixed on the outer side of the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134, or may be fixed on the base assembly 11. In other words, the optical encoder code disc 181 may be disposed at any suitable position, which is only necessary to ensure that the optical encoder chip 182 corresponds to the optical encoder code disc 181, so that the optical encoder chip 182 scans 360 degrees along the optical encoder code disc 181 when the rotating assembly 12 rotates, which is not described in detail herein.

Fig. 6A and 6B show a first variant of the hidden-axis type rotating apparatus 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the stator 131 of the driving mechanism 13 is fixed to the outside of the inner frame 1343 of the hollow base 134, the rotor 132 is fixed to the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133, wherein the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133 is inserted into the annular space 1344 of the hollow base 134, and the free end 1332 of the hollow cylinder 133 is connected with the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134 in a bearing connection manner, so that the rotor 132 is stably held between the hollow cylinder 133 and the stator 131, so that the stator 131 can stably drive the rotor 132 to rotate the hollow cylinder 133 around the central axis 120.

It will be appreciated that although the rotor 132 is located outside the stator 131, resulting in an increased amount of inertial motion of the rotor 132 relative to the central axis 120, the hollow barrel 133 further increases the lateral dimension of the hollow barrel 133 by being located outside the rotor 132 such that the junction between the hollow barrel 133 and the rotating assembly 12 is located away from the central axis 120 to provide a more stable support force for the rotating assembly 12 through the hollow barrel 133, helping to improve the balance capacity of the rotating assembly 12.

Fig. 7 shows a second variant of the hidden-axis type rotary apparatus 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the optical encoder disk 181 of the optical encoder module 18 is fixed to the rotary circuit board 124 of the rotary module 12 with the central axis 120 as an axis, and the optical encoder chip 182 of the optical encoder module 18 is correspondingly disposed on top of the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134 of the driving mechanism 13, wherein the optical encoder disk 181 is driven to rotate around the central axis 120 when the rotary module 12 rotates around the central axis 120, so that the optical encoder chip 182 performs 360-degree scanning along the optical encoder disk 181 to obtain rotation angle data of the rotary module 12. The optical encoder chip 182 is communicably connected with the fixed circuit board 112 of the base assembly 11 to directly transmit the rotation angle data obtained by the optical encoder chip 182 to the fixed circuit board 112 without transmission through the optical communication assembly 16 to relieve the data transmission burden of the optical communication assembly 16.

Of course, in some other variant embodiments of the present invention, the optical encoder chip 182 may be fixed on top of the inner frame 1343 of the hollow base 134, or may be fixed on the outer side of the outer frame 1342 of the hollow base 134, or the optical encoder chip 182 may be fixed on the fixed circuit board 112 of the base assembly 11. In other words, the optical encoder chip 182 may be disposed at any suitable position, which is only required to ensure that the optical encoder chip 182 corresponds to the optical encoder code disc 181, so that the optical encoder chip 182 can scan 360 degrees along the optical encoder chip 182 when the rotating assembly 12 rotates, which is not described in detail herein.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a method of manufacturing the hidden axis type rotary device 10. Specifically, as shown in fig. 8, the manufacturing method of the hidden shaft type rotary device 10 includes the steps of:

s310: correspondingly, a driving mechanism 13 with a central shaft channel 130 is arranged between a base assembly 11 and a rotating assembly 12, wherein the rotating assembly 12 is provided with a central area 121, an edge area 122 positioned around the central area 121 and a central axis 120 passing through the central area 121, and the central shaft channel 130 of the driving mechanism 13 extends along the central axis 120 of the rotating assembly 12 so as to drive the rotating assembly 12 to rotate around the central axis 120 through the driving mechanism 13; and

S320: a hidden shaft mechanism 15 is disposed on the edge region 122 of the rotating assembly 12 to form a mounting space 150 between the hidden shaft mechanism 15 and the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12 for mounting a functional module 20 on the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12.

Further, as shown in fig. 8, the manufacturing method of the hidden shaft type rotating device 10 further includes the steps of:

s330: a top cover assembly 14 is correspondingly disposed on the base assembly 11 to form an accommodating space 100 between the top cover assembly 14 and the base assembly 11 to accommodate the driving mechanism 13, the rotating assembly 12 and the hidden shaft mechanism 15, wherein the top cover assembly 14 is rotatably connected with the hidden shaft mechanism 15.

In one embodiment, the method for manufacturing the hidden-axis type rotating device 10 further includes the steps of:

disposing a transmitting element 161 in the central region 121 of the rotating assembly 12 such that a transmitting path of the transmitting element 161 is located in the bottom bracket channel 130 of the driving mechanism 13; and

a receiving element 162 is correspondingly disposed on the base assembly 11 such that the receiving element 162 is positioned in the transmit path of the transmitting element 161 for optical communication between the rotating assembly 12 and the base assembly 11 via the transmitting element 161 and the receiving element 162.

an annular base plate 1341 having an input coil 171 disposed about the central axis 120 on a hollow base 134 of the drive mechanism 13, wherein the input coil 171 is electrically connectable to the base assembly 11; and

an output coil 172 is disposed about the central axis 120 at a free end 1332 of a hollow barrel 133 of the drive mechanism 13, wherein the output coil 172 is electrically connectable to the rotating assembly 12 for transferring electrical energy between the base assembly 11 and the rotating assembly 12 through the input coil 171 and the output coil 172.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention described above and shown in the drawings are by way of example only and are not limiting. The objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively achieved. The functional and structural principles of the present invention have been shown and described in the examples and embodiments of the invention may be modified or practiced without departing from the principles described.

Claims

1. A hidden shaft type rotating device for installing a functional module, comprising:

A base assembly;

a hidden shaft mechanism, wherein the bottom end of the hidden shaft mechanism is fixedly arranged at the edge area of the rotating assembly, and the top end of the hidden shaft mechanism is rotatably connected with the top cover assembly to form a hidden shaft between the top cover assembly and the rotating assembly, and a mounting space is formed between the hidden shaft mechanism and the central area of the rotating assembly for mounting the functional module at the central area of the rotating assembly so as to drive the functional module to rotate around the central axis through the rotating assembly;

the hidden shaft mechanism comprises at least two brackets and a top frame, wherein the top frame is rotatably arranged on the top cover assembly by taking the central axis as a shaft, and each at least two brackets extend from the edge area of the rotating assembly to the top frame so as to form the installation space between the top frame and the central area of the rotating assembly.

2. The hidden shaft type rotation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top frame of the hidden shaft mechanism is rotatably connected with the top cover assembly in a bearing connection.

3. The hidden shaft type rotation device according to claim 2, wherein the at least two brackets are symmetrically arranged at the edge region of the rotation assembly with the central axis as an axis.

4. The hidden axis type rotating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top cover assembly comprises a top cover body and a light-transmitting annular window, wherein the annular window is disposed between the top cover body and the base assembly, and the annular window is provided for a detection path of the functional module.

5. The hidden shaft type rotation apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the top cover assembly further comprises a pair of sealing rings, one of the sealing rings being disposed between the annular window and the top cover body, the other sealing ring being disposed between the annular window and the base assembly to form the sealed receiving space between the top cover assembly and the base assembly.

6. The hidden axle type swivel apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the top cover body has a first annular recess, wherein the annular window includes an annular window body and a first annular chuck, and the first annular chuck integrally extends inwardly from an upper edge of the annular window body to detachably connect the annular window with the top cover body by snap-fitting.

7. The hidden axis swivel apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the base assembly further has a second annular recess, wherein the annular window further comprises a second annular clip and the second annular clip extends integrally inward from a lower edge of the annular window to removably connect the annular window to the base assembly by snap fit.

8. The hidden axis rotation device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism has a central axis channel and the central axis channel extends from the central region of the rotation assembly to the base assembly along the central axis.

9. The hidden shaft type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a stator, a rotor and a hollow cylinder, wherein the hollow cylinder is coaxially disposed between the base assembly and the rotary assembly with the central axis as a shaft so as to form the central shaft passage at the center of the hollow cylinder, wherein the rotor is fixedly disposed on the hollow cylinder, the stator is correspondingly disposed on the base assembly with the central axis as a shaft so as to drive the rotor together with the hollow cylinder to rotate around the central axis through the stator, and wherein the rotary assembly is fixedly disposed on the hollow cylinder.

10. The hidden shaft type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the driving mechanism further comprises a hollow base, wherein the hollow base is fixed to the base assembly with the central axis as an axis, wherein the stator is fixed to the hollow base, and the hollow cylinder is rotatably connected to the hollow base in a bearing connection manner.

11. The hidden axle type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hollow base comprises an annular base plate fixed to the base assembly with the central axis as an axis, an outer frame integrally extended from an outer circumference of the annular base plate toward the rotary assembly, and an inner frame integrally extended from an inner circumference of the annular base plate toward the rotary assembly to form the central axis passage inside the inner frame and an annular space accommodating the stator and the rotor between the outer frame and the inner frame.

12. A hidden axle type rotary apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said hollow barrel has a fixed end and a free end integrally extending from said fixed end, wherein said fixed end of said hollow barrel is fixedly connected to said rotary assembly, wherein said free end of said hollow barrel is inserted into said annular space of said hollow base for bearing connection with an inner side wall of said hollow base, wherein said stator is fixedly secured to said inner frame of said hollow base, and said rotor is nested within said free end of said hollow barrel such that said rotor is located about said stator.

13. A hidden axle type rotary apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said hollow barrel has a fixed end and a free end integrally extending from said fixed end, wherein said fixed end of said hollow barrel is fixedly connected to said rotary assembly, wherein said free end of said hollow barrel is inserted into said annular space of said hollow base for bearing connection with an inner side wall of said hollow base, wherein said stator is fixedly secured to said outer frame of said hollow base, and said rotor is nested within said free end of said hollow barrel such that said stator is located about said rotor.

14. The hidden axis type rotating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base assembly comprises a base and a fixed circuit board mounted to the base, wherein the driving mechanism is provided to the base, and the driving mechanism is electrically connectable to the fixed circuit board, wherein the rotating assembly comprises a rotating table and a rotating circuit board mounted to the rotating table, wherein the rotating table is correspondingly provided to the driving mechanism, and the rotating table is provided to be mounted with the function module, wherein the rotating circuit board is provided to be electrically connectable to the function module.

15. The hidden axle type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the base assembly comprises a base and a fixed circuit board mounted to the base, wherein the driving mechanism is provided to the base, and the driving mechanism is electrically connectable to the fixed circuit board, wherein the rotary assembly comprises a rotary table and a rotary circuit board mounted to the rotary table, wherein the rotary table is correspondingly provided to the driving mechanism, and the rotary table is provided to be mounted with the function module, wherein the rotary circuit board is provided to be electrically connectable to the function module.

16. The hidden axis swivel device of claim 15 wherein the hollow base further comprises a set of support legs, wherein each support leg extends downwardly from the annular base plate and is fixedly connected to the base after passing through the fixed circuit board to retain the fixed circuit board between the base and the annular base plate.

17. The hidden axis rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rotary assembly further comprises a set of support arms, wherein each support arm extends downwardly from the rotary table and is fixedly connected with the hollow barrel of the drive mechanism after passing through the rotary circuit board to retain the rotary circuit board between the rotary table and the hollow barrel.

18. The hidden axis type rotating apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one optical communication assembly, wherein the optical communication assembly is disposed between the base assembly and the rotating assembly, and an optical path of the optical communication assembly is located within the central axis channel of the driving mechanism to transmit data between the rotating assembly and the base assembly through the optical communication assembly.

19. The hidden axis type rotating apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an optical communication assembly, wherein the optical communication assembly comprises a transmitting element communicably disposed to the rotating circuit board and a receiving element communicably disposed to the fixed circuit board, wherein a transmitting path of the transmitting element is located at the central axis passage, and the corresponding receiving element is correspondingly located at the transmitting path of the transmitting element.

20. The hidden axis rotation device of claim 19, further comprising another optical communication assembly, wherein the other optical communication assembly comprises another transmitting element communicatively disposed to the fixed circuit board and another receiving element communicatively disposed to the rotating circuit board, wherein a transmitting path of the other transmitting element is located in the central axis channel and the other receiving element is correspondingly located in the transmitting path of the other transmitting element.

21. The hidden shaft type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising an electrical transmission assembly, wherein the electrical transmission assembly comprises an input coil electrically connectable to the stationary circuit board and an output coil electrically connectable to the rotary circuit board, wherein the input coil is coaxially disposed to the annular base plate of the hollow base about the central axis, the output coil is coaxially fixed to the free end of the hollow cylindrical member about the central axis, wherein when the output coil rotates about the central axis, the input coil transmits electrical energy from the stationary assembly to the rotary assembly through the output coil.

22. The hidden shaft type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the driving mechanism further comprises an electric conductor embedded in the hollow cylinder member, wherein one end of the electric conductor is electrically connectable with the output coil of the electric transmission assembly, and the other end of the electric conductor is electrically connectable with the rotary wiring board.

23. The hidden shaft type rotary apparatus as claimed in claim 22, further comprising an optical encoder assembly, wherein the optical encoder assembly comprises an optical encoder code wheel having a ring structure and an optical encoder chip, wherein the optical encoder code wheel is coaxially disposed on the hollow base of the driving mechanism with the central axis as an axis, the optical encoder chip is correspondingly disposed on the rotary circuit board, wherein the optical encoder chip is driven to scan along the optical encoder code wheel when the rotary circuit board rotates around the central axis, so as to obtain rotation angle data of the rotary assembly.

24. The hidden axis rotation device of claim 23, wherein the optical encoder code wheel is secured to the top of the outer frame of the hollow base.

25. The hidden shaft type rotation apparatus as claimed in claim 22, further comprising an optical encoder assembly, wherein the optical encoder assembly comprises an optical encoder code wheel having a ring structure and an optical encoder chip, wherein the optical encoder code wheel is coaxially disposed on the rotation circuit board with the central axis as an axis, and the optical encoder chip is correspondingly disposed on top of the outer frame of the hollow base, wherein when the rotation circuit board rotates around the central axis, the optical encoder code wheel is driven by the rotation circuit board to rotate around the central axis so that the optical encoder chip scans along the optical encoder code wheel to obtain rotation angle data of the rotation assembly.

26. A method of manufacturing a hidden axis type rotary device according to any one of claims 1 to 25, comprising the steps of:

correspondingly, a driving mechanism with a middle shaft channel is arranged between a base component and a rotating component, wherein the rotating component is provided with a central area, an edge area positioned around the central area and a central axis passing through the central area, and the middle shaft channel of the driving mechanism extends along the central axis of the rotating component so as to drive the rotating component to rotate around the central axis through the driving mechanism;

Setting a hidden shaft mechanism in the edge area of the rotating assembly to form an installation space between the hidden shaft mechanism and the central area of the rotating assembly for installing a functional module in the central area of the rotating assembly; and, a step of, in the first embodiment,

correspondingly, a top cover assembly is arranged on the base assembly so as to form an accommodating space between the top cover assembly and the base assembly and accommodate the driving mechanism, the rotating assembly and the hidden shaft mechanism; wherein the top cover assembly is rotatably connected with the hidden shaft mechanism.

27. The method of manufacturing a hidden axis type rotating apparatus as claimed in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

28. A method of manufacturing a hidden axis type rotary device according to any one of claims 26 to 27, further comprising the steps of:

An input coil is arranged on an annular substrate of a hollow base of the driving mechanism by taking the central axis as an axis, wherein the input coil is connected with the base component in an electrified way; and disposing an output coil at a free end of a hollow barrel of the drive mechanism about the central axis, wherein the output coil is electrically connectable to the rotating assembly for transferring electrical energy between the base assembly and the rotating assembly through the input coil and the output coil.