JP2009010059A - Signal transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact signal transfer device for enabling the transfer of a signal in a plurality of signal systems. <P>SOLUTION: This signal transfer device 10 includes a transmitting mechanism 11 and a receiving mechanism 12 for transferring a signal between a supporting base 51 and a rotating body 52 relatively rotatable about a rotation axis 13. The transmitting mechanism 11 has a light emitting portion 14 rotated about the rotation axis 13 for the receiving mechanism 12 by the relative rotation between the supporting base 51 and the rotating body 52. The light emitting portion 14 can form an annular irradiation region 19 surrounding the rotation axis 13 on the irradiation surface 18 orthogonal to the rotation axis 13 by emitting a light flux toward the receiving mechanism 12 when it is rotated about the rotation axis 13 with respect to the receiving mechanism 12, and the receiving mechanism 12 has a light-receiving portion 22 arranged corresponding to the irradiation region 19 so that it can receive the light flux emitted from the light emitting portion 14 irrespective of the rotational position of the light emitting portion 14 about the rotation axis 13 with respect to the receiving mechanism 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a signal transfer apparatus for transferring a signal between a transmission mechanism and a reception mechanism that are relatively rotated around a single axis.

  For example, it is known that in surveying associated with civil engineering work or the like, a surveying instrument having a ranging unit rotatably provided on a base is used. In this surveying instrument, it is necessary to transmit the signal received by the rotating ranging unit to the control calculation unit provided on the base side, and the output terminal on the ranging unit side and the input terminal on the base side are rotated. It is considered that the rotor is electrically connected via a slip ring configured to be provided with a contact that makes sliding contact with the rotor.

  However, in the surveying instrument, it is required to appropriately transmit the reception signal from the distance measuring unit to the control calculation unit on the base side while rotating the distance measuring unit at high speed with respect to the base. In a slip ring where the contact and the contact slide, there is a risk of causing deterioration due to wear of the contact and the rotor, contact failure due to mutual vibration, etc. It is desirable to improve from.

Therefore, it is considered to use an optical slip ring that enables signal transfer without contact (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This light slip ring is a light beam that is positioned on the rotation axis on both the fixed member (corresponding to the base in the above example) and the rotating member (corresponding to the distance measuring unit in the above example). Even if a receiver is provided and an optical transmitter is provided so that an optical signal can be emitted toward the optical receiver of the opposite member, even if the rotational position of the rotary member relative to the fixed member changes, one member Since the optical signal emitted from the optical transmitter can be received by the optical receiver of the other member, the signal can be transferred between the fixed member and the rotating member that are relatively rotated.
JP 2004-111696 A

  However, in the optical slip ring described above, since a signal can be transferred from the rotating member to the fixed member only between the pair of optical transmitters and optical receivers, a plurality of signals are simultaneously transferred. I can't.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a non-contact signal transfer apparatus that enables signal transfer in a plurality of signal systems.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the signal transfer device according to claim 1 is a signal between a support base and a rotating body supported concentrically with respect to the support base so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. A transfer mechanism provided on one of the support base and the rotating body, and a reception mechanism provided on the other of the support base and the rotary body, for transmitting The mechanism includes a light emitting unit that is rotated about the rotation axis with respect to the receiving mechanism by relative rotation of the support base and the rotating body, and the light emitting unit rotates with respect to the receiving mechanism. By emitting a light beam toward the receiving mechanism while rotating around the axis, an annular irradiation region surrounding the rotating shaft can be formed on an irradiation surface orthogonal to the rotating shaft, and the receiving mechanism Is a front of the light emitting unit with respect to the receiving mechanism. And having a light receiving portion which are disposed corresponding to the receivable with said irradiation area of light flux emitted from the light emitting portion regardless of the rotational position of the rotary axis.

  The signal transfer device according to claim 2 is the signal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a plurality of the light emitting units and a plurality of the light receiving units corresponding to the light emitting units, Each of the light emitting units is an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis, and can form the independent irradiation regions that do not overlap each other on the irradiation surface, and each of the light receiving units has a corresponding irradiation region. It is characterized by covering in the radial direction.

  The signal transfer device according to claim 3 is the signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein each of the light emitting units includes a light emitting element and a conical prism, and the light flux emitted from the light emitting element is The bottom surface of each prism and the emission part of the light emitting element are arranged to face each other to form an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis on the irradiation surface, and each prism has a different apex angle. And

  The signal transfer device according to claim 4 is the signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission mechanism includes two light emitting units, the two light emitting units and the two light receiving units corresponding thereto. Between the two irradiation regions, the cylindrical light beam arranged in a concentric position with the rotation axis while overlapping the irradiation center region close to the rotation axis, and the light beam incident from one end plane A central light guide member that exits from the center, and a light beam that is incident from one end plane and has a cylindrical shape that is disposed concentrically with the rotation axis while overlapping the irradiation peripheral region surrounding the irradiation center region of the two irradiation regions A peripheral light guide member that emits light from the other end plane, and each of the light receiving portions can individually receive the light beam emitted from the central light guide member or the other end plane of the peripheral light guide member. It is characterized by.

  The signal transfer device according to claim 5 is the signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission mechanism includes three or more light-emitting portions, and each of the light-emitting portions and the light-receiving portions is interposed between the light-emitting portions and the light-receiving portions. In the irradiation area, a light beam incident on one end plane is emitted from the other end plane, overlapping with the irradiation center area closest to the rotation axis among the irradiation areas, and having a cylindrical shape arranged concentrically with the rotation axis. A central light guide member and a light beam incident from one end plane, having a cylindrical shape arranged concentrically with the rotation axis while individually overlapping each irradiation peripheral region surrounding the irradiation central region among the irradiation regions. Two or more peripheral light guide members that exit from the other end plane, and each of the light receiving parts individually emits the light beam emitted from the central light guide member or the other end plane of each of the peripheral light guide members. It is possible to receive light.

  A signal transfer device according to a sixth aspect is the signal transfer device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the light receiving unit is formed of a light receiving element having a light receiving surface that covers the corresponding irradiation region. It is characterized by that.

  The signal transfer device according to claim 7 is the signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein each of the light receiving units includes a light receiving element having a light receiving surface that covers each of the corresponding irradiation regions, At least one of the light receiving elements is an annular light receiving element having the annular light receiving surface.

  The signal transfer device according to claim 8 is the signal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein each of the light receiving units includes a plurality of light receiving elements, and a light receiving surface adjacent to each other in the corresponding irradiation region along a circumferential direction. It is characterized by being arranged in a ring shape.

  The signal transfer device according to claim 9 is the signal transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light receiving unit is configured to connect a light receiving element and a corresponding entire irradiation region to the light receiving element. It is characterized by having an optical fiber.

  The light-receiving element according to claim 10 is a light-receiving element capable of converting a light beam received on the light-receiving surface into an electric signal, and an annular surface defined by a main body portion having an annular shape as a whole is a light-receiving surface. And

  According to the signal transfer device of the present invention, regardless of the rotational position of the light emitting unit of the transmission mechanism around the rotational axis relative to the receiving mechanism, the light receiving unit of the receiving mechanism has an annular light beam surrounding the rotational axis formed by the corresponding light emitting unit. For example, the light receiving unit receives a plurality of combinations of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit or receives an optical signal from the light emitting unit on the rotation axis in addition to the combination of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. By using such a configuration, it is possible to transfer signals simultaneously in a plurality of systems without providing contact points for signal transfer between the transmission mechanism and the reception mechanism.

  In particular, the transmission mechanism has a plurality of light emitting units and a plurality of light receiving units corresponding thereto, and each light emitting unit is an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis, and is an independent irradiation region that does not overlap each other on the irradiation surface And each light receiving section covers the corresponding irradiation area in the radial direction, regardless of the rotation position of the light emitting section of the transmission mechanism around the rotation axis relative to the reception mechanism. In any angular position seen in the circumferential direction, the light is irradiated by the annular irradiation light beam from each light emitting unit. In each light receiving unit that covers each irradiation region in the radial direction, the annular light from each light emitting unit is always Since a part of the irradiated light beam can be received, the light beam emitted from the corresponding light emitting unit by each light receiving unit of the receiving mechanism regardless of the rotational position of the light emitting unit of the transmitting mechanism around the rotation axis relative to the receiving mechanism. Receiving light It can be.

  In particular, each light-emitting unit has a light-emitting element and a conical prism, and the bottom surface of each prism and the light-emitting element are formed so that the light beam emitted from the light-emitting element becomes an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis on the irradiation surface. When the prisms are arranged so as to face each other and the prisms have different apex angles, it is possible to form an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis on the irradiation surface with a simple configuration.

  In particular, the transmission mechanism has two light emitting units, and the rotation axis overlaps the irradiation center region close to the rotation axis among the two irradiation regions between the two light emitting units and the two light receiving units corresponding thereto. A central light guide member that is arranged in a concentric position and emits a light beam incident from one end plane from the other end plane, and rotates while overlapping an irradiation peripheral area surrounding the irradiation central area of the two irradiation areas. A peripheral light guide member that has a cylindrical shape arranged concentrically with the shaft and emits a light beam incident from one end plane from the other end plane, and each light receiving portion is a center light guide member or a peripheral light guide member If the light beams emitted from the end planes can be individually received, the light beams emitted from the two light emitting units always correspond to the central light guide member corresponding to each of the angular positions in any of the circumferential directions. From one end plane to the peripheral light guide member In each light receiving part that receives the light beam emitted from the other end plane of the central light guide member or the peripheral light guide member, the light emitting part of the transmission mechanism is irrespective of the rotational position around the rotation axis with respect to the reception mechanism. The light flux emitted from the corresponding light emitting unit can be received.

  In particular, the transmission mechanism has three or more light emitting units, and is concentric with the rotation axis while overlapping the irradiation center region closest to the rotation axis among the irradiation regions between each light emitting unit and each light receiving unit. A central light guide member that has a cylindrical shape and is emitted from one end plane and exits from the other end plane, and a rotation axis that individually overlaps each irradiation peripheral area surrounding the irradiation center area of each irradiation area And two or more peripheral light guide members that emit a light beam incident from one end plane from the other end plane, and each light receiving portion is a central light guide member or each peripheral guide. If the light beams emitted from the other end plane of the optical member can be individually received, the light beams emitted from three or more light emitting sections always correspond to each angular position in the rotation direction. One end plane to the center light guide member or peripheral light guide member Therefore, in each light receiving part that receives the light beam emitted from the other end plane of the central light guide member or the peripheral light guide member, the light receiving part of each transmission mechanism is related to the rotational position around the rotation axis with respect to the reception mechanism. First, the light beam emitted from the corresponding light emitting unit can be received.

  In particular, when the light receiving unit is configured by a light receiving element having a light receiving surface that covers the corresponding irradiation region, the light flux from the light emitting unit is related to the rotational position of the light emitting unit of the transmission mechanism around the rotation axis relative to the receiving mechanism. Therefore, the light receiving unit always irradiates a part of the light receiving surface of the corresponding light receiving element. Therefore, in the light receiving unit, regardless of the rotational position of the light emitting unit of the transmission mechanism around the rotation axis with respect to the receiving mechanism, The emitted light beam can be received. Such a configuration is a light-receiving element that can convert a light beam received on the light-receiving surface into an electric signal, and uses a light-receiving element in which an annular surface defined by a main body portion that has an annular shape as a whole is a light-receiving surface. Can be implemented easily.

  In particular, each light-receiving unit is configured such that a plurality of light-receiving elements are arranged in an annular shape so that the light-receiving surfaces are adjacent to each other in the corresponding irradiation regions in the circumferential direction. Regardless of the rotational position around the rotation axis with respect to the mechanism, each light receiving unit can receive the light beam emitted from the corresponding light emitting unit.

  In particular, when the light receiving unit includes a light receiving element and a plurality of optical fibers that connect the entire irradiation region to the light receiving element, regardless of the rotational position of the light emitting unit of the transmission mechanism about the rotation axis around the rotation axis, The light receiving unit can receive the light beam emitted from the corresponding light emitting unit.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a surveying instrument 50 in which the signal transfer apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is mounted. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the signal transfer device 10 in the surveying instrument 50, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the configuration of the signal transfer device 10. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining how the three light emitting units 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c of the signal transfer device 10 form three irradiation regions 19 a, 19 b, and 19 c on the irradiation surface 18.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the signal transfer device 10 is provided between a support base (51) and a rotating body (52) that is concentrically supported so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 13 with respect to the support base (51). And is applied to the surveying instrument 50 (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment. In the following description and each drawing, for easy understanding, the rotation axis 13 is defined as the Z-axis direction, and a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis 13 is defined as an XY plane.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the surveying instrument 50 includes a reference surface forming unit 51 as a support base and a distance measuring unit 52 as a rotating body. This surveying instrument 50 is installed at a known point at the time of surveying, and irradiates the reference surface forming laser beam 53 at a constant speed and irradiates the distance measuring light 54, and is reflected by a measuring object (not shown). By receiving the distance measuring light 54, the distance to the measurement object can be measured.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the surveying instrument 50 is configured such that a ranging unit 52 is supported by a reference surface forming unit 51 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 13, and a ranging control panel 55 is provided on the ranging unit 52. Is provided, and an arithmetic control panel 56 is provided in the reference surface forming portion 51. The surveying instrument 50 measures the distance to the measurement object by the arithmetic control panel 56 receiving and calculating various signals (for example, the received light signal of the reflected distance measuring light 54) from the distance measuring control panel 55. To do. A signal transfer device 10 is provided for transferring various signals from the distance measurement control board 55 to the calculation control board 56.

  The signal transfer device 10 includes a transmission mechanism 11 and a reception mechanism 12. In this signal transfer device 10, the transmission mechanism 11 is provided on the lower surface 52 a of the distance measuring unit 52 that is a plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft 13, and is provided in the recess of the reference surface forming unit 51 that faces the lower surface 52 a in parallel. The receiving mechanism 12 is provided on the upper surface 51a. The transmission mechanism 11 is provided in the distance measurement unit 52 so as to be integrally rotatable around the rotation shaft 13 and is electrically connected to the distance measurement control panel 55, and the reception mechanism 12 is provided in the reference plane forming unit 51. Is electrically connected to the arithmetic control panel 56.

  The transmission mechanism 11 includes a plurality of light emitting units 14. Each light emitting unit 14 is rotated about the rotation axis 13 with respect to the receiving mechanism 12 when the distance measuring unit 52 is driven to rotate about the rotation axis 13 with respect to the reference surface forming unit 51. In the signal transfer device 10 according to the first embodiment, the receiving mechanism 12 includes three light emitting units 14, and the three light emitting units 14 have a single center around the rotation axis 13 when viewed in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis 13. They are arranged at equal intervals on the circle. Each light emitting unit 14 includes an LED 15 as a light emitting element, and a cone prism 16 having a conical shape provided so that the axes coincide with each other on the outgoing optical axis.

  Each LED 15 can emit a parallel light beam, and in the first embodiment, each LED 15 can emit a parallel light beam toward the receiving mechanism 12 side along the Z-axis direction (parallel to the rotation shaft 13). Has been. Each LED 15 is connected to a distance measurement control board 55, and is controlled to be turned on by the distance measurement control board 55 in order to transfer a signal from the distance measurement control board 55. For this reason, the signal light from the distance measurement control board 55 is emitted from each LED 15. Each light emitting portion 14 is configured such that the emission portion 151 of each LED 15 and the bottom surface 161 of each cone prism 16 face each other.

  In each light emitting unit 14, the parallel light beam emitted from the LED 15 is incident on the cone prism 16 from the bottom surface 161 and is emitted from the side surface 162, thereby forming an annular irradiation light beam 17 and irradiating the receiving mechanism 12 side. (See FIGS. 3 and 4). Here, each cone prism 16 has a different apex angle as viewed in a cross section along the axis line for each light emitting unit 14, and the three annular irradiation light beams 17 from the respective light emitting units 14 are different from each other. It is a size.

  The three annular irradiation light beams 17 irradiate the upper surface 51a of the reference surface forming unit 51 provided with the receiving mechanism 12, and thus the upper surface 51a corresponds to the irradiation surface 18 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the three annular irradiation light beams 17 surround the rotation shaft 13 without including the rotation shaft 13 on the irradiation surface 18. Each annular irradiation light beam 17 has an annular locus centered on the rotation axis 13 on the irradiation surface 18 by rotating (revolving) each light emitting unit 14 around the rotation axis 13 with respect to the receiving mechanism 12. This circular locus becomes the irradiation area 19. Here, each light emitting unit 14 forms three irradiation regions 19 surrounding the rotation shaft 13 independently so as to form an irradiation region 19 surrounding the rotation shaft 13 on the irradiation surface 18 without overlapping each other. The region 19 is set so as to be formed concentrically. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the first cone prism 16a is the smallest apex angle, the third cone prism 16c is the largest apex angle, and the second cone prism 16b is the apex angle between them. By appropriately adjusting each apex angle and the distance from each light emitting portion 14 to the irradiation surface 18, the following is set.

  Here, the respective annular irradiation light beams 17 are sequentially designated as a first annular irradiation light beam 17a, a second annular irradiation light beam 17b, and a third annular irradiation light beam 17c in order from the smaller size (the one closer to the rotation shaft 13). The irradiation region formed by the first annular irradiation light beam 17a is the first irradiation region 19a, the irradiation region formed by the second annular irradiation light beam 17b is the second irradiation region 19b, and the irradiation region formed by the third annular irradiation light beam 17c is the third. Let it be an irradiation region 19c (see FIG. 4). The light emitting part that forms the first annular irradiation light beam 17a is the first light emitting part 14a (the first LED 15a and the first cone prism 16a), and the light emitting part that forms the second annular irradiation light beam 17b is the second light emitting part 14b (the first light emitting part 14b). 2LED 15b and the second cone prism 16b), and the light emitting part that forms the third annular irradiation light beam 17c is the third light emitting part 14c (the third LED 15c and the third cone prism 16c) (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first light emitting unit 14 a has an axial position of the first light emitting unit 14 a (first cone prism 16 a) so that the first irradiation region 19 a to be formed has an annular shape not including the rotation shaft 13. The radius ri1 inside the first annular irradiation light beam 17a on the irradiation surface 18 is set to be larger than the distance d1 from the rotation axis 13 to the rotation axis 13.

  In addition, the second light emitting unit 14b has a first annular irradiation light beam from the rotary shaft 13 so that the second irradiation region 19b to be formed concentrically surrounds the first irradiation region 19a while being spaced apart from the first irradiation region 19a. The distance d3 from the rotary shaft 13 to the closest position on the inner circumference of the second annular irradiation light beam 17b is set larger than the distance d2 to the most distant position on the outer circumference of 17a.

  Further, the third light emitting unit 14c is configured so that the formed third irradiation region 19c is concentrically surrounded by the second annular irradiation light beam from the rotary shaft 13 so as to be spaced apart from the second irradiation region 19b. The distance d5 from the rotary shaft 13 to the closest position on the inner periphery of the third annular irradiation light beam 17c is set larger than the distance d4 to the most distant position on the outer periphery of 17b.

  In order to receive the light flux from each light emitting unit 14 in each irradiation region 19, the receiving mechanism 12 is provided on the upper surface 51a of the reference surface forming unit 51, that is, the irradiation surface 18, as shown in FIG. The receiving mechanism 12 has three light receiving elements 20 made of photodiodes corresponding to the three light emitting units 14, and each of the light receiving elements 20 is a part of the upper surface 51 a of the reference surface forming unit 51, that is, a part of the irradiation surface 18. Is formed on the reference surface forming portion 51 so as to be formed on the light receiving surface 21. Each light receiving element 20 is connected to the calculation control board 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51 separately. As shown in FIG. 4, each light receiving element 20 is arranged by vertically irradiating the corresponding irradiation region 19 in the radial direction, and each of the light receiving elements 20 covers the corresponding irradiation region 19 in the radial direction, that is, a circle. It is possible to receive light without leaking from the innermost position to the outermost position when the annular irradiation region 19 is viewed in the radial direction. Therefore, each light receiving element 20 can receive a part of the annular irradiation light beam 17 emitted from the corresponding light emitting unit 14 regardless of the rotational position of each light emitting unit 14. Regardless of the rotational position of the light emitting unit 14 of the transmitting mechanism 11 around the rotation axis 13 with respect to the receiving mechanism 12, the annular region from each of the light emitting units 14 in each irradiation region 19 at any angular position viewed in the circumferential direction. This is because each light receiving element 20 that covers each irradiation region 19 in the radial direction can always receive a part of the annular irradiation light beam 17 from each light emitting unit 14. When each light receiving element 20 receives a part of the annular irradiation light beam 17 from each light emitting unit 14, information based on this light reception is separately transmitted to the calculation control board 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51. In other words, the signal light emitted from each light emitting unit 14 is received by each corresponding light receiving element 20, whereby the signal is transmitted to the calculation control board 56. For this reason, in the signal transfer device 10, each light receiving element 20 functions as the light receiving unit 22 in the receiving mechanism 12. Hereinafter, the light receiving element corresponding to the first light emitting part 14a is referred to as the first light receiving element 20a, the light receiving element corresponding to the second light emitting part 14b is referred to as the second light receiving element 20b, and the light receiving element corresponding to the third light emitting part 14c is referred to. The third light receiving element 20c is assumed.

  As described above, in the signal transfer apparatus 10, even when the transmission mechanism 11 is rotated around the rotation shaft 13 with respect to the reception mechanism 12, the system always passes from the first light emitting unit 14 a to the first light receiving element 20 a, and the second Since signals can be simultaneously transferred from the light emitting unit 14b through the second light receiving element 20b and the system from the third light emitting unit 14c through the third light receiving element 20c, a plurality of signals can be transmitted from the transmission mechanism 11 to the receiving mechanism 12. (In the first embodiment, three signals) can be transferred simultaneously. For this reason, in the surveying instrument 50 in which the signal transfer device 10 is mounted, even if the ranging unit 52 is rotationally driven with respect to the reference plane forming unit 51 to perform surveying, A plurality of signals can be transferred from the distance measurement control board 55 to the calculation control board 56 of the reference plane forming unit 51 at any time, and the survey can be performed quickly.

  Further, in the signal transfer device 10, a plurality of light emitting units 14 (three in the first embodiment) provided in the reception mechanism 12 and a plurality of light receiving elements 20 (three in the first embodiment) provided in the transmission mechanism 11. Since there is no physical contact point for transferring the signal between the receiving mechanism 12 and the transmitting mechanism 11, deterioration due to wear, Contact failure due to mutual vibration or the like does not occur, and signals can be transferred appropriately.

  Further, in the signal transfer device 10, each light emitting unit 14 is configured by a pair of the LED 15 and the cone prism 16, and the light receiving element 20 is provided at a position suitable for each irradiation region 19 formed by the light emitting unit 14. Therefore, high processing accuracy is required, for example, a configuration using a lens having a complicated optical characteristic without requiring high setting accuracy, for example, a configuration in which the focal position is adjusted using a lens. It is possible to realize a non-contact transfer of a plurality of signals with a simple configuration without any problem.

  In the signal transfer device 10, since the first irradiation region 19 a has an annular shape that does not include the rotation shaft 13, the first light receiving element 20 a corresponding to the first light emitting unit 14 a has the first light emitting unit 14 a of the first light emitting unit 14 a. Regardless of the rotational position, only one portion of the first annular irradiation light beam 17a viewed in the circumferential direction is always received, so that the signal from the first light emitting unit 14a can be received stably and accurately. it can. This is based on the rotational position of the first light emitting portion 14a, when receiving only one portion of the first annular irradiation light beam 17a as viewed in the rotation direction and when viewed in the rotation direction of the first annular irradiation light beam 17a. This is because if there are two cases where light is received, an error included in a signal generated by light reception by the first light receiving element 20a may increase.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, signals can be simultaneously transferred by a plurality of signal systems while the transmission mechanism 11 and the reception mechanism 12 that are relatively rotated are not in contact with each other.

  In the signal transfer device 10 described above, the first light emitting unit 14a is configured to revolve around the rotation axis 13 on the same track as the second light emitting unit 14b and the third light emitting unit 14c. It is not limited to 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the first light emitting portion 14a is provided on the same axis as the rotating shaft 13 and is composed only of the LED 15, and the circular irradiation region formed by the parallel light flux emitted therefrom is the first irradiation region 19a. And a first light receiving element 20a ′ having a light receiving surface overlapping the circular first irradiation region 19a ′ may be disposed. Even in this case, the second irradiation region 19b ′ is formed so as to concentrically surround the first irradiation region 19a ′ while being spaced apart from the first irradiation region 19a ′. What is necessary is just to set suitably the 2nd light emission part 14b and the 3rd light emission part 14c so that the 3rd irradiation area | region 19c 'may be formed so that the 2nd irradiation area | region 19b' may be concentrically surrounded at intervals.

  In the signal transfer device 10 described above, the cone prisms 16 are set so that their axes are parallel to each other. However, if the cones 16 are set so that the irradiation areas 19 do not overlap with each other, for example, the cones 16 The prism 16 may appropriately tilt the axis with respect to the Z-axis direction while considering the arrangement position, and is not limited to the first embodiment. In the case of this example, each irradiation light beam (17) on the irradiation surface 18 by the light beam passing through each cone prism (16) has an elliptical shape, but each of the transmission mechanism 11 and the reception mechanism 12 is relatively rotated. The shake amount of the irradiation light beam (17), that is, the radial width of each irradiation region (19) can be reduced. Therefore, the signal transfer device (10) can be made more compact, and more signal systems can be provided while suppressing an increase in size, that is, the light emitting unit (14) and the light receiving unit (22). The number of combinations can be increased.

  Furthermore, in the above-described signal transfer device 10, the apex angles of the cone prisms 16 are different from each other so that the irradiation areas 19 formed by the light emitting units 14 do not overlap. By making the interval with the irradiation surface 18 appropriately different, the irradiation regions 19 formed by the light emitting units 14 may not overlap each other, and the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above.

  Next, the signal transfer apparatus 102 of Example 2 is demonstrated. In the signal transfer apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment, in the signal transfer apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the light guide unit 23 is disposed between the transmission mechanism and the reception mechanism, and the transmission mechanism and the light transmission unit This is an example in which the receiving mechanism is partially different. Since the basic configuration of the signal transfer device 102 is the same as that of the signal transfer device 10 of the first embodiment, the same functional parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 schematically showing the configuration of the signal transfer device 102. FIG. 7 shows the light emitting units 142 and the light guides 23 of the transmission mechanism 112 in the signal transfer device 102. It is a perspective view showing typically.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the signal transfer apparatus 102 includes a transmission mechanism 112, a reception mechanism 122, and a light guide unit 23 provided therebetween. The transmission mechanism 112 uses three LEDs 15 similar to the light emitting section 14 of the transmission mechanism 11 of the first embodiment to form three light emitting sections 142, and each LED 15 is connected to the distance measurement control panel 55 of the distance measuring section 52. Has been. As shown in FIG. 7, the three light emitting units 142, that is, the three LEDs 15 revolve around the rotation axis 13 at different radial positions as shown in FIG. 7 when the distance measuring unit 52 is rotationally driven with respect to the reference plane forming unit 51. Is set to For this reason, the three LEDs 15 (light emitting units 142) form three concentric irradiation regions 192 around the rotation axis 13 on an arbitrary plane orthogonal to the rotation axis 13. Corresponding to these three irradiation areas 192, the light guide 23 is provided.

  The light guide unit 23 has a central light guide member 23a having a columnar shape, a first peripheral light guide member 23b having a cylindrical shape surrounding the central light guide member 23a with a space therebetween, and a second cylindrical shape having a cylindrical shape surrounding the space. And a peripheral light guide member 23c. The central light guide member 23 a, the first peripheral light guide member 23 b, and the second peripheral light guide member 23 c, when a light beam is incident from the upper surface 231, are not emitted from the side surface regardless of the incident position. The light is emitted substantially uniformly from the entire region.

  The first peripheral light guide member 23b is a second irradiation area formed by the second LED 15b whose upper surface is the middle so that the upper surface overlaps the first irradiation area 192a formed by the innermost first LED 15a. The second peripheral light guide member 23c is set so that the upper surface overlaps the third irradiation region 192c formed by the outermost third LED 15c so as to overlap with 192b. For this reason, in the signal transfer apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment, the upper surface of the light guide 23 (the central light guide member 23a, the first peripheral light guide member 23b, and the second peripheral light guide member 23c) can be regarded as the irradiation surface 18. it can. On the lower surfaces of the central light guide member 23a, the first peripheral light guide member 23b, and the second peripheral light guide member 23c, individual light receiving elements 20 similar to the receiving mechanism 12 of the first embodiment are provided with the light receiving surface 21, respectively. It is arranged to face each other. Each light receiving element 20 (the element disposed on the lower surface of the central light guide member 23a is referred to as a first light receiving element 20a, and the element disposed on the lower surface of the first peripheral light guiding member 23b is referred to as a second light receiving element 20b. The one arranged on the lower surface of the light guide member 23c is referred to as a third light receiving element 20c.) Is connected to the calculation control panel 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51, as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the signal transfer device 102, the light guides 23 (the central light guide member 23a, the first peripheral light guide member 23b, and the second peripheral guides) are matched to the respective irradiation regions 192 formed by the respective LEDs 15 (light emitting units 142). The optical members 23c) are arranged, and the light beams emitted from the respective LEDs 15 are received by the respective light receiving elements 20 corresponding thereto through the corresponding light guide portions 23, respectively. When each light receiving element 20 receives a light beam from each light emitting unit 142, information based on the received light is separately transmitted to the calculation control board 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51. For this reason, in the signal transfer apparatus 102, each light receiving element 20 functions as the light receiving unit 222 in the receiving mechanism 122.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 102, even when the transmission mechanism 112 is rotated around the rotation shaft 13 with respect to the reception mechanism 122, the first LED 15a always passes through the central light guide member 23a and reaches the first light receiving element 20a. Signals can be transferred simultaneously in the system from the 2LED 15b through the first peripheral light guide member 23b to the second light receiving element 20b and the system from the first LED 15a through the central light guide member 23a to the third light receiving element 20c. Therefore, a plurality of signals (three in the second embodiment) can be transferred from the transmission mechanism 112 to the reception mechanism 122. For this reason, in the surveying instrument 50 in which the signal transfer device 10 is mounted, even if the ranging unit 52 is rotationally driven with respect to the reference plane forming unit 51 to perform surveying, A plurality of signals can be simultaneously transferred from the distance measurement control board 55 to the calculation control board 56 of the reference plane forming unit 51.

  Further, in the signal transfer device 102, the light guide portions 23 (in the second embodiment, the central light guide member 23a and the first peripheral guide) corresponding to the plurality of irradiation regions 192 formed by the plurality of (three in the second embodiment) LEDs 15 are formed. Since it is only necessary to dispose the light member 23b and the second peripheral light guide member 23c), and to provide the light receiving element 20 with the light receiving surface 21 facing the lower surface of the light guide member 23, this can be easily performed.

  Therefore, the signal transfer apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment has a plurality of signal systems while the transmission mechanism 112 and the reception mechanism 122 that are relatively rotated are not in contact with each other, similarly to the signal transfer apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. That is, a plurality of signals can be transferred simultaneously.

  Next, the signal transfer apparatus 103 according to the third embodiment will be described. The signal transfer device 103 according to the third embodiment is an example in which the receiving mechanism is different from the signal transfer device 102 according to the second embodiment in place of providing the light guide unit 23. Since the basic configuration of the signal transfer device 103 is the same as that of the signal transfer device 102 of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the second embodiment are assigned to the same functional parts, and detailed description thereof is omitted. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 schematically showing the configuration of the signal transfer apparatus 103, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically showing each light receiving element 203 of the reception mechanism 123 in the signal transfer apparatus 103. FIG.

  In the signal transfer device 103, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the transmission mechanism 113, the first LED 15a is configured to rotate about the rotation shaft 13, and the second LED 15b and the third LED 15c are spaced from each other around the rotation shaft 13. It is supposed to revolve around.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the receiving mechanism 123 includes three light receiving elements 203 (a first light receiving element 203a, a second light receiving element 203b, and a third light receiving element 203c). The second light receiving element 203b and the third light receiving element 203c have annular main body parts 203b1 and 203c1 that can be arranged concentrically with respect to the first light receiving element 203a (rotating shaft 13), and their upper surfaces. Are the light receiving surfaces 213, and are connected to the calculation control panel 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51.

  The first light receiving element 203a has a circular first light receiving surface 213a that overlaps the circular first irradiation region 193a formed by the first LED 15a, that is, covers the first irradiation region 193a. The second light receiving element 203b has an annular second light receiving surface 213b that overlaps the annular second irradiation region 193b formed by the second LED 15b, that is, covers the second irradiation region 193b. The third light receiving element 203c has an annular third light receiving surface 213c that overlaps the annular third irradiation region 193c formed by the third LED 15c, that is, covers the third irradiation region 193c.

  Thus, in the signal transfer apparatus 103, the three first light receiving elements 203a, the second light receiving elements 203b, and the third light receiving elements 203c are provided in accordance with the respective irradiation regions 193 formed by the respective LEDs 15 (light emitting units 143). Therefore, the light beams emitted from the light emitting units 143 are received by the corresponding first light receiving element 203a, second light receiving element 203b, and third light receiving element 203c. When each light receiving element 203 receives a light beam from each LED 15, information based on this light reception is separately transmitted to the calculation control board 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51. For this reason, in the signal transfer apparatus 103, each light receiving element 203 functions as the light receiving unit 223 in the receiving mechanism 123.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 103, even when the transmission mechanism 113 is rotated around the rotation shaft 13 with respect to the reception mechanism 123, the system always extends from the first LED 15a to the first light receiving element 203a, and the second LED 15b to the second light receiving element 203b. Since the signal can be simultaneously transferred in the system extending to 3 and the system extending from the third LED 15c to the third light receiving element 203c, a plurality of (three in the second embodiment) signals are transmitted from the transmission mechanism 113 to the reception mechanism 123. Can be transferred. For this reason, in the surveying instrument 50 in which the signal transfer device 103 is mounted, even if the ranging unit 52 is rotationally driven with respect to the reference plane forming unit 51 to perform surveying, A plurality of signals can be simultaneously transferred from the distance measurement control board 55 to the calculation control board 56 of the reference plane forming unit 51.

  In the signal transfer device 103, the first light receiving element 203a, the second light receiving element 203b, and the second light receiving elements 203b each having a light receiving surface 213 having a shape corresponding to a plurality of irradiation regions 193 formed by a plurality of (three in the second embodiment) LEDs 15 are provided. Since it is only necessary to provide the three light receiving elements 203c, it can be easily implemented.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 103 according to the third embodiment, similarly to the signal transfer device 10 and the signal transfer device 102 described above, the transmission mechanism 113 and the reception mechanism 123 that are relatively rotated are not contacted, and a plurality of signals are transmitted. It has a system, that is, a plurality of signals can be transferred simultaneously.

  Next, the signal transfer apparatus 104 of Example 4 is demonstrated. The signal transfer device 104 according to the fourth embodiment is an example in which the reception mechanism is different from the signal transfer device 103 according to the third embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the signal transfer device 104 is the same as that of the signal transfer device 103 according to the third embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the third embodiment are given to the same functional parts, and detailed description thereof is omitted. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing each light receiving unit 224 of the receiving mechanism 124 in the signal transfer apparatus 104.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the receiving mechanism 124 includes three light receiving units 224 each having a plurality of light receiving elements 20 (in order from the rotating shaft 13 side, a first light receiving unit 224a, a second light receiving unit 224b, and a third light receiving unit 224c). ).

  The first light receiving unit 224a is configured such that the light receiving surfaces 21 of the plurality of light receiving elements 20 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction so as to overlap the first irradiation region 193a formed by the first LED 15a. The element 20 can recognize that the light is received by the first light receiving unit 224a and is connected to the arithmetic control panel 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51 (see FIG. 8).

  Further, the second light receiving unit 224b is configured such that the light receiving surfaces 21 of the plurality of light receiving elements 20 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction so as to overlap the second irradiation region 193b formed by the second LED 15b. Each light receiving element 20 can recognize that the light is received by the second light receiving unit 224 b and is connected to the calculation control panel 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51.

  Further, the third light receiving unit 224c is configured such that the light receiving surfaces 21 of the plurality of light receiving elements 20 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction so as to overlap the third irradiation region 193c formed by the third LED 15c. Each light receiving element 20 can recognize that the light is received by the third light receiving unit 224 c and is connected to the calculation control panel 56 of the reference surface forming unit 51.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 104, even when the transmission mechanism 113 is rotated around the rotation shaft 13 with respect to the reception mechanism 124, the system always extends from the first LED 15a to the first light receiving unit 224a, and the second LED 15b to the second light receiving unit 224b. Since the signal can be simultaneously transferred in the system from the third LED 15c to the third light receiving unit 224c, a plurality of (three in the second embodiment) signals are transmitted from the transmission mechanism 113 to the reception mechanism 124. Can be transferred. For this reason, in the surveying instrument 50 in which the signal transfer device 104 is mounted, even if the ranging unit 52 is rotationally driven with respect to the reference plane forming unit 51 in order to perform surveying, A plurality of signals can be simultaneously transferred from the distance measurement control board 55 to the calculation control board 56 of the reference plane forming unit 51.

  Further, in the signal transfer device 104, the plurality of light receiving elements 20 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction so as to correspond to the plurality of irradiation regions 193 formed by the plurality (three in the second embodiment) of the LEDs 15, and the light receiving unit 224 is formed. Since it only needs to be configured, it can be easily implemented.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 104 according to the fourth embodiment, similarly to the signal transfer device 10, the signal transfer device 102, and the signal transfer device 103, the transmission mechanism 113 and the reception mechanism 124 that are relatively rotated are not in contact with each other. It has a plurality of signal systems, that is, a plurality of signals can be transferred simultaneously.

  Next, the signal transfer apparatus 105 of Example 5 is demonstrated. The signal transfer device 105 according to the fifth embodiment is an example in which the reception mechanism is different from the signal transfer device 103 according to the third embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the signal transfer device 105 is the same as that of the signal transfer device 103 of the third embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the third embodiment are given to the same functional parts, and detailed description thereof is omitted. FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing each light receiving unit 225 of the receiving mechanism 125 in the signal transfer apparatus 105.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the receiving mechanism 125 includes three light receiving units 225 (a first light receiving unit 225a, a second light receiving unit 225b, and a third light receiving unit 225c in this order from the rotating shaft 13 side). Each of the light receiving portions 225 has a corresponding light receiving element 205, and the light receiving surface 215 of the light receiving element 205 and each light receiving area 24 on the irradiation surface 18 (first light receiving area 24a in order from the rotating shaft 13 side). The second light receiving region 24b and the third light receiving region 24c) are connected by a plurality of optical fibers 25. Each light receiving element 205 is connected to the calculation control panel 56 of the reference plane forming unit 51 (see FIG. 8).

  The first light receiving region 24a of the first light receiving unit 225a is set so as to overlap the first irradiation region 193a formed by the first LED 15a, and the first light receiving region 24a includes one end face 25a of each optical fiber 25. The other end surface 25b of each optical fiber 25 is opposed to the first light receiving surface 215a of the corresponding first light receiving element 205a. The second light receiving region 24b of the second light receiving unit 225b is set to overlap the second irradiation region 193b formed by the second LED 15b, and the second light receiving region 24b includes one optical fiber 25. The end face 25a is spread, and the other end face 25b of each optical fiber 25 is opposed to the second light receiving face 215b of the corresponding second light receiving element 205b. Further, the third light receiving region 24c of the third light receiving unit 225c is set so as to overlap the third irradiation region 193c formed by the third LED 15c, and the third irradiation region 193c includes one of the optical fibers 25. The end face 25a is spread, and the other end face 25b of each optical fiber 25 is opposed to the third light receiving face 215c of the corresponding third light receiving element 205c.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 105, even when the transmission mechanism 113 is rotated around the rotation shaft 13 with respect to the reception mechanism 125, the system always extends from the first LED 15a to the first light receiving unit 225a, and the second LED 15b to the second light receiving unit 225b. Since the signal can be simultaneously transferred in the system from the third LED 15c to the third light receiving unit 225c, a plurality of signals (three in the fifth embodiment) are transmitted from the transmission mechanism 113 to the reception mechanism 125. Can be transferred. For this reason, in the surveying instrument 50 in which the signal transfer device 105 is mounted, even if the ranging unit 52 is rotationally driven with respect to the reference plane forming unit 51 in order to perform surveying, A plurality of signals can be simultaneously transferred from the distance measurement control board 55 to the calculation control board 56 of the reference plane forming unit 51.

  Further, in the signal transfer device 105, one end 25a of a plurality of optical fibers 25 is spread over each light receiving region 24 corresponding to a plurality of irradiation regions 193 formed by a plurality of (three in the fifth embodiment) LEDs 15, and the others. Since it is only necessary to make the end face the light receiving surface 215 of each light receiving element 205, it can be easily implemented.

  Therefore, in the signal transfer device 105 of the fifth embodiment, the transmission mechanism 113 and the reception mechanism 125 that are relatively rotated are provided in the same manner as the signal transfer device 10, the signal transfer device 102, the signal transfer device 103, and the signal transfer device 104. A plurality of signal systems, that is, a plurality of signals can be simultaneously transferred while being non-contact.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, three light emitting units (LEDs) are provided in the transmission mechanism, and three light receiving units are provided in the reception mechanism corresponding thereto. However, during the period from the transmission mechanism to the reception mechanism, However, the number of light emitting units (LEDs) and light receiving units can be arbitrarily set.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the LED 15 is used as the light emitting element. However, a laser diode, for example, may be used as long as lighting control (control of emission of light flux) is possible for signal transmission. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the signal transfer apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on the surveying instrument 50 (see FIG. 1), but has a rotating portion like the surveying instrument 60 that is a total station shown in FIG. It may be a general surveying instrument, in other words, a general configuration in which a signal is transferred between a support base and a rotating body that is concentrically supported so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis. Is not to be done. The surveying instrument 60 mainly includes a telescope unit 61, a frame unit 62 that supports the telescope unit 61 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, a base unit 63 that supports the rack unit 62 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and a base unit 63. The leveling unit 64 can be attached to a tripod or the like. The telescope unit 61 includes an optical system including an objective lens 65, an imaging unit, and the like. The mount unit 62 includes a display device 66 that displays an image and an operation / input unit 67.

It is a typical perspective view which shows the surveying instrument equipped with the signal transfer apparatus. It is typical sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the signal transfer apparatus in a surveying instrument. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a configuration of a signal transfer apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a mode that three light emission parts of a signal transfer apparatus form three irradiation areas on an irradiation surface. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a mode that three light emission parts form three irradiation area | regions on an irradiation surface by the aspect different from FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 schematically showing the configuration of the signal transfer apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the light emission part and light guide member of the transmission mechanism in the signal transfer apparatus of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 schematically showing the configuration of the signal transfer apparatus according to the third embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the light receiving element of the receiving mechanism in the signal transfer apparatus of Example 3. FIG. It is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 which shows typically the light receiving element of the receiving mechanism in the signal transfer apparatus of Example 4. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 schematically showing a light receiving element of a receiving mechanism in the signal transfer apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. It is a typical perspective view which shows the surveying instrument of the example different from FIG. 1 with which the signal transmission apparatus which concerns on this invention is mounted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Signal transfer device 12, 122, 123, 124, 125 Reception mechanism 11, 112, 113 Transmission mechanism 13 Rotating shaft 14, 142, 143 Light emission part 15 LED (as a light emitting element)
16 Cone prism 18 Irradiation surface 19, 192, 193 Irradiation area 20 Light receiving element 203b Second light receiving element 203c (as a light receiving element having an annular light receiving surface) Third light receiving element (as a light receiving element having an annular light receiving surface) 21 Light-receiving surface 22, 222, 223, 224, 225 Light-receiving part 23a Central light guide member 23b Peripheral light guide member 23c Peripheral light guide member 25 Optical fiber 51 Reference surface forming part 52 (as a support) 52 (As a rotating body) Ranging section

Claims (10)

A transmission provided on one of the support base and the rotary body for transfer of signals between the support base and a rotary body that is concentrically supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis with respect to the support base. A signal transfer device comprising a mechanism and a receiving mechanism provided on the other of the support base and the rotating body,
The transmission mechanism includes a light emitting unit that is rotated about the rotation axis with respect to the receiving mechanism by relative rotation of the support base and the rotating body, and the light emitting unit is By emitting a light beam toward the receiving mechanism when rotating around the rotation axis, it is possible to form an annular irradiation region surrounding the rotation axis on an irradiation surface orthogonal to the rotation axis,
The receiving mechanism has a light receiving portion arranged corresponding to the irradiation region so as to be able to receive a light beam emitted from the light emitting portion regardless of a rotational position of the light emitting portion around the rotation axis with respect to the receiving mechanism. A signal transfer device. The transmission mechanism includes a plurality of the light emitting units and a plurality of the light receiving units corresponding to the respective light emitting units, and each of the light emitting units is an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis, and is disposed on the irradiation surface. It is possible to form independent irradiation areas that do not overlap each other,
The signal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein each of the light receiving units covers the corresponding irradiation region in the radial direction.   Each of the light emitting units includes a light emitting element and a conical prism, and the bottom surface of each of the prisms is configured so that a light beam emitted from the light emitting element is an annular irradiation light beam surrounding the rotation axis on the irradiation surface. The signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting element is disposed so as to face an emission portion, and each prism has a different apex angle. The transmission mechanism includes two light emitting units,
Between the two light emitting parts and the two light receiving parts corresponding thereto, a cylinder arranged concentrically with the rotation axis while overlapping the irradiation center area close to the rotation axis among the two irradiation areas. A central light guide member that has a shape and emits a light beam incident from one end plane from the other end plane, and is concentric with the rotation axis while overlapping an irradiation peripheral area surrounding the irradiation center area of the two irradiation areas. A peripheral light guide member that is arranged in a cylindrical shape and emits a light beam incident from one end plane from the other end plane;
3. The signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein each of the light receiving portions is capable of individually receiving a light beam emitted from the other end plane of the central light guide member or the peripheral light guide member. . The transmission mechanism includes three or more light emitting units,
Between each said light emission part and each said light-receiving part, the cylindrical shape arrange | positioned concentrically with the said rotating shaft is overlapped with the irradiation center area | region nearest to the said rotating axis among each said irradiation area | region, and one end plane A central light guide member that emits a light beam incident from the other end plane, and each irradiation peripheral region surrounding the irradiation central region among the irradiation regions, and is disposed concentrically with the rotation axis Two or more peripheral light guide members that have a cylindrical shape and emit a light beam incident from one end plane from the other end plane are provided.
3. The signal transfer according to claim 2, wherein each of the light receiving units is capable of individually receiving a light beam emitted from the other end plane of the central light guide member or each of the peripheral light guide members. apparatus.   The signal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit includes a light receiving element having a light receiving surface that covers the corresponding irradiation region.   Each of the light receiving portions is configured by a light receiving element having a light receiving surface that covers each of the corresponding irradiation regions, and at least one of the light receiving elements is an annular light receiving element having the annular light receiving surface. The signal transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the signal transfer device is provided.   Each said light-receiving part is comprised by arrange | positioning cyclically | annularly so that a light-receiving surface may adjoin along the circumference direction in each said irradiation area | region corresponding to each said light-receiving part. Signal transfer device.   3. The signal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving unit includes a light receiving element and a plurality of optical fibers that connect the entire corresponding irradiation region to the light receiving element. 4. A light receiving element capable of converting a light beam received at a light receiving surface into an electric signal,
A light receiving element characterized in that an annular surface defined by a main body portion having an annular shape as a whole is a light receiving surface.

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