JPS63127212A - Multicore optical rotary connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the degradation of transmission characteristic due to misalignment between optical axes by arranging plural light receiving or emitting elements, which have annular surfaces different in diameter having a revolving shaft as the center, on one of surfaces facing each other of a fixed member and a rotating member provided on the same axis to face each other. CONSTITUTION:A plug 2 is rotatably fitted to a receptacle 5 through a bearing 8, and an optical fiber cable including four optical fiber cores 1 is led to the plig 2, and a signal cable 3 including three lead wires 1' for reception and transmission electric signals and one optical fiber core 1'a is led to the receptacle 5. Photoelectric conversion or electrooptic conversion is performed through three light receiving or emitting diodes 6 having annular surfaces different in diameter provided in the receptacle 5. Thus, the influence of the misalignment of optical axes upon the transmission characteristic is reduced even if this deviation is caused by the wear of the bearing, and the cost of equipment of the whole of a transmission system is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a multi-core optical rotary connector, in particular, optical-to-electrical conversion or electrical-to-optical conversion (hereinafter referred to as O/E conversion) in a rotary connector. The present invention relates to a multi-core optical rotary connector that reduces the installation cost of a signal transmission system and allows optical axis deviation by performing E10 conversion.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

Examples of means for mutually converting, receiving and transmitting a large number of optical signals and electrical signals from or to a rotating body include a method using a multi-core optical rotary connector using a prism manufactured by Hitachi Cable, Ltd.; Alternatively, there is a method of multiplexing multiple signal waves by multiplexing them into a single optical rotary connector.

In the former case, since a prism is used for the rotary connector, the structure is complicated and the price is high.
Since an E10 converter and an O/E converter are required before and after the rotary connector, the cost of the entire signal transmission system increases, and it is necessary to align the optical axes. There is a risk that the transmission characteristics will deteriorate due to wear and the optical axes will not align. This tip axis deviation increases as the distance from the rotation axis increases.

In addition, the latter requires a multiplexer and a demultiplexer in addition to the converter described above, which causes problems such as high setup costs (and an increase in the size of the device), and, like the former, bearing wear and tear. Therefore, there is a problem of deterioration of transmission characteristics due to optical axis mismatch.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of the above points, the present invention has been devised to provide a multi-purpose optical system that can perform optical-to-optical transmission with less deterioration in transmission characteristics due to optical axis misalignment and which does not require O/E, E10 converters, multiplexers, or demultiplexers. The object of the present invention is to provide a Shinko rotary connector.

[Means for achieving the purpose of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a rotating side member is mounted opposite to a stationary side member so as to be rotatable on the same axis, and the rotating shaft is attached to one opposing surface of these two members. A plurality of light-receiving elements or light-emitting elements each having a plurality of annular surfaces having different diameters as an axis are disposed, and each end face of a plurality of optical transmission bodies is disposed to face each of the light-receiving elements or light-emitting elements, and The end faces of the optical transmission bodies respectively guided to the two members were placed opposite to each other on the rotation axis.

The light-receiving element or light-emitting element on the annular surface is an annular object,
When a light-receiving element receives an optical signal from an opposing optical transmission body, it generates an electric signal corresponding to that optical signal, and when a light-emitting element receives an electric signal, it generates an electric signal corresponding to that optical signal. It emits light, that is, a light signal.

[Effect]

In the multi-core optical rotary connector of the present invention constructed in this manner, the light receiving element receives an optical signal output from the optical transmission body and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the optical signal. Conversely, when an electric signal, that is, a voltage is applied to the light emitting element, the light emitting element emits light in response to the electric signal, that is, an optical signal is transmitted, and the optical signal is transmitted to the end face of the optical transmission body. In this way, the optical signal is transmitted through the receiving/emitting element after being subjected to 0/E or E10 conversion. At this time, even if one member rotates with respect to the other, the end face of the optical transmission body facing the rotating interface always faces any part of the annular receiving/emitting surface of the receiving/emitting element. On the other hand, optical transmission is performed between the optical transmission bodies on the axis of rotation by transmitting and receiving light between their end faces, and signals are transmitted.

〔Example〕

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

In this embodiment, a plug 2 is rotatably fitted into a receptacle 5 via a bearing 8 such as a ball or needle, and an O/E, E/○ conversion structure is constructed between the receptacle 5 and the plug 20. An optical fiber cable containing four optical fiber core wires 1.1a is guided to the plug 2, and three lead wires 1' for receiving and transmitting power signals and an optical fiber core wire 1a'1 are guided to the receptacle 5. A signal cable 3 containing a book is led.

The plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 0 in the receptacle 5 has the rotation axis 0
Three light-receiving diodes or light-emitting diodes 6 each having an annular surface with different diameters having an axis centered at , are fixed with an adhesive or the like. This diode 6 consists of a light-receiving diode element or a light-emitting diode element, and in FIG. 1, the lead wire 1' of the signal cable 3 is connected to the connection surface 6a, and in the case of a light-receiving diode, it receives an optical signal and outputs an electric signal. In the case of a light emitting diode, it receives an electrical signal and outputs an optical signal. A cylindrical shielding plate 7 is interposed between each diode 6, and this shielding plate 7
This prevents light from leaking to the adjacent diode 6.

If the shielding plate 7 is an insulating plate, it can also serve as electrical insulation between the diodes 6.

3 of the optical fiber cores 1 guided to the plug 2
The book is guided to the receiving/emitting surface 6b of the diode and the doro, and the end surfaces thereof face each other. In this facing state, the width of the receiving/emitting surface 6b is wider than the diameter of the end surface of the optical fiber core wA1, and even if the core wire 1 is slightly shifted, the entire end surface completely corresponds to the receiving/emitting surface 6b.

In addition, the remaining optical fiber core wire 1 on the plug 2 side
Both end surfaces of the optical fiber core 13' of the optical fiber a and the receptacle 5 are opposed to each other on the axis of rotation of the vertical plane, and optical signals are transmitted and received between these end surfaces.

In addition, when transmitting a signal from the optical fiber core wire 1 to the cable 3, a light receiving diode is used as the receiver/light emitting diode 6, and when transmitting a signal from the cable 3 to the optical fiber core wire 1, a light emitting diode is used as the receiver/light emitting diode 6. Use each.

This embodiment is constructed as described above, and for example, as shown in FIG. used for. That is, the wound optical fiber cable 10 of the drum D is guided into the drum shaft S, and the multi-core optical rotary connector C of the embodiment is provided at the end of the drum shaft S. The plug 2 of this connector C is fixed to the shaft S, the receptacle 5 is fixed to the frame F, and the optical fiber cable 10 is connected to the optical fiber core 1 of the plug 2, while the cable 10' from the fixed equipment is connected to the optical fiber core 1 of the plug 2. Connected to cable 3 of five receptacles.

Therefore, by rotating the drum D and letting out the cable 10,
When rewinding, the plug 2 rotates in the same way, but the end surface of the optical fiber core 1 of the plug 2 example, the receiving/emitting surface 6b
Since it is annular, it always faces the receiving/emitting surface 6b.

Therefore, the electric signal and optical signal from the fixed device are transmitted to the end surface of the optical fiber 1 and the light emitting diode 6
10 conversion, and fiber optic core &? It is reliably transmitted to the cable 10 of the drum D through transmission and reception between the end faces tla and 1a'. Conversely, the optical signal from the optical fiber cable core 1 is received by the light receiving diode 6, converted to 0/E, and is directly transmitted to and received from the optical fiber core 1a and transmitted to the cable 10'. .

Note that the receiving/light emitting diode 6 may be fixed to the plug 2 side.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, bidirectional transmission and reception can be achieved by appropriately selecting and arranging the receiving and light emitting diodes 6 from the center to the light emitting diode and the light receiving diode.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the multi-core optical rotary connector of the present invention, since the connector itself has O/E and E10 conversion functions, a separate O/E and E10 converter or multiplexer and demultiplexer are required. It does not require a wave transmitter, which reduces the equipment cost of the entire transmission system, and even if the optical axis is misaligned, the effects on transmission can be reduced, and the life of the rotary connector can be extended. It has the following effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a multi-core optical rotary connector according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the use of the same embodiment. 1.1a, 13'... Optical fiber core wire, 1'
...Lead wire, 2...Plug, 5...
... Receptacle, 6 ... Annular surface receiver/light emitting diode, 7 ... Shielding plate, 3 ...
Signal cable, 10... Optical fiber cable, 6b... Receiving/emitting surface.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A rotating side member is mounted opposite to a stationary side member so as to be rotatable on the same axis, and a plurality of light-receiving elements each having a plurality of annular surfaces having different diameters with the rotating shaft as the axis are mounted on one opposing surface of the two members. A light emitting element is arranged, and each end face of a plurality of optical transmission bodies is arranged opposite to each of the light receiving elements or the light emitting elements, and
A multi-core optical rotary connector, characterized in that the end faces of the optical transmission bodies respectively guided to the two members are opposed on the rotation axis.