Wireless data interface with multiple, independent transmission sources

摘要

A plurality of optical transmission sources provide data communication from a transmitting module to a common detector cooperative with a receiving module, the modules being subject to relative rotation about a shared axis. The detector can be located on the shared axis, each of the sources directing a beam onto the detector regardless of relative module orientation, and/or the light can be diffused, so that it is detected regardless of source and detector placement and relative module orientations. Transmissions can be distinguished according to synchronized timing, differing optical frequencies, differing baud rates, and/or differing circular polarizations. The detector can split the light into a plurality of beams which pass through different optical filters and are thereby distinguished. Cut-off circuits can prevent failed sources from transmitting. A diffused second light source and a second plurality of detectors can provide reverse communication from the receiving module to the transmitting module.

主权项

1. An optical communication interface for communication of data from a transmitting module to a receiving module, the data originating from a plurality of data sets, the modules being subject to rotation relative to each other about a shared rotation axis, the interface comprising:
an optical detector cooperative with the receiving module; a plurality of optical transmission sources rotationally fixed to the transmitting module, each of the optical transmission sources being in data communication with a corresponding data set, each data set being in data communication with only one of the optical transmission sources, each of the optical transmission sources being able to encode data onto light transmitted by the optical transmission source and detected by the optical detector; and a data-distinguishing mechanism which is able to separate and distinguish the data received by the optical detector from each of the plurality of optical transmission sources.