OPTICAL SLIP-RING CONNECTOR

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, NevadaCurrent ground-based tracking systems at the DoD test and training ranges require transmission of a variety of signals from rotating platform to fixed control and process center. Implementation of commercial off the shelf (COTS) solution for transmitting high-speed, multiple-channel data signals over a rotational platform prompt the development of an advanced electro-optic hybrid rotating-to-fixed information transmission technology. Based on current demand, an Air Force-sponsored Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract has been awarded to Physical Optics Corporation (POC) to modify existing tracking mounts with a unique electro-optic hybrid rotary joint (EOHRJ). The EOHRJ under current development is expected to provide the following features: 1) include a specially designed electrical slip-ring, which is able to accommodate hundreds of transmission channels, including electrical power, control, feedback, and low-speed data signals; 2) include an optical fiber slip-ring which, by incorporating with electrical time division mulitplexing (TDM) and optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technologies, is able to provide multiple channel, high data rate (over gigabits per second), and bi-directional signal transmission; and 3) is designed to be reliable for harsh environmental operation, adaptive to stringent size requirement, and accommodating to existing electrical and mechanical interfaces. Besides the military use, other possible commercial applications include on board monitoring of satellite spinners, surveillance systems, instrumentation and multi spectral vision systems, emergency/medical instruments, remote sensing, and robotics.International Foundation for TelemeteringProceedings from the International Telemetering Conference are made available by the International Foundation for Telemetering and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit http://www.telemetry.org/index.php/contact-us if you have questions about items in this collection