Rotary transformer

{
  "publication_number": "US9718193B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Rotary transformer",
  "abstract": "Example implementations may relate to a rotary transformer configured to transmit data. In some implementations, the rotary transformer may include a primary transformer component with a primary winding magnetically coupled to a secondary transformer component with a secondary winding. The rotary transformer may also include a resonant circuit including a frequency determining element and an amplifier. The frequency determining element may consist of the primary and secondary windings connected in parallel to respective capacitors. The primary transformer component may be coupled to a fixed-frequency signal generator. The rotary transformer may include a modulator coupled to the secondary transformer component and configured to vary the phase of the resonant circuit to generate an output signal and a demodulator coupled to the primary transformer component and configured to demodulate the output signal.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A rotary transformer, comprising: a primary transformer component comprising a primary winding; a secondary transformer component comprising a secondary winding, wherein the secondary transformer component is configured to rotate relative to the first transformer component about a central axis; wherein the primary winding is magnetically coupled to the secondary winding; a fixed-frequency signal generator coupled to the primary transformer component configured to output a drive signal; a resonant circuit comprising a frequency determining element and an amplifier, wherein the frequency determining element comprises (i) the primary winding connected in parallel to a first capacitor and (ii) the secondary winding connected in parallel to a second capacitor, wherein the resonant circuit comprises a resonant frequency corresponding to the frequency determining element and a resonant current; a modulator coupled to the secondary transformer component and configured to accept an input signal and vary the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit based on the input signal; and a demodulator coupled to the primary transformer component and configured to detect changes in a phase relationship between the drive signal and the resonant current, wherein the demodulator generates an output signal based on the changes in the phase relationship.",
    "2. The rotary transformer of claim 1, wherein the modulator comprises a capacitor switching circuit, a switched capacitor, a switched inductor, a variable capacitor, or a variable inductor.",
    "3. The rotary transformer of claim 1, wherein the demodulator comprises a phase detector.",
    "4. The rotary transformer of claim 1, wherein the modulator is further configured to format data into a serial stream.",
    "5. The rotary transformer of claim 4, wherein the modulator formats the data into a serial stream via a self-clocking synchronous stream using Manchester coding.",
    "6. The rotary transformer of claim 1, wherein the primary transformer component comprises a stationary component of a haptic controller and the secondary transformer component comprises a rotatable component of the haptic controller.",
    "7. The rotary transformer of claim 1, wherein the rotatable component is a rotatable knob.",
    "8. A transformer, comprising: a primary transformer component comprising a primary winding; a secondary transformer component comprising a secondary winding, wherein the primary winding is magnetically coupled to the secondary winding; a resonant oscillator comprising a frequency determining element and an amplifier, wherein the frequency determining element comprises (i) the primary winding connected in parallel to a first capacitor and (ii) the secondary winding connected in parallel to a second capacitor; a modulator coupled to the secondary transformer component and configured to vary the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit based on an input signal; and a demodulator coupled to the primary transformer component and configured to detect changes in a phase of the resonant current over time that are caused by a change in the drive signal, wherein the demodulator generates an output signal based on the detected changes.",
    "9. The transformer of claim 8, wherein the modulator comprises capacitive switching circuitry, a switched capacitor, a switched inductor, a variable capacitor, or a variable inductor.",
    "10. The transformer of claim 8, wherein the demodulator comprises phase-locked loop circuitry.",
    "11. The transformer of claim 8, wherein the modulator is further configured to format data into a serial stream.",
    "12. The transformer of claim 11, wherein the modulator formats the data into a serial stream via a self-clocking synchronous stream using Manchester coding.",
    "13. The transformer of claim 8, wherein the primary transformer component comprises a stationary component of a haptic controller and the secondary transformer component comprises a rotatable component of the haptic controller.",
    "14. The transformer of claim 8, wherein the rotatable component is a rotatable knob.",
    "15. The transformer of claim 8, wherein the demodulator comprises frequency counter circuitry that counts the number of oscillations within a predetermined time interval.",
    "16. A method comprising: magnetically coupling a primary winding of a primary transformer component to a secondary winding of a secondary transformer component; generating a fixed-frequency signal at the primary transformer component; varying the resonant frequency of a resonant circuit based on an input signal via a modulator coupled to the secondary transformer component, wherein the resonant circuit comprises a frequency determining element and an amplifier, wherein the frequency determining element comprises (i) a first capacitor connected in parallel to the primary winding and (ii) a second capacitor connected in parallel to the secondary winding; generating, by a demodulator coupled to the primary transformer component, an output signal based on changes in a phase relationship between the drive signal and the resonant current; and transferring power between the primary transfer component and the secondary transformer component.",
    "17. The method of claim 16, wherein the modulator comprises capacitive switching circuitry.",
    "18. The method of claim 16, wherein the demodulator comprises phase-locked loop circuitry.",
    "19. The method of claim 16, wherein the modulator is further configured to format data into a self-clocking synchronous stream using Manchester coding.",
    "20. The method of claim 16, wherein the primary transformer component comprises a stationary component of a haptic controller and the secondary transformer component comprises a rotatable component of the haptic controller.",
    "21. A rotary transformer, comprising: a primary transformer component comprising a primary winding and a first capacitor connected in parallel, and a fixed-frequency signal generator, an amplifier, and a demodulator coupled to the primary winding; and a secondary transformer component comprising a secondary winding, a second capacitor, and a modulator connected in parallel; wherein the primary winding is magnetically coupled to the secondary winding, and wherein the secondary transformer component is configured to rotate relative to the first transformer component about a central axis; wherein the primary winding connected in parallel to the first capacitor and the secondary winding connected in parallel to the second capacitor and modulator collectively form a resonant circuit; wherein the modulator is configured modify a resonant frequency and resonant current of the resonant circuit based on a received input signal; and wherein the demodulator is configured to detect changes in a phase relationship between a drive signal of the fixed-frequency signal generator and the resonant current that result from modifications to the resonant current of the resonant circuit."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Robotic systems may be used for applications involving material handling, welding, assembly, and dispensing, among others. Over time, the manner in which these robotic systems operate is becoming more intelligent, more efficient, and more intuitive. As robotic systems become increasingly prevalent in numerous aspects of modern life, the need for robotic systems capable of working alongside humans becomes apparent. Therefore, a demand for such robotic systems has helped open up a field of innovation in controllers, sensing techniques, as well as component design and assembly.\n\nExample implementations relate to a rotary transformer used to couple electrical signals between two parts that rotate relative to each other via magnetic coupling of a primary winding and a secondary winding. For the purposes of this application, the stationary side of the rotary transformer will be referred to as the primary side and the rotating side of the rotary transformer will be referred to as the secondary side of the transformer. With this arrangement, the secondary side may send an electrical signal (e.g., a power signal, a sensor signal, another output signal, or multiple signals) to the primary side via the magnetic coupling of the transformer windings. Additionally or alternatively, the primary side may send a signal to the secondary side via the magnetic coupling of the transformer windings.\n\nIn one aspect, a rotary transformer is provided. The rotary transformer includes a primary transformer component with a primary winding and a secondary transformer component with a secondary winding.",
  "cpc": [
    "B25J 13/087",
    "B25J 13/006",
    "B25J 13/025",
    "H01F 27/28",
    "H01F 38/18",
    "H03B 5/1237",
    "H03C 3/12",
    "H03D 3/02",
    "H03L 7/08",
    "H03M 5/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 13/02",
    "B25J 13/08",
    "H01F 27/28",
    "H03B 5/12",
    "H03C 3/12",
    "H03D 3/02",
    "H03L 7/08",
    "H03M 5/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "X Development LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Michael George Sleator",
    "Eric Holland"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-12-09",
  "publication_date": "2017-08-01",
  "grant_date": "2017-08-01",
  "priority_date": "2015-12-09",
  "application_number": "US-201514963541-A",
  "family_id": "59383253",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
  "citations": [
    "US3824857A",
    "US4450443A",
    "US5347256A",
    "US5675449A",
    "US20100066340A1",
    "US8847718B2",
    "US8542085B2",
    "US20150377741A1"
  ]
}