High-bandwidth modular slip ring with embedded error correction

1 . A non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals, comprising:

a transmitter having a plurality of emitters positioned in a substantially annular pattern, wherein said plurality of emitters are operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver located a distance from said transmitter, wherein said receiver includes a plurality of cells operable to receive said signal across a non-contacting interface; and

a signal source in communication with said transmitter;

wherein said plurality of emitters form a plurality of data channels less than said plurality of emitters;

wherein each of said plurality of data channels comprises four emitters;

wherein each of said plurality of data channels comprises two active emitters and two inactive emitters; and

wherein one inactive emitter is located on either side of two active emitters in each of said plurality of data channels.

2 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of emitters are operable to emit one or more wavelengths of light.

3 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter further comprises:

an encoder position sensor ring;

a rotating register; and

a stationary register, wherein bits from said signal source are parallel-loaded into said rotating register and clocked via a signal from said encoder position sensor ring at said stationary register;

wherein said active emitters are shifted one position with rotation of said transmitter or receiver with every interval of said stationary register.

4 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of data channels is operable to transmit data simultaneously.

5 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of data channels is operable to transmit data with five millimeters of radial runout or axial runout between said transmitter and said receiver.

6 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , further comprising an integrated circuit operable to control said plurality of data channels, wherein said integrated circuit comprises one or more Field-Programmable Gate Arrays operable to manage data transfer between said plurality of emitters and receiver cells.

7 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of data channels are formed in multiple concentric data channel stripes.

8 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of emitters are one of light emitting diode emitters, capacitive emitters, inductive emitters, and radio frequency emitters.

9 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of data channels comprise one or more Forward Error Correction channels operable to monitor system performance.

10 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter comprises discrete Printed Circuit Board (PCB) sections.

11 . The non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals according to claim 10 , wherein a mounting space of 2 mm or less is located between said transmitter PCB sections.

12 . A non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals, comprising:

a transmitter having a plurality of emitters positioned in a substantially annular pattern, wherein said plurality of emitters are operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver located a distance from said transmitter, wherein said receiver includes a plurality of cells operable to receive said signal across a non-contacting interface; and

a signal source in communication with said transmitter;

wherein said plurality of emitters form a plurality of data channels less than said plurality of emitters;

wherein said plurality of emitters are operable to emit one or more wavelengths of light; and

wherein said emitters are operable to emit light in at least a first wavelength range and a second wavelength range, and wherein spectral channel differentiation is operable in uni-directional and bi-directional data transmission.

13 . A non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals, comprising:

a transmitter having a plurality of emitters positioned in a substantially annular pattern, wherein said plurality of emitters are operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver located a distance from said transmitter, wherein said receiver includes a plurality of cells operable to receive said signal across a non-contacting interface; and

a signal source in communication with said transmitter;

wherein said plurality of emitters form a plurality of data channels less than said plurality of emitters;

wherein said transmitter comprises discrete Printed Circuit Board (PCB) sections; and

wherein said transmitter comprises an embedded encoder position sensor ring, and said encoder position sensor ring is sectioned with said discrete PCB sections of said transmitter.

14 . A non-contacting rotary joint for transmitting and receiving electrical signals, comprising:

a transmitter having a plurality of emitters positioned in a substantially annular pattern, wherein said plurality of emitters are operable to transmit a signal;

a receiver located a distance from said transmitter, wherein said receiver includes a plurality of cells operable to receive said signal across a non-contacting interface; and

a signal source in communication with said transmitter;

wherein said plurality of emitters form a plurality of data channels less than said plurality of emitters;

wherein said transmitter comprises discrete Printed Circuit Board (PCB) sections; and

wherein said transmitter comprises two or more concentric PCB sections, wherein a data stripe is located on each concentric PCB section, and said emitters are in electrical connection with respective data stripes.