WO2024257320A1 - Rotary coupler - Google Patents

Rotary coupler Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024257320A1
WO2024257320A1 PCT/JP2023/022337 JP2023022337W WO2024257320A1 WO 2024257320 A1 WO2024257320 A1 WO 2024257320A1 JP 2023022337 W JP2023022337 W JP 2023022337W WO 2024257320 A1 WO2024257320 A1 WO 2024257320A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
waveguide
fixed
rotating
rotary coupler
coupling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
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PCT/JP2023/022337
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French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
凌 上田
明道 廣田
徹 深沢
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Publication date
Application filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority to JP2024575368A priority Critical patent/JP7651083B1/en
Priority to PCT/JP2023/022337 priority patent/WO2024257320A1/en
Priority to TW112147865A priority patent/TW202501875A/en
Publication of WO2024257320A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024257320A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
    • H01P1/06—Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P5/00—Coupling devices of the waveguide type
    • H01P5/02—Coupling devices of the waveguide type with invariable factor of coupling

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to a rotary coupler.
  • a rotary coupler that includes a fixed part and a rotating part that rotates relative to the fixed part.
  • This rotary coupler allows signals to be transmitted and received between the fixed part and the rotating part.
  • An example of such a conventional rotary coupler is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
  • the rotary coupler disclosed in Patent Document 1 has microstrip lines in both the fixed section and the rotating section.
  • the microstrip lines provided in the fixed section and the microstrip lines provided in the rotating section are of different lengths, are formed in an arc shape, and are arranged opposite each other.
  • the rotary coupler disclosed in Patent Document 1 enables signals to be transmitted and received between the two microstrip lines by electromagnetically coupling the microstrip lines of the fixed section and the microstrip lines of the rotating section while rotating the rotating section relative to the fixed section.
  • the present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above, and aims to provide a rotary coupler that can transmit and receive signals between a fixed part and a rotating part at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part.
  • the rotary coupler according to the present disclosure is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between a fixed part and a rotating part that is rotatably supported on the fixed part, the fixed part having a first waveguide and a second waveguide that have the same diameter and are arranged in an arc shape and facing each other about a central axis, a lossy medium to which one end of the first waveguide and one end of the second waveguide are connected, and a fixed-side transmission/reception circuit to which the other end of the first waveguide and the other end of the second waveguide are connected, the rotating part rotates about the central axis as the center of rotation and has a coupling part that electromagnetically couples with at least one of the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and a rotating-side transmission/reception circuit that is connected to the coupling part and transmits and receives signals between the fixed-side transmission/reception circuit.
  • signals can be transmitted and received between the fixed part and the rotating part at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rotary coupler according to a first embodiment
  • 2A and 2B are diagrams showing configurations of a fixed section and a rotating section according to embodiment 1.
  • Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a fixed section
  • Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a rotating section.
  • 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment, in which the coupling portion of the rotary part is not opposed to the lossy medium of the fixed part, and the coupling portion of the rotary part is opposed to the lossy medium of the fixed part.
  • 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the configurations of a fixed section and a rotating section in a rotary coupler according to embodiment 2.
  • FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the fixed section
  • Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the rotating section.
  • FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary coupler according to a third embodiment.
  • 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a rotary coupler according to a third embodiment, in which Fig. 6A is a plan view of the rotary coupler, and Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 6A.
  • Embodiment 1 A rotary coupler according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • FIG. 1 A rotary coupler according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • FIG. 1 A rotary coupler according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • FIG. 1 A rotary coupler according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment.
  • Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A according to the first embodiment.
  • the rotary coupler As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment includes a fixed portion 10A and a rotating portion 20A. This rotary coupler transmits and receives signals (e.g., high-frequency signals) between the fixed portion 10A and the rotating portion 20A using electromagnetic coupling.
  • signals e.g., high-frequency signals
  • the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A are arranged coaxially and are separated from each other with a certain gap in the axial direction.
  • the rotating part 20A rotates around the central axis O (see FIG. 2) of the rotary coupler relative to the fixed part 10A.
  • the arrow surrounding the central axis O indicates the rotation direction of the rotating part 20A.
  • the rotating part 20A can rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise.
  • the fixed part 10A has a lossy medium 11, a first waveguide 12a (hereinafter simply referred to as waveguide 12a), a second waveguide 12b (hereinafter simply referred to as waveguide 12b), and a transmission/reception circuit 13.
  • the transmission/reception circuit 13 constitutes the fixed side transmission/reception circuit.
  • Both the waveguides 12a and 12b are arc-shaped and have the same diameter. Furthermore, the waveguides 12a and 12b are arranged on the same plane and are coaxial with the central axis O. Therefore, the waveguides 12a and 12b are arranged facing each other, and as a whole, they form a substantially circular arc shape.
  • One end of the waveguide 12a and one end of the waveguide 12b are connected via a lossy medium 11. Meanwhile, the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b are each connected to a transmitting/receiving circuit 13.
  • the rotating part 20A has a coupling part 21 and a transmitting/receiving circuit 22.
  • the transmitting/receiving circuit 22 constitutes the rotating side transmitting/receiving circuit.
  • the coupling portion 21 is a transmission line.
  • the coupling portion 21 is arc-shaped and has the same diameter as the diameter D of the waveguides 12a and 12b.
  • the length of the coupling portion 21 is different from the lengths of the waveguides 12a and 12b. Specifically, the length of the coupling portion 21 is shorter than the lengths of the waveguides 12a and 12b.
  • the coupling portion 21 is also arranged coaxially with the central axis O. That is, the waveguides 12a and 12b, and the coupling portion 21 are arranged coaxially. Furthermore, the coupling portion 21 is connected to the transmission/reception circuit 22.
  • the coupling portion 21 rotates together with the rotation of the rotating portion 20A around the central axis O. At this time, the coupling portion 21 faces at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b in the axial direction. Therefore, the coupling portion 21 is electrically coupled to at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b. As a result, signals are transmitted and received between the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed portion 10A and the transmission/reception circuit 22 of the rotating portion 20A.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment. Note that the white arrows shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 indicate the flow of signals.
  • Figure 3A is a diagram showing a state in which the coupling part 21 of the rotating part 20A does not face the lossy medium 11 of the fixed part 10A.
  • the signal output from the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed part 10A is in phase with the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b and is split into two.
  • the signal distributed to the other end of waveguide 12a is transmitted along the length of waveguide 12a and then absorbed by lossy medium 11.
  • the signal distributed to the other end of waveguide 12b is transmitted along the length of waveguide 12b and then reaches coupling section 21. Therefore, the signal that reaches coupling section 21 is electromagnetically coupled with coupling section 21 and transmitted to transmission/reception circuit 22.
  • Such a signal that travels from transmission/reception circuit 13, through waveguide 12b, through coupling section 21, and to transmission/reception circuit 22 is transmitted without discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution and as a wideband signal.
  • Figure 3B is a diagram showing the state in which the coupling part 21 of the rotating part 20A faces the lossy medium 11 of the fixed part 10A.
  • the signal output from the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed part 10A is in phase with the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b and is split into two.
  • the signal distributed to the other end of the waveguide 12a is transmitted along the length of the waveguide 12a before reaching the coupling section 21.
  • the signal distributed to the other end of the waveguide 12b is transmitted along the length of the waveguide 12b before reaching the coupling section 21.
  • the signal transmitted from waveguide 12a and the signal transmitted from waveguide 12b are combined in phase because waveguides 12a and 12b are electromagnetically coupled to coupling section 21.
  • the combined signal is then transmitted to transmission/reception circuit 22.
  • Such a signal that travels from transmission/reception circuit 13, through waveguides 12a and 12b, through coupling section 21, and to transmission/reception circuit 22 is transmitted as a wideband signal without discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution.
  • the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 does not cause discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution when the coupling unit 21 is placed at a rotational angle position other than directly above the lossy medium 11. Furthermore, when the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 is placed at a rotational angle position corresponding to directly above the lossy medium 11, the signals from both are combined in phase by electromagnetic coupling between the waveguides 12a, 12b and the coupling unit 21. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10A and the rotating unit 20A regardless of the rotational angle position of the rotating unit 20A.
  • the rotary coupler is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A that is rotatably supported by the fixed part 10A.
  • the fixed part 10A has waveguides 12a and 12b that have the same diameter, are arc-shaped, and are arranged facing each other with the central axis O as the center, a lossy medium 11 to which one end of the waveguide 12a and one end of the waveguide 12b are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit 13 to which the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b are connected.
  • the rotating part 20A rotates around the central axis O as the center of rotation, and has a coupling part 21 that electromagnetically couples with at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b, and a transmission/reception circuit 22 that is connected to the coupling part 21 and transmits and receives signals between the transmission/reception circuit 13. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part 20A.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fixed section 10B and a rotating section 20A in the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment. Note that components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
  • the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment includes a fixed portion 10B and a rotating portion 20A.
  • This rotary coupler transmits and receives signals between the fixed portion 10B and the rotating portion 20A using electromagnetic coupling.
  • the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment has a structure including a fixed portion 10B instead of the fixed portion 10A of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment.
  • the fixed part 10B has a lossy medium 11, a waveguide 12a, a waveguide 12b, a branch part 12c, and a transmitting/receiving circuit 13.
  • the waveguide 12a, the waveguide 12b, and the branch portion 12c are assumed to be microstrip lines, and the lossy medium 11 is assumed to be a terminator. Therefore, the rotary coupler can easily manufacture the waveguide 12a, the waveguide 12b, and the branch portion 12c. Furthermore, by using the lossy medium 11 as a terminator, the rotary coupler can prevent unwanted reflection of signals at the ends of the microstrip lines (the tips of the waveguide 12a and the waveguide 12b).
  • the branch portion 12c is formed in a T-shape or a bifurcated shape.
  • the base end of the branch portion 12c is connected to the transmission/reception circuit 13.
  • the two ends of the branch portion 12c are connected to the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b, respectively.
  • the rotating section 20A has a coupling section 21 and a transmitting/receiving circuit 22.
  • the coupling section 21 is assumed to be a probe using a microstrip line.
  • the position of the probe is disposed on the rotation radius (diameter dimension D) of the lossy medium 11, the waveguide 12a, the waveguide 12b, and the branch section 12c.
  • the rotary coupler is capable of adjusting the position of the probe as appropriate, so long as it is within a range in which the desired amount of electromagnetic coupling can be obtained.
  • the transmission line used in the probe may be in a form other than a microstrip line. It is also preferable that the transmission line used in the probe does not resonate at the frequency used. For example, if the transmission line is linear, the length of the transmission line may be set to be equal to ⁇ /2.
  • the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 does not cause discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution when the coupling unit 21 is placed at a rotational angle position other than directly above the lossy medium 11. Furthermore, when the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 is placed at a rotational angle position corresponding to directly above the lossy medium 11, the signals from both are combined in phase by electromagnetic coupling between the waveguides 12a, 12b and the coupling unit 21. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10B and the rotating unit 20A regardless of the rotational angle position of the rotating unit 20A.
  • the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10B and the rotating part 20A that is rotatably supported by the fixed part 10B.
  • the fixed part 10B has waveguides 12a and 12b that have the same diameter, are arc-shaped, and are arranged facing each other with the central axis O as the center, a lossy medium 11 to which one end of the waveguide 12a and one end of the waveguide 12b are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit 13 to which the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b are connected.
  • the rotating part 20A rotates around the central axis O as the center of rotation, and has a coupling part 21 that electromagnetically couples with at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b, and a transmission/reception circuit 22 that is connected to the coupling part 21 and transmits and receives signals between the transmission/reception circuit 13. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10B and the rotating part 20A at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part 20A.
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment.
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment. Note that components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment above are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
  • the rotary coupler includes a fixed portion 10C and a rotating portion 20C.
  • This rotary coupler transmits and receives signals between the fixed portion 10C and the rotating portion 20C using electromagnetic coupling.
  • the fixed section 10C has a lossy medium 11, a first fixed-side half-waveguide 121 of the waveguide 12a (hereinafter simply referred to as the fixed-side half-waveguide 121), a second fixed-side half-waveguide 123 of the waveguide 12b (hereinafter simply referred to as the fixed-side half-waveguide 123), and a transmitting/receiving circuit 13.
  • the fixed section 10C assumes that the lossy medium 11 is a radio wave absorber.
  • the rotating section 20C has a coupling section 21, a transmitting/receiving circuit 22, a first rotating-side half-waveguide 122 of the waveguide 12a (hereinafter simply referred to as the rotating-side half-waveguide 122), and a second rotating-side half-waveguide 124 of the waveguide 12b (hereinafter simply referred to as the rotating-side half-waveguide 124).
  • the waveguide 12a has a half structure (or a divided structure) in the axial direction, with the boundary between the fixed part 10C and the rotating part 20C.
  • This waveguide 12a is divided into a fixed-side half waveguide 121 and a rotating-side half waveguide 122.
  • the fixed-side half waveguide 121 and the rotating-side half waveguide 122 are both groove-shaped, and are arranged so that their openings face each other in the axial direction. Therefore, a hollow section that serves as a waveguide is formed between them.
  • the waveguide 12b has a half structure (or a divided structure) in the axial direction, with the boundary between the fixed part 10C and the rotating part 20C.
  • This waveguide 12b is divided into a fixed-side half waveguide 123 and a rotating-side half waveguide 124.
  • the fixed-side half waveguide 123 and the rotating-side half waveguide 124 are both groove-shaped, and are arranged so that their openings face each other in the axial direction. Therefore, a hollow section that serves as a waveguide is formed between them.
  • One end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 121 and one end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 123 are connected via a lossy medium 11.
  • the other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 123 are each connected to the transmission/reception circuit 13.
  • the other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 123 may also be connected to the transmission/reception circuit 13 via a branch portion 12c.
  • one end of the rotating side half-split waveguide 122 and one end of the rotating side half-split waveguide 124 are connected via a coupling portion 21.
  • the other end of the fixed side half-split waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed side half-split waveguide 123 are connected to each other.
  • the rotary coupler according to embodiment 3 does not cause discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution when the coupling unit 21 is placed at a rotational angle position other than directly above the lossy medium 11. Furthermore, when the rotary coupler according to embodiment 3 is placed at a rotational angle position corresponding to directly above the lossy medium 11, the signals from both are combined in phase by electromagnetic coupling between the waveguides 12a, 12b and the coupling unit 21. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 3 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10C and the rotating unit 20C regardless of the rotational angle position of the rotating unit 20C.
  • the fixed part 10C includes a fixed-side half-slit waveguide 121 that constitutes the waveguide 12a, a fixed-side half-slit waveguide 123 that constitutes the waveguide 12b, a lossy medium 11 to which one end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 121 and one end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 123 are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit 13 to which the other end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 123 are connected.
  • the rotating unit 20C has a rotating half-waveguide 122 constituting the waveguide 12a, a rotating half-waveguide 124 constituting the waveguide 12b, a coupling unit 21 to which one end of the rotating half-waveguide 122 and one end of the rotating half-waveguide 124 are connected and which rotates about the central axis O as the center of rotation and which electromagnetically couples with at least one of the fixed half-waveguide 121 and the fixed half-waveguide 123, and a transmission/reception circuit 22 connected to the coupling unit 21 and which transmits and receives signals with the transmission/reception circuit 13. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10C and the rotating unit 20C at all rotation angle positions of the rotating unit 20C.

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Abstract

This rotary coupler uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between a fixed part (10A) and a rotating part (20A) that is rotatably supported with respect to the fixed part (10A). The fixed part (10A) has waveguides (12a, 12b) that have the same diameter and are arranged around a central axis (O) so as to face each other in an arc shape, a lossy medium (11) to which one end of the waveguide (12a) and one end of the waveguide (12b) are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit (13) to which the other end of the waveguide (12a) and the other end of the waveguide (12b) are connected. The rotating part (20A) has a coupling part (21) that rotates about the central axis (O) and electromagnetically couples with at least one of the waveguides (12a, 12b), and a transmitting/receiving circuit (22) that is connected to the coupling part (21) and transmits/receives signals to/from the transmitting/receiving circuit (13).

Description

回転結合器Rotary Coupler

　本開示は、回転結合器に関する。 This disclosure relates to a rotary coupler.

　従来、固定部及びこの固定部に対して回転する回転部を備える回転結合器が、提供されている。この回転結合器は、固定部と回転部との間において、信号を送受信可能とするものである。このような、従来の回転結合器としては、例えば、特許文献１に開示されている。 　Conventionally, a rotary coupler has been provided that includes a fixed part and a rotating part that rotates relative to the fixed part. This rotary coupler allows signals to be transmitted and received between the fixed part and the rotating part. An example of such a conventional rotary coupler is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

特表２００８－５３３７８６号公報Special Publication No. 2008-533786

　特許文献１に開示された回転結合器は、マイクロストリップ線路を、固定部と回転部とにそれぞれ備えている。固定部に設けられたマイクロストリップ線路と、回転部に設けられたマイクロストリップ線路とは、互いに異なる長さで、且つ、円弧状に形成されており、互いに対向して配置されている。特許文献１に開示された回転結合器は、固定部に対して、回転部を回転させながら、固定部のマイクロストリップ線路と回転部のマイクロストリップ線路との間を電磁結合することにより、２つのマイクロストリップ線路間において、信号の送受信を可能としている。 The rotary coupler disclosed in Patent Document 1 has microstrip lines in both the fixed section and the rotating section. The microstrip lines provided in the fixed section and the microstrip lines provided in the rotating section are of different lengths, are formed in an arc shape, and are arranged opposite each other. The rotary coupler disclosed in Patent Document 1 enables signals to be transmitted and received between the two microstrip lines by electromagnetically coupling the microstrip lines of the fixed section and the microstrip lines of the rotating section while rotating the rotating section relative to the fixed section.

　ここで、回転部のマイクロストリップ線路が、固定部のマイクロストリップ線路に設けられる終端部と対向する位置を、通過（回転）する場合、当該回転部のマイクロストリップ線路に対応する固定部のマイクロストリップ線路が、一時的に無くなる。このため、２つのマイクロストリップ線路間における電磁的な結合力が、非常に小さくなり、利得が低下してしまう。この結果、特許文献１に開示された回転結合器は、回転部の全ての回転角度において、信号の送受信ができないおそれがある。 Here, when the microstrip line of the rotating part passes (rotates) a position facing the terminal end of the microstrip line of the fixed part, the microstrip line of the fixed part corresponding to the microstrip line of the rotating part temporarily disappears. This causes the electromagnetic coupling force between the two microstrip lines to become very small, resulting in a decrease in gain. As a result, the rotary coupler disclosed in Patent Document 1 may not be able to transmit and receive signals at all rotation angles of the rotating part.

　本開示は、上記のような課題を解決するためになされたもので、回転部の全ての回転角度位置において、固定部と回転部との間で信号の送受信を行うことができる回転結合器を提供することを目的とする。 The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above, and aims to provide a rotary coupler that can transmit and receive signals between a fixed part and a rotating part at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part.

　本開示に係る回転結合器は、固定部と、当該固定部に対して回転可能に支持される回転部との間において、信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行う回転結合器であって、固定部は、同一径を有し、且つ、円弧状をなして、向き合うように中心軸を中心として配置される第１の導波管及び第２の導波管と、第１の導波管の一端と第２の導波管の一端とが接続される損失性媒質と、第１の導波管の他端と第２の導波管の他端とが接続される固定側送受信回路とを有し、回転部は、中心軸を回転中心として回転し、第１の導波管及び第２の導波管のうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管との間で、電磁結合する結合部と、結合部と接続し、固定側送受信回路との間で信号の送受信を行う回転側送受信回路とを有するものである。 The rotary coupler according to the present disclosure is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between a fixed part and a rotating part that is rotatably supported on the fixed part, the fixed part having a first waveguide and a second waveguide that have the same diameter and are arranged in an arc shape and facing each other about a central axis, a lossy medium to which one end of the first waveguide and one end of the second waveguide are connected, and a fixed-side transmission/reception circuit to which the other end of the first waveguide and the other end of the second waveguide are connected, the rotating part rotates about the central axis as the center of rotation and has a coupling part that electromagnetically couples with at least one of the first waveguide and the second waveguide, and a rotating-side transmission/reception circuit that is connected to the coupling part and transmits and receives signals between the fixed-side transmission/reception circuit.

　本開示によれば、回転部の全ての回転角度位置において、固定部と回転部との間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 According to the present disclosure, signals can be transmitted and received between the fixed part and the rotating part at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part.

実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の概略構成図である。1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a rotary coupler according to a first embodiment; 実施の形態１に係る固定部及び回転部の構成を示す図である。図２Ａは、固定部の概略構成図である。図２Ｂは、回転部の概略構成図である。2A and 2B are diagrams showing configurations of a fixed section and a rotating section according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a fixed section, and Fig. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a rotating section. 実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の動作を示す図である。図３Ａは、回転部の結合部が固定部の損失性媒質と対向していない状態を示す図である。図３Ｂは、回転部の結合部が固定部の損失性媒質と対向した状態を示す図である。3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment, in which the coupling portion of the rotary part is not opposed to the lossy medium of the fixed part, and the coupling portion of the rotary part is opposed to the lossy medium of the fixed part. 実施の形態２に係る回転結合器における固定部及び回転部の構成を示す図である。図４Ａは、固定部の概略構成図である。図４Ｂは、回転部の概略構成図である。4A and 4B are diagrams showing the configurations of a fixed section and a rotating section in a rotary coupler according to embodiment 2. Fig. 4A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the fixed section, and Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the rotating section. 実施の形態３に係る回転結合器の分解斜視図である。FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary coupler according to a third embodiment. 実施の形態３に係る回転結合器の構成を示す図である。図６Ａは、回転結合器の平面図である。図６Ｂは、図６ＡのVI－VI矢視断面図である。6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a rotary coupler according to a third embodiment, in which Fig. 6A is a plan view of the rotary coupler, and Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Fig. 6A.

　以下、本開示をより詳細に説明するために、本開示を実施するための形態について、添付の図面に従って説明する。 Below, in order to explain this disclosure in more detail, the form for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

実施の形態１．
　実施の形態１に係る回転結合器について、図１から図３を用いて説明する。 Embodiment 1.
A rotary coupler according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

　先ず、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の構成について、図１及び図２を用いて説明する。図１は、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の概略構成図である。図２は、実施の形態１に係る固定部１０Ａ及び回転部２０Ａの構成を示す図である。 First, the configuration of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A according to the first embodiment.

　図１に示すように、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器は、固定部１０Ａ及び回転部２０Ａを備えている。この回転結合器は、固定部１０Ａと回転部２０Ａとの間における信号（例えば、高周波信号）の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行うものである。 As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment includes a fixed portion 10A and a rotating portion 20A. This rotary coupler transmits and receives signals (e.g., high-frequency signals) between the fixed portion 10A and the rotating portion 20A using electromagnetic coupling.

　固定部１０Ａと回転部２０Ａとは、同軸上に配置されており、その軸方向において所定の隙間量を有して、互いに離間している。回転部２０Ａは、固定された固定部１０Ａに対して、回転結合器の中心軸Ｏ（図２参照）を回転中心として回転する。なお、図２Ｂにおいて、中心軸Ｏを囲う矢印は、回転部２０Ａの回転方向を示している。即ち、回転部２０Ａは、時計回り及び反時計回りで回転可能となっている。 The fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A are arranged coaxially and are separated from each other with a certain gap in the axial direction. The rotating part 20A rotates around the central axis O (see FIG. 2) of the rotary coupler relative to the fixed part 10A. Note that in FIG. 2B, the arrow surrounding the central axis O indicates the rotation direction of the rotating part 20A. In other words, the rotating part 20A can rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise.

　図１及び図２に示すように、固定部１０Ａは、損失性媒質１１、第１の導波管１２ａ（以下、単に、導波管１２ａと記載する）、第２の導波管１２ｂ（以下、単に、導波管１２ｂと記載する）、及び、送受信回路１３を有している。なお、送受信回路１３は、固定側送受信回路を構成するものである。 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixed part 10A has a lossy medium 11, a first waveguide 12a (hereinafter simply referred to as waveguide 12a), a second waveguide 12b (hereinafter simply referred to as waveguide 12b), and a transmission/reception circuit 13. The transmission/reception circuit 13 constitutes the fixed side transmission/reception circuit.

　導波管１２ａと導波管１２ｂとは、共に円弧状をなしており、同一径を有している。また、導波管１２ａと導波管１２ｂとは、互いに中心軸Ｏと同軸上に配置された状態で、同一平面上に設けられている。このため、導波管１２ａと導波管１２ｂとは、互いに向き合うように配置されており、全体としても、実質的に１周する円弧状をなしている。 Both the waveguides 12a and 12b are arc-shaped and have the same diameter. Furthermore, the waveguides 12a and 12b are arranged on the same plane and are coaxial with the central axis O. Therefore, the waveguides 12a and 12b are arranged facing each other, and as a whole, they form a substantially circular arc shape.

　導波管１２ａの一端と、導波管１２ｂの一端とは、損失性媒質１１を介して、接続されている。一方、導波管１２ａの他端と、導波管１２ｂの他端とは、送受信回路１３にそれぞれ接続されている。 One end of the waveguide 12a and one end of the waveguide 12b are connected via a lossy medium 11. Meanwhile, the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b are each connected to a transmitting/receiving circuit 13.

　図１及び図２に示すように、回転部２０Ａは、結合部２１及び送受信回路２２を有している。なお、送受信回路２２は、回転側送受信回路を構成するものである。 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating part 20A has a coupling part 21 and a transmitting/receiving circuit 22. The transmitting/receiving circuit 22 constitutes the rotating side transmitting/receiving circuit.

　結合部２１は、伝送線路である。この結合部２１は、円弧状をなしており、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂの径寸法Ｄと同じ径寸法を有している。結合部２１の長さは、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂの長さとは、異なる長さとなっている。具体的には、結合部２１の長さは、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂの長さよりも短い長さとなっている。また、結合部２１は、中心軸Ｏと同軸上に配置されている。即ち、導波管１２ａ、導波管１２ｂ、及び、結合部２１は、同軸上に配置されている。更に、結合部２１は、送受信回路２２と接続されている。 The coupling portion 21 is a transmission line. The coupling portion 21 is arc-shaped and has the same diameter as the diameter D of the waveguides 12a and 12b. The length of the coupling portion 21 is different from the lengths of the waveguides 12a and 12b. Specifically, the length of the coupling portion 21 is shorter than the lengths of the waveguides 12a and 12b. The coupling portion 21 is also arranged coaxially with the central axis O. That is, the waveguides 12a and 12b, and the coupling portion 21 are arranged coaxially. Furthermore, the coupling portion 21 is connected to the transmission/reception circuit 22.

　結合部２１は、回転部２０Ａの中心軸Ｏ周りの回転と共に回転する。このとき、結合部２１は、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂのうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管と、軸方向において対向する。このため、結合部２１は、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂのうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管と、電気結合する。この結果、固定部１０Ａの送受信回路１３と、回転部２０Ａの送受信回路２２との間において、信号の送受信が行われる。 The coupling portion 21 rotates together with the rotation of the rotating portion 20A around the central axis O. At this time, the coupling portion 21 faces at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b in the axial direction. Therefore, the coupling portion 21 is electrically coupled to at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b. As a result, signals are transmitted and received between the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed portion 10A and the transmission/reception circuit 22 of the rotating portion 20A.

　次に、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の動作について、図３を用いて説明する。図３は、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の動作を示す図である。なお、図１及び図３に示す白抜きの矢印は、信号の流れを示している。 Next, the operation of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment. Note that the white arrows shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 indicate the flow of signals.

　図３Ａは、回転部２０Ａの結合部２１が固定部１０Ａの損失性媒質１１と対向していない状態を示す図である。この図３Ａに示すように、回転部２０Ａの結合部２１が固定部１０Ａの損失性媒質１１と対向していない場合（言い換えれば、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１に対してずれて配置される）、固定部１０Ａの送受信回路１３から出力された信号は、導波管１２ａの他端及び導波管１２ｂの他端に対して、同相で、且つ、２分配される。 Figure 3A is a diagram showing a state in which the coupling part 21 of the rotating part 20A does not face the lossy medium 11 of the fixed part 10A. As shown in Figure 3A, when the coupling part 21 of the rotating part 20A does not face the lossy medium 11 of the fixed part 10A (in other words, the coupling part 21 is positioned offset from the lossy medium 11), the signal output from the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed part 10A is in phase with the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b and is split into two.

　導波管１２ａの他端に分配された信号は、当該導波管１２ａの長さ方向に沿って伝送された後、損失性媒質１１に吸収される。一方、導波管１２ｂの他端に分配された信号は、当該導波管１２ｂの長さ方向に沿って伝送された後、結合部２１に到達する。このため、結合部２１に到達した信号は、当該結合部２１と電磁結合し、送受信回路２２に伝送される。このような、送受信回路１３から、導波管１２ｂを介して、結合部２１を通過し、送受信回路２２に至るまでの信号は、電磁界分布に不連続性が無く、且つ、広帯域な信号として、伝送される。 The signal distributed to the other end of waveguide 12a is transmitted along the length of waveguide 12a and then absorbed by lossy medium 11. On the other hand, the signal distributed to the other end of waveguide 12b is transmitted along the length of waveguide 12b and then reaches coupling section 21. Therefore, the signal that reaches coupling section 21 is electromagnetically coupled with coupling section 21 and transmitted to transmission/reception circuit 22. Such a signal that travels from transmission/reception circuit 13, through waveguide 12b, through coupling section 21, and to transmission/reception circuit 22 is transmitted without discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution and as a wideband signal.

　図３Ｂは、回転部２０Ａの結合部２１が固定部１０Ａの損失性媒質１１と対向した状態を示す図である。この図３Ｂに示すように、回転部２０Ａの結合部２１が固定部１０Ａの損失性媒質１１と対向する場合（言い換えれば、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上に位置する場合）、固定部１０Ａの送受信回路１３から出力された信号は、導波管１２ａの他端及び導波管１２ｂの他端に対して、同相で、且つ、２分配される。 Figure 3B is a diagram showing the state in which the coupling part 21 of the rotating part 20A faces the lossy medium 11 of the fixed part 10A. As shown in Figure 3B, when the coupling part 21 of the rotating part 20A faces the lossy medium 11 of the fixed part 10A (in other words, when the coupling part 21 is located directly above the lossy medium 11), the signal output from the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed part 10A is in phase with the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b and is split into two.

　導波管１２ａの他端に分配された信号は、当該導波管１２ａの長さ方向に沿って伝送された後、結合部２１に到達する。一方、導波管１２ｂの他端に分配された信号は、当該導波管１２ｂの長さ方向に沿って伝送された後、結合部２１に到達する。 The signal distributed to the other end of the waveguide 12a is transmitted along the length of the waveguide 12a before reaching the coupling section 21. On the other hand, the signal distributed to the other end of the waveguide 12b is transmitted along the length of the waveguide 12b before reaching the coupling section 21.

　ここで、導波管１２ａの長さと、導波管１２ｂの長さとが、同じ長さである場合、又は、導波管１２ａの長さと導波管１２ｂの長さとの差が、信号の波長の整数倍である場合、導波管１２ａから伝送されてきた信号と、導波管１２ｂから伝送されてきた信号とは、導波管１２ａ及び導波管１２ｂと結合部２１とが電磁結合するため、同相で合成される。そして、合成された信号は、送受信回路２２に伝送される。このような、送受信回路１３から、導波管１２ａ及び導波管１２ｂを介して、結合部２１を通過し、送受信回路２２に至るまでの信号は、電磁界分布に不連続性が無く、且つ、広帯域な信号として、伝送される。 Here, when the length of waveguide 12a and the length of waveguide 12b are the same, or when the difference between the length of waveguide 12a and the length of waveguide 12b is an integer multiple of the wavelength of the signal, the signal transmitted from waveguide 12a and the signal transmitted from waveguide 12b are combined in phase because waveguides 12a and 12b are electromagnetically coupled to coupling section 21. The combined signal is then transmitted to transmission/reception circuit 22. Such a signal that travels from transmission/reception circuit 13, through waveguides 12a and 12b, through coupling section 21, and to transmission/reception circuit 22 is transmitted as a wideband signal without discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution.

　なお、上述した回転結合器の動作においては、固定部１０Ａの送受信回路１３から送信された信号を、回転部２０Ａの送受信回路２２で受信する動作を説明したが、この説明から、回転部２０Ａの送受信回路２２から送信された信号を、固定部１０Ａの送受信回路１３で受信する動作を十分に理解することができるので、その説明については省略する。 In addition, in the operation of the rotary coupler described above, the operation of receiving a signal transmitted from the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed part 10A by the transmission/reception circuit 22 of the rotating part 20A has been explained, but this explanation provides a sufficient understanding of the operation of receiving a signal transmitted from the transmission/reception circuit 22 of the rotating part 20A by the transmission/reception circuit 13 of the fixed part 10A, so the explanation will be omitted.

　従って、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上以外に対応する回転角度位置に配置される場合、電磁界分布に不連続性を発生させることが無い。また、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上に対応する回転角度位置に配置される場合、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂと結合部２１との電磁結合によって、双方からの信号を同相で合成する。このため、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器は、回転部２０Ａがどのような回転角度位置であっても、固定部１０Ａと回転部２０Ａとの間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 does not cause discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution when the coupling unit 21 is placed at a rotational angle position other than directly above the lossy medium 11. Furthermore, when the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 is placed at a rotational angle position corresponding to directly above the lossy medium 11, the signals from both are combined in phase by electromagnetic coupling between the waveguides 12a, 12b and the coupling unit 21. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10A and the rotating unit 20A regardless of the rotational angle position of the rotating unit 20A.

　以上、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器は、固定部１０Ａと、当該固定部１０Ａに対して回転可能に支持される回転部２０Ａとの間において、信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行う回転結合器である。固定部１０Ａは、同一径を有し、且つ、円弧状をなして、向き合うように中心軸Ｏを中心として配置される導波管１２ａ，１２ｂと、導波管１２ａの一端と導波管１２ｂの一端とが接続される損失性媒質１１と、導波管１２ａの他端と導波管１２ｂの他端とが接続される送受信回路１３とを有する。回転部２０Ａは、中心軸Ｏを回転中心として回転し、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂのうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管との間で、電磁結合する結合部２１と、結合部２１と接続し、送受信回路１３との間で信号の送受信を行う送受信回路２２とを有する。このため、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器は、回転部２０Ａの全ての回転角度位置において、固定部１０Ａと回転部２０Ａとの間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 As described above, the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A that is rotatably supported by the fixed part 10A. The fixed part 10A has waveguides 12a and 12b that have the same diameter, are arc-shaped, and are arranged facing each other with the central axis O as the center, a lossy medium 11 to which one end of the waveguide 12a and one end of the waveguide 12b are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit 13 to which the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b are connected. The rotating part 20A rotates around the central axis O as the center of rotation, and has a coupling part 21 that electromagnetically couples with at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b, and a transmission/reception circuit 22 that is connected to the coupling part 21 and transmits and receives signals between the transmission/reception circuit 13. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 1 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10A and the rotating part 20A at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part 20A.

実施の形態２．
　実施の形態２に係る回転結合器について、図４を用いて説明する。図４は、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器における固定部１０Ｂ及び回転部２０Ａの構成を示す図である。なお、上述した実施の形態１で説明した構成と同様の機能を有する構成については、同一の符号を付し、その説明を省略する。 Embodiment 2.
A rotary coupler according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fixed section 10B and a rotating section 20A in the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment. Note that components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

　図４に示すように、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、固定部１０Ｂ及び回転部２０Ａを備えている。この回転結合器は、固定部１０Ｂと回転部２０Ａとの間における信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行うものである。即ち、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、実施の形態１に係る回転結合器の固定部１０Ａに替えて、固定部１０Ｂを備えた構造となっている。 As shown in FIG. 4, the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment includes a fixed portion 10B and a rotating portion 20A. This rotary coupler transmits and receives signals between the fixed portion 10B and the rotating portion 20A using electromagnetic coupling. In other words, the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment has a structure including a fixed portion 10B instead of the fixed portion 10A of the rotary coupler according to the first embodiment.

　図４Ａに示すように、固定部１０Ｂは、損失性媒質１１、導波管１２ａ、導波管１２ｂ、分岐部１２ｃ、及び、送受信回路１３を有している。 As shown in FIG. 4A, the fixed part 10B has a lossy medium 11, a waveguide 12a, a waveguide 12b, a branch part 12c, and a transmitting/receiving circuit 13.

　固定部１０Ｂは、導波管１２ａ、導波管１２ｂ、及び、分岐部１２ｃを、マイクロストリップ線路と想定しており、損失性媒質１１を終端器と想定している。このため、回転結合器は、導波管１２ａ、導波管１２ｂ、及び、分岐部１２ｃを、容易に製造することができる。また、回転結合器は、損失性媒質１１を終端器とすることで、マイクロストリップ線路の末端（導波管１２ａの先端、及び、導波管１２ｂの先端）における、信号の不要な反射を防ぐことができる。 In the fixed portion 10B, the waveguide 12a, the waveguide 12b, and the branch portion 12c are assumed to be microstrip lines, and the lossy medium 11 is assumed to be a terminator. Therefore, the rotary coupler can easily manufacture the waveguide 12a, the waveguide 12b, and the branch portion 12c. Furthermore, by using the lossy medium 11 as a terminator, the rotary coupler can prevent unwanted reflection of signals at the ends of the microstrip lines (the tips of the waveguide 12a and the waveguide 12b).

　分岐部１２ｃは、Ｔ字状又は二股状に形成されている。分岐部１２ｃの基端は、送受信回路１３と接続されている。また、分岐部１２ｃの２つの先端は、導波管１２ａの他端及び導波管１２ｂの他端に、それぞれ接続されている。 The branch portion 12c is formed in a T-shape or a bifurcated shape. The base end of the branch portion 12c is connected to the transmission/reception circuit 13. In addition, the two ends of the branch portion 12c are connected to the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b, respectively.

　図４Ｂに示すように、回転部２０Ａは、結合部２１及び送受信回路２２を有している。実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１を、マイクロストリップ線路を用いたプローブと想定している。この場合、プローブの位置は、損失性媒質１１、導波管１２ａ、導波管１２ｂ、及び、分岐部１２ｃの回転半径（径寸法Ｄ）上に配置されている。このとき、回転結合器は、所望の電磁結合量が得られる範囲内であれば、プローブの位置を、適宜、調整可能となっている。 As shown in FIG. 4B, the rotating section 20A has a coupling section 21 and a transmitting/receiving circuit 22. In the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment, the coupling section 21 is assumed to be a probe using a microstrip line. In this case, the position of the probe is disposed on the rotation radius (diameter dimension D) of the lossy medium 11, the waveguide 12a, the waveguide 12b, and the branch section 12c. In this case, the rotary coupler is capable of adjusting the position of the probe as appropriate, so long as it is within a range in which the desired amount of electromagnetic coupling can be obtained.

　なお、プローブに用いられる伝送線路は、マイクロストリップ線路以外の線路形態でも良い。また、プローブに用いられる伝送線路は、使用周波数において共振しないことが好ましい。例えば、その伝送線路の形状が線状であるならば、当該伝送線路は、λ／２に等しい長さにすれば良い。 The transmission line used in the probe may be in a form other than a microstrip line. It is also preferable that the transmission line used in the probe does not resonate at the frequency used. For example, if the transmission line is linear, the length of the transmission line may be set to be equal to λ/2.

　従って、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上以外に対応する回転角度位置に配置される場合、電磁界分布に不連続性を発生させることが無い。また、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上に対応する回転角度位置に配置される場合、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂと結合部２１との電磁結合によって、双方からの信号を同相で合成する。このため、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、回転部２０Ａがどのような回転角度位置であっても、固定部１０Ｂと回転部２０Ａとの間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 does not cause discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution when the coupling unit 21 is placed at a rotational angle position other than directly above the lossy medium 11. Furthermore, when the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 is placed at a rotational angle position corresponding to directly above the lossy medium 11, the signals from both are combined in phase by electromagnetic coupling between the waveguides 12a, 12b and the coupling unit 21. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10B and the rotating unit 20A regardless of the rotational angle position of the rotating unit 20A.

　以上、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、固定部１０Ｂと、当該固定部１０Ｂに対して回転可能に支持される回転部２０Ａとの間において、信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行う回転結合器である。固定部１０Ｂは、同一径を有し、且つ、円弧状をなして、向き合うように中心軸Ｏを中心として配置される導波管１２ａ，１２ｂと、導波管１２ａの一端と導波管１２ｂの一端とが接続される損失性媒質１１と、導波管１２ａの他端と導波管１２ｂの他端とが接続される送受信回路１３とを有する。回転部２０Ａは、中心軸Ｏを回転中心として回転し、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂのうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管との間で、電磁結合する結合部２１と、結合部２１と接続し、送受信回路１３との間で信号の送受信を行う送受信回路２２とを有する。このため、実施の形態２に係る回転結合器は、回転部２０Ａの全ての回転角度位置において、固定部１０Ｂと回転部２０Ａとの間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 As described above, the rotary coupler according to the second embodiment is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10B and the rotating part 20A that is rotatably supported by the fixed part 10B. The fixed part 10B has waveguides 12a and 12b that have the same diameter, are arc-shaped, and are arranged facing each other with the central axis O as the center, a lossy medium 11 to which one end of the waveguide 12a and one end of the waveguide 12b are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit 13 to which the other end of the waveguide 12a and the other end of the waveguide 12b are connected. The rotating part 20A rotates around the central axis O as the center of rotation, and has a coupling part 21 that electromagnetically couples with at least one of the waveguides 12a and 12b, and a transmission/reception circuit 22 that is connected to the coupling part 21 and transmits and receives signals between the transmission/reception circuit 13. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 2 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed part 10B and the rotating part 20A at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part 20A.

実施の形態３．
　実施の形態３に係る回転結合器について、図５及び図６を用いて説明する。図５は、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器の分解斜視図である。図６は、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器の構成を示す図である。なお、上述した実施の形態１で説明した構成と同様の機能を有する構成については、同一の符号を付し、その説明を省略する。 Embodiment 3.
A rotary coupler according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment. Note that components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment above are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

　図５及び図６に示すように、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器は、固定部１０Ｃ及び回転部２０Ｃを備えている。この回転結合器は、固定部１０Ｃと回転部２０Ｃとの間における信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行うものである。 As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment includes a fixed portion 10C and a rotating portion 20C. This rotary coupler transmits and receives signals between the fixed portion 10C and the rotating portion 20C using electromagnetic coupling.

　固定部１０Ｃは、損失性媒質１１、導波管１２ａの第１の固定側半割導波管１２１（以下、単に、固定側半割導波管１２１と記載する）、導波管１２ｂの第２の固定側半割導波管１２３（以下、単に、固定側半割導波管１２３と記載する）、及び、送受信回路１３を有している。固定部１０Ｃは、損失性媒質１１を電波吸収体と想定している。 The fixed section 10C has a lossy medium 11, a first fixed-side half-waveguide 121 of the waveguide 12a (hereinafter simply referred to as the fixed-side half-waveguide 121), a second fixed-side half-waveguide 123 of the waveguide 12b (hereinafter simply referred to as the fixed-side half-waveguide 123), and a transmitting/receiving circuit 13. The fixed section 10C assumes that the lossy medium 11 is a radio wave absorber.

　これに対して、回転部２０Ｃは、結合部２１、送受信回路２２、導波管１２ａの第１の回転側半割導波管１２２（以下、単に、回転側半割導波管１２２と記載する）、及び、導波管１２ｂの第２の回転側半割導波管１２４（以下、単に、回転側半割導波管１２４と記載する）を有している。 In contrast, the rotating section 20C has a coupling section 21, a transmitting/receiving circuit 22, a first rotating-side half-waveguide 122 of the waveguide 12a (hereinafter simply referred to as the rotating-side half-waveguide 122), and a second rotating-side half-waveguide 124 of the waveguide 12b (hereinafter simply referred to as the rotating-side half-waveguide 124).

　即ち、導波管１２ａは、軸方向において、固定部１０Ｃと回転部２０Ｃとの間を境にして、半割構造（又は分割構造）をなしている。この導波管１２ａは、固定側半割導波管１２１と回転側半割導波管１２２とに分割されて構成されている。固定側半割導波管１２１及び回転側半割導波管１２２は、共に溝型をなしており、開口部同士を軸方向において対向させるように配置されている。このため、それらの間には、導波路となる中空部が形成される。 In other words, the waveguide 12a has a half structure (or a divided structure) in the axial direction, with the boundary between the fixed part 10C and the rotating part 20C. This waveguide 12a is divided into a fixed-side half waveguide 121 and a rotating-side half waveguide 122. The fixed-side half waveguide 121 and the rotating-side half waveguide 122 are both groove-shaped, and are arranged so that their openings face each other in the axial direction. Therefore, a hollow section that serves as a waveguide is formed between them.

　一方、導波管１２ｂは、軸方向において、固定部１０Ｃと回転部２０Ｃとの間を境にして、半割構造（又は分割構造）をなしている。この導波管１２ｂは、固定側半割導波管１２３と回転側半割導波管１２４とに分割されて構成されている。固定側半割導波管１２３及び回転側半割導波管１２４は、共に溝型をなしており、開口部同士を軸方向において対向させるように配置されている。このため、それらの間には、導波路となる中空部が形成される。 On the other hand, the waveguide 12b has a half structure (or a divided structure) in the axial direction, with the boundary between the fixed part 10C and the rotating part 20C. This waveguide 12b is divided into a fixed-side half waveguide 123 and a rotating-side half waveguide 124. The fixed-side half waveguide 123 and the rotating-side half waveguide 124 are both groove-shaped, and are arranged so that their openings face each other in the axial direction. Therefore, a hollow section that serves as a waveguide is formed between them.

　固定側半割導波管１２１の一端と、固定側半割導波管１２３の一端とは、損失性媒質１１を介して、接続されている。固定側半割導波管１２１の他端と、固定側半割導波管１２３の他端とは、送受信回路１３にそれぞれ接続されている。なお、固定側半割導波管１２１の他端と、固定側半割導波管１２３の他端とは、分岐部１２ｃを介して、送受信回路１３に接続されても良い。 One end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 121 and one end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 123 are connected via a lossy medium 11. The other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 123 are each connected to the transmission/reception circuit 13. The other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed-side half-split waveguide 123 may also be connected to the transmission/reception circuit 13 via a branch portion 12c.

　また、回転側半割導波管１２２の一端と、回転側半割導波管１２４の一端とは、結合部２１を介して、接続されている。固定側半割導波管１２１の他端と、固定側半割導波管１２３の他端とは、互いに接続されている。 Furthermore, one end of the rotating side half-split waveguide 122 and one end of the rotating side half-split waveguide 124 are connected via a coupling portion 21. The other end of the fixed side half-split waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed side half-split waveguide 123 are connected to each other.

　従って、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上以外に対応する回転角度位置に配置される場合、電磁界分布に不連続性を発生させることが無い。また、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器は、結合部２１が損失性媒質１１の直上に対応する回転角度位置に配置される場合、導波管１２ａ，１２ｂと結合部２１との電磁結合によって、双方からの信号を同相で合成する。このため、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器は、回転部２０Ｃがどのような回転角度位置であっても、固定部１０Ｃと回転部２０Ｃとの間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 3 does not cause discontinuity in the electromagnetic field distribution when the coupling unit 21 is placed at a rotational angle position other than directly above the lossy medium 11. Furthermore, when the rotary coupler according to embodiment 3 is placed at a rotational angle position corresponding to directly above the lossy medium 11, the signals from both are combined in phase by electromagnetic coupling between the waveguides 12a, 12b and the coupling unit 21. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to embodiment 3 can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10C and the rotating unit 20C regardless of the rotational angle position of the rotating unit 20C.

　以上、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器は、固定部１０Ｃと、当該固定部１０Ｃに対して回転可能に支持される回転部２０Ｃとの間において、信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行う回転結合器であって、固定部１０Ｃと回転部２０Ｃとの間において、同一径を有し、且つ、円弧状をなして、向き合うように中心軸Ｏを中心として配置される、半割構造をなす導波管１２ａ，１２を備える。固定部１０Ｃは、導波管１２ａを構成する固定側半割導波管１２１と、導波管１２ｂを構成する固定側半割導波管１２３と、固定側半割導波管１２１の一端と固定側半割導波管１２３の一端とが接続される損失性媒質１１と、固定側半割導波管１２１の他端と固定側半割導波管１２３の他端とが接続される送受信回路１３とを有する。回転部２０Ｃは、導波管１２ａを構成する回転側半割導波管１２２と、導波管１２ｂを構成する回転側半割導波管１２４と、回転側半割導波管１２２の一端と回転側半割導波管１２４の一端とが接続されると共に、中心軸Ｏを回転中心として回転し、固定側半割導波管１２１及び固定側半割導波管１２３のうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管との間で、電磁結合する結合部２１と、結合部２１と接続し、送受信回路１３との間で信号の送受信を行う送受信回路２２とを有する。このため、実施の形態３に係る回転結合器は、回転部２０Ｃの全ての回転角度位置において、固定部１０Ｃと回転部２０Ｃとの間で信号の送受信を行うことができる。 As described above, the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment is a rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between a fixed part 10C and a rotating part 20C that is rotatably supported relative to the fixed part 10C, and includes waveguides 12a, 12 having a split structure that have the same diameter, are arc-shaped, and are arranged facing each other with a central axis O between the fixed part 10C and the rotating part 20C. The fixed part 10C includes a fixed-side half-slit waveguide 121 that constitutes the waveguide 12a, a fixed-side half-slit waveguide 123 that constitutes the waveguide 12b, a lossy medium 11 to which one end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 121 and one end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 123 are connected, and a transmission/reception circuit 13 to which the other end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 121 and the other end of the fixed-side half-slit waveguide 123 are connected. The rotating unit 20C has a rotating half-waveguide 122 constituting the waveguide 12a, a rotating half-waveguide 124 constituting the waveguide 12b, a coupling unit 21 to which one end of the rotating half-waveguide 122 and one end of the rotating half-waveguide 124 are connected and which rotates about the central axis O as the center of rotation and which electromagnetically couples with at least one of the fixed half-waveguide 121 and the fixed half-waveguide 123, and a transmission/reception circuit 22 connected to the coupling unit 21 and which transmits and receives signals with the transmission/reception circuit 13. Therefore, the rotary coupler according to the third embodiment can transmit and receive signals between the fixed unit 10C and the rotating unit 20C at all rotation angle positions of the rotating unit 20C.

　なお、本開示は、その開示の範囲内において、各実施の形態の自由な組み合わせ、或いは、各実施の形態における任意の構成要素の変形、若しくは、各実施の形態における任意の構成要素の省略が可能である。 Furthermore, within the scope of this disclosure, it is possible to freely combine the embodiments, modify any of the components in each embodiment, or omit any of the components in each embodiment.

　本開示に係る回転結合器は、固定部に損失性媒質を設けることで、回転部の全ての回転角度位置において、固定部と回転部との間で信号の送受信を行うことができ、回転結合器等に用いるのに適している。 The rotary coupler according to the present disclosure is suitable for use in rotary couplers, etc., because it is possible to transmit and receive signals between the fixed and rotating parts at all rotation angle positions of the rotating part by providing a lossy medium in the fixed part.

　１０Ａ，１０Ｂ，１０Ｃ　固定部、１１　損失性媒質、１２ａ　第１の導波管、１２１　第１の固定側半割導波管、１２２　第１の回転側半割導波管、１２ｂ　第２の導波管、１２３　第２の固定側半割導波管、１２４　第２の回転側半割導波管、１２ｃ　分岐部、１３　送受信回路、２０Ａ，２０Ｃ　回転部、２１　結合部、２２　送受信回路、Ｄ　径寸法、Ｏ　中心軸。 10A, 10B, 10C fixed section, 11 lossy medium, 12a first waveguide, 121 first fixed half waveguide, 122 first rotating half waveguide, 12b second waveguide, 123 second fixed half waveguide, 124 second rotating half waveguide, 12c branch section, 13 transmitting/receiving circuit, 20A, 20C rotating section, 21 coupling section, 22 transmitting/receiving circuit, D diameter, O central axis.

Claims (5)

　固定部と、当該固定部に対して回転可能に支持される回転部との間において、信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行う回転結合器であって、
　前記固定部は、
　同一径を有し、且つ、円弧状をなして、向き合うように中心軸を中心として配置される第１の導波管及び第２の導波管と、
　前記第１の導波管の一端と前記第２の導波管の一端とが接続される損失性媒質と、
　前記第１の導波管の他端と前記第２の導波管の他端とが接続される固定側送受信回路とを有し、
　前記回転部は、
　前記中心軸を回転中心として回転し、前記第１の導波管及び前記第２の導波管のうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管との間で、電磁結合する結合部と、
　前記結合部と接続し、前記固定側送受信回路との間で信号の送受信を行う回転側送受信回路とを有する
　ことを特徴とする回転結合器。 A rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between a fixed part and a rotating part that is rotatably supported relative to the fixed part,
The fixing portion is
a first waveguide and a second waveguide having the same diameter, forming an arc shape, and disposed about a central axis so as to face each other;
a lossy medium to which one end of the first waveguide and one end of the second waveguide are connected;
a fixed-side transmitting/receiving circuit to which the other end of the first waveguide and the other end of the second waveguide are connected,
The rotating part is
a coupling portion that rotates about the central axis and is electromagnetically coupled with at least one of the first waveguide and the second waveguide;
a rotation-side transmitting/receiving circuit connected to the coupling portion and transmitting/receiving signals to/from the fixed-side transmitting/receiving circuit. 　固定部と、当該固定部に対して回転可能に支持される回転部との間において、信号の送受信を、電磁的な結合を用いて行う回転結合器であって、
　前記固定部と前記回転部との間において、同一径を有し、且つ、円弧状をなして、向き合うように中心軸を中心として配置される、半割構造をなす第１の導波管及び第２の導波管を備え、
　前記固定部は、
　前記第１の導波管を構成する第１の固定側半割導波管と、
　前記第２の導波管を構成する第２の固定側半割導波管と、
　前記第１の固定側半割導波管の一端と前記第２の固定側半割導波管の一端とが接続される損失性媒質と、
　前記第１の固定側半割導波管の他端と前記第２の固定側半割導波管の他端とが接続される固定側送受信回路とを有し、
　前記回転部は、
　前記第１の導波管を構成する第１の回転側半割導波管と、
　前記第２の導波管を構成する第２の回転側半割導波管と、
　前記第１の回転側半割導波管の一端と前記第２の回転側半割導波管の一端とが接続されると共に、前記中心軸を回転中心として回転し、前記第１の固定側半割導波管及び前記第２の固定側半割導波管のうちの少なくともいずれか一方の導波管との間で、電磁結合する結合部と、
　前記結合部と接続し、前記固定側送受信回路との間で信号の送受信を行う回転側送受信回路とを有する
　ことを特徴とする回転結合器。 A rotary coupler that uses electromagnetic coupling to transmit and receive signals between a fixed part and a rotating part that is rotatably supported relative to the fixed part,
a first waveguide and a second waveguide having a split structure, the first waveguide and the second waveguide having the same diameter, being arc-shaped, and being disposed about a central axis so as to face each other, between the fixed portion and the rotating portion;
The fixing portion is
a first fixed half-waveguide constituting the first waveguide;
a second fixed half-waveguide constituting the second waveguide;
a lossy medium to which one end of the first fixed half-waveguide and one end of the second fixed half-waveguide are connected;
a fixed-side transmitting/receiving circuit to which the other end of the first fixed-side half-waveguide and the other end of the second fixed-side half-waveguide are connected,
The rotating part is
a first rotating half-waveguide constituting the first waveguide;
a second rotating half-waveguide constituting the second waveguide;
a coupling section that connects one end of the first rotating-side half-waveguide and one end of the second rotating-side half-waveguide, rotates about the central axis, and electromagnetically couples with at least one of the first fixed-side half-waveguide and the second fixed-side half-waveguide;
a rotation-side transmitting/receiving circuit connected to the coupling portion and transmitting/receiving signals to/from the fixed-side transmitting/receiving circuit. 　前記第１の導波管の長さと、前記第２の導波管の長さとは、同じ長さである
　ことを特徴とする請求項１又は請求項２記載の回転結合器。 3. The rotary coupler according to claim 1, wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide have the same length. 　前記第１の導波管の長さと前記第２の導波管の長さとの差が、信号の波長の整数倍である
　ことを特徴とする請求項１又は請求項２記載の回転結合器。 3. A rotary coupler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the difference between the length of said first waveguide and the length of said second waveguide is an integer multiple of a wavelength of a signal. 　前記第１の導波管及び前記第２の導波管は、マイクロストリップ線路である
　ことを特徴とする請求項１、請求項３、及び、請求項４のうちのいずれか１項記載の回転結合器。 5. The rotary coupler according to claim 1, 3, or 4, wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide are microstrip lines.
PCT/JP2023/022337 2023-06-16 2023-06-16 Rotary coupler Ceased WO2024257320A1 (en)

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TW112147865A TW202501875A (en) 2023-06-16 2023-12-08 Rotary coupler

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0445505A (en) * 1990-06-13 1992-02-14 Sony Corp Rotation coupler
JPH09500513A (en) * 1994-04-17 1997-01-14 ウルリヒ シュヴァーン Data transmission equipment
US20200212528A1 (en) * 2019-01-02 2020-07-02 ThinKom Solutions, Inc Compact concentric split ring waveguide rotary joint

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0445505A (en) * 1990-06-13 1992-02-14 Sony Corp Rotation coupler
JPH09500513A (en) * 1994-04-17 1997-01-14 ウルリヒ シュヴァーン Data transmission equipment
US20200212528A1 (en) * 2019-01-02 2020-07-02 ThinKom Solutions, Inc Compact concentric split ring waveguide rotary joint

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JPWO2024257320A1 (en) 2024-12-19
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