Single Mode/Multi Mode and High Power Fiber-Optic Rotary Connection Technology

Fiber Optic Rotary Joints allow optical signals carried by fiber optic cables to traverse a rotating interface (for example between the rotating and stationary parts of a piece of equipment). Fiber optics are used in many different applications, and are rapidly replacing traditional copper wiring for communications of signals. Solutions such as slip-rings exist to allow traditional electrical signals to traverse a rotating interface with low loss, but current existing Fiber Optic Rotary Joints tend to have much higher losses than their electrical counterparts (in addition, existing Fiber Optic Rotary Joints tend to be more complex as well, containing many moving parts such as gear trains and de-rotation prisms). Trex Enterprises has invented a novel approach to Fiber Optic Rotary Joints that relies on collimation technology developed for our fiber optic cross-connect switches. This new Fiber Optic Rotary Joint has the potential to exhibit lower loss and higher reliability than competing technologies. In addition, it contains no additional moving parts (other than the requisite rotating and stationary halves), and is bi-directional and wavelength independent.