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in harsh environments, such as water,
dust or vibrations, no longer impact
the reliable delivery of power, data and
signals. Contactless connectivity can
replace complex and expensive harness
constructions and slip rings, enabling
connectivity where you could not
connect before. The ability to integrate
sensors within the robotic graspers or
“fingertips” for force feedback to the
system also enables “gentle touch”
sensitivity for delicate items.
Data to date shows that the total cost
of ownership (TCO) using contactless
connectors versus traditional solutions
is positive within the first few months
through increased efficiency, reduced
downtime, maintenance savings and
increased output.
It may be the case that contactless
connectivity will provide designers with
an entirely new way of thinking about
mechanically designed machines.
References:
Connector
Design/Materials and
Connector Reliability
Robert S Mroczkowski
https://en.wikipedia.
org/?title=Electromagnetic_induction
Engineersgarage.comWireless Power Transfer Using Resonant
Inductive Coupling
Sangwook Han, and David D. Wentzloff
Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science Department The University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor
My Inventions:
Nikola Tesla's
Autobiography
Nikola Tesla
TE Connectivity
*Definition and Benefits of
Contactless Connectivity
For factory and industrial environments
where dust, liquids, and gases combine
with friction, power and robotic system
wear and tear through multiple axii of
rotation, designers need a new approach
to connectivity. This new approach
needs to be able to overcome these
many environmental and operational
challenges to secure, reliable, flexible,
and robust connectivity – for both
power and data.
The solution lies in a new
interconnection system, based on both
contactless power and contactless data
technology, which can easily connect
(and disconnect) over a short distance
without using any mechanical contact,
demonstrated in the ARISO connectors
from TE Connectivity.
To date, contactless, or wireless,
data has come in many forms, from
cellular to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee;
however, for low-data-rate sensor data,
these interfaces have a lot of packet-
processing and network-interface and
mesh networking overhead. This costs
the designer, both in terms of real
estate and power consumption, as well
as direct component costs.
For its part, wireless power has
undergone a revolution of late, thanks
to the efforts of groups such as the
Wireless Power Consortium, pushing
Qi, as well as the now merged Alliance
For Wireless Power and Power Matters
Alliance. These have developed
standards for the transmission of power
levels of up to 5 W, with a usable range of
up to 30 mm, to charge mobile devices,
particularly handsets. The standards
use variations of inductive and resonant
power at various frequencies to achieve
this, but all require a relatively large
footprint, while also being relatively
costly.
The trick is to find the sweet spot in
terms of data rates, cost and power
consumption for wireless data, and in
terms of range and cost for wireless
power, such that both interfaces can fit
within the confines of a typical M30- or
M12-type sensor head.
Thanks to the work that been done
to date in terms of RF function
integration to lower cost, as well as
increases in the efficiency of wireless
power transmission, this sweet spot
is attainable by matching the wireless
data and power transmission circuits to
the application’s low power and short
range requirements.
For data, the 2.45-GHz unlicensed band
was chosen as it can be implemented
using a near-field antenna design with
a simple loop
For power, the principle challenges are
integrating the power coils and near-field
antenna into a very small form factor
that is relatively easy to manufacture.
This requires knowledge of mechanical
design and power electronics, as well
as magnetics, RF circuit design and
antennas.
With both the data and power
transmission now integrated into a
single connector head, the options
and application dynamics change,
dramatically. Flexibility jumps to a higher
level, with 360° rotation without cable,
connector, or harness wear and tear.
This freedom of movement also allows
for connector tilt, angle or misalignment,
while the rotational freedom enables
faster maintenance-free rotation as well
as faster return to starting points, as the
rotating heads don’t have to rotate back
through 180° offset, but instead can
keep going to 360°.
Contactless connectors are vibration
resistant and are hermetically sealed
against harsh environments and have
unlimited mating cycles, despite wet
& dusty environments. The magnetic
coupling is particularly attractive in
gaseous applications or where flammable
liquids or material are present.
Other advantages include easy on-the-
fly connection without the traditional
mechanical limitations, design flexibility
and cost savings by enabling the transfer
of power and signal through fluids and
walls, as well as improved reliability for
reduced maintenance & lower total cost
of ownership.
For more information about the ARSIO
range of products from TE, visit the
company's site.
ARISO and TE Connectivity are
trademarks.
New-Tech Magazine Europe l 35