Abstract: An apparatus includes a navigational guidewire and a connector assembly. The navigational guidewire includes a sensing element, an outer member, and a conductor. The sensing element is configured to respond to positioning within an electromagnetic field. The conductor is in communication with the sensing element. The connector assembly is configured to couple the navigational guidewire with a navigation system. The connector assembly includes a body and a ferrule. The ferrule is coupled with the body. The navigational guidewire is coupled with the ferrule. The ferrule is rotatable relative to the body to thereby enable rotation of the navigational guidewire relative to the body.

Abstract: A connector for an implantable electrical medical device includes an elongated connector body; a connector lumen to receive a lead or lead extension; a non-conductive carrier disposed in the connector body and including at least two rails extending parallel to the connector lumen and pairs of contact holders spaced-apart along the rails; contacts with each contact disposed between one of the pairs of contact holders; and connector conductors coupled to the contacts. Instead of carrier and contacts, the connector can include contact assemblies, each contact assembly including a non-conductive contact carrier defining two nodes, and two contacts, each contact disposed in one of the two nodes, each contact including a coil and a sheath disposed around at least a portion of the coil. Another alternative includes a non-conductive carrier with contact openings; and contacts, where each contact is a rod disposed in one of the contact openings.

Abstract: A connector for an implantable electrical medical device includes an elongated connector body; a connector lumen to receive a lead or lead extension; a non-conductive carrier disposed in the connector body and including at least two rails extending parallel to the connector lumen and pairs of contact holders spaced-apart along the rails; contacts with each contact disposed between one of the pairs of contact holders; and connector conductors coupled to the contacts. Instead of carrier and contacts, the connector can include contact assemblies, each contact assembly including a non-conductive contact carrier defining two nodes, and two contacts, each contact disposed in one of the two nodes, each contact including a coil and a sheath disposed around at least a portion of the coil. Another alternative includes a non-conductive carrier with contact openings; and contacts, where each contact is a rod disposed in one of the contact openings.

Abstract: A headset (1) for voice communication comprising a housing (2) and a pickup unit (8) rotatably connected to the housing via a joint (7). The pickup unit (8) comprises at least a first microphone (5), which is electrically connected via at least a first electrical connection to an electronic circuit for processing signals from the first microphone (5). The electronic circuit is arranged in the housing (2). The first electrical connection comprises a first sliding contact (20, 70), which comprises a housing side and a microphone side. The two sides are mutually rotatable about a rotational axis (26). One of the housing side or the microphone side of the sliding contact comprises a first annular ring (50) arranged so that the ring (50) is positioned around the rotational axis (26).

Abstract: A slip ring device includes a hollow pipe-shaped shaft rotatably supported inside a tubular body of a main case through a bearing and an electricity-collecting body integrally and concentrically provided in the shaft. The electricity-collecting body preferably includes a plurality of electricity-collecting rings and a plurality of insulating rings alternately layered with one another. The slip ring device further includes a plurality of brushes held by the main case and tip end portions making sliding contact with outer circumferential surfaces of the electricity-collecting rings and a plurality of lead lines introduced into the shaft. The lead lines include tip end portions electrically connected to the respective electricity-collecting rings. Two or more of the lead lines include shielded lines.

Abstract: A steering wheel (13) for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel module (1) supporting electrical/electronic subassemblies (18). The steering wheel module is inserted from a front side of the steering wheel into a center of the steering wheel in order to be attached to the steering wheel. A lower end of the steering wheel module forms a torsion module (8) of a torque detection device for a steering power-assist system. The torsion module is operable to receive and be attached to a steering spindle (14) of a steering column on the back side of the steering wheel in order to attach the steering wheel to the steering spindle when the steering wheel module is attached to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A rotary electrical contact device includes a stationary member configured to be coupled to a base, and a rotatable member supported for rotation relative to the stationary member and defining a center opening. A raceway includes a plurality of axially spaced annular contact rings supported by one of the stationary member and the rotatable member. A blade tower includes a plurality of axially spaced blade assemblies and is supported by the other of the rotatable member and the stationary member. Each blade assembly includes a radially extending contact blade in electrical communication with one of the axial spaced contact rings of the raceway.

Abstract: A rotary electrical contact device includes a stationary member configured to be coupled to a base, and a rotatable member supported for rotation relative to the stationary member and defining a center opening. A raceway includes a plurality of axially spaced annular contact rings supported by one of the stationary member and the rotatable member. A blade tower includes a plurality of axially spaced blade assemblies and is supported by the other of the rotatable member and the stationary member. Each blade assembly includes a radially extending contact blade in electrical communication with one of the axial spaced contact rings of the raceway.

Abstract: A drum-style slip-ring module (100) is used in a contact-type communication system. The module utilizes PCB construction to construct a plurality of stacked electrically-conductive rings (102) and a plurality of dielectric layers (104) electrically isolating the conductive rings. Each of the dielectric layers includes a centrally-located aperture (107). The module also includes a cylindrical ground plane (108) positioned in the centrally-located aperture. The module is configured to provide electrical connection to each of the rings at an exterior surface of the module. Each group of feed line vias can be designed as impedance-controlled transmission lines with connections to each ring group. The construction described in this invention can create slip-ring transmission line structures with bandwidth from DC to 5 GHz or higher, allowing the slip-ring to be used to transfer multi-gigabit digital data streams.

Abstract: A contact structure in a cable winding reel is disclosed which maintains rotary contact between two cables connected, at one-side ends thereof, to electric/electronic appliances, namely, one cable which is wound on a rotating body, and the other cable which is maintained in a fixed state without being wound, thereby enabling transmission of electricity and signals between the cables. A cable winding reel is also disclosed, wherein the contact structure is implemented in a well-known cable winding reel structure.

Abstract: A reorientable electrical outlet and a reorientable electrical expansion outlet are disclosed. The outlets have an electrical female receptacle rotateably disposed in a housing. In one embodiment, generally annular paths each having at least one conductive area and at least one nonconductive area along the generally annular paths are provided, and contacts are provided that each have selective contact with a conductive area or a nonconductive area of the respective generally annular paths. In another embodiment, a retainer is provided. In yet another embodiment, a status indicator is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved electrical cylindrical circuit collector ring assembly. The assembly includes an axial stack of multiple torodial-shaped spacer members and at least one electrical conductor ring member. The spacer members each include one insulating face and one electrically conductive face. The ring assembly also includes a general adhesive for mounting the insulator face to the ring members and an electrically conductive adhesive for mounting the conductive face to the ring members and for mounting ring members to ring members where applicable. The ring assembly also includes a radial extension on each of the conductive faces of the spacer members beyond the ring member diameter providing for an electrical connecting point. Finally, radial tabs provide lead wire channels and means of improved electrical shielding.

Abstract: A door open/close operating device includes an operating switch, a control device, an actuator, an output member and an auxiliary power source, and these components are integrally formed. A purpose of the invention is providing the door open/close operating device for enhancing flexibility of assembling the door open/close operating device to the vehicle's door and reducing a man-hour for assembling.

Abstract: A rotary joint between a towed array and its towing vessel is provided having a drive plate, shaft and rotor attached to the towed array payout and take-in stowage drum and rotating with the drum. A thrust washer and bearing provide a rotating mechanical connection between these rotating components and the stationary housing and connector portions of the joint. The housing is fixed within the vessel and has an internal stator surrounding, and in electrical communication with the rotor. Electrical feeds from the towed array are connected to contact rings within the rotor, and the stator includes spring loaded pins in radial electrical contact with the rings as the rings rotate with the rotor. Electrical leads from the pins pass through the housing to the connector which is connected to the vessel's signal processing systems. In addition, the housing contains a pressure compensator within a passageway between the interior and exterior of the joint.

Abstract: A rotatable electrical connector assembly provided with a fixed portion and a rotatable portion is described herein. The fixed portion includes an electrical plug provided at a first end thereof, an electrical socket provided at a second end thereof and an intermediate cylindrical portion provided between the electrical plug and the electrical socket. The cylindrical portion includes three protruding annular terminals connected to the electrical plug. The rotatable portion includes a cylindrical aperture to be mounted to the cylindrical portion for rotative movement. Three slip rings are so mounted to the rotatable portion as to be in contact with a respective annular terminal of the fixed portion to provide electrical contact between the rotatable portion and the fixed portion at any angular position of the rotatable portion with respect to the fixed portion. An electrical socket is electrically connected to the slip rings.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device which includes a cylindrical support provided with coaxial conducting rings, and a brush support carrying brushes respectively in sliding contact with the rings. An extension of this support constitutes another support for a set of longitudinal conducting tracks linked respectively to the brushes. The brushes in sliding contact with the tracks are carried by a brush support which is able to move translationally on the support. There may, therefore, be relative translational and rotational movements between a cable, the conductors of which are linked to the rings, and a cable, the conductors of which are linked to the brushes, while still providing electrical continuity between them. The device of the present invention is useful in supplying current to the blades of the tail rotor of a helicopter from a structure able to move translationally.

Abstract: In a heating roller, electrode members come in contact with power supplying members for supplying power to a heating element. The electrode members are resiliently fitted to the heating element. Power is supplied from the power supplying members to the heating element through the electrode members. In this heating roller, it is possible to solve problems about cracks, etc. caused by thermal expansion, etc. of each of the heating element, the electrode members and an electric conductor formed by materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion. Accordingly, reliability of the heating roller is high and the heating roller is safe.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel and unique 360.degree. connector system which can be used in an in-line cable to cable application, but can also be utilized in various applications such as a power tool, an extension cord, etc. The uniqueness of the 360.degree. connector system is the concave/convex longitudinal tubular surfaces and transverse circular surfaces of the male and female connectors for improved area contact, thereby creating continuity and allowing the connector system to turn around freely in a 360.degree. rotation. The essential components of the present invention 360.degree. connector system basically include a male connector and a female connector rotatably connected to each other. Both of the male and female connectors are generally made of an elastomer material, instead of the standard static material.

Abstract: Rotary connector for use with a small diameter flexible elongate member having electrical capabilities and having a proximal extremity with at least first and second spaced-apart conductive sleeves thereon. The rotary connector is comprised of a housing and at least first and second spaced-apart contact members mounted in the housing. The housing and the first and second contact members have passages therein through which the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member can extend to place the first and second conductive sleeves in contact with the contact members. A clamping assembly means is carried by the housing for retaining the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member in the housing while permitting rotation of the flexible elongate member with respect to the housing. The first and second contact members each have a base portion having proximal and distal sides.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular base portion of an electrical slip ring assembly having a plurality of conductive rings formed in the outer circumferential surface thereof is described. The slip ring base is molded, and grooves are machined into the outer circumferential surface thereof. Conductive strips are cut into a series of lengths forming conductive rings to be placed about the outer circumference of the annular base member. The individual lengths of conductive material are anchored to the outer circumferential surface of the slip ring base and a rolling pressure is exerted on them about the circumference of the base to cause the rings to be press fit into the grooves previously formed on the base. When the complete circumference of the ring has been press fit into its respective groove, the other end of the conductive ring is then secured to the base.

Abstract: There is disclosed a conductive ball bearing assembly having an outer and inner race and operative to rotate with respect to one another about a common axis to allow an input wire electrically conducted to the outer race to rotate with respect to an output wire electrically conducted to the inner race. The improvement therewith consists of apparatus which eliminates electrical noise due to rotation which apparatus includes an electrically conductive C-shaped member or ring adapted to be clamped over said outer race and including depending spring assembies secured to said ring for resiliently contacting the inner race during rotation of said assembly.