UC San Diego

Slip rings are often used to distribute power to rotating elements, but have the disadvantages of adding friction to the system and wear over time. An alternative to this method is power by inductance through coils. Power can be transferred over an air gap by changing the magnetic flux in a coil thereby inducing voltage. In this project we will transfer power from a primary to a secondary coil to power a custom made PCB which synchronizes a row of LEDs. As the PCB rotates, it creates a perception of 2D images. The main purpose of this prototype is to create a low cost LED display platform by rotating a motor at 40Hz+ and powering it through inductive coupling.