White paper | Contactless Power and Data Transmission with NearFi Technology
Limitations of conventional transmission technologies
Modular and mobile automation concepts are increasing the need for reliable interfaces between moving, rotating, or interchangeable system components. Traditional transmission solutions such as connectors and slip rings are subject to wear, contamination, and mechanical tolerances. This leads to maintenance costs and the risk of downtime.
This white paper presents NearFi as an alternative for contactless Ethernet data transmission and, optionally, for a contactless power supply in industrial applications.
Connectors: wear and availability High mating cycles, contamination, vibration, and tolerances lead to contact wear and unstable connections. Even high-quality connectors are subject to natural contact wear. and real-time communication increase, additional limitations may arise in terms of data rate and long-term stability.
Optical transmission: requirements for visibility and cleanliness Optical systems enable contactless data transmission, but require stable line-of-sight connections. Dust, oil mist, condensation, or alignment tolerances can impair signal quality and require additional design measures.
Conventional wireless solutions: real time, coexistence, and configuration WLAN, Bluetooth, and cellular communication are only partially suitable for industrial requirements such as deterministic latency, high availability, and easy scalability. In dense environments, the risk of interference increases, as does the effort required for planning and configuration( e. g., channel planning, coexistence mechanisms), which can limit the robustness of time-critical communication paths.
Examples of impaired contact due to environmental factors
Slip rings: mechanical wear and limited bandwidth Slip rings transmit power and signals through rotating interfaces, but are prone to wear due to friction and are sensitive to vibrations, shocks, and contamination. As demands on Ethernet bandwidth
Wireless transmission without a physical connection
Phoenix Contact 4