Rotary transformers are most commonly used in videocassette recorders, as well as other tape drives that use rotary heads to implement helical scan, such as those used for tape backup. Signals must be coupled from the electronics of the VCR or other tape drive to the fast-moving tape heads carried on the rotating head drum; a rotary transformer is ideal for this purpose. Most VCR designs require more than one signal to be coupled to the head drum. In this case, the cup core has more than one concentric winding, isolated by individual raised portions of the core. The transformer for the head drum shown to the right couples six individual channels.
Another use is to transmit the signals from rotary torque sensors installed on electric motors, to allow electronic control of motor speed and torque using feedback.
Because they are transformers, rotary transformers can only pass AC, not DC, power and signals. The supporting electronics, including the tape heads or torque sensors, must be designed to accommodate this.
Toscani, Nicola; Brunetti, Massimo; Carmeli, Maria Stefania; Castelli Dezza, Francesco; Mauri, Marco (2022). "Design of a Rotary Transformer for Installations on Large Shafts". Applied Sciences. 12 (6): 2932. doi:10.3390/app12062932. hdl:11311/1203883. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/6/2932/pdf ↩