Self-organizing communications network nodes and systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12470649-B2
Application number	US-202318199829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2023
Priority date	Jan 6, 2020
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A communications node includes an apparel item in the form of a backpack attachment that includes a panel, first and second arms extending therefrom. An antenna element and A/V hub may be affixed to an arm. The attachment may include a communications device and battery. A control circuit may be communicatively coupled to the antenna element, the A/V hub, the communications device, and the battery. The A/V hub may demountably and communicatively couple to an audio/video source. The control circuit may establish a mesh network with computing devices. The antenna element may include a graphene polymer conductive composition. The graphene may form a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer matrix. The apparel item may include a multilayered material that reflect RF radiation generated by the antenna element away from the apparel item. The layer may include a conductive material. The layer may include a foam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wearable communications node, comprising:
an apparel item in the form of a backpack attachment that comprises:
a panel;
a first arm extending from the panel;
a second arm extending from the panel opposite the first arm;
an antenna element affixed to the first arm or the second arm;
an A/V hub affixed proximate to the first arm or the second arm;
a communications device;
a battery;
a control circuit communicatively coupled to the antenna element, the A/V hub,
the communications device, and the battery;
wherein
the backpack attachment is configured to demountably attach to a backpack via one or more of the panel, the first arm, and the second arm;
the A/V hub
is affixed to at least one of the first arm and second arm;
demountably and communicatively couples to an audio/video source;

the control circuit is configured to establish, via the communications device, a self-organizing local area network (“LAN”) with a plurality of computing devices that each connects directly, dynamically, and non-hierarchically to the LAN;
the antenna element comprises:
a conductive composition comprising:
 fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene;
 a polymer;

the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene
form a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer; and
are separated on a nanoscale within the polymer.

2 . The wearable communications node of claim 1 , wherein
the apparel item further comprises a multilayered material; and the multilayered material comprises a layer that reflects RF radiation generated by the antenna element away from the apparel item.

3 . The wearable communications node of claim 2 , wherein
the layer comprises a conductive material.

4 . The wearable communications node of claim 3 , wherein
the layer comprises a foam.

5 . The wearable communications node of claim 1 , wherein
the apparel item is hermetically sealed.

6 . The wearable computing node of claim 1 , wherein
the A/V hub comprises a microphone.

7 . The wearable computing node of claim 1 , further comprising:
a container comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion;
an open state;
a closed state;
wherein
the first portion and the second portion are each open-ended structures;
in the open state
the first portion is pivoted away from the second portion and thereby internally exposes the first portion and the second portion;
the container receives the wearable communications node;

in the closed state
the first portion is pivoted towards and positioned on the second portion;
the first portion is demountably coupled to the second portion via a second fastener; and
the container surrounds the wearable communications node.

8 . The wearable computing node of claim 7 , wherein
the container further comprises a foam insert that receives the wearable communications node; the foam insert
provides impact resistance;
comprises the composition; and
shields the wearable communications node from EMI in the closed state.

9 . The wearable computing node of claim 7 , wherein
one or more of the first portion and the second portion comprise the conductive composition and thereby provides EMI shielding.

10 . The wearable computing node of claim 1 , wherein
the graphene sheets are present in the conductive composition at least at 0.52 vol. %.

11 . The wearable computing node of claim 1 , wherein
one of the computing devices is an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV); the AAV comprises a second communications device; and the second communications device receives a RF signal from the wearable communications node at a first baud rate and transmit the RF signal at a second baud rate.

12 . The wearable computing node of claim 1 , wherein
the communications device is communicatively coupled to a second communications device; an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) comprises the second communications device; and the second communications device receives a RF signal from the communications device at a first baud rate and transmits the RF signal at a second baud rate.

13 . A wearable communications node, comprising:
an apparel item in the form of a backpack attachment that comprises:
a panel;
a first arm extending from the panel;
a second arm extending from the panel opposite the first arm;
an antenna element affixed to the first arm or the second arm;
an A/V hub affixed to the first arm or the second arm, the A/V hub is configured to receive audio and/or video input;
a communications device;
a battery;
a control circuit communicatively coupled to the antenna element, the A/V hub, the communications device, and the battery;
wherein
the A/V hub
comprises a microphone;
demountably and communicatively couples to an audio/video source;

the control circuit is configured to establish, via the communications device, a self-organizing local area network (“WAN”) with a plurality of computing devices that each connects directly, dynamically, and non-hierarchically to the WAN
the antenna element comprises:
a conductive composition comprising:
 fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene;
 a polymer;

the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene
form a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer; and
are separated on a nanoscale within the polymer.

14 . The wearable communications node of claim 13 , wherein
the apparel item further comprises a multilayered material; the multilayered material comprises a layer that reflects RF radiation; and the layer comprises a conductive material and a foam.

15 . The wearable communications node of claim 13 , wherein
the apparel item is hermetically sealed.

16 . The wearable computing node of claim 13 , further comprising:
a container comprising:
a first portion;
a second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion;
an open state;
a closed state;
a foam insert;
wherein
the first portion and the second portion are each open-ended structures;
in the open state
the first portion is pivoted away from the second portion and thereby internally exposes the first portion and the second portion;
the container receives the wearable computing node;

in the closed state
the first portion is pivoted towards and positioned on the second portion;
the first portion is demountably coupled to the second portion via a second fastener;
the container surrounds the wearable computing device;

the foam insert
provides impact resistance;
comprises the composition; and
shields the wearable computing device from EMI in the closed state.

17 . The wearable computing node of claim 13 , wherein
the graphene sheets are present in the composition at least at 0.52 vol. %.

18 . The wearable computing node of claim 13 , wherein
one of the computing devices is an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV); the AAV comprises a second communications device; and the second communications device receives a RF signal from the wearable communications node at a first baud rate and transmit the RF signal at a second baud rate.

19 . The wearable computing node of claim 13 , wherein
the communications device is communicatively coupled to a second communications device; an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) comprises the second communications device; and the second communications device receives a RF signal from the communications device at a first baud rate and transmits the RF signal at a second baud rate.

Assignees

• Vorbeck Materials Corp

Inventors

• Scheffer Dan F
• Manivannan Sriram
• Espina Keren
• Pinkos Jennifer
• Yaprak Can Gun
• Baskerville Alison

Classifications

• H04W84/04

  Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks · CPC title

• A41D31/08

  Heat resistant; Fire retardant · CPC title

• H01Q1/273 Primary

  Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals · CPC title

• H04B2001/3855

  carried in a belt or harness · CPC title

• A41D1/002

  adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085) · CPC title