Wireless data transmission via inductive coupling using di/dt as the magnetic modulation scheme and hysteresis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9294151-B2
Application number	US-201314095725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2013
Priority date	Dec 12, 2012
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

The disclosed couplers operate in a “near field” mode, meaning energy, whether used to transmit data or power, is transferred through magnetic induction using a ∂i/∂t circuit (meaning a change in current over a change in time), such as by using inductive transmission and receive coils in which resistors and/or other components such as diodes are placed into series and/or in parallel with the coils and used to control the shape of the pulse, e.g. its voltage and/or frequency. In an embodiment, one connector comprises a voltage comparator which comprises a hysteresis circuit adapted to be centered at a predetermined no pulse voltage for use in data transmission.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission, comprising:
a. a first connector, comprising:
i. a first low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with a data signal operating at a first data transmission speed using a first data protocol;
ii. a resistor circuit operatively connected to the first transmission path;
iii. a first transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at the low impedance, the first transformer comprising a first inductance; and
iv. a first direct current voltage source operatively connected to the first transformer; and

b. a second connector separate from the first connector and adapted to be disposed in close proximity to the first connector, comprising:
i. a second low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with a data signal operating at a second data transmission speed using a second data protocol;
ii. a resistor circuit operatively connected to the second transmission path;
iii. a second transformer operatively connected to the second transmission path at a low impedance, the second transformer adapted to be inductively and cooperatively coupled to the first transformer, the second transformer comprising a second inductance;
iv. a second direct current voltage source operatively connected to the second transformer; and
v. a voltage comparator operatively connected to the second transmission path, the voltage comparator comprising a hysteresis circuit adapted to be centered at a predetermined no pulse voltage.

2. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the close proximity comprises a distance of no more than around one-half inch.

3. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first transformer and the second transformer are further adapted to be located remotely using a coax cable.

4. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the second inductance comprises a ratio of around three times the first inductance.

5. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission subsea of claim 4 , wherein the first transformer inductance comprises around 54 μH and the second transformer inductance comprises around 164 μH.

6. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first data protocol and the second data protocol comprise the same data transmission protocol.

7. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first data protocol and the second data protocol comprise a serial data transmission protocol.

8. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 7 , wherein the first data protocol and the second data protocol comprise an RS-485 protocol.

9. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the first data transmission speed and the second data transmission speed range from around 300 baud to around 10 megabaud.

10. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein data are transmitted in a half-duplex mode.

11. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein:
a. the first transformer comprises a first transmit coil and a first receive coil;
b. the second transformer comprises a second transmit coil and a second receive coil, the second transmit coil and the second receive coil disposed complementarily to the first transmit coil and the first receive coil; and
c. data are transmitted in a full-duplex mode between the first and second transformers.

12. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein the second direct current voltage source provide an offset voltage of around 1.65VDC.

13. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , wherein:
a. the second direct current voltage source provides an offset voltage of around +1.65VDC;
b. the no pulse voltage comprises +1.65VDC;
c. a positive pulse comprises at least around +1.5VDC;
d. a negative pulse comprises no more than around −1.5VDC; and
e. the hysteresis circuit is adapted to use around 2.05VDC and around 1.250VDC.

14. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , further comprising:
a. a retriggerable vibrator operatively connected to the voltage comparator; and
b. a transceiver operatively connected to the retriggerable vibrator.

15. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 14 , further comprising an inverter operatively connected to the retriggerable vibrator and the transceiver intermediate the retriggerable vibrator and the transceiver.

16. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , further comprising a switch operatively connected to the first transmission coil, the switch configured to drive the first transformer.

17. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 16 , wherein the switch comprises a transistor.

18. The non-radio frequency carrier based wireless connector set for use in data transmission of claim 1 , further comprising passive circuitry in communication with the first transformer, the passive circuitry configured to control a predetermined characteristic of the data signal.

19. A system for data transmission, comprising:
a. a data transmitter adapted to transmit data using a predetermined data protocol at a first data transmission speed;
b. a first connector operatively in communication with the data transmitter, the first connector comprising:
i. a first housing;
ii. a first low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with a data signal operating at a first data transmission speed using a first data protocol;
iii. a resistor circuit operatively connected to the first transmission path and at least partially disposed in the first housing;
iv. a first transformer operatively connected to the first transmission path at the low impedance and at least partially disposed in the first housing, the first transformer comprising a first inductance; and
v. a first direct current voltage source operatively connected to the first transformer and at least partially disposed in the first housing; and

c. a second connector separate from the first connector and adapted to be disposed in close proximity to the first connector, comprising:
i. a second low impedance transmission path adapted to be used with a data signal operating at a second data transmission speed using a second data protocol;
ii. a second housing adapted to cooperatively receive the first connector at a first coupled separation distance in close proximity to the first connector in a predetermined environment;
iii. a resistor circuit operatively connected to the second transmission path and at least partially disposed in the second housing;
iv. a second transformer operatively connected to the second transmission path at a low impedance and at least partially disposed in the second housing, the se

Assignees

• Boyle Greg Robert
• Robertson William Claude
• Johnigan Robert A
• Oceaneering Int Inc

Inventors

• Boyle Greg Robert
• Robertson William Claude
• Johnigan Robert A

Classifications

• H01F27/42

  Circuits specially adapted for the purpose of modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of transformers, reactors, or choke coils (circuits for controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P13/00; impedance networks H03H) · CPC title

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• H01F2038/143

  for signals · CPC title

• H01F38/14

  Inductive couplings {(for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10)} · CPC title

• H02J50/10 Primary

  using inductive coupling · CPC title