Rapid deployment communications tile

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9657484-B2
Application number	US-201514620707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2015
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

Various embodiments are described that relate to a rapid deployment communications tile. As opposed to running various data and/or power wires, a construction crew can use set of tiles that have built in data and/or power transmission capabilities. These tiles can be keyed such that they interlock together to form a relatively uniform surface, such that the surface can also be used as a floor. Further, the tiles can have hardware components that enable the data and/or power transmission capabilities. These hardware components can be environmentally protected such that their performance is not subject to environmental factors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a first tile, comprising:
a conduit that transmits a media upon the first tile; and
an engagement mechanism configured to allow the conduit of the first tile to operatively couple with a conduit of a second tile such that the media travels upon the conduit of the first tile in connection with travelling upon the second tile,
where the engagement mechanism comprises a male connector configured to operatively couple the conduit of the first tile to the second tile,
where the male connector is configured to be retracted within the first tile when the conduit of the first tile is not operatively coupled with the second tile, and
where the male connector is configured to be extended beyond the first tile when the conduit of the first tile is operatively coupled with the second tile.

2. The tile of claim 1 ,
where the first tile and the second tile interconnect with one another to form a substantially flat surface.

3. The system of claim 2 ,
where the conduit of the second tile transmits the media across the second tile,
where the engagement mechanism functions such that the conduit of the first tile and the conduit of the second tile engage with one another, and
where the media travels across the conduit of the first tile and the conduit of the second tile in series.

4. The system of claim 3 ,
where the first tile and the second tile are keyed such that the first tile and second tile fit together when the conduit of the first tile and the conduit of the second tile align and such that the first tile and second tile do not fit together when the conduit of the first tile and the conduit of the second tile do not align.

5. The system of claim 2 , the first tile comprising:
a keyed hardware portion configured to facilitate the interconnection with the second tile such that the conduit is physically aligned with the conduit of the second tile such that the operative coupling can occur.

6. The system of claim 1 ,
where the second tile comprises an external access portion that enables access to the media through the second tile to a non-tile.

7. The system of claim 1 ,
where the second tile comprises a supply portion that supplies the media to the first tile.

8. The system of claim 7 ,
where the second tile comprises a reception portion that obtains the media from a non-tile.

9. The system of claim 1 ,
where the media comprises data and power and
where the conduit comprises:
a data cable that transmits the data;
a power cable that transmits the power; and
an outer layer that environmentally seals the data cable and the power cable.

10. The system of claim 1 ,
where the conduit is not exposed on a top surface of the first tile.

11. The system of claim 1 , the first tile comprising:
a handle configured to control the retraction and the extension of the male connector.

12. A system comprising:
a transmission tile configured to transmit a media supplied by a supply tile to an access tile,
where the supply tile and the transmission tile are operatively coupled together and interconnect with one another in a keyed manner,
where the transmission tile and the access tile are operatively coupled together and interconnect with one another in a keyed manner,
where the transmission tile comprises an engagement portion configured to operatively couple and dis-couple the transmission tile with the access tile, and
where the engagement portion comprises a connector configured to allow the transmission tile to operatively dis-couple with the access tile by way of retraction of the connector to within the transmission tile.

13. The system of claim 12 ,
where the media comprises power and data,
where a channel comprises a data cable configured to transmit the data; a power cable configured to transmit the power; and an outer layer configured to environmentally seal the data cable and the power cable,
where the channel is, at least in part, part of the transmission tile, and
where the channel is a pathway that transfers the media from the supply tile to the access tile.

14. The system of claim 13 ,
where the channel is surrounded by an outer material of the transmission tile with the exception of end interconnection portions of the channel.

15. The system of claim 12 ,
where the supply tile, the access tile, and the transmission tile form a substantially flat floor surface.

16. The system of claim 12 ,
where the supply tile and the transmission tile are operatively coupled together to form at least part of a continuous conduit upon which the media travels,
where the transmission tile and the access tile are operatively coupled together to form at least part of the continuous conduit upon which the media travels,
where the transmission tile comprises an integrated cable that forms part of the continuous conduit,
where the transmission tile comprises the integrated cable prior to the supply tile and the transmission tile being operatively coupled together, and
where the transmission tile comprises the integrated cable prior to the transmission tile and the access tile being operatively coupled together.

17. The system of claim 12 , the transmission tile comprising a second engagement portion having a second male connector configured to operatively couple with the supply tile by way of extension of the second male connector from within the transmission tile.

18. The system of claim 12 ,
where the supply tile comprises a reception portion that obtains the media from a non-tile.

19. The system of claim 12 ,
where the access tile comprises an external access portion that enables access to the media through the second tile to a non-tile.

20. The system of claim 12 , the transmission tile comprising:
a conduit configured to facilitate transmission of the media; and
a port configured to facilitate a tap of the conduit.

Assignees

• Us Gov Sec Army
• Us Army

Inventors

• Lazzaro Matthew
• Toth William

Classifications

• E04F2201/095

  with both connection parts, i.e. male and female connection parts alternating on one edge · CPC title

• E04F15/105 Primary

  of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials · CPC title

• E04F2201/098

  wherein the interlocking male and female edge-parts have a dovetail, mushroom or similar shape · CPC title

• E04F2290/02

  for accommodating service installations or utility lines, e.g. heating conduits, electrical lines, lighting devices or service outlets · CPC title

• H04L49/309

  Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags · CPC title