Underwater signal conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9794737-B2
Application number	US-201414479389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

Various embodiments associated with signal conversion while underwater are described. A source can transmit an alternating current signal with a relatively high frequency over a relatively long distance. The alternating current signal with the relatively high frequency can be converted to an alternating current signal with a relatively low frequency. An example of this conversion can be done by converting the alternating current signal with the relatively high frequency into a direct current signal. The direct current signal can then be converted into the alternating current signal with the relatively low frequency. The alternating current signal with the relatively low frequency can be transmitted from a transmission coil to a pick-up coil. After reception by the pick-up coil the alternating current signal with the relatively low frequency can be processed, such as processed to determine a direction of the source of the alternating current signal with the relatively high frequency.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an alternating current-to-direct current converter configured to convert a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal, wherein a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal;
a direct current-to-alternating current converter configured to convert the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal, wherein the frequency value of the low frequency alternating current signal corresponds to the voltage value of the direct current signal; and
a transmitter configured to, when underwater, transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to a near-field receiver that is also underwater,
wherein the transmitter employs a transmission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and
wherein the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the transmitter,
wherein the alternating current-to-direct current converter is resident upon a collection device that collects the high frequency alternating current signal,
wherein the direct current-to-alternating current converter is resident upon the collection device that collects the high frequency alternating current signal,
wherein the transmitter is resident upon the collection unit that collects the high frequency alternating current signal, and
wherein the near-field receiver is resident upon bodywear of a diver.

2. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the direct current-to-alternating current converter comprises a voltage control oscillator.

3. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the alternating current-to-direct current converter is configured to convert the high frequency alternating current signal to the direct current signal while underwater and
wherein the direct current-to-alternating current converter is configured to convert the direct current signal to the low frequency alternating current signal while underwater.

4. The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the transmitter employs a transmission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and
wherein the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the transmitter.

5. A system, comprising:
a receiver configured to collect a high frequency alternating current signal from a repeater and not a source,
wherein the collection occurs prior to conversion of the high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal;

a radio frequency power detector configured to convert a high frequency alternating current signal to the direct current signal,
wherein a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal;

a voltage-to-frequency converter configured to convert the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal,
wherein a frequency value of the low frequency alternating current signal corresponds to the voltage value of the direct current signal; and

a transmitter configured to, when underwater, transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to a near-field receiver
wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver while the transmitter is underwater,
wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver while the near-field receiver is underwater, and
wherein the near-field receiver is not the receiver configured to collect the high frequency alternating current from the repeater and not the source.

6. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the voltage-to-frequency converter comprises a voltage control oscillator.

7. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the radio frequency power detector is configured to convert the high frequency alternating current signal to the direct current signal while underwater and
wherein the voltage-to-frequency converter is configured to convert the direct current signal to the low frequency alternating current signal while underwater.

8. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the transmitter employs a transmission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and
wherein the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the transmitter.

9. A system, comprising:
a digital conversion component that converts a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal,
wherein a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal and
wherein the frequency value indicates a direction of a source of the high frequency alternating current signal;

an analog conversion component that converts the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal,
wherein a frequency value of the low frequency alternating current signal corresponds to the voltage value of the direct current signal; and

an emitter that emits the low frequency alternating current signal to a near-field receiver when the emitter and the near-field receiver are underwater,
wherein the near-field receiver processes the low frequency alternating current signal to determine the direction.

10. The system of claim 9 ,
wherein the emitter employs an emission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and
wherein the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the emitter.

11. The system of claim 10 , comprising:
a high frequency alternating current signal receiver that acquires the high frequency alternating current signal by a way of radio frequency-based monopulse beamforming,
wherein a housing, configured for use underwater, retains the high frequency alternating current signal receiver,
wherein the housing retains the digital conversion component,
wherein the housing retains the analog conversion component,
wherein the housing retains the emitter,
wherein the near-field receiver is resident upon a diving glove, and
wherein the housing is of a shape for retention within a palm of the diving glove.

12. The system of claim 10 , comprising:
a high frequency alternating current signal receiver that acquires the high frequency alternating current signal by a way of phase monopulse beamforming,
wherein a housing, configured for use underwater, retains the high frequency alternating current signal receiver,
wherein the housing retains the digital conversion component,
wherein the housing retains the analog conversion component,
wherein the housing retains the emitter,
wherein the near-field receiver is resident upon a diving glove, and
wherein the housing is of a shape for retention within a palm of the diving glove.

13. The system of claim 9 ,
wherein the high frequency alternating current signal is a distress signal.

14. The system of claim 9 ,
wherein the near-field receiver converts the low frequency alternating current signal to the direct current signal,
wherein the direct current signal is employed by the near-field receiver to determine the direction, and
wherein information based on the direction is displayed by a way of an underwater mask.

15. A method, performed at least in part by an energy conversion apparatus, comprising:
converting, by a digi

Assignees

• Us Army

Inventors

• Govoni Mark
• Suarez John

Classifications

• H04B5/266 Primary

  One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils · CPC title

• H04W4/02 Primary

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title