Solar array remote acoustic sensing (SARAS)

• US 10,078,328 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dan Slater
• Original Assignee: Dan Slater
• Inventors: Slater, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Noh, Jae N
• Application Number:
  US15/230,369
• Time in Patent Office: 773 Days
• Field of Search: 348163
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/40 Balloons B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/353 using solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/443 Photovoltaic cell arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/52 Protection, safety or emergency devices; Survival aids
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 3/00 Observing or tracking cosmonautic vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 5/00 Ground equipment for vehicles, e.g. starting towers, fuelling arrangements B64G3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/22 Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/054
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

Devices and method for obtaining or providing listening or detection of audio frequency modulated optical energy including, involving, utilizing, facilitating and/or providing an interface (including electronics) configured such that when operatively connected to individual or groups of elements of one or more solar arrays (or cells, photodetectors, or other optical sensor device), respectively, the interface and the solar array(s) together function, responsive to sensed audio-frequency light intensity fluctuations of an optical signal received by said solar array(s), as a remote acoustic sensor (RAS)-based device.

Claims

1. A method for using at least one solar array to receive audio-frequency modulated data, comprising:

using said at least one solar array to receive at least one optical signal and to convert said at least one optical signal into at least one electrical signal, said at least one optical signal including said audio-frequency modulated data;

extracting via an extraction circuit said audio-frequency modulated data from said at least one electrical signal, an input of said extraction circuit being connected to an output of said at least one solar array to receive said at least one electrical signal;

using a power circuit connected via at least one isolator to said output of said at least one solar array to power said extraction circuit, said power circuit comprising an energy storage device, wherein said at least one solar array is used to charge said energy storage device, said energy storage device being used to power said extraction circuit when said power provided by said at least one solar array is insufficient to power said extraction circuit; and

outputting said extracted data, said extracted data being used, at least indirectly, to perform at least one action;

wherein said at least one isolator prevents any substantial flow of current from said power circuit to said output of said at least one solar array.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of extracting said audio-frequency modulated data from said at least one optical signal further comprises extracting audio data from said at least one optical signal, said audio data being used to generate at least one sound on at least one electroacoustic transducer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of using said at least one solar array to receive at least one optical signal further comprises using at least a first solar array to receive at least a first optical signal and at least a second solar array to receive at least a second optical signal, wherein said first optical signal includes first audio-frequency modulated data, said second optical signal includes second audio-frequency modulated data, and said first and second audio-frequency modulated data is used to generate a stereophonic sound.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said isolator comprises at least one diode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of extracting said audio-frequency modulated data from said at last one optical signal further comprises extracting command data from said optical signal, one of said command data and decoded command data being used to perform said at least one action.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one action is determining an orientation of a spacecraft that comprises said at least one solar array.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said energy storage device comprises at least one of a battery and a capacitor.

8. A system for receiving audio-frequency modulated data, comprising:

at least one solar array configured to receive at least one optical signal and to convert said at least one optical signal into at least one electrical signal, said at least one electrical signal including said audio-frequency modulated data;

at least one solar array remote acoustic sensing (SARAS) interface connected to an output of said at least one solar array to receive said at least one electrical signal and configured to extract said audio-frequency modulated data from said at least one electrical signal, said extracted data being output from said SARAS interface;

at least one isolator connected to said output of said at least one solar array; and

a power circuit comprising at least one energy storage device, said power circuit configured to power said SARAS interface, said power circuit being connected to said output of said at least one solar array via at least said at least one isolator, wherein said at least one solar array is further configured to charge said at least one energy storage device;

wherein said at least one isolator substantially prevents current from flowing from said power circuit to said output of said at least one solar array;

wherein said output of said at least one solar array is both an input to said SARAS interface and powers said SARAS interface via said power circuit, where said SARAS interface is powered by said at least one energy storage device when said power provided by said solar array is insufficient to power said SARAS interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one isolator comprises at least one diode.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said extracted data comprises audio data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least one solar array comprises at least a first solar array configured to receive at least a first optical signal and at least a second solar array configured to receive at least a second optical signal, said first optical signal includes first audio-frequency modulated data, said second optical signal includes second audio-frequency modulated data, and said first and second audio-frequency modulated data is used to generate a multi-channel acoustical output.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said at least one SARAS interface comprises at least a first SARAS interface configured to extract said first audio-frequency modulated data from said first optical signal and at least a second SARAS interface configured to extract said second audio-frequency modulated data from said second optical signal.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said extracted data comprises command data.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a decoder configured to decode said command data and a processor, said processor using said decoded command data to perform at least one action.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one action is determining an attitude of said system.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one solar array comprises at least two solar arrays mounted on a multi-sided structure, a first one of said at least two solar arrays facing away from said multi-sided structure in a first direction, and a second one of said at least two solar arrays facing away from said multi-sided structure in a second direction, said second direction being different from said first direction.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one energy storage device comprises at least one capacitor.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one energy storage device comprises at least one battery.

19. The system of claim 8, further comprising a spacecraft electrical power system, wherein said spacecraft electrical power system includes said at least one energy storage device.

20. A method for using at least one solar cell to receive audio-frequency modulated data, comprising:

using said at least one solar cell to receive at least one optical signal and to convert said at least one optical signal into at least one electrical signal, said at least one electrical signal including said audio-frequency modulated data;

using an extraction circuit to extract said audio-frequency modulated data from said at least one electrical signal, said audio-frequency modulated data comprising at least one of audio data and command data, said audio data being used to generate at least one sound, said command data being used to perform at least one action; and

using said at least one solar cell to charge at least one power storage device, said power storage device being used to power said extraction circuit when said at least one solar cell is insufficient to power said extraction circuit;

wherein an output of said solar cell is provided to both said extraction circuit, as an input, and to a power circuit via at least one isolator, which powers said extraction circuit, said power circuit comprising at least said power storage device;

wherein said at least one isolator is placed between at least said power circuit and said output of said at least one solar cell and functions to at least prevent substantial current flow from said power circuit to said output of said at least one solar cell.