Vehicle communication system and method
First Claim
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1. A spacecraft comprising:
- a frame including a joint coupling a first frame portion to a second frame portion, wherein the joint is configured to provide relative movement between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; and
an acoustic communication system configured to transfer acoustic data signals across the joint between the first frame portion and the second frame portion;
wherein the joint includes a forced coupling system configured to bias the first frame portion against the second frame portion in a zero gravity environment so as to form an acoustic data transmission conduit from the first frame portion to the second frame portion.
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Abstract
A spacecraft including a frame including a joint coupling a first frame portion to a second frame portion, and an acoustic communication system configured to transfer acoustic data signals across the joint between the first frame portion and the second frame portion.
9 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A spacecraft comprising:
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a frame including a joint coupling a first frame portion to a second frame portion, wherein the joint is configured to provide relative movement between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; and an acoustic communication system configured to transfer acoustic data signals across the joint between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; wherein the joint includes a forced coupling system configured to bias the first frame portion against the second frame portion in a zero gravity environment so as to form an acoustic data transmission conduit from the first frame portion to the second frame portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. A spacecraft comprising:
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a first frame portion; a second frame portion; a joint coupling the first frame portion to the second frame portion so as to form an acoustic data transmission conduit between the first frame portion and the second frame portion, the joint being configured to form the acoustic data transmission conduit in a zero gravity environment and to provide relative movement between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; and an acoustic communication system configured to transfer acoustic data signals across the joint between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; wherein the joint includes a forced coupling system configured to bias the first frame portion against the second frame portion in the zero gravity environment so as to form the acoustic data transmission conduit from the first frame portion to the second frame portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for acoustic data transmission in a zero gravity environment, the method comprising:
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forming an acoustic data transmission conduit with a joint, a first frame portion and a second frame portion where the joint movably couples the first frame portion and the second frame portion so that the first frame portion and the second frame portion are biased, in the zero gravity environment, in acoustic coupling contact; and transmitting acoustic data signals from the first frame portion to the second frame portion through the joint; wherein the joint includes a forced coupling system configured to bias the first frame portion against the second frame portion in the zero gravity environment so as to form the acoustic data transmission conduit from the first frame portion to the second frame portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification