Intrapersonal data communication system

• US 10,721,000 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Inventors: Masarik, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chu, Chris H
• Application Number:
  US15/634,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20170302386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4212 the intermediate optical element being a coupling medium interposed therebetween, e.g. epoxy resin, refractive index matching material, index grease, matching liquid or gel
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/443 Protective covering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2589 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure

Abstract

Intrapersonal communication systems and methods that provide an optical digital signal link between two or more local devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system includes a first signal converter disposed at a first end of the optical digital signal link and configured to convert between electrical digital signals from a first local device and optical digital signals from the optical digital signal link. The system can include an optical connector having a non-contact portion configured to couple optical digital signals between the first signal converter and the optical digital signal link across a gap. The system can include a second signal converter disposed at a second end of the optical digital signal link and configured to convert between electrical digital signals from the second local device and optical digital signals from the optical digital signal link.

Claims

1. A mount interface coupled to a headgear system, the mount interface configured to engage with mounting hardware to secure a local device to the headgear system, the mount interface comprising:

a mounting plate configured to abut with a corresponding surface on the mounting hardware to secure the mounting hardware to the headgear system;

an optical connector comprising a cavity in the mounting plate and a transparent window within the cavity, the transparent window providing substantially no optical power to light passing therethrough;

a fiber optic cable at least partially contained within the mounting plate, the fiber optic cable configured to transmit an optical signal;

a redirection element contained within the mounting plate, the redirection element configured to redirect a path of the optical signal leaving an end of the fiber optic cable to the transparent window or to redirect a path of an optical signal transmitted through the transparent window to the end of the fiber optic cable;

an electrical connector on an exterior surface of the mounting plate; and

an electrical cable at least partially contained within the mounting plate, the electrical cable electrically coupled to the electrical connector,

wherein, when engaged with the mounting hardware, the optical connector is aligned with a corresponding optical connector on the mounting hardware and the electrical connector is aligned with a corresponding electrical connector on the mounting hardware;

wherein the fiber optic cable has a first cross-section at a first distance from the optical connector and a second cross-section at a second distance from the optical connector, the second distance being closer to the optical connector than the first distance and the second cross-section being smaller than the first cross-section.

2. The mount interface of claim 1, wherein the local device is a battery pack.

3. The mount interface of claim 1, wherein the redirection element redirects the path of the optical signal at an angle between least 22.5 degrees and 180 degrees.

4. The mount interface of claim 1, wherein the redirection element redirects the path of the optical signal at an angle of about 90 degrees.

5. The mount interface of claim 1, wherein the redirection element comprises a mirror.

6. The mount interface of claim 1, wherein the redirection element comprises a prism.

7. The mount interface of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable is configured to be bent at a radius between 2 mm and 20 mm and maintain integrity of data contained in the optical digital signal.

8. The mounting hardware of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic cable comprises a multistrand fiber optic cable grouped tightly together and surrounded by a jacket, wherein each of the component multistrand fiber optic cables has a cross-section with a diameter that is less than 0.2 mm, and wherein a diameter of a cross-section of the fiber optic cable is less than 2 mm.