FIBER OPTIC OBSERVATORY LINK FOR MEDIUM BANDWIDTH DATA COMMUNICATION
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable, long-range, underwater data-communication network comprising,a cabled ocean observatory, deployed underwater and connected to a surface buoy,a plurality of removable underwater sensors, disposed at underwater locations at distances greater than 10 km from the cabled ocean observatory;
- a plurality of fiber optic cables, having a protective covering capable of guarding against corrosion and damage, for linking the cabled ocean observatory to the plurality of underwater sensors, wherein each fiber optic cable is at least 10 km long; and
a plurality of fiber optic extension modules, each module permanently connected to each end of the plurality of fiber optic cables, and each module comprisingan optical transceiver,a power supply, andan inductive element for removably coupling each of the plurality of sensors or the cabled ocean observatory to the fiber optic cables.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for a reconfigurable, long-range, underwater data-communication network are described. The network provides a low cost, low power, lightweight, and easy to deploy underwater communication system capable of being operated at long distances. The network may include a cabled ocean observatory, which may be deployed underwater and connected to a surface buoy. The cabled ocean observatory may be connected to one or more removable underwater sensors via fiber optic cables. The underwater sensors may be disposed at underwater locations at long distances from the cabled ocean observatory. Fiber optic extension modules may be permanently connected to each end of the fiber optic cables. Each fiber optic extension module may include an optical transceiver, a power supply, and an inductive element for removably coupling an underwater sensor or the cabled ocean observatory to the fiber optic cable.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable, long-range, underwater data-communication network comprising,
a cabled ocean observatory, deployed underwater and connected to a surface buoy, a plurality of removable underwater sensors, disposed at underwater locations at distances greater than 10 km from the cabled ocean observatory; -
a plurality of fiber optic cables, having a protective covering capable of guarding against corrosion and damage, for linking the cabled ocean observatory to the plurality of underwater sensors, wherein each fiber optic cable is at least 10 km long; and a plurality of fiber optic extension modules, each module permanently connected to each end of the plurality of fiber optic cables, and each module comprising an optical transceiver, a power supply, and an inductive element for removably coupling each of the plurality of sensors or the cabled ocean observatory to the fiber optic cables. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23)
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17. A method for long-range underwater communication, comprising
providing an underwater communication network, including a cabled ocean observatory, at least one removable underwater sensor, disposed at an underwater location at a distance greater than 10 km from the cabled ocean observatory, and a fiber optic cable having a fiber optic extension module at each end, wherein the fiber optic extension modules are inductively coupled to the cabled ocean observatory and the removable sensor, respectively; -
sending serial data from the sensor and across an inductive coupling to one of the fiber optic extension modules; modulating an optical transceiver in the fiber optic extension module based on the sent data, wherein modulating includes operating a laser in the optical transceiver using an on-off keying protocol; sending modulated optical signals across the fiber optic cable; receiving and converting the modulated optical signal to serial data at the other fiber optic extension module; and sending the received serial data across the inductive coupling to the cabled ocean observatory. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification