Magneto-inductive submarine communications system and buoy
First Claim
1. A transponder buoy responsive to receive magneto-inductive message signals in the ELF to VLF range from a marine source to transmit electromagnetic message signals to a remote station and responsive to receive electromagnetic command signals from a remote station to transmit magneto-inductive command signals in the ELF to VLF range, said buoy having an RF transceiver and laser-detector module responsive to transmit said electromagnetic message signals as RF message signals and laser message emissions, respectively, and to receive said electromagnetic command signals as RF command signals and laser command emissions, respectively, said buoy further having a receiver portion coupled to an antenna to receive said magneto-inductive message signals and a transmitter portion coupled to said antenna to transmit said magneto-inductive command signals, said receiver portion having high gain narrow band filter amplifiers receiving said magneto-inductive message signals, an FSK demodulator module coupled to said high gain narrow band filter amplifiers, output drivers coupled to said demodulator module, and memory buffer module, said filter amplifiers being connected as a single superheterodyne to minimize internal noise and maintain very high gain, said demodulator module detecting amplitude modulation of a carrier frequency of said magneto-inductive message signals, and said memory buffer module temporarily storing the information of said magneto-inductive message signals prior to transmitting it from said RF transceiver and said laser-detector module.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magneto-inductive submarine communication system and buoy provide two-way signal communications between a submerged craft, such as a submarine and remote command station that may be airborne, on the surface, or on land. A buoy released from the submarine and floating on the surface of the ocean and a satellite is included to complete the bidirectional communications. Messages and commands between the submerged craft and the buoy are communicated by magneto-inductive message signals and magneto-inductive command signals in the extremely low frequency (ELF) to very low frequency (VLF) range of less than 3000 Hz. Message and command communications between the buoy and the satellite (or aircraft, or helicopter, or surface ship), and the satellite to the station are transferred via radio frequency (RF) signals or laser emissions.
102 Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A transponder buoy responsive to receive magneto-inductive message signals in the ELF to VLF range from a marine source to transmit electromagnetic message signals to a remote station and responsive to receive electromagnetic command signals from a remote station to transmit magneto-inductive command signals in the ELF to VLF range, said buoy having an RF transceiver and laser-detector module responsive to transmit said electromagnetic message signals as RF message signals and laser message emissions, respectively, and to receive said electromagnetic command signals as RF command signals and laser command emissions, respectively, said buoy further having a receiver portion coupled to an antenna to receive said magneto-inductive message signals and a transmitter portion coupled to said antenna to transmit said magneto-inductive command signals, said receiver portion having high gain narrow band filter amplifiers receiving said magneto-inductive message signals, an FSK demodulator module coupled to said high gain narrow band filter amplifiers, output drivers coupled to said demodulator module, and memory buffer module, said filter amplifiers being connected as a single superheterodyne to minimize internal noise and maintain very high gain, said demodulator module detecting amplitude modulation of a carrier frequency of said magneto-inductive message signals, and said memory buffer module temporarily storing the information of said magneto-inductive message signals prior to transmitting it from said RF transceiver and said laser-detector module.
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3. A system for two way communications between a submersible and a remote station comprising:
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a transmitter-receiver in a submersible having a transmitter section coupled to a submersible antenna to transmit magneto-inductive message signals in the ELF to VLF range and a receiver section coupled to said submersible antenna to receive magneto-inductive command signals in the ELF to VLF range, said transmitter section having a laptop computer to designate a command signal, an interface and control logic module coupled to said laptop to encode a designated command signal by frequency shift keying a carrier frequency in the ELF to VLF range, and a power output stage connected to said interface and control logic module to transmit said magneto-inductive command signals via said submersible antenna, said receiver section having high gain narrow band filter amplifiers being connected as a superheterodyne to minimize internal noise and maintain very high gain, an FSK demodulator coupled to said amplifiers to separate command information from said magneto-inductive command signals, and output drivers coupled to said demodulator and said laptop to display said commands; and a buoy being responsive to RF command signals to transmit said magneto-inductive command signals and being responsive to said magneto-inductive message signals to transmit RF message signals, said buoy having a receiver portion coupled to a buoy antenna to receive said magneto-inductive message signals and a transmitter portion coupled to said buoy antenna to transmit said magneto-inductive command signals, said buoy further being responsive to laser command emissions to transmit said magneto-inductive command signals and being responsive to said magneto-inductive message signals to transmit laser message emissions. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification