Wireless datalink activation system having power conditioning capabilities

• US 6,441,936 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kinstler, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US09/221,218
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/144, 359/145, 359/146, 359/147, 359/168, 359/171
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal

Abstract

The system includes at least one data receiver, a low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system, and a unique signal detector. The data receiver receives serial digital information from a remote optical data transmitter. The data receiver serves both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions. The low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system includes at least one photo-voltaic panel for receiving optical power from a remote optical emission source; and power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means. Such means includes a digital micro-power timer integrated circuit. The power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means is connected to the photo-voltaic panel for accumulating power generated by the photo-voltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities. The unique signal detector is connected to the data receiver and to the power conditioning, accumulation and distribution means, and is connectable to an electrical apparatus. The periodically and intermittently distributed power enables the unique signal detector to evaluate incoming data received from the data receiver, and upon detection of the receipt of a signal qualifying as a key, thereupon issues a command to the electrical apparatus to initiate uninterrupted data communication from the data receiver. The system is capable of providing a lifetime physical-connection-free means of accomplishing remote datalink activation and subsequent communications functions to remote objects.

Claims

1. A wireless datalink activation system for remote activation of an electrical apparatus using a remote optical data transmitter and a remote optical emission source, said wireless datalink activation system comprising:

a) at least one data receiver for receiving serial digital information from a remote optical data transmitter, said data receiver serving both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions;

b) a low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system, comprising;

i) at least one photo-voltaic panel for receiving optical power from a remote optical emission source; and

ii) power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means, comprising a digital micro-power timer integrated circuit, said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means being connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for accumulating power generated by said at least one photo-voltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities; and

c) a unique signal detector connected to said at least one data receiver and to said power conditioning, accumulation and distribution means, and being connectable to an electrical apparatus, wherein said periodically and intermittently distributed power enables said unique signal detector to evaluate incoming data received from said at least one data receiver, and upon detection of the receipt of a signal qualifying as a key, thereupon issues a command to said electrical apparatus to initiate uninterrupted data communication from said data receiver.

2. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 1, wherein said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means further comprises a micro-power DC to DC converter connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for conditioning and accumulating power generated by said photo-voltaic panel.

3. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 2, wherein said power conditioning, accumulation, and releasing means further comprises:

a capacitor connected to said photo-voltaic panel.

4. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 1, wherein said digital micropower timer integrated circuit and said unique signal detector comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

5. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 4, wherein said ASIC further comprises:

a transistor switch connected to an output of said digital micro-power timer integrated circuit and to said data receiver connected to said unique signal detector for activating said evaluation of incoming data.

6. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 5, further comprising a low power relay device connected between said unique signal detector and said electrical apparatus for activating said electrical apparatus.

7. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 1, wherein said unique signal detector comprises a tone detector circuit.

8. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 1, further including said electrical apparatus comprising smart munitions positioned in a pre-launch configuration.

9. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 8, wherein said pre-launch configuration comprises a weapons bay.

10. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 8, wherein said pre-launch configuration comprises a launch canister.

11. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 8, wherein said pre-launch configuration comprises a weapon loading conveyer assembly for breach-loaded munitions.

12. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 8, wherein said optical power received by said at least one photo-voltaic panel comprises relatively low electrical power in a range of 0.1 mW-10.0 mW.

13. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 8, wherein said at least one data receiver comprises two data receivers.

14. A self-powered datalink activation system for remote activation of an electrical apparatus, comprising:

a) a remote optical data transmitter;

b) a remote optical emission source; and

c) a wireless datalink activation system, comprising;

i) at least one data receiver for receiving serial digital information from said remote optical data transmitter, said data receiver serving both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions;

ii) a low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system, comprising;

at least one photo-voltaic panel for receiving optical power from a remote optical emission source; and

power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means, comprising a digital micro-power timer integrated circuit, said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means being connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for accumulating power generated by said at least one photo-voltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities; and

iii) a unique signal detector connected to said at least one data receiver and to said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means, and being connectable to an electrical apparatus, wherein said periodically and intermittently distributed power enables said unique signal detector to evaluate incoming data received from said at least one data receiver, and upon detection of the receipt of a signal qualifying as a key, thereupon issues a command to said electrical apparatus to initiate uninterrupted data communication from said data receiver.

15. The self-powered datalink activation system of claim 14, wherein said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means further comprises a micro-power DC to DC converter connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for conditioning and accumulating power generated by said photo-voltaic panel.

16. The self-powered datalink activation system of claim 15, wherein said power conditioning, accumulation, and releasing means further comprises:

a capacitor connected to said photo-voltaic panel.

17. The self-powered datalink activation system of claim 15, wherein said optical power received by said at least one photo-voltaic panel comprises relatively low electrical power in a range of 0.1 mW-10.0 mW.

18. The self-powered datalink activation system of claim 14, wherein said digital micro-power timer integrated circuit and said unique signal detector comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

19. The self-powered datalink activation system of claim 18, wherein said ASIC (-=, further comprises:

a transistor switch connected to an output of said digital micropower timer integrated circuit and to said data receiver connected to said unique signal detector for activating said evaluation of incoming data.

20. A wireless datalink activation system for remote activation of smart munitions positioned in a pre-launch configuration, said wireless datalink activation using a remote optical data transmitter and a remote optical emission source, said wireless datalink activation system comprising:

a) at least one data receiver for receiving serial digital information from a remote optical data transmitter, said data receiver serving both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions;

b) a low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system, comprising;

at least one photo-voltaic panel for receiving optical power from a remote optical emission source; and

power conditioning, accumulation and distribution means, comprising a micro-power timer integrated circuit, said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means being connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for accumulating power generated by said at least one photo-voltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities; and

c) a unique signal detector connected to said at least one data receiver and to said power accumulation and distribution means, and being connectable to smart munitions positioned in a pre-launch configuration, wherein said periodically and intermittently distributed power enables said unique signal detector to evaluate incoming data received from said at least one data receiver, and upon detection of the receipt of a signal qualifying as a key, thereupon issues a command to said electrical apparatus to initiate uninterrupted data communication from said data receiver.

21. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 20, wherein said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means further comprises a micro-power DC to DC converter connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for conditioning and accumulating power generated by said photo-voltaic panel.

22. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 21, wherein said power conditioning, accumulation, and releasing means further comprises:

a capacitor connected to said photo-voltaic panel.

23. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 20, wherein said digital micro-power timer integrated circuit and said unique signal detector comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

24. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 23, wherein said ASIC further comprises:

a transistor switch connected to an output of said digital micro-power timer integrated circuit and to said data receiver connected to said unique signal detector for activating said evaluation of incoming data.

25. The wireless datalink activation system of claim 20, wherein said optical power received by said at least one photo-voltaic panel comprises relatively low electrical power in a range of 0.1 mW-10.0 mW.

26. A wireless datalink activation system for remote activation of an electrical apparatus using a remote optical data transmitter and a remote optical emission source, said wireless datalink activation system comprising:

a) at least one data receiver for receiving serial digital information from a remote optical data transmitter, said data receiver serving both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions;

b) a low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system, comprising;

at least one photo-voltaic panel for receiving optical power from a remote optical emission source; and

power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means connected to said at least one photo-voltaic panel for accumulating power generated by said at least one photo-voltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities, said power conditioning, accumulation and distribution means, comprising;

i) a micro-power DC to DC converter;

ii) a capacitor connected to an output of said DC to DC converter; and

iii) a digital micro-power timer integrated circuit connected to said DC to DC converter and to said capacitor; and

c) a unique signal detector connected to said at least one data receiver and to said power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means, and being connectable to an electrical apparatus, wherein said periodically and intermittently distributed power enables said unique signal detector to evaluate incoming data received from said at least one data receiver, and upon detection of the receipt of a signal qualifying as a key, thereupon issues a command to said electrical apparatus to initiate uninterrupted data communication from said data receiver.