Extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system

• US 7,226,328 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Puzella, Angelo M., Chang, Yueh-Chi, D'Amico, Mario, Wardle, Leon, Smith, Thomas C., Lamont, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOTELO, JESUS D
• Application Number:
  US11/059,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 441/6, 441/11, 114/312, 114/313, 114/326, 114/328, 367/4, 367/141
• US Class Current: 441/11
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/048 with hull extending principally vertically
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2007/006 comprising nestable elements
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/24 container type, i.e. having provision for the storage of material
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2203/00 Communication means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/10 Telescopic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/18 Means for stabilising antennas on an unstable platform
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04

Abstract

An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system includes a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment, and a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby.

Claims

1. An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:

a spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment; and

a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby.

2. The communication system of claim 1 in which the telescoping sections include at least first, second and third concentric sections.

3. The communication system of claim 2 in which the spar buoy in the extended configuration includes the first section extending as much as fifteen feet or more above water.

4. The communication system of claim 2 in which the second section includes a foam flotation portion.

5. The communication system of claim 2 in which the third section includes an air source, a battery pack, and a cable pack.

6. The communication system of claim 1 in which the spar buoy includes an aluminum outer skin.

7. The communication system of claim 1 in which the spar buoy in the retracted configuration is less than 15 feet long and less than 2 feet in diameter.

8. The communication system of claim 7 in which the spar buoy in the extended configuration is greater than 40 feet long.

9. The communication system of claim 1 in which the spar buoy in the retracted configuration is 10 feet long and 20 inches in diameter.

10. The communication system of claim 9 in which the spar buoy in the extended configuration is 60 feet long.

11. The communication system of claim 1 in which the spar buoy in the retracted configuration fits within submarine torpedo or missile launch tubes.

12. The communication system of claim 1 in which the communication subsystem has a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended.

13. The communication system of claim 1 in which the communication subsystem includes a sensor having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended.

14. The communication system of claim 13 in which the spar buoy in the retracted configuration includes the sensor in the compact configuration.

15. The communication system of claim 14 in which the sensor is an antenna configured to receive and/or transmit data.

16. The communication system of claim 15 in which the communication subsystem includes a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended.

17. The communication system of claim 16 in which the spar buoy in the retracted configuration includes the radome in the compact configuration.

18. The communication system of claim 17 in which the radome is a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) radome.

19. The communication system of claim 17 further including an antenna positioning subsystem for positioning the antenna.

20. The communication system of claim 19 in which the antenna positioning subsystem includes a deployment control subsystem.

21. The communication system of claim 20 in which the antenna positioning subsystem includes a pedestal positioning subsystem for positioning and pointing the antenna.

22. The communication system of claim 21 further including a down-converter and a low noise block (LNB) pre-amplifier for down-converting satellite signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals.

23. The communication system of claim 22 further including an upconverter and a transmit amplifier for providing transmission capability of frequencies up to 45 GHZ.

24. The communication system of claim 23 further including an electronic subsystem for detecting the position of the antenna.

25. The communication system of claim 24 further including a tracking antenna control subsystem for tracking a satellite.

26. The communication system of claim 1 further including a communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel.

27. The communication system of claim 26 in which the communication link includes optical fiber.

28. The communication system of claim 27 in which the optical fiber is a fiber optic microcable.

29. The communication system of claim 27 in which the optical fiber is a low-cost buffered fiber.

30. The communication system of claim 27 further including a spool of optical fiber on the spar buoy.

31. The communication system of claim 27 further including a spool of optical fiber on the underwater vessel.

32. The communication system of claim 27 further including a spool of optical fiber on the spar buoy and a spool of optical fiber on the underwater vessel.

33. The communication system of claim 1 in which the underwater vessel is a submarine.

34. An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:

a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from a firing tube in an underwater vessel, and an extended configuration including a lengthy section above water after deployment;

an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended; and

a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended.

35. An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:

a spar buoy including concentric telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;

an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;

a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;

a communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel; and

an antenna positioning subsystem for positioning the antenna.

36. An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:

a spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;

an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;

a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended; and

an optical fiber communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel.

37. An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:

a spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;

a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby; and

an optical fiber communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel.

38. A method for establishing sea-based communication to and from an underwater vessel comprising:

deploying from the underwater vessel an extendable spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration before deployment and an extended configuration after deployment, the spar buoy including a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby and having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;

extending the communication subsystem; and

communicating data received by the communication subsystem to the underwater vessel and communicating data from the underwater vessel to a communication subsystem for transmission to a satellite or other receiver.

39. A method for establishing sea-based communication to and from an underwater vessel comprising:

deploying from the underwater vessel an extendable spar buoy having a retracted configuration before deployment and an extended configuration after deployment, the spar buoy including an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended, and a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;

expanding the radome;

extending the antenna; and

communicating data received by the antenna to the underwater vessel and communicating data from the underwater vessel to a communication subsystem for transmission to a satellite or other receiver.

40. The method of claim 39 in which the extendable spar buoy includes telescoping sections.

41. The method of claim 40 in which the telescoping sections include at least first, second and third concentric sections.

42. The method of claim 41 further including extending at least fifteen feet above water said first section of said extendable spar buoy in the extended configuration.

43. The method of claim 41 further including disposing a foam flotation portion in said second section.

44. The method of claim 41 further including disposing an air source, a battery pack, and a cable pack in said third section.

45. The method of claim 39 in which the extendable spar buoy includes an aluminum outer skin.

46. The method of claim 39 in which the extendable spar buoy in the retracted configuration includes the antenna in the compact configuration.

47. The method of claim 46 in which the extendable spar buoy in the retracted configuration includes the radome in the compact configuration.

48. The method of claim 47 in which the radome is a reduced Radar Cross-Section (RCS) radome.

49. The method of claim 39 in which the retracted configuration of the extendable spar buoy is less than 15 feet long and less than 2 feet in diameter.

50. The method of claim 49 in which the extended configuration of the extendable spar buoy is greater than 40 feet long.

51. The method of claim 39 in which the retracted configuration of the extendable spar buoy is 10 feet long and 20 inches in diameter.

52. The method of claim 51 in which the extended configuration of the extendable spar buoy is 60 feet long.

53. The method of claim 39 further including positioning the antenna.

54. The method of claim 53 further including detecting the position of the antenna.

55. The method of claim 54 further including tracking a satellite.

56. The method of claim 39 in which communicating data includes communicating data via an optical fiber.

57. The method of claim 56 further including disposing said optical fiber about a spool on the spar buoy.

58. The method of claim 56 further including disposing said optical fiber about a spool on the underwater vessel.

59. The method of claim 56 further including disposing said optical fiber about a spool on the spar buoy and about a spool on the underwater vessel.

60. A method for establishing sea-based communication to and from an underwater vessel comprising:

deploying from the underwater vessel an extendable spar buoy having telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration before deployment and an extended configuration after deployment, the spar buoy including an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended, and a radome also having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;

expanding the radome and extending the antenna;

positioning the antenna to transmit and receive data; and

communicating the data received by the antenna to the underwater vessel and communicating data from the underwater vessel to a communication subsystem for transmission to a satellite or other receiver.

61. An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:

a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment; and

a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby, the communication subsystem including;

an antenna configured to receive and/or transmit data having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed in the retracted configuration and initially deployed, and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended, and

a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed, and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended.

62. The communication system of claim 61 in which the spar buoy in the retracted configuration includes the radome in the compact configuration.

63. The communication system of claim 62 in which the radome is a reduced Radar Cross Section (RCS) radome.

64. The communication system of claim 62 further including an antenna positioning subsystem for positioning the antenna.

65. The communication system of claim 64 in which the antenna positioning subsystem includes a deployment control subsystem.

66. The communication system of claim 65 in which the antenna positioning subsystem includes a pedestal positioning subsystem for positioning and pointing the antenna.

67. The communication system of claim 66 further including a down-converter and a low noise block (LNB) pre-amplifier for down-converting satellite signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals.

68. The communication system of claim 67 further including an upconverter and a transmit amplifier for providing transmission capability of frequencies up to 45 GHZ.

69. The communication system of claim 68 further including an electronic subsystem for detecting the position of the antenna.

70. The communication system of claim 69 further including a tracking antenna control subsystem for tracking a satellite.