Electromagnetic/acoustic underwater communications system

• US 8,045,919 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Csignum Limited
• Original Assignee: Wfs Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Hyland, Brendan, Rhodes, Mark, Wolfe, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US12/699,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 367/131, 367/142, 367/134, 367/904, 367/141, 367/901, 367/132, 367/910, 340/850, 343/719, 114/321, 114/238, 455/40, 455/72, 455/502, 455/96, 455/98
• US Class Current: 455/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/02 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/901 Noise or unwanted signal reduction in nonseismic receiving system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/904 Doppler compensation systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/91 Portable sonar devices

Abstract

An underwater communications system is provided that transmits electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter includes a data input. A digital data compressor compresses data to be transmitted. A modulator modulates compressed data onto a carrier signal. An electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna transmits the compressed, modulated signals. The receiver that has an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving a compressed, modulated signal. A demodulator is provided for demodulating the signal to reveal compressed data. A de-compressor de-compresses the data. An appropriate human interface is provided to present transmitted data into text/audio/visible form. Similarly, the transmit system comprises appropriate audio/visual/text entry mechanisms.

Claims

1. An underwater communications system comprising:

an electromagnetic transmitter which transmits electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver, an acoustic transmitter which transmits acoustic signals to said remote receiver

a data input and a device for selecting one of said electromagnetic transmitter and said acoustic transmitter

said electromagnetic transmitter comprising a modulator for modulating input data onto a carrier signal

wherein at least one of said electromagnetic transmitter and said remote receiver is underwater.

2. The underwater communications system of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic transmitter further comprises an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for transmitting the electromagnetic signals.

3. The underwater communications system of claim 2, wherein said magnetic coupled antenna includes at least one of, loops and solenoids.

4. The underwater communications system of claim 3 wherein said solenoid is formed around a high magnetic permeability material.

5. The underwater communications system of claim 1 wherein said data input includes at least one of:

a text input;

an audio input for capturing audio signals;

an image input for capturing an image and a video input for capturing a video image.

6. The underwater communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display for allowing digital data to be viewed prior to transmission.

7. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein said remote receiver comprises an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna for receiving said electromagnetic and or magnetic signals and a demodulator for demodulating said electromagnetic and or magnetic signals.

8. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein said remote receiver further comprises a display for displaying demodulated data.

9. The underwater communications system of claim 8, wherein said remote receiver further comprises a device for generating sound representative of demodulated data.

10. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein said remote receiver comprises a transducer suitable for receiving said acoustic signals.

11. The underwater communications system of claim 1, said electromagnetic transmitter further comprising a digital data compressor for compressing data that is to be transmitted.

12. The underwater communications system of claim 11, wherein said remote receiver comprises a de-compressor for de-compressing said compressed data.

13. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic transmitter is operable to transmit signals having a frequency in the range of 1 Hz to 100 MHz.

14. The underwater communication system of claim 1, further comprising a converter for converting captured speech to digital text to be input at said data input.

15. The underwater communication system of claim 14, wherein speech synthesis is used to reconstruct audible speech at said remote receiver.

16. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein at least one intermediate transceiver is provided, said intermediate transceiver being operable to pass a signal from said electromagnetic transmitter to said remote receiver.

17. The underwater communications system of claim 16 wherein said at least one intermediate transceiver is above water and is operable to pass a signal from said electromagnetic transmitter to said remote receiver through an air propagation path.

18. The underwater communications system of claim 16, wherein said at least one intermediate transceiver is mobile.

19. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of intermediate transceivers are provided.

20. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said electromagnetic transmitter and said remote receiver is an above water station.

21. The underwater communications system of claim 20 wherein said above water station comprises an electrically coupled antenna.

22. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein each said electromagnetic transmitter, said acoustic transmitter and said remote receiver is located underwater.

23. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said electromagnetic transmitter and said remote receiver includes a device for varying the signal gain.

24. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic transmitter and said remote receiver are both located underwater, and wherein said electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals follow a signal path which is at least partially an air path that is above water.

25. The underwater communications system of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals follow a signal path which is at least partially through the sea bed.