Mobile device with an underwater communications system and method

• US 9,037,079 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Csignum Limited
• Original Assignee: Wfs Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Wolfe, Derek, Hyland, Brendan
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US14/061,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20140044154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 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, 455/96, 455/98, 455/502
• 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

A mobile device with 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. The portable device may be wearable.

Claims

1. A communications system for communicating electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals between a transmitter and a remote receiver, the communications system comprising:

a data input;

a modulator, for modulating data onto a carrier signal;

a transmitter, and

a remote receiver,

a data compressor for compressing data that is to be transmitted prior to modulation onto a carrier signal, and

a data de-compressor for decompressing the signals received by the receiver antenna,

wherein the transmitter is provided with an antenna for transmitting modulated electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver and at least one of the transmitter and/or remote receiver is an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna which is part of a portable device arrangement which is at least partially in a fluid propagating medium.

2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein each said antenna is an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein each said antenna is an electric field coupled antenna.

4. The communications system of claim 1 further comprising a demodulator, for demodulating modulated signals received by the receiver.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the 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 communications system of claim 1 wherein each of said transmitter and remote receiver comprises an electrically insulated magnetically coupled antenna.

7. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the portable device is a wearable device.

8. The communications system of claim 1 wherein each said antenna is surrounded with a material with a permittivity to match to that of the propagating medium.

9. The communications system of claim 1 wherein one or more intermediate transceivers are provided between the transmitter and the remote receiver to relay signals between said transmitter and said remote receiver.

10. The communications system of claim 9 wherein at least one of the said one or more intermediate transceivers and one of said transmitter or remote receiver are under water and are operable to pass a signal between one another through a water propagation path.

11. The communications system of claim 9 wherein at least one of the

said plurality of intermediate transceivers and one of said transmitter or remote receiver are in air and are operable to pass a signal between one another through an air propagation path.

12. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the said transmitter and said remote receiver are each placed in a fluid propagating medium.

13. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the said transmitter is placed in a first fluid propagating medium and the said remote receiver is place in a second fluid propagating medium.

14. The communications system of claim 1 wherein at least part of the communications system is positioned in a fluid propagating medium.

15. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the propagating medium is substantially water.

16. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the propagating medium is a non-water fluid or gas.

17. The communications system of claim 16 wherein said near field of said electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals corresponds to the region around said transmitter wherein at least one of inverse distance squared (1/r2) and inverse distance cubed (1/r3) field components of said electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals is greater than an inverse distance (1/r) field component thereof.

18. The communications system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter and said receiver are operable to communicate within a near field of said electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals.

19. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the wearable device arrangement is a set of diver goggles.

20. A communications device comprising:

a frame configured to be worn on the head of a user;

a generally transparent display affixed to the frame;

an input device affixed to the frame and configured for receiving from the user

an input associated with a function, wherein information related to the

function is presentable on the display and,

a communications transceiver operable to send and/or receive data signals associated with the function, said system comprising;

a data input;

a modulator, for modulating data onto a carrier signal;

a transceiver provided with an electrically insulated magnetic coupled antenna operable to transmit and/or receive modulated electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to and/or from a remote transmitter and/or receiver wherein, in use, the transceiver is placed in a fluid propagating medium.

21. A method of communication between a transmitter and remote receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a communications system comprising a data input,

compressing the input data;

providing a modulator for modulating compressed data onto a carrier signal,

providing a transmitter with an antenna for transmitting modulated electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals to a remote receiver having an antenna,

providing at least one of the transmitter and/or remote receiver antenna is an electrically insulated, magnetic coupled antenna and

providing the at least one transmitter and/or receiver as part of a portable device arrangement which is at least partially in a fluid propagating medium.