Intrapersonal data communication systems

• US 9,042,736 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Inventors: Masarik, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US13/674,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 398/107, 398113-117, 398135-137, 398/139
• US Class Current: 398/139
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/11 Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25891 Transmission components H04B10/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/803 Free space interconnects, e.g. between circuit boards or chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3866 carried on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

Intrapersonal communication systems and methods that provide an optical digital signal link between two or more local devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, the system includes a first signal converter disposed at a first end of the optical digital signal link and configured to convert between electrical digital signals from a first local device and optical digital signals from the optical digital signal link. The system can include an optical connector having a non-contact portion configured to couple optical digital signals between the first signal converter and the optical digital signal link across a gap. The system can include a second signal converter disposed at a second end of the optical digital signal link and configured to convert between electrical digital signals from the second local device and optical digital signals from the optical digital signal link.

Claims

1. A mounting interface configured to couple to a headgear system having an optical data communication system, the mounting interface comprising:

a mounting surface;

a connector interface;

a plurality of connector elements disposed on a surface of the connector interface, the plurality of connector elements comprising;

a power pin configured to transmit an electrical voltage,

a return pin configured to transmit an electrical voltage, and

a non-contact optical connector comprising a window configured to have a surface that is even with the surface of the connector interface; and

an optical coupling system comprising an optical element, the optical element disposed within a cavity of the mounting interface having a depth of between about 0.25 mm and about 1 mm from the surface of the connector interface;

wherein the connector interface is configured to releasably mate with a corresponding connector interface on a local device such that, when connected to the local device;

a portion of the local device is in contact with the mounting surface,

the power pin and the return pin are electrically coupled to corresponding pins on the connector interface of the local device, and

the non-contact optical connector is optically coupled to a non-contact optical connector of the local device to transmit an optical digital signal from the optical coupling system to the local device through the window of the non-contact optical connector.

2. The mounting interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connector elements further comprises a second non-contact optical connector comprising a window configured to have a surface that is even with the surface of the connector interface, the second non-contact optical connector configured to receive an optical digital signal from a connected optical local device.

3. The mounting interface of claim 2 further comprising a second optical coupling system comprising an optical element, the optical element of the second optical coupling system disposed within a second cavity of the mounting interface having a depth of between about 0.25 mm and about 1 mm from the surface of the connector interface.

4. The mounting interface of claim 3, wherein the optical element comprises a lens configured to focus the received optical digital signal onto a fiber optic cable disposed within the mounting interface.

5. The mounting interface of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a lens configured to collimate the optical digital signal from a fiber optic cable disposed within the mounting interface for transmission through the window.

6. The mounting interface of claim 1 further comprising a second power pin and a second return pin configured to transmit an electrical voltage.

7. The mounting interface of claim 1, wherein the power pin and/or the return pin is configured to recess into the connector interface when a force is applied and return to a default position when no force is applied.

8. The mounting interface of claim 1 further comprising a hook system and a strap configured to pull the mounting interface so that the hook system applies a force on the headgear system to substantially secure the mounting interface in place on the headgear system.

9. The mounting interface of claim 1, wherein the mounting interface is permanently affixed to the headgear system.

10. The mounting interface of claim 1, wherein the mounting interface is configured to couple to a visualization system.

11. An optical digital signal bridge comprising:

an optical digital signal cable comprising;

a conduit comprising an insulating layer and a radiation shield,

a power line configured to transmit an electrical voltage, the power line disposed at least partially within the conduit,

a return line configured to transmit an electrical voltage, the return line disposed at least partially within the conduit,

a redundant power line configured to transmit an electrical voltage, the redundant power line disposed at least partially within the conduit,

a redundant return line configured to transmit an electrical voltage, the redundant return line disposed at least partially within the conduit,

an optical fiber configured to transmit an optical digital signal, the optical fiber disposed at least partially within the conduit, and

a second optical fiber configured to transmit a second optical digital signal, the second optical fiber disposed at least partially within the conduit;

a connector interface comprising;

a connector body;

a connector surface;

a power pin disposed on the connector surface and coupled to the power line;

a return pin disposed on the connector surface and coupled to the return line;

a non-contact optical connector comprising a window on the connector surface and an optical element disposed within a cavity of the connector body,

wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the cavity, and

wherein the optical element is configured to collimate light exiting the optical fiber.

12. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 11, wherein the optical element is disposed between 0.25 mm and 1 mm from the connector surface.

13. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 11, wherein the window is level with the connector surface.

14. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 13, wherein the window has a planar surface level with the connector surface.

15. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 11, wherein the optical element comprises a collimating lens.

16. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 11, wherein the connector interface further comprises:

a redundant power pin disposed on the connector surface and coupled to the redundant power line;

a redundant return pin disposed on the connector surface and coupled to the redundant return line;

a second non-contact optical connector comprising a second window on the connector surface and a second optical element disposed within a second cavity of the connector body, the second optical element disposed at least 0.25 mm from the connector surface,

wherein the second optical fiber is disposed within the second cavity, and

wherein an end of the second optical fiber is positioned at a focus of the second optical element.

17. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 16, wherein the second optical element is disposed between 0.25 mm and 1 mm from the connector surface.

18. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 16, wherein the second optical element comprises a focusing lens.

19. The optical digital signal bridge of claim 16, wherein the second window is level with the connector surface.