Intrapersonal data communication systems

• US 9,225,419 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Inventors: Masarik, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US14/724,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 398/107, 398113-117, 398135-137, 398/139
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/23 from thermal infrared radiation
• 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 local device configured to couple to a headgear system having an optical data communication system, the local device comprising:

a local device housing configured to enclose a plurality of electrical components within the local device housing, the local device housing comprising a mounting interface disposed on an exterior surface of the local device housing;

a plurality of connector elements disposed on a surface of the mounting 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 cavity and a window;

an optical coupling system disposed within the non-contact optical connector, the optical coupling system comprising an optical element, the optical element disposed within a cavity of the mounting interface;

wherein the mounting interface is configured to releasably mate with a corresponding mounting interface on the headgear system such that, when connected to the headgear system;

a portion of the mounting interface of the local device is in contact with a surface of the corresponding mounting interface on the headgear system;

the power pin and the return pin are electrically coupled to corresponding pins on the mounting interface of the headgear system;

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

2. The local device of claim 1 further comprising an optical transceiver enclosed within the local device housing, the optical transceiver configured to convert between electrical signals and optical signals.

3. The local device of claim 2, wherein the optical element of the optical coupling system is configured to collimate optical signals transmitted by the optical transceiver.

4. The local device of claim 2, wherein the optical element of the optical coupling system is configured to direct optical signals received through the non-contact optical connector to the optical transceiver.

5. The local device of claim 1, wherein the local device comprises a goggle.

6. The local device of claim 1, wherein the window of the non-contact optical connector is configured to be substantially level with the surface of the mounting interface.

7. The local device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical components comprises a signal converter operably coupled to the optical coupling system, the signal converter configured to convert an electrical signal to the optical digital signal.

8. The local device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of electrical components further comprises a controller configured to direct electrical power to the signal converter.

9. The local device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to direct less than or equal to about 500 mW of electrical power to the signal converter during conversion of the electrical signal to the optical digital signal.

10. The local device of claim 9, wherein the signal converter is configured to operate at a transmission rate that is less than or equal to about 10 Gbps.

11. The local device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to direct less than or equal to about 50 mW of electrical power to the signal converter during conversion of the electrical signal to the optical digital signal, a transmission of rate of the signal converter being less than or equal to about 2 Gbps.

12. The local device of claim 1, wherein the local device comprises a visualization system.

13. The local device of claim 12, wherein the visualization system comprises night-vision goggles.

14. The local device of claim 1, wherein the headgear system comprises a helmet.

15. The local device of claim 1, wherein the optical element of the optical coupling system comprises a lens.

16. The local device of claim 1, wherein the optical digital signal includes digital video data acquired by the local device.

17. The local device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connector elements further comprises:

a second power pin configured to transmit an electrical voltage,

a second return pin configured to transmit an electrical voltage, and

a second non-contact optical connector comprising a cavity and a window.

18. The local device of claim 17 further comprising a second optical coupling system disposed within the second non-contact optical connector, the optical coupling system comprising an optical element, the optical element disposed within a second cavity of the mounting interface.

19. The local device of claim 18, wherein the second non-contact optical connector is optically coupled to a second non-contact optical connector of the headgear system to receive an optical digital signal from the optical coupling system of the headgear system through the window of the second non-contact optical connector.

20. The local device of claim 1, wherein the optical component comprises a fiber optic cable.