Soldier system wireless power and data transmission

• US 9,331,495 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Inventors: Soar, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kessie, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/923,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20110031928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/34 combined with light source, e.g. spot light
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/00 Personal protection gear shields for personal use F41H5/08; footwear for use in minefields A43B3/0026; for protection against chemical warfare A62B
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/25 based on characteristics of target signal or of transmission as countermeasure against surveillance H04K3/827, e.g. using direct sequence spread spectrum or fast frequency hopping spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/827 using characteristics of target signal or of transmission as countermeasure against jamming H04K3/25, e.g. using direct sequence spread spectrum or fast frequency hopping spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69

Abstract

An inductively coupled power and data transmission system include a main power source, apparel having an electrical conductor in electrical communication with the main power source, the apparel having a first inductively couplable power and data transmission sub-system to regulate power to the primary coil or coils and transmission of power and data by the primary coil or coils and reception of data by the primary coil or coils, and an independent device having a second inductively couplable power and data transmission sub-system so as to regulate reception of power and data by the secondary coil or coils and transmission of data from a secondary processor by the secondary coil or coils. The first and second primary coils transfer said power and data during inductive coupling, at electromagnetic radiation frequencies, between the first primary coil or coils and the secondary coil or coils.

Claims

1. An inductively coupled power and data transmission system for a soldier system comprising:

a main power source adapted for portable wearing by a user

apparel having an electrical conductor mounted therein in electrical communication with main power source, said apparel having a first inductively couplable power and data transmission sub-system including an electrically conductive at least one primary coil electrically connected to said main power source by said electrical conductor, and further including a primary processor and a primary transmitter/receiver sub-system cooperating between said main power source and said at least one primary coil so as to regulate power to said at least one primary coil and transmission of power and data by said at least one primary coil and reception of data by said at least one primary coil,

wherein said at least one primary coil includes a primary power transfer coil adapted for said transfer of said power from said primary power transfer coil and a primary data transfer coil adapted for transfer of said data from or to said primary data transfer coil,

an independent device having a second inductively couplable power and data transmission sub-system including an electrically conductive at least one secondary coil, a secondary battery, a secondary processor, and a secondary transmitter/receiver sub-system, wherein said at least one secondary coil is electrically connected to said secondary battery and wherein said secondary processor and said secondary transmitter/receiver sub-system cooperate between said secondary battery and said at least one secondary coil so as to regulate reception of power and data by said at least one secondary coil and transmission of data from said secondary processor by said at least one secondary coil,

wherein said at least one secondary coil includes a secondary power transfer coil and a secondary data transfer coil,

said at least one first and second primary coils adapted to transfer said power and data during inductive coupling at electromagnetic radiation frequencies between said at least one primary coil and said at least one secondary coil,

wherein, said power is transferred when said inductive coupling is closely adjacent inductive coupling wherein said at least one primary and secondary coils are closely adjacent to each other, and wherein a data link for said transfer of said data is established during a pairing handshake between said first and second inductively couplable power and data transmission sub-systems when said at least one primary and secondary coils are brought closely together, by the user so as to become said closely adjacent inductively coupled, and wherein said data is transferred by said data link, and said data is transferred between said primary data transfer coil and secondary data transfer coil when said secondary data transfer coil, after said pairing handshake, is moved by the user through said closely adjacent inductive coupling and out of said closely adjacent inductive coupling so that said inductive coupling is between said closely adjacent inductive coupling and near inductive coupling, wherein said near inductive coupling is constrained by factors including the wavelength, lambda, of electromagnetic radiation in said inductive coupling when said wavelength is used in the formula lambda/(2×

pi) to determine an outer range limit of said near inductive coupling, as attenuated by attenuation of said radiation and power levels of said power transfer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary coil is mounted on said apparel in positions chosen from the group including:

torso, collar, shoulder, wrist, helmet front surface; and

wherein said at least one secondary coil is mounted on said independent device so as to optimize said closely adjacent inductive coupling and said near inductive coupling of said at least one secondary coil to said at least one primary coil when in said position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said range limit of said near inductive coupling is substantially one meter, and wherein said power levels are sub-watt power levels.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said close inductive coupling is substantially in the range of approximately 0-3 centimeters.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said primary processor is adapted to:

(a) shut-off said power from said main power source to said at least one primary coil when said data transfer indicates that said secondary battery is charged or said at least one secondary coil is not in position for said closely adjacent inductive coupling, and, (b) continuously continue said transfer of said data between said at least one primary and secondary coils until said range limit of said near inductive coupling is exceeded and said near inductive coupling terminated, and, (c) automatically re-establish said inductive coupling between any one of said at least one primary coil and a corresponding secondary coil of said at least one secondary coil upon detection of a corresponding said closely adjacent inductive coupling between the two.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said primary processor is adapted to:

(a) shut-off said power from said main power source to said at least one primary coil when said data transfer indicates that said secondary battery is charged or said at least one secondary coil is not in position for said closely adjacent inductive coupling, or said transfer of said data is to take place on the same coil as said transfer of said power, and, (b) continue said transfer of said data between said at least one primary and secondary coils until said transfer of power is to take place on the same coil, or until said range limit of said near inductive coupling is exceeded and said near inductive coupling terminated, and, (c) automatically re-establish said inductive coupling between any one of said at least one primary coil and a corresponding secondary coil of said at least one secondary coil upon detection of a corresponding said closely adjacent inductive coupling between the two.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one primary coil is a plurality of primary coils distributed about said apparel and wherein said at least one secondary coil is a plurality of secondary coils on a corresponding number of said independent devices, wherein said independent devices are adapted to dock for said closely adjacent inductive coupling with corresponding said primary coils.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said closely adjacent inductive coupling for said docking of said independent devices include docking in pockets on said apparel, wherein at least one primary coil of said plurality of primary coils is mounted in said pocket.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said at least one primary coil is a plurality of primary coils distributed about said apparel and wherein said at least one secondary coil is a plurality of secondary coils on a corresponding number of said independent devices, wherein said independent devices are adapted to dock for said closely adjacent inductive coupling with corresponding said primary coils.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said closely adjacent inductive coupling for said docking of said independent devices include docking in pockets on said apparel, wherein at least one primary coil of said plurality of primary coils is mounted in said pocket.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said pockets are modular and selectively removable from said apparel.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said pockets further include inserts, and wherein at least one of said primary coils is mounted on each said insert.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein said independent devices are chosen from the group of categories comprising:

torso sub-systems, helmet sub-systems, weapon sub-systems.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said independent devices are chosen from the group of categories comprising:

torso sub-systems, helmet sub-systems, weapon sub-systems.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said main power source is a rechargeable main battery.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said main power source is a rechargeable main battery.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said transfer of said data includes a networked transfer of said data between a plurality of said independent devices.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein said transfer of said data includes a networked transfer of said data between a plurality of said independent devices.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein said power levels are sub-watt power levels.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said apparel is a first piece of apparel and wherein said independent device is a second piece of apparel.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said second piece of apparel is layered adjacent said first piece of apparel.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said first piece of apparel is a first section of a sectioned piece of apparel, and wherein said second piece of apparel is a second section of said sectioned piece of apparel such that said sectioned piece of apparel when worn by the soldier provides said transfer of said power and said data between said sections, and wherein said sections are selectively detachable from one another for doffing said sectioned piece of apparel.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said system transfers said data only by said inductive coupling and does not transfer said data in wireless radio frequency communication, whereby said data transfer is enabled in a radio frequency denied environment.