Underwater Signal Conversion

• US 20160069674A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Govoni, Mark, Suarez, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,794,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Various embodiments associated with signal conversion while underwater are described. A source can transmit an alternating current signal with a relatively high frequency over a relatively long distance. The alternating current signal with the relatively high frequency can be converted to an alternating current signal with a relatively low frequency. An example of this conversion can be done by converting the alternating current signal with the relatively high frequency into a direct current signal. The direct current signal can then be converted into the alternating current signal with the relatively low frequency. The alternating current signal with the relatively low frequency can be transmitted from a transmission coil to a pick-up coil. After reception by the pick-up coil the alternating current signal with the relatively low frequency can be processed, such as processed to determine a direction of the source of the alternating current signal with the relatively high frequency.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first conversion component configured to convert a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal, where a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal;

a second conversion component configured to convert the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal, where the frequency value of the low frequency alternating current signal corresponds to the voltage value of the direct current signal; and

a transmitter configured to, when underwater, transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to a near-field receiver that is also underwater.

2. The system of claim 1, where the second conversion component comprises a voltage control oscillator.

3. The system of claim 1,

where the first conversion component is configured to convert a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal while underwater and

where the second conversion component is configured to convert the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal while underwater.

4. The system of claim 1,

where the transmitter employs a transmission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and

where the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the transmitter.

5. The system of claim 4,

where the first conversion component is resident upon a collection unit that collects the high frequency alternating current signal,

where the second conversion component is resident upon the collection unit that collects the high frequency alternating current signal,

where the transmitter is resident upon the collection unit that collects the high frequency alternating current signal, and

where the near-field receiver is resident upon bodywear of a diver.

6. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a direction component configured to determine a direction of a source of the high frequency alternating current signal, where the high frequency signal alternating current signal communicates the direction.

7. The system of claim 6, where the direction component is configured to determine the direction through time-direction of arrival analysis.

8. The system of claim 6, where the direction component is configured to determine the direction through omni-directional transpondence analysis.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a collection component configured to collect the high frequency alternating current signal prior to conversion to the direct current signal, where the high frequency alternating current signal is collected from a repeater and not a source.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a diving glove, a low frequency alternating current signal while the diving glove is underwater; and

converting the low frequency alternating current signal to a direct current voltage, where the direct current voltage is employed to determine a location of a base signal from which the low frequency alternating current signal is based.

11. The method of claim 10, where the low frequency alternating current signal is received by way of an inductive pickup in the diving glove.

13. The method of claim 10, comprising:

determining the location of the base signal through employment of the direct current voltage; and

causing display of an information set based, at least in part, on the location in a display of an underwater mask.

14. The method of claim 13, where the information set includes proximity information with regard to the location and a line of sight for a wearer of the mask.

12. The system of claim 12,

where the low frequency alternating current signal is received from a transmitter held by way of the diving glove and

where the transmitter transmits the low frequency alternating current signal by way of an inductive transmitter.

15. A system, comprising:

a digital conversion component that converts a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal,

where a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal and

where the frequency value indicates a direction of a source of the high frequency alternating current signal;

an analog conversion component that converts the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal,

where a frequency value of the low frequency alternating current signal corresponds to the voltage value of the direct current signal; and

an emitter that emits the low frequency alternating current signal to a near-field receiver when the emitter and the near-field receiver are underwater, where the near-field receiver processes the low frequency alternating current signal to determine the direction.

16. The system of claim 15,

where the emitter employs an emission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and

where the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the emitter.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising:

an acquisition component that acquires the high frequency alternating current signal by way of radio frequency-based monopulse beamforming,

where a housing, configured for use underwater, retains the acquisition component,

where the housing retains the digital conversion component,

where the housing retains the analog conversion component,

where the housing retains the emitter,

where the near-field receiver is resident upon a diving glove, and

where the housing is of a shape for retention within the palm of the diving glove.

18. The system of claim 16, comprising:

an acquisition component that acquires the high frequency alternating current signal by way of phase monopulse beamforming,

where a housing, configured for use underwater, retains the acquisition component

where the housing retains the digital conversion component,

where the housing retains the analog conversion component,

where the housing retains the emitter,

where the near-field receiver is resident upon a diving glove, and

where the housing is of a shape for retention within the palm of the diving glove.

19. The system of claim 15, where the high frequency alternating current signal is a distress signal.

20. The system of claim 15,

where the near-field receiver converts the low frequency alternating current signal to the direct current signal,

where the direct current signal is employed by the near-field receiver to determine the direction, and

where information based on the direction is displayed by way of an underwater mask.