Wireless underwater video system

• US 6,525,762 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Mileski, Paul M., Manstan, Roy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTON, HOWARD W
• Application Number:
  US09/613,046
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, 348/81, 348/82, 348/143, 455/66, 119/421
• US Class Current: 348/81
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2022/006 specially adapted for measuring or watch purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/005 using at least one opto-electrical conversion device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A Wireless Underwater Video System for obtaining live video/audio data to profile a designated area of an ocean bottom is described. The system includes a video camera enclosed in a water tight housing which produces video and audio signals which are transmitted to a transmitting buoy having a power source, electronics for conditioning the video/audio signals and a position stablizer. The conditioned video signals are then transmitted from the buoy to an observer on a platform over a radio frequency link.

Claims

1. A wireless underwater video/audio system for profiling a designated area of an ocean bottom which comprises:

a video camera secured in a water proof movable housing placed in said designated area of the ocean bottom;

a floating cable connected to said video camera at a first end thereof;

a buoy located at the top surface of said designated area of said designated of the ocean bottom;

electronics means housed in said buoy, said electronics means connected to a second end of said floating cable to transmit video/audio signals from said video camera to said buoy; and

means for conditioning said video/audio signals for transmission thereof to an observer on a designated platform.

2. The wireless underwater video/audio system of claim 1 wherein said buoy includes a position stablizer to improve transmission of said video/audio signals from said buoy to an observer.

3. The wireless video/audio system of claim 2 which also includes a power source to activate said electronics in said buoy.

4. The wireless video/audio system of claim 3 which also includes an antenna for transmitting said video/audio signals from said buoy to said observer on said platform.

5. The wireless video/audio system of claim 2 wherein said electronics means includes a radio frequency transmitter.

6. The wireless video/audio system of claim 1 wherein said floating cable includes a plurality of floats for making said floating cable buoyant.

7. A method for obtaining a profile of a designated ocean bottom area using a wireless video/audio system including a video camera in a movable waterproof camera housing at said designated ocean bottom area, said camera video signals connected to stabilized transmitting buoy including an electronics package and transmitting said camera video signals over radio frequency link to a receiving platform, said method including the steps of:

obtaining video/audio signals using said video camera;

transmitting said video signals to said buoy by using said floating cable to said electronics means; and

transmitting said video/audio signals to an observer on a platform using an r.f. transmitter of said electronics means.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of transmitting video/audio signals from said buoy further includes the step of providing power to said electronics means.