# US 11,451,255 B2 · Modular communications systems with dynamically positionable antenna elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,451,255 B2 - Document ID: US11451255B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/382,059 - Filed: 2021-07-21 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2022-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-14 - Applicants: Vorbeck Materials Corp. - Inventors: Sriram Manivannan; James Brent; Josh Desportes; James Turney; Alison Bakersville; Can Gun Yaprak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451255B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/385: {Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets} - A41D 1/002: {adapted to accommodate electronic equipment (patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085)} - A41D 1/005: {with embedded cable or connector} - H01Q 1/088: {Quick-releasable antenna elements} - H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals} - A41D 1/04: Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like - H04B: TRANSMISSION - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A modular communications system having dynamically positionable non-metallic antenna elements and communications devices is disclosed. The system includes an apparel item with a surface and a foam layer positioned therein. Landing pads are each uniquely positioned on the surface. The antenna elements are demountably, intermittingly, and conductively coupled to the landing pads; includes a non-metallic conductive composition; and a unique operational frequency. A hub is positioned on the surface and conductively coupled to each landing pad. Each communications device is demountably affixed to the surface; intermittingly, demountably, and conductively coupled to the hub; and includes a unique operational frequency. The hub intermittingly, demountably, and conductively couples each communications devices to a unique landing pad included in the plurality of landing pads. The foam layer is lined with a conductive material that reflects RF radiation that emanates from the plurality of non-metallic antenna elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular communications systems comprising: an apparel item comprising: a surface; a foam layer positioned therein; a plurality of landing pads positioned proximate to the surface, each landing pad of the plurality of landing pads uniquely positioned on the surface relative to other landing pads of the plurality of landing pads; a plurality of non-metallic antenna elements each: demountably, intermittingly, and conductively coupled to a unique landing pad of the plurality of landing pads; comprising a non-metallic conductive composition; comprising a unique operational frequency compared to at least one antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; a hub positioned on the surface and conductively coupled to each of the landing pads; a plurality of communications devices, wherein each communications device: is demountably affixed to the surface; intermittingly, demountably, and conductively coupled to the hub; comprises an operational frequency; wherein the hub intermittingly, demountably, and conductively couples each of the communications devices to one of the landing pads; and wherein the foam layer is lined with a conductive material; and wherein the conductive material reflects radiofrequency radiation that emanates from the plurality of non-metallic antenna elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a first pairing element, the first pairing element is conductive; each of the plurality of landing pads comprises a second pairing element, the second pairing element is conductive; and the first conductive pairing element and the second conductive pairing element demountably engage each other when shifted in a common plane and thereby form the selective, intermitting, and conductive coupling. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modular communications system of claim 2, wherein one or more of the first pairing element and the second pairing element consist of the non-metallic conductive composition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modular communications system of claim 3, wherein the first pairing element and the second pairing element engage when shifted in a common plane with a maximum engagement force of 65 N. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The modular communications system of claim 4, wherein the first pairing element and the second pairing element disengage when shifted in a same plane with a minimum disengagement force of 2 N. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a first pairing element, the first pairing element is conductive; each of the plurality of landing pads comprises a second pairing element, the second pairing element is conductive; and wherein the first pairing element and the second pairing element form a conductive hook-and-loop mating system when engaged. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, further comprising: an enclosure; wherein the enclosure is positioned on the surface via a demountable fastener; and at least one of the plurality of communications devices is stored within the enclosure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein an antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a conductive composition; and the conductive composition comprises a polymer and fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modular communications system of claim 8, wherein the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene are present within the polymer as a three-dimensional percolated network comprising nanoscale separation between individual fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein the hub comprises a first coupling element each communication device comprises a second coupling element; and wherein the first coupling element and the second coupling element form a wedge-like intermitting and conductive coupling therebetween. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein each of the antenna elements comprises a radius of curvature of between 0.5 and 3 inches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, further comprising: an I/O device positioned proximate to the surface; wherein each of the plurality of communications devices is intermittingly, demountably, and conductively coupled to the hub via an adaptor element that captures an impedence reading thereof; the adaptor captures the impedence reading; and I/O device generates a notification when the impedence reading is within a threshold range and thereby convey that the impedence reading reflects a conductive coupling. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of non-metallic antenna elements comprise an antenna array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of antenna elements comprise a height of up to 10 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein the apparel item comprises a first apparel item and a second apparel item. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The modular communications system of claim 1, wherein the apparel item comprises: a primary portion; and an abutting element coupled to the primary portion thereby securing the primary portion to a user of the modular communications system. ### Claim 17 A modular communications systems comprising: an apparel item comprising: a surface; a foam layer positioned therein; a plurality of landing pads positioned proximate to the surface, each landing pad of the plurality of landing pads uniquely positioned on the surface relative to other landing pads of the plurality of landing pads; a plurality of non-metallic antenna elements each: demountably, intermittingly, and conductively coupled to a unique landing pad of the plurality of landing pads; comprising a non-metallic conductive composition; comprising a unique operational frequency compared to at least one antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements; a hub positioned on the surface and conductively coupled to each of the landing pads; a plurality of communications devices, wherein each communications device: is demountably affixed to the surface; intermittingly, demountably, and conductively coupled to the hub; comprises an operational frequency; wherein the hub intermittingly, demountably, and conductively couples each of the communications devices to one of the landing pads; wherein the foam layer is lined with a conductive material; wherein the plurality of non-metallic antenna elements comprise an antenna array; and wherein the conductive material reflects radiofrequency radiation that emanates from the plurality of non-metallic antenna elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The modular communications system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a first pairing element, the first pairing element is conductive; each of the plurality of landing pads comprises a second pairing element, the second pairing element is conductive; and the first conductive pairing element and the second conductive pairing element demountably engage each other when shifted in a common plane and thereby form the selective, intermitting, and conductive coupling. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The modular communications system of claim 18, wherein an antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements comprises: a conductive composition; a height of up to 10 mm; the conductive composition comprises a polymer and fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene; the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene are present within the polymer as a three-dimensional percolated network comprising nanoscale separation between individual fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene; and each of the antenna elements comprise a radius of curvature of between 0.5 and 3 inches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The modular communications system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of non-metallic antenna elements comprise an antenna array.