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US 7,226,328 B1Granted
Extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsAngelo M. Puzella, Thomas C. Smith, Yueh-Chi Chang, Brian D. Lamont, Mario D'Amico, Leon Wardle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system includes a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment, and a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby.
Claims70
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:
- a spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;
- and
- a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby.
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:
- a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from a firing tube in an underwater vessel, and an extended configuration including a lengthy section above water after deployment;
- an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;
- and
- a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended.
1 more element
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:
- a spar buoy including concentric telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;
- an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;
- a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;
- a communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel;
- and
- an antenna positioning subsystem for positioning the antenna.
3 more elements
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:
- a spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;
- an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;
- a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;
- and
- an optical fiber communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel.
2 more elements
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:
- a spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;
- a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby;
- and
- an optical fiber communication link between the spar buoy and the underwater vessel.
1 more element
A method for establishing sea-based communication to and from an underwater vessel comprising:
- deploying from the underwater vessel an extendable spar buoy including telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration before deployment and an extended configuration after deployment, the spar buoy including a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby and having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended;
- extending the communication subsystem;
- and
- communicating data received by the communication subsystem to the underwater vessel and communicating data from the underwater vessel to a communication subsystem for transmission to a satellite or other receiver.
1 more element
A method for establishing sea-based communication to and from an underwater vessel comprising:
- deploying from the underwater vessel an extendable spar buoy having a retracted configuration before deployment and an extended configuration after deployment, the spar buoy including an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended, and a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;
- expanding the radome;
- extending the antenna;
- and
- communicating data received by the antenna to the underwater vessel and communicating data from the underwater vessel to a communication subsystem for transmission to a satellite or other receiver.
2 more elements
A method for establishing sea-based communication to and from an underwater vessel comprising:
- deploying from the underwater vessel an extendable spar buoy having telescoping sections and having a retracted configuration before deployment and an extended configuration after deployment, the spar buoy including an antenna having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended, and a radome also having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended;
- expanding the radome and extending the antenna;
- positioning the antenna to transmit and receive data;
- and
- communicating the data received by the antenna to the underwater vessel and communicating data from the underwater vessel to a communication subsystem for transmission to a satellite or other receiver.
2 more elements
An extendable spar buoy sea-based communication system comprising:
- a spar buoy having a retracted configuration deployable from an underwater vessel and an extended configuration after deployment;
- and
- a communication subsystem mounted to the top of the spar buoy and supported thereby, the communication subsystem including:
- an antenna configured to receive and/or transmit data having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed in the retracted configuration and initially deployed, and an extended configuration on the top of the spar buoy after the spar buoy is extended, and
- a radome having a compact configuration when the spar buoy is stowed and initially deployed, and an expanded configuration on the top of the spar buoy and about the antenna when the antenna is extended.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.