Subsea transfer system providing wireless data transfer, electrical power transfer and navigation

#This application claims the benefit of UK Patent Application No. GB1000662.5, filed Jan. 15, 2010, entitled “Subsea Wireless Communication, Navigation and Power System” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

#The present invention relates to a subsea wireless communication, navigation and power system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a subsea wireless communication, navigation and power system that uses acoustic and electromagnetic carrier signals for wireless communication and navigation. An inductive connector is provided for the transfer of power between units without conductive contact.

#Establishing wireless communications underwater is widely recognised as being very challenging. While radio systems dominate atmospheric wireless communications applications, radio waves are attenuated severely in water with acoustic carriers being commonly adopted for long range underwater wireless communications.

#A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments by way of example only, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

#FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of a subsea transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a subsea acoustic transceiver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of a subsea transfer subsystem 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Data processor 10 controls interaction between the components of the system and executes algorithms for provisioning navigation and positioning capability. Acoustic transceiver 11 provides wireless communications and/or positioning signalling. Radio transceiver 12 provides variable data rate wireless communications and positioning signalling. Inductive power connector 13 allows transfer of electrical power from a mobile unit to a remotely deployed client system without the need for conductive contact.

#The system shown in FIG. 1 functions as a conventional acoustic underwater communications system and/or underwater radio system with variable data rate adaptive to the channel conditions and/or combined acoustic-radio navigation system and/or radio navigation system and/or inductive power transfer system. The integrated system as shown in FIG. 1 can maximize communications and navigation availability over the wide range of conditions experienced in the underwater environment.

#The present invention is designed to be interfaced to a wide range of subsea assets (both fixed and mobile) and sensors/data loggers to enable optimum wireless through-water communication in a range of situations. Similarly, the system as shown in FIG. 1 may be interfaced with a range of existing subsea radio or acoustic communications systems or another system of the present invention. Moreover, the system of the present invention allows power transfer to support remotely deployed equipment, for example sensors/data loggers, thus providing a coherent system. Such a feature is beneficial since the system described herein, without depending on a power cable allows, access to even the most hostile of underwater environments.