US 9,794,737 B2Granted

Underwater signal conversion

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army

InventorsMark Govoni, John Suarez

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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.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

an alternating current-to-direct current converter configured to convert a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal, wherein a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal;
a direct current-to-alternating current converter configured to convert the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal, wherein 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,
wherein the transmitter employs a transmission coil to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver and
wherein the near-field receiver employs a reception coil to receive the low frequency alternating current signal from the transmitter,
wherein the alternating current-to-direct current converter is resident upon a collection device that collects the high frequency alternating current signal,
wherein the direct current-to-alternating current converter is resident upon the collection device that collects the high frequency alternating current signal,
wherein the transmitter is resident upon the collection unit that collects the high frequency alternating current signal, and
wherein the near-field receiver is resident upon bodywear of a diver.

7 more elements

A system, comprising:

a receiver configured to collect a high frequency alternating current signal from a repeater and not a source,
wherein the collection occurs prior to conversion of the high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal;
a radio frequency power detector configured to convert a high frequency alternating current signal to the direct current signal,
wherein a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal;
a voltage-to-frequency converter configured to convert the direct current signal to a low frequency alternating current signal,
wherein a 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
wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver while the transmitter is underwater,
wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the low frequency alternating current signal to the near-field receiver while the near-field receiver is underwater, and
wherein the near-field receiver is not the receiver configured to collect the high frequency alternating current from the repeater and not the source.

8 more elements

A system, comprising:

a digital conversion component that converts a high frequency alternating current signal to a direct current signal,
wherein a voltage value of the direct current signal corresponds to a frequency value of the high frequency alternating current signal and
wherein 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,
wherein 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,
wherein the near-field receiver processes the low frequency alternating current signal to determine the direction.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.