U.S. patent application number 15/375260 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-15 for slip ring with high data rate sensors.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oceaneering International, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Oceaneering International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Thomas Knight Tolman, David Wesley Weaver.
Application Number | 20170170879 15/375260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59014370 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170170879 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weaver; David Wesley ; et
al. |
June 15, 2017 |
Slip Ring With High Data Rate Sensors
Abstract
A pinless connector for subsea data communications comprises
contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler, comprising one
or more first solid state contactless connectivity data
transmitters, and contactless connectivity data receiver coupler,
comprising one or more first solid state contactless connectivity
data receivers, which can allow for rapid collection and/or
download data from subsea vehicles or sensors without having to
plug in an external connector or physically remove the data
recorder from the unit. Typically, these are operative at a low
power level, e.g. less than or around 50 milliwatts, at an
extremely high data transfer rate or around 5 GBits/second. The
connectors may be incorporated into a subsea system comprising two
subsea devices. A slip ring system may similarly comprise one or
more first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters
and one or more first solid state contactless connectivity data
receivers.
Inventors: |
Weaver; David Wesley;
(Severna Park, MD) ; Tolman; Thomas Knight;
(Annapolis, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Oceaneering International, Inc. |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Oceaneering International,
Inc.
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
59014370 |
Appl. No.: |
15/375260 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62266267 |
Dec 11, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 9/00 20130101; H04B
13/02 20130101; H04B 5/0031 20130101; H02J 50/10 20160201; G02B
6/3604 20130101; G07C 5/085 20130101; H04W 52/30 20130101; H04Q
2209/40 20130101; H02J 50/12 20160201; H01R 39/12 20130101; G07C
5/008 20130101; H01F 38/18 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201; H04B
5/0037 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 5/00 20060101
H04B005/00; G02B 6/36 20060101 G02B006/36; H01R 39/12 20060101
H01R039/12; H04W 4/00 20060101 H04W004/00 |
Claims
1. A slip ring system, comprising: a. a rotatable ring comprising:
i. a sensor trigger; and ii. a first solid state contactless
connectivity transmitter operatively coupled to the sensor trigger
and configured to be operative at an extremely high data transfer
rate; and b. a non-contact stationary sensor responsive to the
sensor trigger and disposed at a predetermined position proximate
an outside diameter of the rotatable ring, the non-contact
stationary sensor comprising a first solid state contactless
connectivity receiver configured to exchange data with the first
solid state contactless connectivity transmitter at a low power
level at the extremely high data transfer rate when disposed
proximate to the first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitter.
2. The slip ring system if claim 1, wherein the rotatable ring
comprises a plurality of rotatable rings, each rotatable ring
comprising: i. a sensor trigger; and ii. a first solid state
contactless connectivity transmitter operatively coupled to the
sensor trigger and configured to be operative at an extremely high
data transfer rate.
3. The slip ring system if claim 1, wherein the non-contact
stationary sensor comprises a plurality of non-contact stationary
sensors.
4. The slip ring system of claim 1, wherein: a. the first solid
state contactless connectivity transmitter comprises a first solid
state contactless connectivity transceiver; and b. the first solid
state contactless connectivity receiver comprises a second solid
state contactless connectivity transceiver.
5. The slip ring system of claim 1, wherein the lower power level
is less than or around 50 milliwatts.
6. The slip ring system of claim 1, wherein data are transmitted
without the first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter
having to physically contact the first solid state contactless
connectivity receiver.
7. A method of transmitting a signal from a relatively stationary
device to a rotating ring, comprising: a. disposing a rotatable
ring on a rotatable member of a relatively stationary device such
that rotation of the rotatable member creates a corresponding
rotation of the rotatable ring, the rotatable ring comprising a
first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter operatively
coupled to a sensor trigger and operative at an extremely high data
transfer rate; b. disposing a non-contact sensor at a predetermined
relatively stationary position proximate an outside diameter of the
rotatable member, the non-contact sensor comprising a first solid
state contactless connectivity receiver configured to exchange data
with the first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter at
a low power level at the extremely high data transfer rate when
disposed proximate to the first solid state contactless
connectivity transmitter; and c. using the first solid state
contactless connectivity transmitter and the first solid state
contactless connectivity receiver to transmit a signal from the
sensor trigger between the non-contact sensor and rotatable ring
using a point-to-point connection at the extremely high data
transfer rate without the first solid state contactless
connectivity transmitter having to physically contact the first
solid state contactless connectivity receiver.
8. The method of method of transmitting a signal from a relatively
stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7, further comprising
fixing the stationary non-contact sensor to a structure.
9. The method of method of transmitting a signal from a relatively
stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7, wherein
transmission of the signal from the sensor trigger between the
non-contact sensor and rotatable ring comprises an industry
standard data exchange protocol.
10. The method of method of transmitting a signal from a relatively
stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7, wherein the
extremely high data transfer rate is around 5 GBits per second.
11. The method of method of transmitting a signal from a relatively
stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7, wherein the first
solid state contactless connectivity transmitter and the first
solid state contactless connectivity receiver connect and
disconnect automatically when they are in close proximity to one
another.
12. The method of method of transmitting a signal from a relatively
stationary device to a rotating ring of claim 7, wherein the low
power level is less than or around 50 milliwatts.
Description
RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application 62/266,267 filed on Dec. 11, 2016.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Underwater vehicles can collect large amounts of data during
the time they are deployed. Download this data typically requires
plugging in an external connector or the data recorder has to be
removed and the data downloaded elsewhere. Either approach can take
a long time and negatively impacts the available operational time.
Further, wet mate underwater connectors are expensive and prone to
failure.
[0003] Moreover, underwater sensors that are not connected to a
surface recorder or collector need to have their data downloaded. A
remotely operated vehicle (ROV) or autonomously operated vehicle
(AUV) can be used, but depending on the volume of data to be
downloaded, it may take an inordinate amount of time. While a ROV
is not powered limited, the AUV is battery powered and spending a
long period of time downloading data has an impact on its
operational time.
FIGURES
[0004] The various drawings supplied herein describe and are
representative of exemplary embodiments of the invention and are
described as follows:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary connector;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary system;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first exemplary slip ring
system; and
[0008] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second exemplary slip ring
system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0009] Referring now to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment pinless
connector 1 for subsea data communications comprises contactless
connectivity data transmitter coupler 10 and contactless
connectivity data receiver coupler 20 which can allow for rapid
collection and/or download data from subsea vehicles or sensors
without having to plug in an external connector or physically
remove the data recorder from the unit.
[0010] Contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler 10
typically comprises first environmentally sealed housing 11 which
has no exposed metal. First solid state contactless connectivity
data transmitter 14, which may be a transceiver, is typically at
least partially disposed within first environmentally sealed
housing 11. Typically, first solid state contactless connectivity
data transmitter 14 is configured to be operative at a low power
level, e.g. less than or around 50 milliwatts, at an extremely high
data transfer rate.
[0011] Contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20 typically
comprises second environmentally sealed housing 21 which has no
exposed metal. First solid state contactless connectivity data
receiver 24, which may be a transceiver, is disposed at least
partially within second environmentally sealed housing 21 and is
typically configured to be operative at the low power level and at
the extremely high data transfer rate when the first solid state
contactless connectivity data transmitter is disposed proximate the
first housing, typically at a distance of no more than around 1
meter from the first solid state contactless connectivity data
transmitter. Typically, however, first environmentally sealed
housing 11 and second environmentally sealed housing 21 are in
contact, although first solid state contactless connectivity data
transmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity data
receiver 24 need not be.
[0012] First environmentally sealed housing 11 and second
environmentally sealed housing 21 are configured for use subsea,
which can include being configured for use at depths of up to
around 12000 feet or at full ocean depth, and each typically
comprises a material suitable for use subsea, e.g. first
environmentally sealed housing 11 comprises a first material and
second environmentally sealed housing 21 comprises a second
material which may be the same as the first material. The first and
second materials suitable for use subsea may comprise a plastic,
rubber, ceramic, glass, or the like, or a combination thereof.
[0013] In certain embodiments, first solid state contactless
connectivity data transmitter 14 and first solid state contactless
connectivity data receiver 24 are adapted to exchange data using a
point to point data communications pathway. Keyssa, Inc. of
Campbell, Caifornia makes exemplary solid state contactless
connectivity data transmitters and solid state contactless
connectivity data receivers. In most configurations, first solid
state contactless connectivity data transmitter 14 and first solid
state contactless connectivity data receiver 24 are adapted to
exchange data without requiring critical alignment of first solid
state contactless connectivity data transmitter 14 with the first
solid state contactless connectivity data receiver 24.
[0014] As used herein, the extremely high data transfer rate may be
around 5 Gbits/second.
[0015] In certain embodiments, first environmentally sealed housing
11 and second environmentally sealed housing 21 are configured to
mate cooperatively but do not have mate at all, i.e., in various
embodiments first solid state contactless connectivity data
transmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity data
receiver 24 are operative to transfer data without being in
physical contact with each other. However, in other contemplated
embodiments first environmentally sealed housing 11 and second
environmentally sealed housing 21 are configured to allow the first
solid state contactless connectivity data transmitter 14 and the
first solid state contactless connectivity data receiver 24 to come
into physical contact with each other.
[0016] Referring additionally to FIG. 2, in certain embodiments,
first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitter 14 may
comprise a plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity
data transmitters 14a,14b and/or first solid state contactless
connectivity receiver 24 may comprise a plurality of first solid
state contactless connectivity receivers 24a,24b. Typically, the
plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity receivers
24a,24b are operatively coupled to corresponding first solid state
contactless connectivity data transmitters 14a,14b of the plurality
of first solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters and
do not required critical alignment between the plurality of first
solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters 14a,14b and
the first solid state contactless connectivity receivers 24a,24b.
Use of a plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity
data transmitters 14a,14b and a plurality of first solid state
contactless connectivity receivers 24a,24b can allow data to be
downloaded quicker by using multiple transmit/receive devices at
the same time, either independently or cooperatively.
[0017] Referring still to FIG. 2, in a further embodiment a subsea
system comprises first subsea device 100 and second subsea device
200. These devices can include structures such as blowout
preventers, manifolds, Christmas trees, remotely operated vehicles,
autonomously operated vehicles, or the like, or a combination
thereof. Current subsea connectors are expensive due to the high
tolerance required to ensure a watertight seal and are also the
primary source of equipment failure due to water intrusion,
misalignment, and the like.
[0018] First subsea device 100 comprises one or more first data
collectors 12 and contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler
10, which is as described above.
[0019] Second subsea device 200 comprises contactless connectivity
data receiver coupler 20 which is as described above and which may
be operatively in communication with second data collector 22. As
used herein, a data collector may comprise a sensor, a data logger,
other electrical and/or optic devices, or the like, or a
combination thereof.
[0020] In certain embodiments, first electromagnetic inductive
signal transmitter 15, which may be a resonant electromagnetic
inductive signal transmitter, may be disposed at least partially
within contactless connectivity data transmitter coupler 10 and a
complimentary first electromagnetic inductive signal receiver 25,
which may be a resonant electromagnetic inductive signal receiver,
may be disposed at least partially within contactless connectivity
data receiver coupler 20. First electromagnetic inductive signal
transmitter 15 and first electromagnetic inductive signal receiver
25 are typically operative to unidirectionally or bidirectionally
transmit a signal such as a power signal when contactless
connectivity data transmitter coupler 10 is disposed proximate
contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20. It will be
understood by one or ordinary skill in electromechanical arts that
bidirectional transmission requires first electromagnetic inductive
signal transmitter 15 and first electromagnetic inductive signal
receiver 25 to effectively be electromagnetic inductive signal
transceivers.
[0021] Referring still to FIG. 2, current subsea fiber optic
connectors are very expensive due to the high tolerance required to
ensure alignment of the fibers. Alignment of fibers is critical and
any misalignment can cause failure or significantly lower the
operating capacity of the connector. These connectors have a
limited number of mate and de-mate cycles. In addition, current
cables used in subsea applications can be molded or pressure
balanced oil filled (PBOF). Making each cable can be time consuming
and expensive to ensure there is no water intrusion when submerged.
Cables can deteriorate due to age, exceeding the bend radius, etc.
causing equipment failures and requiring replacement which can be
costly.
[0022] In a further embodiment, in addition to first subsea device
100 and second subsea device 200, which are as described above, the
subsea system may comprise one or more physical data pathways 30
which are operatively disposed intermediate first solid state data
transmitter 14 and first solid state data receiver 24 where the one
or more physical data pathways 30 are configured to provide a data
communication path between first solid state data transmitter 14
and first solid state contactless connectivity receiver 24 at the
extremely high data rate at a distance of no more than around one
meter subsea.
[0023] Each physical data pathway 30 may comprise a subsea fiber
optic pathway, a subsea copper pathway, a plastic cable configured
to act as a wave guide for a high frequency radio frequency signal,
or the like, or a combination thereof. Typically, cable 30,
including plastic cable 30, acts as a wave guide for the high
frequency RF signals being transmitted and may only need to be
jacketed to prevent the RF signal from leaking off or being
interfered with by the environment.
[0024] If plastic cable 30 is used to transmit data signals,
plastic cable 30 may be used with one or more plastic connectors to
provide a low cost method for providing high speed data
transmission from point to point. Plastic cable 30 may also be used
to replace the fiber optic cable used in umbilicals/tethers on
subsea vehicles. If a plastic cable is used, it typically comprises
a jacket configured to prevent a radio frequency data signal from
leaking off or being interfered with by the subsea environment.
[0025] In embodiments, physical data pathway 30 is configured to
provide a data communication path between first solid state data
transmitter 14a,14b and first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 24a,24b without requiring physical contact between
physical data pathway 30 and at least one of first solid state data
transmitter 14a,14b and first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 24a,24b. It is understood that first solid state data
transmitter 14a,14b may be one or more first solid state data
transmitters 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 24a,24b may be one or more first solid state contactless
connectivity receivers 24 as described herein.
[0026] In embodiments, fiber optic connectors may be replaced with
similar connectors having the same advantages as copper based
signal connector. These can further operate to eliminate fiber
optic connections and loss issues. Additionally, 100% plastic wet
cabling and connectors may be for communications, e.g. plastic core
cable used as waveguide to carry signal. Use of this technology and
the connectors can allow use of extremely fast data ports and
provide for rapid downloading of data to or from AUVs and remote
sensors.
[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in a further embodiment slip
ring system 300 comprises one or more first solid state contactless
connectivity transmitters 214 mounted to or on one or more
rotatable rings 322 and one or more non-contact stationary sensors,
e.g. first solid state contactless connectivity receivers 324. Slip
rings, which are widely used in numerous applications winches,
cable reels, alternators, and the like, are an electromechanical
device that allows the transmission of power and electrical signals
from a stationary structure to which a stationary non-contact
sensor may be fixed, to a rotating structure. A slip ring typically
consists of a stationary contact point that rubs against the
outside diameter of a rotating metal ring. Also known as rotary
joints, slip rings are used in any electromechanical system that
needs to rotate while transmitting power or signals.
[0028] In embodiments fiber-optic slip rings may be replaced with
slip ring 300 which can provide a non-contact method to transmit
data between stationary part 310 and moving part 320. By not having
to use any direct contact method there are no parts to wear out
which will greatly improve the reliability and overall performance
of the slip ring.
[0029] Typically, slip ring 322 is fabricated without any contact
parts to fail or wear out as well as the ability to rapidly
transfer gigabyte amounts of data from an AUV or remote sensor in
just seconds.
[0030] Each rotatable ring 320 typically comprises one or more
sensor triggers and first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitters 324, which can be transceivers, operatively coupled to
one or more sensor triggers and configured to be operative at an
extremely high data transfer rate.
[0031] Each non-contact stationary sensor can comprise one or more
first solid state contactless connectivity receivers 324 which are
typically responsive to one or more sensor triggers 312 and
disposed at a predetermined position proximate an outside diameter
of rotatable ring 320. A non-contact stationary sensor comprises
one or more first solid state contactless connectivity receivers
324 configured to exchange data, either uni- or bidirectionally,
with one or more first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitters 314 at a low power level, typically less than or
around 50 milliwatts, at the extremely high data transfer rate when
disposed proximate to first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitter 314 without the first solid state contactless
connectivity transmitter having to physically contact the first
solid state contactless connectivity receiver. As illustrated in
FIG. 4, a plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitters 314 may be disposed about shaft 320 and associated
with one or more stationary mounted first solid state contactless
connectivity receivers 324.
[0032] In the operation of exemplary embodiments, referring
generally to FIG. 2, data may be obtained from one or more subsea
data collector by disposing first subsea device 100 and second
subsea device 200 subsea, where each is as described above. First
subsea device 100 and second subsea device 200 are maneuvered into
a position closely proximate each other subsea and contactless
connectivity data transmitter coupler 10 positioned proximate
contactless connectivity data receiver coupler 20 at a separation
distance of not more than around one meter subsea. When positioned,
first environmentally sealed housing 11 may be selectively and
cooperatively mated with second environmentally sealed housing 21,
but need not be. Typically, data may be exchanged between first
solid state contactless connectivity transmitter 14 and first solid
state contactless connectivity receiver 24 without requiring
physical contact between first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 24. However, in contemplated embodiments first solid state
contactless connectivity transmitter 14 and first solid state
contactless connectivity receiver 24 may be placed into physical
contact.
[0033] Once positioned, first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitter 14 and first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 14 are used to communicate data at the extremely high data
transfer rate, such as by using a point to point data communication
pathway which can include a physical pathway such as physical data
pathway 30.
[0034] As described above, first solid state contactless
connectivity data transmitter 14 may comprise a plurality of first
solid state contactless connectivity data transmitters 14a,14b
(FIG. 2) and first solid state contactless connectivity receiver
may comprise a plurality of solid state contactless connectivity
receivers 24a,24b (FIG. 2). In these embodiments, once positioned
the plurality of solid state contactless connectivity receivers
24a,24b may be operatively coupled to corresponding ones of the
plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity data
transmitters 14a,14b. The plurality of first solid state
contactless connectivity data transmitters 14a,14b and the
plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity receivers
24a,24b may be used to unidirectionally or bidirectionally exchange
data, whether synchronously or concurrently or independently,
without a need for critically aligning the plurality of first solid
state contactless connectivity data transmitters 14a,14b and the
plurality of first solid state contactless connectivity receivers
24a,24b. Data communication may comprise using an industry standard
data exchange protocol such as at an extremely high frequency data
rate of around 5 Gbits/second.
[0035] In certain embodiments, first solid state contactless
connectivity transmitter 14 and first solid state contactless
connectivity receiver 34 are configured to connect automatically
when they are in close proximity to one another and to and
disconnect when the separation distance exceeds a maximum
separation distance, e.g. more than around one meter.
[0036] Where first electromagnetic inductive signal transmitter 15
and first electromagnetic inductive signal receiver 25 are present,
a signal such as a power signal may be exchanged between first
electromagnetic inductive signal transmitter 15 and first
electromagnetic inductive signal receiver 25, either uni- or
bi-directionally, when contactless connectivity data transmitter
coupler 10 is disposed proximate contactless connectivity data
receiver coupler 20 at a separation distance of not more than
around one meter subsea.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a signal may be transmitted from
a relatively stationary device, e.g. housing 310, to a rotating
ring such as slip ring 320, by disposing a rotatable ring, e.g. one
or more first solid state contactless connectivity transmitters
314, on rotatable member 320 such that rotation of rotatable member
320 creates a corresponding rotation of first solid state
contactless connectivity transmitters 324 operatively coupled to
one or more sensor triggers 312 and operative at an extremely high
data transfer rate. Sensor trigger 312 is as described herein and
comprises one or more first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitters 324 at a predetermined relatively stationary position
proximate an outside diameter of rotatable shaft 320. First solid
state contactless connectivity transmitter 314 and first solid
state contactless connectivity receiver 324 are used to transmit a
signal such as a data signal between the non-contact sensor and
rotatable ring using a point-to-point connection at the extremely
high data transfer rate, e.g. around 5 GBits per second, without
first solid state contactless connectivity transmitter 314 having
to physically contact first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 324. Transmission of the signal may comprise using an
industry standard data exchange protocol.
[0038] In embodiments, first solid state contactless connectivity
transmitter 314 and first solid state contactless connectivity
receiver 324 connect and disconnect automatically when they are in
close proximity to one another.
[0039] It will be understood that various changes in the details,
materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described
and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this
invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing
from the principle and scope of the invention as recited in the
appended claims.
* * * * *