JP2011097275A - Non-acoustic modem and communication system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-acoustic modem that allows data transmission/reception using a non-acoustic signal which can be propagated even in water and is not affected by sound reverberation (reflected sound) from the seabed and also allows stable communication as compared with when using sound, and a communication system using the same. <P>SOLUTION: An original-data electric signal 3 being original data is inputted from a terminal or a measuring instrument 1 or the like to one non-acoustic modem casing 2. A modulator 4 receives the original-data electric signal 3 so as to convert the original-data electric signal 3 into a modulated electric signal 5 by a prescribed modulation method. A signal amplifier 6 converts the modulated electric signal 5 into an amplified electric signal 7 capable of generating a sufficient magnetic field. The amplified electric signal 7 is conducted to a solenoid coil 8 so as to transmit it as a magnetic-field signal 9 to the other non-acoustic modem. The magnetic-field signal 9 is, for example, an AC signal of a frequency of 1 kHz or below. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-acoustic modem that can be used underwater and a communication system using the same.

  In order to send and receive data to and from a terminal such as a computer or a measuring instrument, a conventional modem is connected to the terminal or the like, and transmits and receives data by means such as wired using a telephone line or optical line, or wireless using radio waves. Is what you do.

  In order to send and receive data in the water, it is conceivable that the modem or terminal is waterproofed and then communicated by wire as on land, but the communication range is limited to the range where cable can be laid, For example, communication from a mobile body is impossible. In addition, radio communication such as radio waves cannot be used underwater.

  As another wireless communication means other than radio waves in water, there is a modem using sound that is widely used such as undersea exploration.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-107049

  However, the above-described means has a problem that communication cannot be stably performed particularly in a shallow sea area due to the influence of reflected sound from the seabed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the purpose of the present invention is to transmit and receive data using non-acoustic signals that can be propagated in water and are not affected by reverberation (reflected sound) from the seabed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-acoustic modem and a communication system using the non-acoustic modem capable of stably communicating as compared with the case of using sound.

One aspect of the present invention is a non-acoustic modem. This non-acoustic modem
A transmission unit that converts an electrical signal input from the outside into a non-acoustic signal, and
A receiving unit that receives a non-acoustic signal, converts the signal into an electrical signal, and outputs the signal to the outside;
It is characterized by having.

  In a non-acoustic modem according to an aspect, the non-acoustic signal may be an underwater electric field signal.

  In this case, the receiving unit may include an electric field sensor.

  In the non-acoustic modem according to an aspect, the non-acoustic signal may be a magnetic field signal, the transmission unit may include a coil, and the reception unit may include a magnetic field sensor.

In an aspect of a non-acoustic modem,
A power supply for supplying power to the transmitter and the receiver;
The transmission unit, the reception unit, and the power supply unit may be housed in a housing.

Another aspect of the present invention is a communication system. This communication system
A first non-acoustic modem comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver;
A second non-acoustic modem comprising a second transmitter and a second receiver;
The first transmission unit converts an electrical signal input from the outside into a non-acoustic signal and transmits it,
The second reception unit receives the non-acoustic signal transmitted from the first transmission unit, converts the non-acoustic signal to an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to the outside.
The second transmission unit converts an electrical signal input from the outside into a non-acoustic signal and transmits it,
The first reception unit receives the non-acoustic signal transmitted from the second transmission unit, converts the non-acoustic signal into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to the outside.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, and those obtained by converting the expression of the present invention between methods and systems are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit and receive data using a non-acoustic signal that can propagate even underwater and is not affected by reverberation (reflected sound) from the seabed, and can communicate stably compared to the case of using sound. It becomes possible to do.

The functional block diagram of the non-acoustic modem which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a communication system using the same. The functional block diagram of the non-acoustic modem which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and a communication system using the same. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an actual usage example of a non-acoustic modem according to an embodiment and a communication system using the same. Typical explanatory drawing 2 which shows the actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem of embodiment and the communication system using the same. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem according to the embodiment and a communication system using the non-acoustic modem. Schematic explanatory drawing 4 which shows the actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem of embodiment and the communication system using the same. Typical explanatory drawing 5 which shows the actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem of embodiment and the communication system using the same. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing an actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem of the embodiment and the communication system using the same. FIG. 7 is a schematic explanatory view showing an actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem according to the embodiment and a communication system using the modem.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same or equivalent component, member, etc. which are shown by each drawing, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. In addition, the embodiments do not limit the invention but are exemplifications, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

(First embodiment: communication by magnetic field signal)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a non-acoustic modem and a communication system using the same according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, the case where it communicates by a magnetic field signal between two non-acoustic modems is demonstrated. Each block is realized by hardware, software, or their cooperation.

  Each non-acoustic modem includes a modulator 4, a signal amplifier 6, a solenoid coil 8, a magnetic field sensor 10, a signal processor 12, and a demodulator 14, which are waterproof together with a power supply unit (not shown). Are housed in a non-acoustic modem housing 2. The modulator 4, the signal amplifier 6, and the solenoid coil 8 constitute a transmission unit, the magnetic field sensor 10, the signal processor 12, and the demodulator 14 constitute a reception unit, and the power supply unit supplies power to the transmission unit and the reception unit. Supply.

  The communication flow is as follows. An original data electrical signal 3 that is original data is input from a terminal or a measuring instrument 1 to one non-acoustic modem casing 2. The modulator 4 receives the original data electric signal 3 and converts the original data electric signal 3 into a modulated electric signal 5 by a predetermined modulation method. The signal amplifier 6 converts the modulated electric signal 5 into an amplified electric signal 7 that can generate a sufficient magnetic field. The amplified electric signal 7 is energized to the solenoid coil 8 and transmitted as a magnetic field signal 9 toward the other non-acoustic modem. The magnetic field signal 9 is an AC signal having a low frequency attenuation in water, for example, a frequency of 1 kHz or less.

  In the other non-acoustic modem, the magnetic field signal 10 is received by the magnetic field sensor 10 and converted into the electric signal 11 before noise compensation. The signal processor 12 removes geomagnetic noise and the like from the electrical signal 11 before noise compensation, extracts only the data portion, and converts it into the electrical signal 13 after noise compensation. The demodulator 14 converts the noise-compensated electrical signal 13 into the demodulated electrical signal 15 by a demodulation method corresponding to the modulation method in the modulator 4, and sends it to the terminal or measuring device 1 outside the non-acoustic modem housing 2. Send.

  As the magnetic field sensor 10, a uniaxial or biaxial magnetic field sensor can be used. However, by using a 3-axis vector magnetic field sensor or a scalar total magnetic field sensor, the non-acoustic modems can be connected to each other due to fluctuation or movement of the non-acoustic modem. The magnetic field signal 9 output from the solenoid coil 8 of the non-acoustic modem can be reliably detected even if the orientation or relative position of the non-acoustic modem changes.

  Examples of a method for removing the geomagnetic noise in the signal processor 12 include a method in which a magnetic field sensor for measuring geomagnetism is separately provided to obtain a difference, and a method in which an angle with respect to the north is derived by an angle sensor and the geomagnetism is calculated and subtracted. It is done.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to transmit and receive data using the magnetic field signal 9 that can propagate even underwater and is not affected by reverberation (reflected sound) from the seabed, and is more stable than when using sound. Communication.

  In addition, since the propagation characteristics of the magnetic field signal are not different in the water, in the ground and in the air, the non-acoustic modem of the present embodiment is not only in the middle of the water, but also in the middle of the water hollow, the middle of the water, the middle of the air. Can also be used. This is a merit compared to the point that the acoustic signal cannot be used because the propagation characteristics are greatly different in the communication between the water hollow middle, the underwater middle, and the air middle ground.

(Second embodiment: communication by underwater electric field signal)
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a non-acoustic modem and a communication system using the same according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Here, the case where it communicates with an underwater electric field signal between two non-acoustic modems is demonstrated. Each block is realized by hardware, software, or their cooperation.

  Each non-acoustic modem has a solenoid coil 8 as an electrode pair 16 and a magnetic field signal 9 as a non-acoustic signal as an underwater electric field signal 17 as compared with the first embodiment shown in FIG. The difference is that the sensor 10 is an electric field sensor 18, and the other points are the same.

  The communication flow is as follows. An original data electrical signal 3 that is original data is input from a terminal or a measuring instrument 1 to one non-acoustic modem casing 2. The modulator 4 receives the original data electric signal 3 and converts the original data electric signal 3 into a modulated electric signal 5 by a predetermined modulation method. The signal amplifier 6 converts the modulated electric signal 5 into an amplified electric signal 7 that can generate a sufficient electric field. After amplification, the electric signal 7 is energized to the electrode pair 16 and transmitted as an underwater electric field signal 17 to the other non-acoustic modem. The underwater electric field signal 17 is an AC signal having a frequency region with little attenuation in water, for example, a frequency of 1 kHz or less.

  In the other non-acoustic modem, the electric field sensor 18 receives the underwater electric field signal 17 and converts it into the electric signal 11 before noise compensation. The signal processor 12 removes environmental noise and the like from the electrical signal 11 before noise compensation, extracts only the data portion, and converts it into the electrical signal 13 after noise compensation. The demodulator 14 converts the noise-compensated electrical signal 13 into the demodulated electrical signal 15 by a demodulation method corresponding to the modulation method in the modulator 4, and sends it to the terminal or measuring device 1 outside the non-acoustic modem housing 2. Send.

  As the electric field sensor 18, a uniaxial or biaxial electric field sensor can be used. However, by using a triaxial electric field sensor, the direction and relative position of the non-acoustic modems can be changed by the movement or movement of the non-acoustic modem. Even if it changes, the underwater electric field signal 17 output from the electrode pair 16 of the non-acoustic modem can be reliably detected.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to transmit and receive data using the underwater electric field signal 17 that can be propagated even underwater and is not affected by reverberation (reflected sound) from the seabed, and is more stable than the case of using sound. Communication.

  In each embodiment, as the modulation / demodulation method in the modulator 4 and the demodulator 14, various modulation / demodulation methods used in land line communication can be used. For example, an optimum modulation / demodulation method may be used depending on the noise situation of a magnetic field or electric field in water, the type of data to be transmitted / received, and the like.

  Hereinafter, an actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem described in the embodiment and a communication system using the same will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 are schematic explanatory diagrams illustrating an actual usage example of the non-acoustic modem described in the embodiment and a communication system using the same. FIG. 3 shows a case where data is communicated by a non-acoustic signal 22 between the underwater moving body 23 and the hull 24 floating on the sea surface 19 using the non-acoustic modem 21. FIG. 4 is a diagram in which data is communicated between the underwater moving bodies 23 using the non-acoustic signal 22 using the non-acoustic modem 21. FIG. 5 shows a case where data is communicated by a non-acoustic signal 22 between the underwater moving body 23 and the seabed measuring device 25 on the seabed 20 using the nonacoustic modem 21. In FIG. 6, data is communicated by the non-acoustic signal 22 between the hull 24 and the seafloor measuring device 25 using the non-acoustic modem 21. FIG. 7 shows a case where data is communicated by a non-acoustic signal 22 between the seabed measuring device 25 and the aircraft 26 using the non-acoustic modem 21. FIG. 8 shows a case where data is communicated by the non-acoustic signal 22 between the seafloor measuring devices 25 using the non-acoustic modem 21. FIG. 9 shows a case where data is communicated between the underwater moving body 23 and the aircraft 26 using a non-acoustic signal 22 using a non-acoustic modem 21. Of the above use examples, in the cases of FIGS. 7 and 9, the underwater electric field signal cannot be used as the non-acoustic signal, and only communication using the magnetic field signal described in the second embodiment is possible.

  The present invention has been described above by taking the embodiment as an example. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to each component and each processing process of the embodiment within the scope of the claims. By the way.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the underwater electric field signal 17 is received by the electric field sensor 18 has been described. However, instead of or in addition to the electric field sensor 18, a magnetic field sensor is provided to receive the magnetic field signal generated by the underwater electric field signal 17. It is good also as composition to do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal or measuring instrument 2 Non-acoustic modem housing 3 Original data electrical signal 4 Modulator 5 Modulated electrical signal 6 Signal amplifier 7 Amplified electrical signal 8 Solenoid coil 9 Magnetic field signal 10 Magnetic field sensor 12 Signal processor 14 Demodulator 16 Electrode pair 17 Underwater electric field signal 18 Electric field sensor 19 Sea surface 22 Non-acoustic signal 20 Sea floor 21 Non-acoustic modem 23 Underwater moving body 24 Hull 25 Seabed measuring instrument 26 Aircraft

Claims (6)

A transmission unit that converts an electrical signal input from the outside into a non-acoustic signal, and
A receiving unit that receives a non-acoustic signal, converts the signal into an electrical signal, and outputs the signal to the outside;
A non-acoustic modem, comprising:   The non-acoustic modem according to claim 1, wherein the non-acoustic signal is an underwater electric field signal.   The non-acoustic modem according to claim 2, wherein the receiving unit includes an electric field sensor.   The non-acoustic modem according to claim 1, wherein the non-acoustic signal is a magnetic field signal, the transmission unit includes a coil, and the reception unit includes a magnetic field sensor. The non-acoustic modem according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A power supply for supplying power to the transmitter and the receiver;
A non-acoustic modem having a structure in which the transmission unit, the reception unit, and the power supply unit are housed in a housing. A first non-acoustic modem comprising a first transmitter and a first receiver;
A second non-acoustic modem comprising a second transmitter and a second receiver;
The first transmission unit converts an electrical signal input from the outside into a non-acoustic signal and transmits it,
The second reception unit receives the non-acoustic signal transmitted from the first transmission unit, converts the non-acoustic signal to an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to the outside.
The second transmission unit converts an electrical signal input from the outside into a non-acoustic signal and transmits it,
The first communication unit receives the non-acoustic signal transmitted from the second transmission unit, converts the non-acoustic signal into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the outside.

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