WO2023213479A1 - Communication sonar sous-marine avec matériel compact à faible encombrement - Google Patents

Communication sonar sous-marine avec matériel compact à faible encombrement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023213479A1
WO2023213479A1 PCT/EP2023/058240 EP2023058240W WO2023213479A1 WO 2023213479 A1 WO2023213479 A1 WO 2023213479A1 EP 2023058240 W EP2023058240 W EP 2023058240W WO 2023213479 A1 WO2023213479 A1 WO 2023213479A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sub
communication device
underwater communication
ultrasound
compact
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2023/058240
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ram Pattikonda
Fabrice Gregori
Original Assignee
Aqualung Corporate
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aqualung Corporate filed Critical Aqualung Corporate
Publication of WO2023213479A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023213479A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B11/00—Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Definitions

  • This invention relates to underwater sonar communication that can be implanted in a sub-compact wearable or other device using micro transmitter, micro receiver and low overhead modulation algorithms
  • Ultrasound Sonar has been used widely for underwater communication of voice and data.
  • voice communications the audio frequencies are up-converted to ultrasound frequencies, transmitted underwater and finally down-converted back to audio frequencies at the destination.
  • data bits are modulated to ultrasound frequencies using modulation techniques such as FSK (frequency shift keying) and PSK (phase shift keying).
  • FSK frequency shift keying
  • PSK phase shift keying
  • the modulated ultrasound frequencies are transmitted underwater and demodulated into data bits at the destination.
  • a sub-compact underwater Sonar communication system is proposed with the use of micro transmitter, a micro receiver and light processing hardware.
  • the users will be able communicate underwater with a small footprint device, as small as a wearable diving wristwatch or a diving mask.
  • the proposed solution uses smart signaling algorithms to minimize the need for expensive processing hardware.
  • the compact transmitter and receiver are implemented using low-cost off the shelf components.
  • the resulting communication device is not only extremely small and convenient to use, but also low-cost
  • the sonar ultrasound communication system includes modulation hardware to convert voice or data to ultrasound, transmitter to broadcast ultrasound, receiver to detect transmitted ultrasound and demodulation hardware to convert back the signals into voice or data.
  • voice or digital data is modulated using a carrier ultrasound frequency.
  • This signal if further transmitted underwater using a piezo bender/transducer attached to body of the device.
  • This low-cost piezo bender with typical thickness of 0.5mm, are embedded into a slot within the plastic surface, occupying zero added volume within the device.
  • the system On the receiver side, the system includes a micro-MEMS piezo microphone receiver with a waterproof membrane.
  • This MEMS receiver is designed to detect ultrasound frequencies used for modulation, which are typically in 20khz to lOOkhz range. The receiver converts the ultrasound frequencies into electrical
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) signals. This signal is filtered and further de-modulated to convert it into voice or digital data.
  • the MEMS microphone receivers are low-cost devices manufactured by semiconductor process and are ultra-small, in the range of 3x2xlmm.
  • DTMF dual tone multi frequency
  • the traditional sonar transmitters use piezo transducers that cannot be integrated in a small enclosure such as a wearable wrist watch. In these transducers, the stacked piezo layers and the vibration surfaces that generate ultrasound signal take up internal volume.
  • Another requirement for a diving communication system is that signal needs to be omnidirectional, where it is transmitted in all directions. This additional requirement needs additional reflector and thus adds further bulk to the transmitter.
  • the proposed design for transmitter uses a thin piezo plate (also called piezo bender) is attached to the body of the enclosure.
  • the piezo bender is designed to have resonating frequency in the ultrasound range.
  • the vibrations from the piezo bender are transferred to the surface of the enclosure, further vibrating the plastic or metal body of the enclosure.
  • the vibrations on the larger surface of the enclosure generate and broadcast the ultrasound signals into the water.
  • This concept is akin to vibration speakers, where a small transducer attaches to large surface to create audio from surface vibrations.
  • These piezo plates can be as small as 10mm diameter with a thickness of 0.5mm, taking up negligible space (fig.8). By embedding plate this into slots on the inner surface of the enclosure, they are designed to take zero volume inside the device. By placing these plates in multiple surfaces of the enclosure, the ultrasound can be emitted in multiple directions.
  • the enclosure surface thickness is designed so that it can transfer the ultrasound vibrations into the water.
  • the traditional ultrasound receiver microphones also called hydrophone
  • piezo transducers They convert ultrasound vibrations from environment into electrical pulse. These are typically medium to large size devices. They cannot be integrated in sub-compact enclosures such as wrist watch due to their bulk.
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
  • the proposed solution uses a semiconductor MEMS (micro electromechanical system) receiver microphone. They are designed to be sensitive to ultrasound frequencies in the range of 20khz - lOOkhz. These devices can be designed to be as small as 3x2xlmm and can be easily integrated into sub-compact wearable type devices. Multiple receivers can be integrated in the enclosure to detect signals from multiple directions. Use of multiple receivers also help in detecting the direction of the ultrasound signal.
  • MEMS micro electromechanical system
  • the system can detect the direction of the source signal.
  • the time delay and phase shift of the ultrasound signal between different microphones can be used to perceive the direction of the sound.
  • One application for this technology is boat finder feature where diver is directed towards the boat. The boat will be emitting ultrasound beacon towards the divers. The device worn by the diver will detect the direction of the signal coming from the boat and the divers are navigated towards the boat
  • the MEMS receiver is protected with a waterproof membrane that can transfer the ultrasound frequencies without loss. This protected MEMS receiver is exposed to the environment with an audio port inside the enclosure. The gasketing around the MEMS receiver seals the enclosure from the water.
  • the proposed design uses dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signaling for a simple, low bandwidth modulation of the data into ultrasound signals.
  • DTMF dual tone multi frequency
  • the system is similar to the DTMF tones used in telephones where each digit pressed on the phone dial transmitted as two-tone frequency. The destination will detect the two frequencies in the signal and convert it to the transmitted digit. By using 4 frequencies for first tone and 4 other frequencies for second tone, a total of 16 digits can be represented for signaling.
  • the speech frequencies used in telephone signaling is replaced with ultrasound frequencies for underwater signaling.
  • 2O-21khz range is used for first frequency and 22-23khz range is used for second frequency.
  • the 16 possible combinations of signals can be used to represent 10 digits (0-9), Start/End command and 4 additional commands. Using a 50msec tone duration, 20 bytes of data can be transmitted per second. Table 1:
  • SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
  • DTMF technique in ultrasound communication eliminates the need for expensive hardware used in complex modulation and false signal filtering. While this method may not be not suitable for highspeed communication, it can suffice for low-speed communication. The solution can be implanted effectively with low-cost simple hardware.
  • the frequencies of operation could be in the range of 20khz to lOOkhz.
  • the lower frequencies are more unidirectional with better transmission ranges. But the data rates are lower. You cannot go under 20khz, as it causes audible sound that divers can hear.
  • the higher frequencies have better data rates, but they have more attenuation losses and shorter range. They are also more directional.
  • the system could use 20-30khz range for boat to diver communication with distance range of few miles.
  • the diver team communication could use 30-40khz range to cover intermediate distance range of lOOmeters. This higher frequency also provides faster data rates.
  • the communication between instruments of the diver could use 40-50khz range for short distance range of 2M.
  • Fig.l shows a Piezo bender with pigtail leads.
  • Fig.2 and Fig.3 show a Piezo bender attached to plastic surface (front and back view).
  • Fig.4 shows a Piezo bender attached to plastic. Setup showing pulse frequency generation at 24V.
  • Fig.5 shows a MEMS microphone array
  • Fig.6 shows a MEMS microphone array powered by 3V and attached to audio card.
  • Beamforming microphone array to detect direction of sound
  • the sound (audible and ultrasound) beamforming is a technique used to detect the sound from one direction or detect the directivity of the sound using an array of microphones.
  • the technique involves detection of which microphone receives the signal first. The distance between the microphones is known and thus the time (and the signal wave phase difference) it takes for the sound to reach from one microphone to next is known. This phase difference is used to detect the direction of sound.
  • the direction of the sound is calculated by looking at the phase difference between all 4 microphones.
  • the signals are phase shifted in each microphone with estimated phase shift as per the required direction of the sound. After this shift, the signals from the direction of interest become additive and get amplified. Signals from any other direction gets negated and reduce in amplification. This process could be repeated in all directions to detect the peak sound direction.
  • One dimensional array is used to detect sound from the direction of the array.
  • Two-dimension array can be used to detect sound in 2 axis directions.
  • Three-dimension array can detect direction from all 3 axis.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de communication sous-marin sous-compact utilisant des signaux ultrasonores sonar pour une communication vocale et de données entre des plongeurs.
PCT/EP2023/058240 2022-05-06 2023-03-30 Communication sonar sous-marine avec matériel compact à faible encombrement WO2023213479A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202263339240P 2022-05-06 2022-05-06
US63/339,240 2022-05-06

Publications (1)

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WO2023213479A1 true WO2023213479A1 (fr) 2023-11-09

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PCT/EP2023/058240 WO2023213479A1 (fr) 2022-05-06 2023-03-30 Communication sonar sous-marine avec matériel compact à faible encombrement

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WO (1) WO2023213479A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3267414A (en) * 1963-11-13 1966-08-16 Janus Products Inc Portable underwater communication unit
US5136555A (en) * 1991-07-05 1992-08-04 Divecomm, Inc. Integrated diver face mask and ultrasound underwater voice communication apparatus
US20180138988A1 (en) * 2011-02-18 2018-05-17 Incube Labs, Llc Apparatus, system and method for underwater signaling of audio messages to a diver

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3267414A (en) * 1963-11-13 1966-08-16 Janus Products Inc Portable underwater communication unit
US5136555A (en) * 1991-07-05 1992-08-04 Divecomm, Inc. Integrated diver face mask and ultrasound underwater voice communication apparatus
US20180138988A1 (en) * 2011-02-18 2018-05-17 Incube Labs, Llc Apparatus, system and method for underwater signaling of audio messages to a diver

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
MEHRABI ADIB ET AL: "Evaluating the user experience of acoustic data transmission", PERSONAL AND UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING, SPRINGER VERLAG, LONDON, GB, vol. 24, no. 5, 26 December 2019 (2019-12-26), pages 655 - 668, XP037247279, ISSN: 1617-4909, [retrieved on 20191226], DOI: 10.1007/S00779-019-01345-7 *

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