US20100156193A1 - Inductively coupled data and power transfer system and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and apparatus for transferring electronic data and/or power from one station to another by means of a transportable pod comprising a solid state memory device and further provided with an inductively linked, electrically insulated connector. The transportable pod comprises a battery which is used to power a remote host docking station, which may be used in an underwater environment for the collection of subsea data. The transportable pod can be transferred alternately from a home docking station, where it is charged up, and where it's stored data is uploaded and to a remote host docking station where is provides power, and where it collects and stores data collected by the remote host docking station.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims the benefit of GB 0823436.1 filed Dec. 23, 2008, entitled Inductively Coupled Memory Transfer System, by Mark Rhodes and Brendan Hyland, which application is fully incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF USE
• The present invention relates to a system for transferring electronic data and/or power from one station to another by means of a transportable unit provided with a solid state memory device a portable energy source and an inductively coupled, electrically insulated connector.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
• Universal Serial Bus (USB) “memory sticks” have become an extremely convenient and practical method of transferring electronic data between computer systems. Recently the capacity supported by these small transportable devices has increased to many tens of Gigabytes and no doubt will continue to expand further over time. These devices typically consist of a USB interface device which supports several NAND flash memory integrated circuits. Power is supplied over the USB standard connector which also supports the two wire high speed serial data interface. Several inventions have sort to devise mechanical protection mechanisms for the USB connector. For example U.S. Patent Application Publication 2008/108245A1 “Protection mechanism for terminal of memory stick adapter” Shu-Chin, describes a retracting cover for the terminals of a memory stick device. The mechanism taught by Shu-chin provides a means to minimize mechanical damage of the connector contacts.
• Contamination of the electrically conductive terminals is another failure mechanism of the USB memory stick connector. The connector relies on metal to metal conductive contact and this can fail due to contamination with insulating material, which prevents conductive contact, or contamination with conductive material, which can introduce a short circuit between adjacent pins.
• There is a need for a solid state portable memory device integrated with an electrically insulated connector system that overcomes these limitations.
• Electrical connections are a challenging aspect of underwater electrical system design; the standard implementation of an electrical connector includes terminals or pins which make conductive electrical contact with each other. Such terminals and pins are subject to corrosion and contamination; corrosion of the terminals produces poor or intermittent contact and failure of the connector. Furthermore, in under water applications, water must be excluded from the conductive contacts to prevent short circuits due to the partially conductive nature of water. Thus, wet mating connections present even greater challenges to overcome since water must be expelled from the conductive contacts during mating and since care must be taken to ensure an electrical signal is not applied to the connector while the contacts are exposed to the water and before the connection is made. A connector which does not rely upon direct conductive contact would avoid these problems.
• Additionally, any multi pin connector must be rotationally aligned to ensure registration of the intended cross connections. This requirement can be problematic in underwater applications, particularly where the connection point is not readily accessible by an operator such as when a connection is established by an autonomous system deep in the ocean. Slip ring connectors have been designed to avoid this issue but typically employ conductive contacts which are subject to corrosion and contamination as described herein. An electrically insulated data and power connection which mates independent of angular alignment would be beneficial in many underwater applications.
• In the field of oil and gas exploration, seismic imaging over a large area of the seabed is an important method for optimization of oil and gas production, and for the assessment of the capacity of a particular field. The article entitled “Breakthrough for repeated seismic” by Halfdan Carstens, Geo ExPro; September 2004; pp 26-29, http://www.geoexpro.com/sfiles/8/21/6/file/Valhall_—26-29.pdf outlines a system for the gathering of seismic imaging data over a large area of the seabed.
• The system for undersea seismic imaging taught by Carstens comprises a network or array of seismic monitoring stations which include sensors—such as geophones and hydrophones located at evenly spaced intervals (typically 50 metres) spanning a given area around a field of underwater exploration. The seismic monitoring stations taught be Carstens are linked together by a wired network of cable, and the data collected from the seismic sensors is gathered and stored by a main processing unit which is connected into the wired network; the wired network of cable also provides a means for the synchronization of the various sensors in the network.
• Typically the seismic sensors and seismic monitoring stations record data at regular time intervals. Over the duration of one ‘survey’ the data collected per station could be in the order of one Gigabyte. The transfer of one Gigabyte of data in a reasonable length of time produces a requirement of the wired network for a data rate which is in the order of hundreds of kilobits per second.
• The benefits of rolling out such a wired seismic motoring network are optimization of oil and gas production, the generation of information on the optimum drilling locations and the generation of information on field capacity and yield. The drawbacks of installing such a wired seismic motoring network are the cost of network deployment and the cost of maintenance thereof. It would be preferable to deploy a network of isolated, free-standing seismic monitoring stations, where power and data transfer are provided by some alternative means to a wired network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for transferring electronic data from a first station to a second station by means of a transportable pod comprising a solid state memory device and an inductively coupled, electrically insulated connector.
• According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for transferring electrical power through the inductively coupled connector from a battery provided within the transportable pod between the first and second stations.
• According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transportable pod comprising a battery, a solid state memory device, each of which is electrically coupled to an inductively coupled connector of the transportable pod via control electronic circuitry. During use, electrical power is transferred between the battery of the pod and an external docking station via the inductively coupled connector of the pod. Furthermore, during use, data is transferred between the solid state memory device of the pod and an external docking station via the same inductively coupled connector.
• The solid state memory device of the transportable pod may be implemented using a flash memory device; hard disk device or alternative means of electronic storage.
• The transportable pod of the present invention is particularly suited to applications where the remote host docking station is located underwater.
• In some embodiments the control electronic circuitry coupling the battery to the inductively coupled connector of the transportable pod is a power transfer sub-system comprising an AC/DC converter or a DC/AC converter.
• In other embodiments the control electronic circuitry coupling the memory device of the transportable pod to the inductively coupled connector is a data interface comprising a high pass filter and a modem operable to decode a data stream received from the external docking station or to encode a data stream to be transferred to docking station.
• In one embodiment, there is provided a release mechanism that is activated remotely to initiate de-mating of the transportable pod from the remote host docking station. Remote activation may be via radio communications. For embodiments where the remote host docking station is located underwater, remote activation may be via acoustic subsea communications, or subsea radio communications.
• According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transportable pod comprising a solid state memory device and a battery is arranged to be positively buoyant when immersed in water. Thus, for example, when the remote release de-mates the transportable pod from an underwater remote host docking station the transportable pod will float to the surface of the water to allow recovery of the transportable pod from the surface of the water.
• In some applications, the transportable pod will remain tethered to the host system as it floats to the surface of the water to ensure it remains close to the expected recovery point. The transportable pod may be provided with a spooled line that is attached to the remote host system and which is deployed as the pod rises to the surface.
• In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a means for providing the transportable pod with positive buoyancy in response to a remote release signal. This may be implemented using a compressed gas canister which inflates a bladder contained in or attached to the outside of the transportable pod to create positive buoyancy.
• In some embodiments, the docking station forms part of a remote host system comprising an inductively coupled connector that can mate to the inductively coupled connector of the transportable pod thereby providing a means for transferring electrical power from the pod battery to the host docking station via the inductive connectors of the pod and the host station, and also providing means for transferring data from the host station to the transportable pod and/or data from the transportable pod to the host station.
• In other embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a docking station that forms part of a home station comprising an inductively coupled connector that can mate to the inductively coupled connector of the transportable pod thereby providing means for transferring charge to the pod battery, and for transferring data to and from the pod memory device.
• The system of the present invention typically has applications where an electrically conductive contact based connector system would be exposed to contaminants.
• Applications of the present invention include any harsh environment, and the inductively coupled data and power transfer systems and apparatus described herein are particularly suited to underwater applications.
• In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mechanical retention mechanism and mechanical release mechanism for the transportable pod.
• According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a remote host docking station comprising multiple inductively coupled connectors each of which are pre-loaded with transportable pods, and system control circuitry which can detach a spent pod after its deployment period and which can switch to a fresh pod for data and power transfer to allow data collection without the need for a system to replace memory pods.
• In one embodiment the home docking station and host docking station may be further provided with Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces.
• Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the electronic circuitry of a transportable pod according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an inductively coupled data and power transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 shows the mechanical construction of a femaleinductive connector30 and a maleinductive connector31 for use in the embodiment of the present invention depicted inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 shows a three dimensional illustration of the female inductive connector and the male inductive connector ofFIG. 3, further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) pigtail for connection to any conventional item of computer hardware;
• FIG. 5 shows a transportable pod comprising a male inductive connector, mated to a femaleinductive connector54 of a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an inductively coupled data and power transfer system comprising an array of sensors and a docking station which mates with a transportable pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a transportable pod according to an embodiment of the present invention.Block10 represents the inductively coupled connector which is shown in further detail inFIG. 3.Data interface11 processes a modulated signal which is received from an external docking station (not shown) via inductively coupledconnector10 and formats the data for presentation at the input ofmemory device12. Similarly,data interface11 can read stored data inmemory device13 and modulate the data for transfer to an external docking station (not shown) via inductively coupledconnector10 so as to provide bi directional data exchange between the external docking station (not shown) andmemory device12 of the transportable pod of the present invention.Data interface11 might include such electronic circuitry as a modem to modulate data frommemory device12 for transfer overinductive connector10 and to de-modulate data received viainductive connector10 for interfacing withmemory device12.Power transfer sub-system13couples battery14 toinductive connector10 of the transportable pod and comprises electronic circuitry for coupling AC electrical power received atinductive connector10 to battery1 such circuitry might include an AC/DC converter;power transfer sub-system13 similarly comprises electronic circuitry for coupling DC power frombattery14 to AC electrical power atinductive connector10, such circuitry might include a DC/AC converter.
• FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an inductively coupled data and power transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inductively coupled data and power transfer system comprisestransportable pod201 which is mated withdocking station200.Docking station200 may be a remote host docking station—for example located underwater and comprising one or more sensors for data collection; alternatively, docking station may be a home station—for example located on a base station.Transportable pod201 comprisesmemory device18,battery17 and inductively coupledconnector19. During use,inductive connector19 transfers power and data betweendocking station200 andmemory device18 oftransportable pod201. AC toDC converter16 is used to provide DC power tobattery17 for charging. On the other hand DC toAC converter15 is used to convert DC frombattery17 to AC for coupling todocking station200 viainductive connector19.High pass filter27 separates the power transfer signal from a modulated carrier signal that sends and received data viainductive connector19.Communications modem28 modulates data received frommemory device18 for transfer overinductive connector19 and de-modulates data received viainductive connector19 for interfacing withmemory device18.
• Docking station200 comprisesdata interface20 andcommunications modem21 connected toinductive connector26 viahigh pass filter25 and further compriseshome charging interface22 and/or host power interface23. For systems in applications wheredocking station200 is a remote host station, home charging interface is typically omitted. Similarly for systems wheredocking station200 is a home station, host power interface23 is typically omitted.High pass filter25 separates the power transfer signal from a modulated carrier signal that sends and received data viainductive connector26. Home charging interface comprises a DC to AC converter to convert DC power which it receives at an input ofhome docking station200 to AC power for coupling totransportable pod201 viainductive connectors26 and19. The power coupled totransportable pod201 viainductive connectors26 and19 is used to chargebattery17 oftransportable pod201. Host charging interface comprises an AC to DC converter to convert AC power received fromtransportable pod201 viainductive connectors19 and26 and to provide DC power to remotehost docking station200. DC power provided to remotehost docking station200 fromtransportable pod201 viainductive connectors19 and26 can be used topower communications modem21,data interface20 and any sensors or other data collection devices which are connected todocking station200. Data collected by remotehost docking station200 is transferred tomemory device18 oftransportable pod201 viacommunications modem21,high pass filter25,inductive connectors26 and19,high pass filter27, andcommunications modem28.
• The transportable pod of the present invention depicted inFIG. 1 and the inductively coupled data and power transfer system of the present invention depicted inFIG. 2 is particularly suitable for the transfer of data and electrical power between a home docking station and a remote host docking station via a transportable pod where the remote host docking station is located underwater.
• In an example usage case, a transportable pod is provided with a solid state memory device, a battery supply and an inductive connector system. An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) transports the transportable pod to a remotely deployed sensor (RDS) unit on the seabed. The RDS has been deployed for a period of time, it draws its power from the battery within the transportable pod and stores recorded data within the solid state memory device of the transportable pod. The UUV detaches a previously deployed first transportable pod from the RDS by transmitting a short range underwater radio signal to initiate release of the pod. The UUV recovers the first transportable pod and replaces it with a second unit which it has brought from the surface of the sea. The first unit is recovered for analysis of recorded data. The second unit has a fully charged battery which provides power to the RDS for the next deployment period. The RDS continues to record data on the memory device of the second transportable pod.
• In another system application the transportable pod and host docking station form part of a system for recovering data and/or delivering power to a remotely deployed subsea seismic sensor or array of sensors. Sensors may be spaced at known intervals along a subsea cable that is arranged to carry data and power from each sensor to a host docking station. A transportable pod mated with the docking station provides power for the connected sensor array and stores recorded data from the sensors. The transportable pod can be exchanged periodically as described above.
• FIG. 3 shows the mechanical construction of the inductively coupledconnectors19 and26 ofFIG. 2. Inductively coupledconnector19 ofFIG. 2 is represented by maleinductive connector31 ofFIG. 3 and inductively coupledconnector26 ofFIG. 2 is represented by femaleinductive connector30 ofFIG. 3. The upper section ofFIG. 3 shows a cross section side view of bothfemale connector30 andmale connector31. The lower section ofFIG. 3 shows a cross section bottom view offemale connector30. Line A-A indicates the position of the cross section shown in the lower part ofFIG. 3. Femaleinductive connector30 comprises a coil ofwire32 wound on a core33 formed of a material having a high magnetic permeability. A material having a relative permeability greater than10 would be suitable for this application. The entirefemale connector30 is encased in ahousing34 formed of an electrically insulating material. Maleinductive connector31 comprises a coil ofwire35 wound on a core37 formed of a material having a high magnetic permeability. A relative permeability greater than10 would be suitable for this application. The entiremale connector31 is encased in ahousing36 formed of an electrically insulating material.Male connector31 andfemale connector30 are designed so that the mechanical interface presented by one is the inverse of the other, so that the two connectors fit together snugly. Whenfemale connector30 is mated withmale connector31,magnetic cores33 and37 are aligned so that thecoil32 of femaleinductive connector30 and thecoil35 of maleinductive connector31 are strongly inductively coupled.
• FIG. 4 shows a three dimensional illustration of the femaleinductive connector40 and the maleinductive connector41 ofFIG. 3, further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB)pigtail43, with USBtype A connector44 for connection to any conventional item of computer hardware.
• FIG. 5 shows atransportable pod55 for underwater use comprising a maleinductive connector56, mated to a femaleconductive connector54 of a docking station (not shown) with acaptive connection51,52,53 which may be released by a radio signal.Flange51 supportswire link52 which connects to flange53 thereby retainingtransportable pod55 in contact withconnector55. At the moment whentransportable pod55 is to be release from connector54 a current is passed throughwire link52 which is sufficient to fuse or break the wire resulting in release of the transportable pod fromconnector54. The release command may be transmitted wirelessly by an RF signal or by an acoustic signal. Thetransportable pod55 comprises afloat50 attached to an upwardly facing side thereof, so thattransportable pod55 is positively buoyant and will float to the surface of the water when the release mechanism is activated.
• FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an inductively coupled data and power transfer system comprising an array of sensors wired to a docking station according to another embodiment of the present invention. The system ofFIG. 6 comprises an array ofsensor nodes62 wired to adocking station63 comprising an inductively coupled connector (not shown) that mates with a an inductively coupled connector (not shown) of atransportable pod61 for collection by a UUV.Sensor nodes62 may be seismic survey sensors that are spaced along and connected to data andpower cable65. Data andpower cable65 acts to control the spacing of sensors during deployment, supplies power from thetransportable pod61 via the inductively coupled connectors of thepod61 and thedocking station63 to eachsensor node62 and similarly transfers data from eachsensor node62 to thetransportable pod61 via the inductively coupled connectors of thedocking station63 andpod61. Data can also be transferred from a memory storage device oftransportable pod61, throughhost docking station63 to eachsensor62 via the inductively coupled connectors of thedocking station63 andpod61 and via data andpower cable65.UUV60 periodically exchangesmemory pod61 with a fresh unit.
• Those skilled in the art will understand that any form of data storage device or data storage medium other than those specified in the foregoing examples could be used to realize the present invention.
• Moreover, those skilled in the art will understand that the term battery is used so as to encompass any form of portable energy source. Such an energy source might be a rechargeable battery, a long life battery, a capacitive device or a fuel cell.
• The inductively coupled data and power transfer systems described herein are generally suited to systems and applications which are deployed in underwater environments. However, there is no reason why the system of the present invention would be limited to such underwater systems and applications.
• Moreover, the above descriptions of the specific embodiments are made by way of example only and are not for the purposes of limitation. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that in order to achieve some or most of the advantages of the present invention, practical implementations may not necessarily be exactly as exemplified and may include variations within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (23)

1. A transportable pod;

said transportable pod comprising a battery, a solid state memory device, and an inductively coupled connector,

said battery and said solid state memory device being electrically coupled to said inductively coupled connector via control electronic circuitry

wherein, during use, electrical power is transferred between said battery and a docking station external to said pod via said inductively coupled connector and data is transferred between said docking station and said solid state memory device via said inductively coupled connector.

2. A transportable pod according toclaim 1 wherein said inductively coupled connector is electrically insulated.

3. A transportable pod according toclaim 1 wherein said transportable pod is adapted to operate in an underwater environment.

4. A transportable pod according toclaim 1, said control electronic circuitry comprising a filter circuit which separates a low frequency electrical power component to be coupled to or from said battery and a high frequency data component to be coupled to or from said memory device.

5. A transportable pod according toclaim 1, said control electronic circuitry comprising a DC to AC converter.

6. A transportable pod according toclaim 1, said control electronic circuitry comprising an AC to DC converter.

7. A transportable pod according toclaim 1, said control electronic circuitry comprising a modem operable to decode a data stream received from said docking station or to encode a data stream to be transferred to said docking station.

8. A transportable pod according toclaim 1 said transportable pod further comprising a captive mechanical interface to facilitate connection of said pod to said docking station.

9. A transportable pod according toclaim 1 wherein the average density of said pod is less than that of water.

10. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system comprising the transportable pod ofclaim 1 and a remote host docking station comprising an inductively coupled connector wherein during use, said battery of said pod provides electrical power to said remote host docking station via said respective inductively coupled connector of said pod and data is received from said remote host docking station via said respective inductively coupled connector of said docking station and said pod and is stored on said memory device.

11. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 wherein said received data from said remote host docking station is collected from a sensor connected to said remote host docking station.

12. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 wherein said remote host docking station is located underwater.

13. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 further comprising an array of sensors connected to said remote host docking station, wherein, during use, said transportable pod provides electrical power to said remote host docking station via said respective inductively coupled connector of said pod and said docking station, and data from said array of sensors is received via said respective inductively coupled connector of said docking station and said pod and is stored in said solid state memory device of said pod.

14. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 wherein said transportable pod further comprises a captive mechanical interface to facilitate connection of said pod to said docking station.

15. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 wherein said pod further comprises a mechanism for detachment of said pod from said remote host docking station.

16. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 15 wherein said mechanism for detachment of said pod from said remote host docking station is triggered by a radio signal.

17. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 15 wherein said mechanism for detachment of said pod from said remote host docking station is triggered by an acoustic signal.

18. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 wherein said remote host docking station is located underwater and wherein said pod further comprises an expandable bladder which is inflated after detachment of said pod from said remote host docking station.

19. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 10 wherein said remote host docking station is located underwater and wherein said pod further comprises a spooled line that is attached to said remote host station and which is deployed as said transportable pod rises to the surface.

20. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system comprising the transportable pod ofclaim 1 and a home docking station comprising an inductively coupled connector wherein, during use said battery of said pod is charged by said home docking station via said respective inductively coupled connector of said home docking station and said pod, and stored data in said solid state memory device of said pod transferred to said home docking station via said respective inductively coupled connector of said pod and said home docking station.

21. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system;

said system comprising a transportable pod and a docking station, said pod comprising a battery a solid state memory device, each coupled to an inductively coupled connector, said docking station also comprising an inductively coupled connector

wherein, during use, data and electrical power is transferred from said pod to said docking station or to said pod from said docking station via said respective inductively coupled connector of said pod and said docking station.

22. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system;

said system comprising a home station and a remote host station and further comprising a transportable pod, said transportable pod comprising a battery, a solid state memory device, each coupled to an inductively coupled connector, said home station comprising an inductively coupled connector and said remote host station also comprising an inductively coupled connector

wherein, during use, electrical power is transferred from said home station to said remote host station via said battery of said pod and via each said inductively coupled connector of said home station, said pod and said remote station and data is transferred from said remote host station to said home station via said memory device of said pod and via each said inductively coupled connector of said home station, said remote station and said pod.

23. An inductively coupled data and power transfer system according toclaim 22 wherein said transfer of power and data takes place through said pod alternately docking on said home station and said remote host station.

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