Patent US6222894B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0337254A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication link between moving bodies
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1989-04-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-04-04
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for optical fiber data link between tow moving bodies remote controlled vehicle/missile such as ("RCV") (12) and hereinafter launch platform (17) includes fiber-wound bobbins having opposite winding directions on each body, interconnected with unwound, reinforced fiber sections, for streaming deployment from each bobbin through tensioning devices during relative separation movement between the two bodies. Image sensors and flight control mechanisms are operatively connected through an electric/optical I/O device to the fiber on the bobbin in the RCV (12), and data analysis/display devices and controller/command units are similarly interfaced with the fiber on the bobbin associated with the helicopter (17). The bobbin housing on the helicopter uses a shaped cavity and gimbal mount to provide free-streaming fiber deployment and pyrotechin or electro-mechanical separation device to discharge the bobbin and attached fiber after mission completion.
Inventors
- 👤 George T. Pinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4457; F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/30; F41G7/32; F42; F42B; F42B15/00; F42B15/01; F42B15/04; H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for providing a data-link between two moving bodies characterized by: a continuous strand of a data-carrying fiber; a pair of fiber bobbins, one carried by each of the two moving bodies, respective parts of said continuous fiber strand being wound on each of said pair of bobbins, and an unwound part interconnecting said pair of bobbins; means for deploying said wound fiber strand parts from each of said pair of bobbins during relative separation motion between the two bodies; means operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin carried by one of the moving bodies during deployment, for transmitting data along said deployed fiber strand; and means operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin carried by the other moving body during deployment, for receiving data transmitted along said deployed fiber strand.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for providing a data-link between two moving bodies characterized by: a continuous strand of a data-carrying fiber; a pair of fiber bobbins, one carried by each of the two moving bodies, respective parts of said continuous fiber strand being wound on each of said pair of bobbins, and an unwound part interconnecting said pair of bobbins; means for deploying said wound fiber strand parts from each of said pair of bobbins during relative separation motion between the two bodies; means operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin carried by one of the moving bodies during deployment, for transmitting data along said deployed fiber strand; and means operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin carried by the other moving body during deployment, for receiving data transmitted along said deployed fiber strand.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 further characterized in that said wound fiber strand part on one of said bobbins is wound counter to the winding direction of the wound strand part on the other of said bobbins, whereby said fiber strand parts are deployed in streaming relation from said bobbins with minimum strand twisting.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as in claims 1 or 2 further characterized by data sensing means operatively connected to said data transmitting means and data processing means operatively connected to said data receiving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 further characterized by second data transmitting means operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin associated with said other moving body and second data receiving means operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin associated with said one moving body, thereby affording two-way communication between the two moving bodies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as in claim 4 further characterized by data sensing means and moving body control means, both being operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin associated with said one moving body.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
47 words
The apparatus in as in any one of claims 1 through 4 further characterized in that said fiber strand deploying means includes a pair of fiber tensioners, one associated with each of said fiber bobbins, operatively connected to control the tension in the fiber strand being deployed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as in claim 3 further characterized by data display means operatively connected to said data processing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as in claim 4 further characterized by data processing means and user data input means, both being operatively connected to the fiber strand portion remaining on the fiber bobbin associated with said other moving body.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims further characterized in that said fiber strand is optical fiber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
The apparatus as in claims 1 or 2 further characterized in that the first moving body is controlled via control data and the second moving body controls the first moving body in response to sensed motion data: first and second data input/output means respectively carried by said first and second moving bodies and being operatively connected to the respective optical fiber strand portions remaining on said first and second fiber bobbins during deployment; the motion controlling means for said first body being carried by said first body, and being operatively connected to said first input/output means, and being responsive to control data transmitted from said second body; means for sensing motion of said first moving body and generating sensed motion data, said motion sensing means being carried by said first body and being operatively connected to said first input/output means; and controller means responsive to said sensed motion data for generating control data, said controller means being carried by said second moving body and being operatively connected to said second input/output means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as in claim 10 further characterized in that said controller means includes a data bus operatively connected to each of the plurality of second input/output means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as in claim 10 further characterized in that said controller means includes a data analysis and display means including a data processor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as in claim 12 further characterized in that said controller means includes a display driver means and at least one audio/visual display unit operatively connected thereto, said display driver means being operatively connected to said data processor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as in claim 12 further characterized in that said controller means includes user input preconditioning means operatively connected to said data processor, and at least one user input device operatively connected to said preconditioning means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as in claim 12 further characterized in that said data analysis and display means includes user-interactive display terminal, operatively connected to said data processor through display driver means and user input preconditioning means arranged in parallel circuit paths.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as in claim 12 further characterized in that said data processor is controlled by preprogrammed software.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for providing data communication between two moving bodies, the method being characterized by the steps of: providing a continuous strand of data-carrying fiber respective parts of which are wound on each of two separate bobbins, one of the bobbins being carried by each of the two bodies, and an unwound part of the fiber strand interconnecting the bobbins; deploying wound fiber simultaneously from each of the two bobbins during relative separating motion between the two bodies, the fiber strand continuing to interconnect the bobbins during said deploying step; and communicating with the unwound portions of fiber strand remaining on each of the bobbins during deployment, said communicating step including the step of transmitting data to the unwound fiber strand portion on at least one of the bobbins and receiving the transmitted data from the unwound fiber strand portion on the other bobbin.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for providing data communication between two moving bodies, the method being characterized by the steps of: providing a continuous strand of data-carrying fiber respective parts of which are wound on each of two separate bobbins, one of the bobbins being carried by each of the two bodies, and an unwound part of the fiber strand interconnecting the bobbins; deploying wound fiber simultaneously from each of the two bobbins during relative separating motion between the two bodies, the fiber strand continuing to interconnect the bobbins during said deploying step; and communicating with the unwound portions of fiber strand remaining on each of the bobbins during deployment, said communicating step including the step of transmitting data to the unwound fiber strand portion on at least one of the bobbins and receiving the transmitted data from the unwound fiber strand portion on the other bobbin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as in claim 17 further characterized in that the deploying step includes the step of tensioning the fiber leaving each of the two bobbins.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
35 words
The method as in claims 17 or 18 further characterized in that said communicating step includes the steps of transmitting and receiving data to/from the unwound fiber strand portions on each of the two bobbins.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
39 words
The method as in any one of claims 17 through 19 further characterized in that the fiber strand is an optical fiber strand, and wherein said transmitting and receiving steps include the steps of optically transmitting and receiving data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for deploying optical fiber from a moving platform such as a helicopter, characterized by: a housing carried by the platform and having a relief formed in a housing surface facing outwardly from the platform; a bobbin pre-wound with optical fiber, said bobbin having a preferred deployment axis; and means for attaching said bobbin to said housing in said relief, said bobbin deployment axis extending outwardly from said relief and being movable along with each bobbin by said attaching means within a predetermined conical section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for deploying optical fiber from a moving platform such as a helicopter, characterized by: a housing carried by the platform and having a relief formed in a housing surface facing outwardly from the platform; a bobbin pre-wound with optical fiber, said bobbin having a preferred deployment axis; and means for attaching said bobbin to said housing in said relief, said bobbin deployment axis extending outwardly from said relief and being movable along with each bobbin by said attaching means within a predetermined conical section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as in claim 21 further characterized in that said attaching means is a ball joint gimbal.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as in claims 21 or 22 further characterized in that said relief is contoured to provide fiber deployment at oblique angles with respect to the normal to said bobbin surface without snagging.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as in any one of claims 21 through 23 wherein said housing is aerodynamically configured.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as in any one of claims 21 through 24 further characterized in that said housing has a plurality of said reliefs, a plurality of said attaching means, and a plurality of said fiber wound bobbins, one of said bobbins being attached in each of said reliefs by a respective one of said attaching means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as in any one of claims 21 through 25 further characterized by a missile carried by the platform for launching therefrom, said fiber wound bobbin having a free fiber end operatively connected to said missile.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as in any one of claims 21 through 26 further characterized in that said fiber wound bobbin has a free fiber end, and wherein said housing has means for selectively locking said free fiber end and releasing same at the time of deployment.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as in any one of claims 21 through 27 further characterized by tensioning means for preventing fiber deployment except during actual platform movement.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
30 words
the apparatus as in any one of claims 21 through 28 further characterized by bobbin ejector means for ejecting said bobbin from said housing at the conclusion of fiber deployment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as in claim 29 further characterized in that said bobbin ejector means is selected from the group consisting of pyro-electric devices and electro-mechanical solenoids.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus as in claim 26 further characterized in that a missile pod attached to the platform and having a launch tube for carrying said missile, said pod having a groove formed in an exterior surface thereof for holding a length of said fiber between said free end and said bobbin, and said pod further including means for retaining said fiber length in said groove and releasing said fiber length upon platform movement from a missile launch position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as in claim 31 further characterized in that said bobbin housing is attached to said missile pod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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