Patent US6706966B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6706966B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hardened voyage data recorder
Assignee: L3 Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2001-07-06
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Granted: 2004-03-16
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Expires: 2021-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A hardened voyage data recorder includes two subsystems: a removable non-volatile memory and a base containing electronics and firmware for communicating with data sensing systems and for accessing the memory. According to the invention, the memory is protected in a “boiler” and the electronics includes an ETHERNET interface for connecting to shipboard data acquisition devices. The firmware is preferably configured via web pages. A communications protocol for communicating with the recorder is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Margaret Browning
- 👤 Gregory W. Purdom
- 👤 Andrew Zarling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:46
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/02; G11B20/04; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C5/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A hardened voyage recorder for use on a marine vessel, comprising: (a) a first module including a mountable base mountable on the marine vessel and containing electronics for receiving data from data sensors located on the marine vessel and for writing data to a memory module; (b) a removable memory module removably coupled to said first module, said memory module including (i) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing a solid state memory; (ii) a cover for said outer housing; (iii) a thermal insulator located within said inner cavity defining at least a portion of a second interior cavity, with said solid state memory being located within said second inner cavity; and (iv) a boiler located within said second interior cavity including a containment compartment for containing a thermal mass, a protective compartment within which said solid state memory is located and means for interconnecting said containment compartment and said protective compartment, wherein said means for interconnecting, when open, provides a passageway between said containment compartment and said protective compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A hardened voyage recorder for use on a marine vessel, comprising: (a) a first module including a mountable base mountable on the marine vessel and containing electronics for receiving data from data sensors located on the marine vessel and for writing data to a memory module; (b) a removable memory module removably coupled to said first module, said memory module including (i) an outer housing including an inner cavity for containing a solid state memory; (ii) a cover for said outer housing; (iii) a thermal insulator located within said inner cavity defining at least a portion of a second interior cavity, with said solid state memory being located within said second inner cavity; and (iv) a boiler located within said second interior cavity including a containment compartment for containing a thermal mass, a protective compartment within which said solid state memory is located and means for interconnecting said containment compartment and said protective compartment, wherein said means for interconnecting, when open, provides a passageway between said containment compartment and said protective compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein solid state memory includes BGA memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solid state memory is stacked memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boiler includes a cover plate which covers said protective compartment, said cover plate defines a through hole spaced apart from its edge, and said solid state memory is coupled to a cable which extends through said through hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said through hole is substantially circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cover plate is press fit to said boiler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermal mass includes a phase change material (PCM).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said PCM utilizes the energy absorption from vaporization to absorb heat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said PCM is water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said water is contained in a dry material which inhibits the water from freezing or expanding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said dry material comprises sponge, silica, polyacrylamide, calcium silicate or pottery clay.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermal mass is a dry powder formed by combining water and silica.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermal mass absorbs shock.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said thermal mass is a gel formed by combining water and polyacrylamide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A boiler as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a fusible valve that opens at a predetermined temperature to allow said thermal mass to flow through said passageway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A boiler as set forth in claim 15 wherein said fusible valve comprises at least one thermal vent plug which is released at a predetermined temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A boiler as set forth in claim 16 wherein said thermal vent plug comprises wax, paraffin, a bismuth alloy or electrical solder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cover for said outer housing is coupled to said outer housing with a snap ring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said cover for said outer housing is coupled to said outer housing with two snap rings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer housing withstands a penetration of a 100 mm 250 kg projectile at three meters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer housing will withstand a 50 g s, 11 ms half sine shock.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer housing will withstand an immersion of 6,000 meters depth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said solid state memory is protected from temperatures on the order of 260° C. for approximately ten hours.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hardened voyage data recorder, comprising: (a) a removable memory subsystem having a lover flange; (b) a mounting base subsystem having an upper flange; and (C) a quick release clamp engaging said upper flange and said lower flange whereby said memory subsystem and said base subsystem are removably coupled to each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hardened voyage data recorder, comprising: (a) a removable memory subsystem having a lover flange; (b) a mounting base subsystem having an upper flange; and (C) a quick release clamp engaging said upper flange and said lower flange whereby said memory subsystem and said base subsystem are removably coupled to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hardened voyage data recorder according to claim 24 , wherein said quick release clamp has two quick release levers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A hardened voyage data recorder according to claim 24 , wherein: said mounting base subsystem includes at least one watertight cable connector.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A hardened voyage data recorder according to claim 24 , wherein: said mounting base subsystem includes a first watertight cable connector for coupling with a power supply and a second cable connector for coupling with a data source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A hardened voyage data recorder according to claim 24 , wherein: one of said upper flange and said lower flange has a groove adapted to receive an O-ring.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hardened voyage data recorder according to claim 24 , wherein: said upper flange has two concentric grooves, each adapted to receive an O-ring.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hardened voyage data recorder according to claim 29 , further comprising: one o-ring and one mesh gasket, one disposed in one of said two concentric grooves and the other disposed in the other of said two concentric grooves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-16 | 2007-09-15 | 2008-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-16 | 2011-09-15 | 2012-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-16 | 2015-09-15 | 2016-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |