Electrical Transmission Line Cable

Abstract

An electrical transmission line cable suitable for a variety of applications including fishing lines in video fishing systems, etc. The electrical transmission line cable has a first conductor and a second conductor forming an electrical transmission line, a jacket including the first conductor and the second conductor, and a transmission line primary dielectric element separating the first conductor and the second conductor, the primary dielectric element being at least one of a woven yarn, a fiber yarn, or a monofilament. The electrical transmission line can be in a balanced or unbalanced configuration.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 214,692, filed June 24, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forth in its entirety herein.

[0002] (Technical field) The embodiments described herein relate to multipurpose electrical transmission line cables, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to electrical transmission line cables suitable for use in video fishing systems and other data and power transmission applications. [Background technology]

[0003] It is widely understood that wireless electromagnetic communication systems (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth) suffer from a dramatic reduction in range in underwater environments. Due to the significant signal attenuation these systems undergo underwater, the range is limited to a few inches or feet at best. Although acoustic communication methods can achieve significant ranges underwater (up to several kilometers), their channel capacities (50 kbps or less) are several orders of magnitude below that required for real-time transmission of encoded video. In addition, underwater acoustic communication requires significant power, which makes it unsuitable for use in recreational applications such as fishing. Although wireless optical underwater communications can achieve data rates required for real-time transmission of encoded video (1-5 Mbps) and can achieve ranges of 1-15 meters depending on water conditions, their cost, size, power consumption, and directional requirements may make them completely unsuitable for use in recreational applications such as fishing.

[0004] Given the shortcomings of these wireless technologies, wired approaches, either electrical or optical, are often necessary for underwater environments. Optical fibers, either silica-core or polymer-based, can achieve the necessary data rates for encoded video transmission over the distances used in typical fishing settings, and may even achieve data rates high enough that video compression is unnecessary. Power can also be transmitted by optical fibers, but the transmission efficiency of such technologies is too poor to deliver the necessary amount of power to the camera module, which would require extremely high input power to be pumped into the fiber. Such large input power transmitted into the fiber would present a significant safety risk, and such a system would also be prohibitively expensive. In addition, the low transmission efficiency would severely limit the battery life of the system and / or require unreasonably large batteries in the base station. Realistically, a battery would be required inside the camera module, which would severely affect its size and buoyancy. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, optical fibers are too fragile to withstand the rigors of recreational applications such as fishing.

[0005] Thus, a need exists for improved apparatus and methods for the delivery of data and power in an underwater environment. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This Summary is not intended to identify or exclude key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] According to one aspect, embodiments herein relate to an electrically conductive fishing line having first and second conductors forming an electrical transmission line, a jacket including the first and second conductors, and a transmission line primary dielectric element separating the first and second conductors, the primary dielectric element comprising at least one of a woven yarn, a fiber yarn, or a monofilament.

[0008] In some embodiments, the electrical transmission line is in a balanced configuration.

[0009] In some embodiments, the electrical transmission line is in an unbalanced configuration.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first conductor and the second conductor are twisted around the primary dielectric element.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first conductor and the second conductor are not twisted around the primary dielectric element.

[0012] In some embodiments, power is transmitted through the fishing line using a combination of high voltage and low current.

[0013] In some embodiments, the fishing line includes at least one secondary dielectric element. In some embodiments, the at least one secondary dielectric element may be twisted around the primary dielectric element. In some embodiments, the at least one secondary dielectric element is not twisted around the primary dielectric element.

[0014] In some embodiments, the fishing line has a specific gravity of about 0.97 to about 2.0.

[0015] In some embodiments, the fishing line has a proximal end and a distal end, and there is a connector at each of the proximal and distal ends.

[0016] In another aspect, embodiments herein relate to a video fishing system having a waterproof camera module, a base station module, and a conductive fishing line as claimed in any of the preceding claims connecting the waterproof camera module and the base station module.

[0017] In some embodiments, the waterproof camera module is configured to be a fishing lure.

[0018] In some embodiments, the base station module is integrated into a fishing rod or reel.

[0019] In some embodiments, the camera module has multiple image sensors for generating a panoramic view image.

[0020] In some embodiments, the video fishing system includes an electrical safety mechanism between the fishing line and at least one of the camera module or the base station module.

[0021] In some embodiments, data is transmitted over the fishing line. Data may be transmitted using 10Base-T1L, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, or power line modem signaling.

[0022] In yet another aspect, embodiments herein relate to an electrical transmission line cable having first and second conductors forming an electrical transmission line, a jacket including the first and second conductors, and a transmission line primary dielectric element separating the first and second conductors, the primary dielectric element comprising at least one of a woven yarn, a fiber yarn, or a monofilament.

[0023] In some embodiments, the electrical transmission line is in a balanced configuration.

[0024] In some embodiments, the electrical transmission line is in an unbalanced configuration.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first conductor and the second conductor are twisted around the primary dielectric element.

[0026] In some embodiments, the first conductor and the second conductor are not twisted around the primary dielectric element.

[0027] In some embodiments, power is transmitted over electrical transmission line cables using a combination of high voltage and low current.

[0028] In some embodiments, the data is transmitted over an electrical transmission line cable. The data may be transmitted using 10Base-T1L, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, or power line modem signaling.

[0029] In some embodiments, the transmission line includes at least one secondary dielectric element. In some embodiments, the at least one secondary dielectric element is twisted around the primary dielectric element. In some embodiments, the at least one secondary dielectric element is not twisted around the primary dielectric element.

[0030] In yet another aspect, embodiments herein relate to a balanced electrical transmission line structure, where a dielectric element is also used as a cable strength member, and where the transmission line structure is not braided.

[0031] In yet another aspect, embodiments herein relate to a video fishing system that utilizes an electric fishing line, the electric fishing line including 34 AWG or smaller sized electrical conductors, and that transmits power through the electric fishing line using a combination of high voltage and low current. In some embodiments, the video fishing system includes an electrical safety mechanism that regulates the voltage and / or current in the electric fishing line.

[0032] In yet another aspect, embodiments herein relate to a video fishing system that utilizes an electro-fishing line, the electro-fishing line including 34 AWG or smaller sized electrical conductors, and that transmits data over the electro-fishing line using either 10Base-T1L, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, or power line modem signaling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified.

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 depicts a 3D view and a cross-sectional view of an unbalanced electrical transmission line cable according to one embodiment.

[0035] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 depicts a 3D view and a cross-sectional view of a shielded balanced electrical transmission line cable according to another embodiment.

[0036] [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 depicts a 3D view and a cross-sectional view of an unshielded balanced electrical transmission line cable according to yet another embodiment.

[0037] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 depicts a system level block diagram of an electrical architecture used in a video fishing system according to yet another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Various embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and show specific exemplary embodiments. However, the concepts of the present disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but rather, these embodiments are provided as part of a thorough and complete disclosure to fully convey the scope of the concepts, techniques, and implementations of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. The embodiments may be practiced as a method, a system, or a device. Thus, the embodiments may take the form of a hardware implementation, a fully software implementation, or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description should therefore not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0039] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one example implementation or technique according to this disclosure. Appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

[0040] Additionally, the language used herein has been selected primarily for ease of reading and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to define or limit the disclosed subject matter. Thus, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the concepts discussed herein.

[0041] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electrical transmission line cable having multiple conductors arranged in a balanced or unbalanced configuration within a jacket. A dielectric element having at least one of woven yarns, fiber yarns, or monofilaments separates the conductors, and the dielectric element can be a cable strength member in some embodiments.

[0042] An additional embodiment of the present invention relates to a video fishing system. (Electrical transmission line cable)

[0043] In various embodiments, an electrical transmission line cable is composed of two or more electrical conductors that are electrically insulated from one another. The conductors are arranged in a coaxial twisted pair or non-twisted pair configuration, although other configurations are possible. An electromagnetic metal shield, either foil and / or helical and / or braided, may be present around the conductors. In addition to the conductors, inside the electrical transmission line are one or more strength members to withstand axial forces. One or more outer jackets may surround the conductors and strength members, provide protection and waterproofing, and keep the internal configuration of the line contained and correctly aligned. If a connector (discussed below) is included, it will most likely be overmolded onto the electrical transmission line to provide a means of attachment and a waterproof and robust seal, although other sealing methods are possible.

[0044] To help achieve neutrality with respect to slight negative buoyancy while reducing the line diameter, it may be advantageous to reduce the weight of the electrical conductor while still providing adequate conductivity. To reduce conductor weight, it may be advantageous to use aluminum, rather than copper, as the material for the electrical conductor due to its superior conductivity-to-density ratio. The conductivity-to-density ratio for aluminum is approximately 6,700 S×m for copper. 2 / g, compared to approximately 14,000 S×m 2 / g. To increase the ease of soldering to the ends of the wires, copper clad aluminum is a good choice for the conductor material. However, in many designs it is still possible to achieve the desired buoyancy while using copper as the conductor material.

[0045] Copper-clad steel may be chosen due to its superior strength and toughness relative to that of copper, at the expense of conductivity. To increase flex life and flexibility, metal-clad or metal-doped fibers, or certain copper alloys, may be used. Carbon nanotube yarns can also provide substantially increased flex life and flexibility and may be a good option when cost allows.

[0046] Electrical transmission lines are characterized by the geometry and material properties of the conductors and dielectrics. In a coaxial line, the dielectric is the annulus of material between the inner and outer conductors. In a twisted pair transmission line, the dielectric is the material between the two conductors, typically an insulating jacket surrounding each wire. Selecting a dielectric material with a lower relative dielectric constant (also known as the dielectric constant) will reduce the attenuation of the transmission line, allowing signals to be successfully transmitted over longer lengths of line.

[0047] Due to its low dielectric constant and high strength, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) (or other "super fibers" such as Zylon, Vectran, Kevlar, many of which exhibit high strength and low dielectric constant) can be used as both a strength member and a transmission line dielectric material in electrical transmission line cables. The low density of UHMWPE (specific gravity = 0.97) helps to increase the buoyancy of electrical transmission line cables. In addition, since most super fiber yarns, including UHMWPE, are actually bundles of very fine filaments (filament diameters are on the order of microns), they provide excellent flex life and flexibility. It is noted that UHMWPE is the material used in braided fishing lines because it has many mechanical properties that make it suitable for use as a fishing line. Specific strength (also known as "strength to weight ratio") is also an important design parameter for electrical cable strength members, since, as already explained, the density of the material is important. UHMWPE, Zylon, Vectran, and other super fibers all exhibit some of the highest specific strength of any material available today (e.g., significantly higher than titanium). In the constructions shown herein, UHMWPE serves not only as a strength member and transmission line dielectric, but also as a buoyancy enhancer and cable filler occupying what would otherwise be voids within the interior of the cable. The same design and construction principles can be used with any other super fiber, or conventional fiber, or any synthetic fiber, such as nylon, fiberglass, or any natural fiber, such as cotton.

[0048] Properties to consider for fibers used in electrical transmission line cables are strength, density, filament size, flexibility, flex life, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, toughness, elastic modulus, dielectric constant, dielectric loss tangent, dielectric breakdown strength, coefficient of friction, UV resistance, chemical resistance, mildew resistance, moisture absorption, hydrophobicity, elongation at break, melting temperature, decomposition temperature, and others.

[0049] FIG. 1 depicts a 3D view and a cross-sectional view of an unbalanced electrical transmission line cable 100 according to one embodiment. As shown, the conductors 104, 104' are made of bare copper or magnet wire, and the conductors 104, 104' are arranged coaxially, with the conductor 104 forming the inner transmission path and the conductor 104' forming the outer transmission path. Several woven yarns 108 made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene are used as dielectric elements of the electrical transmission line. An outer jacket 112 includes the conductors 104, 104' and the woven yarns 108.

[0050] In some embodiments, the center conductor 104 is a stranded wire consisting of seven individual strands of approximately 45 AWG magnet wire twisted in a six strand configuration around one. The 45 AWG wire has a diameter of approximately 0.05 mm. The center conductor 104 has a diameter of approximately 0.15 mm.

[0051] In some embodiments, the woven yarns 108 are about 150 denier yarns of UHMWPE, each of which is twisted to give them a circular cross-section having a diameter of about 0.15 mm.

[0052] In some embodiments, the outer conductor 104 is made of a number of approximately 45 AWG magnet wires, the 45 AWG wire having a diameter of approximately 0.05 mm.

[0053] In some embodiments, the outer jacket 112 is a jacket having a wall thickness of about 0.25 mm.

[0054] In some embodiments, the unbalanced electrical transmission line cable 100 has a diameter of about 1.05 mm.

[0055] 2 depicts a 3D view and a cross-sectional view of a shielded balanced electrical transmission line cable 200 according to another embodiment. As shown, the conductors 204, 204' are arranged in a shielded twisted pair arrangement (STP). A woven yarn made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is used as the primary dielectric element 208 of the electrical transmission line, and an additional woven yarn 212 surrounds the primary element 208 and provides structural support. An additional layer of woven yarn 224 surrounds the first layer of woven yarn 212. An outer jacket 216 includes the conductors 204, 204' and the woven yarns 208, 212, 224. A foil 220 acts as an electromagnetic shield.

[0056] In some embodiments, the central thread 208 is an approximately 100 denier thread of UHMWPE, which is twisted to give it a circular cross-section having a diameter of approximately 0.13 mm.

[0057] In some embodiments, the outer yarns 212 of the first layer are about 20 denier yarns of UHMWPE, each of which is twisted to give them a circular cross-section having a diameter of about 0.06 mm.

[0058] In some embodiments, the conductors 204 and 204' are 44 AWG magnet wire having a diameter of about 0.06 mm.

[0059] In some embodiments, the second layer outer yarns 224 are about 30 denier yarns of UHMWPE, each of which is twisted to give them a circular cross-section having a diameter of about 0.07 mm.

[0060] In some embodiments, the foil shield 220 has a thickness of about 0.01 mm.

[0061] In some embodiments, the outer jacket 216 is a jacket having a wall thickness of about 0.08 mm.

[0062] In some embodiments, the shielded balanced electrical transmission line cable 200 has a diameter of about 0.57 mm.

[0063] FIG. 3 depicts a 3D view and a cross-sectional view of an unshielded balanced electrical transmission line cable 300 according to yet another embodiment. As shown, conductors 304, 304′ are arranged in an unshielded twisted pair arrangement (UTP). A woven yarn made from high molecular weight polyethylene is used as the primary dielectric element 308 of the electrical transmission line, and additional woven yarns 312 surround the primary element 308 and provide structural support. An outer jacket 316 includes the conductors 304, 304′ and the woven yarns 308, 312. Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 2, the embodiment of FIG. 3 lacks a shield.

[0064] In some embodiments, the central thread 308 is an approximately 100 denier thread of UHMWPE, which is twisted to give it a circular cross-section having a diameter of approximately 0.13 mm.

[0065] In some embodiments, the outer yarns 312 are about 20 denier yarns of UHMWPE, each of which is twisted to give them a circular cross-section having a diameter of about 0.06 mm.

[0066] In some embodiments, the conductors 304 and 304' are 44 AWG magnet wire having a diameter of about 0.06 mm.

[0067] In some embodiments, the outer jacket 316 is a jacket having a wall thickness of about 0.08 mm.

[0068] In some embodiments, the unshielded balanced electrical transmission line cable 300 has a diameter of about 0.41 mm.

[0069] Note that while UHMWPE is represented as a shaded circle in these drawings, in reality each shaded circle is composed of dozens or hundreds of finer filaments that are bundled and sometimes twisted together to form yarns of different denier. Denier is a unit of measurement used in the textile industry. It is a measure of linear mass density and is equal to the mass (in grams) per 9,000 meters of the yarn.

[0070] It should also be noted that while all three concepts show bare copper or magnet wire for the conductors, it is possible to insulate these wires with a fluoropolymer or other insulating jacket to provide a secondary layer of protection in addition to the outer jacket (although the enamel coating on the magnet wire already provides a layer of protection).

[0071] Measurements and experiments have shown that shielding in STP designs is typically not necessary. Both coax and STP concepts can be expensive to produce. The UTP design can be very cost-effective to produce because it involves twisting, cabling, and a single sheathing operation, and all of these production operations can be performed at high speed.

[0072] Superfiber yarns are typically made by bundling many finer filaments together. These bundles of filaments may or may not be twisted, but can be twisted to encourage the yarn to have and maintain a circular shape (e.g., to increase the radial stiffness of the yarn) and to increase throughput during manufacturing.

[0073] In twisted pair designs (both UTP and STP and parallel pair), a super fiber yarn 208, 308 is located at the center of the cross section. Two or more conductors 204, 304, along with multiple super fiber yarns 212, 312, are arranged in a circular fashion around the central yarn 208, 308. Ideally, the conductors 204, 304 are diametrically opposed to each other about the central yarn, but limitations of available yarn sizes may dictate that they be slightly offset from perfectly diametrically opposed.

[0074] The conductor and surrounding yarns are most likely to be spirally wound around the central yarn in a helical fashion (twisted pair arrangement), but may be twist-free (parallel pair arrangement). Twisting the conductors is widely understood to have numerous advantages in terms of electromagnetic compatibility and performance, and the technique has been widely used since its invention by Alexander Graham Bell in the 1880s. The surrounding yarns are likely to be similar in diameter to the conductor to encourage the entire bundle to have a predominantly circular cross section so that the final electrical transmission line cable will have a predominantly circular shape. The surrounding yarns and / or central yarn act as strength members to withstand the forces imposed on the electrical transmission line cable. The yarns also act as dielectric materials that form the distributed capacitance of the electrical transmission line. It should be noted that while the yarns 212, 312 are shown in the drawings as being perfectly round and having voids between each other, in reality there will be some compaction and rearrangement of the yarn filaments, and the voids will be at least partially filled. In fact, it may be advantageous to design the surrounding yarns to have some overlap with each other to encourage void filling as they are twisted around the central yarn. Note that the central yarn is not required to be the same size as the surrounding yarns, nor is it required that the surrounding yarns all be the same size as each other.

[0075] 2, the central thread 208 serves as both a strength member and a conductor spacer and primary dielectric element between the two conductors 204, 204' of the twisted pair transmission line 200. It is the primary dielectric element because the majority of the electric field strength is located directly in the region between the two conductors 204, 204' where the central thread 208 is located.

[0076] It is widely understood that the distance between the two conductors 204, 204' of a twisted pair significantly affects the electrical characteristics of the transmission line. Spacing the conductors 204, 204' further apart reduces the attenuation of the transmission line and is desirable because it allows the signal to travel across a longer length of cable before the signal is attenuated to a level below which the receiver can receive the signal normally. In conventional twisted pairs, such as those used in Ethernet cables, the conductor spacing is typically set by the wall thickness of the insulation around the conductors, but in the designs presented here, the spacing is set by the diameter of the central thread. Note that the conductors in an electrical transmission line cable can be bare copper, enameled, or "magnet" wire, or insulated with a polymer as is typical in twisted pairs. If magnet wire is used, a thin coating of polyamide or other non-conductive material surrounds the conductor. The magnet wire coating is much thinner than the thickness of the central thread and therefore has minimal effect on the dielectric properties of the transmission line. When the conductors are insulated with a polymer, it is advantageous to keep the insulation thickness as small as possible since the insulation does not provide any benefit to the electrical transmission line cable, i.e., it is not a strength member and it is most likely to have negative buoyancy. When the conductors are insulated with a polymer, the transmission line properties will be determined by the dielectric properties of both the insulating polymer and the central thread. However, it is advantageous to eliminate the conductor insulation entirely (or use a very thin coating such as the enamel coating used on the magnet wire) in order to reduce the overall size of the electrical transmission line cable.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 2, a second layer 224 of surrounding yarns may surround the first layer 212 of surrounding yarns. These second layer yarns 224 may also be twisted helically around the central core 208, with the direction of the helix most likely, but not necessarily, being the opposite of that of the first twisted layer 212 to minimize the net internal torque generated by the twisted yarns. This internal torque would tend to cause the electrical transmission line to "self-curl" or shift naturally into a circular shape. In addition, the twist direction of the yarns themselves (i.e., the bundled filaments are twisted either clockwise or counterclockwise around the center of the bundle) may be alternated to minimize the internal torque. Any number of additional yarn layers may be present outside the second layer.

[0078] On the outside of all the yarns and conductors, an electromagnetic shield (e.g., 220 in FIG. 2) may be included to improve electromagnetic compatibility and performance. This shield may take the form of a helically wrapped foil tape and / or individual helically wrapped (or braided) wires (e.g., 104' in FIG. 1). In addition to, or instead of, the electromagnetic shield, a water-swellable tape may be used to seal any tears or holes that develop in the outer jacket of the electrical transmission line cable when exposed to water. The yarns themselves may also be coated with a water-swellable coating to achieve the same goal.

[0079] In the coaxial design of FIG. 1, the central member 104 is one of the two conductors. The central conductor 104 is surrounded by a number of super fiber yarns 108 that act as both strength members and transmission line dielectrics. The outer conductor 104' of the coaxial design can take the form of a helically wound foil tape, or an individual helically wound (or braided) wire, or both. In addition to the outer conductor, there may be a water-swellable tape that is used to seal any tears or holes that develop in the outer jacket of the electrical transmission line cable when exposed to water. The yarns themselves may also be coated with a water-swellable coating to accomplish the same goal.

[0080] The outer jacket of the electrical transmission line cable is outside the conductors, threads, and any shielding and / or tape (e.g., 216 in FIG. 2). The purpose of the outer jacket of the electrical transmission line cable is to protect the conductors, threads, and any shielding and / or tape from the underwater environment by preventing the ingress of water, and to provide a general protective jacket for the electrical transmission line cable so that the electrical transmission line cable is robust enough to withstand the rigors of use. There may be multiple outer jackets to provide additional degrees of protection. The color of the outer jacket and inner material (conductor, thread, tape, or shielding) may be selected to provide a clear visual indication to the user of a fault in the outer jacket, particularly by revealing a differently colored inner material.

[0081] There are many material options available for the outer jacket, and many factors to consider when selecting a material: density, toughness, minimum manufacturable wall thickness, UV resistance, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, strength, coefficient of friction, manufacturing processing temperature, modulus of elasticity, moisture absorption, hydrophobicity, mold resistance, chemical resistance, and others. Cables designed for submersion often use either a variety of polyurethanes or fluoropolymers for the outer jacket material. Other potential material options are thermoplastic elastomers, silicones, or others. Polyurethane has a reasonably low density (specific gravity 1.0-1.2), but typically requires a wall thickness of at least 10 mils (0.25 mm) due to the manufacturing process required to apply it. This jacket thickness has a significant impact on the overall electrical transmission line cable size. Fluoropolymers such as PTFE, PFA, FEP, and ETFE have higher densities (specific gravity 1.6-2.5), but can be applied with much thinner walls, as thin as a minimum wall thickness of 1.5 mils (0.04 mm). Reducing the wall thickness as much as possible helps keep the electrical transmission line cable small and therefore similar in size to a conventional fishing line.

[0082] For all of these electrical transmission line cable designs, the size and / or number and / or material of the fiber yarns and / or conductors may be adjusted to increase or decrease the maximum axial breaking force and overall diameter of the electrical transmission line cable, and the maximum achievable data transmission and power transmission length. An exemplary UTP electrical transmission line cable using 40 AWG magnet wire conductors, a 50 denier UHMWPE center yarn, and six 50 denier UHMWPE surrounding yarns, with a fluoropolymer jacket having a thickness of 0.005 inches, has an overall diameter of about 20 mils (0.50 mm) and a breaking force of about 30 pounds, which is similar in diameter and breaking strength to that of a conventional monofilament fishing line with a 30 pound test. Its specific gravity is in the range of 1.9 to 2.3 depending on the outer jacket material used, which is similar to that of a conventional fluorocarbon fishing line.

[0083] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the central thread is not present, and instead the conductor and one or more threads are bundled and twisted together. For example, two conductors and one thread may be twisted together to form a twisted triplet, or two conductors may be bundled with two threads to form a twisted quadruple. This approach may be cost-effective, but providing adequate spacing between the two conductors to keep their attenuation low would require an insulating material on the wires with a certain thickness thereto. As already mentioned, this insulating material provides insulation and protection for the conductors, but does not act as a strength member or buoyancy enhancer, so this design may be more cost-effective, although less desirable overall.

[0084] The conductors can be either solid core or stranded construction. Stranded constructions offer the benefit of redundancy and may exhibit increased flex life and / or flexibility. However, stranded constructions suffer from higher cost. Alternatively, the conductors may consist of several smaller diameter magnet wires bundled together (possibly twisted). The magnet wire conductors may be made of pure copper, copper clad metal, or alloys with desirable mechanical properties, e.g., flex life.

[0085] In alternative embodiments, the threads and conductors may be arranged in other arrangements than the concentric layered arrangement presented above.

[0086] In addition, low density filler materials may be used within the cable construction to increase its buoyancy. For example, a low density material such as polymethylpentene (TPX), which has a specific gravity of 0.83, may be included as the center or non-center member. Its low dielectric constant of 2.12 makes it a good transmission line dielectric when it is the center member.

[0087] In some embodiments, the twist direction of the individual threads and the twist direction of the threads around the center or inner member may be selected so that the threads themselves form a water-durable seal that prevents water from entering the interior of the cable where the conductor resides. The twist rate of the individual threads or the twist rate of the threads around the center may also be selected or adjusted to encourage this water-durable seal mechanism to form. In these constructions, it may be necessary to clamp or otherwise tie off the ends of the cable to prevent the threads from untwisting, or an outer jacket may serve to prevent the threads from untwisting. These constructions are known in the nautical rope literature as "cable-lay" or "water-lay" constructions. If the threads themselves form a water-durable seal, the outer jacket may be completely unnecessary, or it may be a redundant method of preventing water ingress.

[0088] In addition, if the threads are individually twisted, their twist rate per unit length may be selected to achieve or maintain ideal conductor spacing within the construct. For example, the central thread may have a higher twist value per unit length than the surrounding threads so that it is more resistant to compaction and therefore the conductors remain properly spaced from each other, and therefore the two conductors remain diametrically opposed to each other around the central thread. Alternatively, the central thread may be twisted while some or all of the surrounding threads are untwisted or all twisted. The advantage of leaving some or all of the surrounding threads untwisted is that they may be more likely to exhibit non-circular irregular cross-sectional shapes as needed to fill voids and promote overall circularity to the construct. Without twisting some or all of the threads individually, there is a high probability of thread compaction and the conductors may be allowed to migrate into undesirable configurations in the cross-section, which would adversely affect transmission line and electromagnetic compatibility properties.

[0089] In addition, the twist ratio (also referred to as "lay length") of the overall twisted structure can be adjusted to optimize the electromagnetic compatibility and performance of the twisted conductor pairs, or to improve the kink resistance of the electrical transmission line cable, or to reduce the overall weight of the cable per unit length. For example, a longer lay length will reduce the overall amount of copper wire per unit length of the electrical transmission line cable.

[0090] The cable design outlined above may be well suited for any application requiring a small, strong and lightweight electrical transmission line cable (e.g., tethered air vehicles or tethered underwater vehicles). The use of woven yarns as dielectric and strength members is a valuable approach that allows for the construction of electrical transmission line cables that are small, lightweight and strong. (Video Fishing System)

[0091] FIG. 4 depicts a system level block diagram of an electrical architecture used in a video fishing system according to yet another embodiment.

[0092] There are four main components that make up the electrical architecture of the video fishing system: a base station 404, a camera module 408, a display 412, and an optional electric bait 416. The base station 404 and the camera module 408 are connected by an electro-fishing line 400.

[0093] The base station 404 includes communication electronics 420 for transmitting data to and from the camera module 408 over the electrofishing line 400. To facilitate sending power over the electrofishing line 400, most likely, but not necessarily, over the same two conductors used for data transmission, the base station 404 may include filtering and other circuit components 424 to combine a DC power signal with an AC data signal. The DC power signal is generated by a boost voltage converter 428, which may include other voltage boost converters, step-down converters, or step-up / step-down converters as necessary to provide the voltage levels required by other components in the base station 404 and / or the display 412. The power input to the voltage converter may be DC, for example, from an optional included battery or another DC voltage source 432, or AC, for example, from the main wiring 436. The boost converter 428 used to transmit power by the electrofishing line 400 may include a capacitance multiplier to reduce output ripple that may interfere with communication signals while limiting the amount of capacitance attached to the high voltage bus for safety reasons. It may also include output current limiting circuitry (not shown) for safety reasons. The communication electronics 420 in the base station 404 facilitates data transmission by the electrofishing line. This data may be sent to a processor 440 in the base station 404 for additional processing, and / or to a display 412, and / or a radio broadcasting device 444. Additional sensors 448 (e.g., outdoor air temperature sensors, ambient light, geographic location) may connect to the base station processor 440 and capture useful information to provide to the angler. Data may also be sent to a data storage device 452 for storage in memory for future access (e.g., to watch or download videos in the future). The base station 404 may also include a microphone (not shown) for capturing audio. The base station 404 may also include a GPS sensor for determining location.The base station 404 may include an energy harvesting system (not shown) (i.e., a generator) that may harvest energy from the spinning motion of the reels to power the system or to recharge the system's battery 432.

[0094] A waterproof, depth-resistant camera module 408 is disposed at the distal end of the electrofishing line. The electrofishing line 400 serves as both the angler's fishing line and an electrical conduit, which is used to transmit data from the camera module 408 to a base station module 404 (disposed in the angler's vicinity) and vice versa, and to transmit power from the base station module 404 to the camera module 408. The angler can send commands to the camera module 408 from a physical control on the fishing rod or reel or from a wirelessly linked control to control various functionality of the camera module (e.g., turn on a light for illumination of an object), as desired.

[0095] The camera module 408 includes communication electronics 456 for transmitting data to and from the base station 404 over the electrofishing line 400. To facilitate receiving power over the electrofishing line 400, most likely, but not necessarily, over the same two conductors used for data transmission, the camera module 408 may include filtering components and other circuit components 460 to separate the DC power signal from the AC data signal. The DC power signal connects to the input of a voltage step-down converter 464. The DC power signal may pass through one or more diodes, or a full-bridge rectifier, which are included to prevent the input capacitance of the step-down converter from discharging into the electrofishing line 400 for safety reasons. The step-down converter 464 may include other step-down converters, step-up converters, or step-up / step-down converters as necessary to provide the voltage levels required by the camera module and / or other components in the electrofishing line 400. The camera module 408 may include a battery or other power source 468 to provide some or all of the power to the components within the camera module 408 and / or the electric bait 416. It may also include additional energy storage devices (not shown) used to provide burst power to electrical components that may require temporary large power spikes, such as motors for actuating fins. The camera module 408 includes one or more image sensors 472 and may include LEDs or other light generating devices for illumination of objects. The camera module 408 also includes a processor 476 that receives data from and transmits data to the image sensor 472. The processor 476 may perform image and / or video encoding to reduce the size of the data and facilitate transmission across the electrofishing line 400. Additional sensors 480, 480' may be included within the camera module 408 to collect various data of interest to provide to the angler, such as water temperature, water depth, underwater salinity, and ambient light.These sensors 480, 480' may send data to and receive data from the camera module processor 476 that may be used to adjust the image sensor 472 and / or image processing settings to improve image quality. The camera module 408 may also include a data storage device 484 for storing sensor or video or photographic data. The camera module 408 may also include a microphone and / or hydrophone (not shown) for capturing audio.

[0096] The wired electric approach can achieve the necessary data rates over the distances used in a typical fishing setup (assuming video compression in the camera module 408), with the added benefit that power can also be transmitted over the line with high efficiency, obviating the need for batteries in the camera module 408. Without a battery, the camera module itself can be exceptionally small and lightweight (ideally with near or exact neutral buoyancy, or with adjustable buoyancy to meet the needs of different fishing techniques), and about the size of a lipstick case. This is possible to achieve if the camera should be small and lightweight enough not to adversely or significantly affect the fishing experience (especially when the angler is casting the camera module into the water), and no batteries are required inside the camera module. In addition, the same conductors used to transmit data can also be used to transmit power, which helps achieve a smaller size electric fishing line by keeping the number of conductors to a minimum. The size and weight of the line affect castability and ease of use when fishing. The wired electrical approach is one way to achieve the overall goal of creating an animated fishing system that provides anglers with nearly the same experience as traditional fishing. Thus, embodiments use an electric fishing line, i.e., a single cable that serves as the fishing line, the communications link, and the power supply conduit.

[0097] Optionally, an electric bait 416 may connect to the camera module 408 through an additional length of electro-fishing line 400', which may or may not include connectors or other devices for easy removal and installation. The electric bait 416 may include an image sensor, other sensors, a processor, or other components to facilitate data collection and / or functionality for use within the electric bait (e.g., lighting or vibration to attract fish, illumination of objects, etc.). The electric bait may also include a microphone or hydrophone for capturing audio.

[0098] In some embodiments, the camera module 408 and the bait / lure 416 are combined into a single "camera lure" device. The camera lure combines the functionality of a camera module (video capture, data capture, etc.) and a lure (patterns and / or colors to induce a fish to hook, hooks to hold the fish on the lure after hooking, etc.).

[0099] A display 412 connected to the base station module 404 allows for real-time or post-event viewing of video and other data from the camera module 408 and / or electric bait 416 for informational and / or entertainment purposes. The display 412 may be mounted on the fishing rod or located elsewhere to allow the angler and / or other observers (either locally or remotely, e.g., on a live streaming platform over the web). The display 412 may connect to the base station 404 through a wire to facilitate video and / or power connection, or it may be wireless. The display 412 may take the form of a dedicated monitor or a user's personal device, e.g., phone, tablet, laptop.

[0100] The video fishing system may also include functionality for performing diagnostic tests to assess the state of health of the electrofishing line. These cable diagnostic tests may use time domain reflectometry or similar techniques to locate faults in the electrofishing line. This diagnostic information may be communicated to a user of the video fishing system to provide problem-solving feedback or to inform of impending cable electrical failure or estimated time to electrical failure.

[0101] In addition, the video fishing system may include voltage and current measurements in the camera module and / or base station so that the DC resistance of the conductors in the electric fishing line may be measured. Measuring the DC resistance of the conductors allows for an accurate estimation of the length of the fishing line connected between the base station and the camera module, which is valuable information to provide to the angler.

[0102] Such systems may also be useful for activities other than fishing, such as exploration of the underwater environment, marine research, inspection of underwater equipment, reconnaissance, and the like. (Electric fishing line)

[0103] In one embodiment, the electrical transmission line cable is deployed as an electrofishing line (e.g., 400 in FIG. 4 ) in a video fishing system that allows an angler to observe his or her bait (either live or artificial) and / or the underwater environment in real time.

[0104] To closely mimic a conventional fishing line, the electric fishing line is as similar as possible to the conventional line in terms of buoyancy, size, breaking force, strength, abrasion resistance, moisture absorption, hydrophobicity, UV resistance, flexibility, flex life, modulus of elasticity, chemical resistance, mildew resistance, and other properties. Typical monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided fishing lines have specific gravities in the range of 0.97 to 2.0, and therefore the buoyancy of the electric fishing line should be within this range. One goal for an electric fishing line is to make it as similar as possible to a conventional fishing line so that it can be used in the same manner for various styles of fishing, such as cast and retrieve, vertical jigging, trolling, bottom fishing, reef casting, fly fishing, etc. Higher density fishing lines have a higher sink rate, which can be problematic for some styles of fishing, and therefore keeping the specific gravity below about 2.5 can be important for ease of use. It should be noted that when practicing the fishing technique known as "trolling", it may be desirable to have a very high density fishing line, typically made with a lead core or another core material with a very high density. The motivation for using a high density fishing line is to provide sufficient sinking force to keep the bait suspended well below the water surface as the line and bait are pulled through the water during trolling. To create an electric fishing line with high density, larger conductors or conductors made from a denser metal may be used. A denser metal may have a lower conductivity than copper, but the increased size would likely more than offset the increased resistivity so that the electrical performance of the line would be sufficient.

[0105] It should be noted that some types of fly fishing lines are typically designed to float (specific gravity less than 1) and typically have a larger diameter than other fishing line types. It is possible to create floating electrofishing lines using the same design techniques used to make fly lines positively buoyant. This can be accomplished by surrounding the core of the line with a low density material, for example a foamed polymer.

[0106] An electric fishing line may have any length, but will typically have a length of 50 to 500 meters, as most conventional fishing setups have line lengths in this range. Acceptable quality encoded digital video transmission typically requires a data rate of at least 1 Mbps for 1,080p resolution at 30 frames per second, with higher data rates allowing for improved resolution, frame rates, and image quality. Achieving these data rates through wired media requires the use of electromagnetic spectrum up to at least several hundred kHz to several MHz. Since data will be communicated using signaling in at least the high kHz to low MHz range, it is known that an electric fishing line will act as a transmission line due to its length, as the wire begins to exhibit transmission line behavior at approximately 1 / 20th of the wavelength of the signal's frequency. Assuming a signal frequency of 500 kHz, the wavelength is 600 meters, therefore 1 / 20th of a wavelength is 30 meters, which means that if the wire is longer than 30 meters in length, it should be modeled as a transmission line.

[0107] The electric fishing line is an alternative for a conventional fishing line. It is wound onto the winder of a fishing reel in the same manner as a typical fishing line. The proximal end of the electric fishing line connects to the fishing reel, which is electrically connected to a base station module. The base station module can be located either on or near the fishing rod, or can be fully integrated into the fishing rod or reel. The distal end of the electric fishing line connects to a camera module.

[0108] At the distal end of the electrofishing line, there may be a connector to allow disconnection of the camera module from the line to make it easier to assemble or disassemble the video fishing system or to modify the electrofishing line as needed. At the proximal end of the electrofishing line, there may also be a connector to allow disconnection of the electrofishing line from the fishing reel to make it easier to assemble or disassemble the video fishing system or to modify the electrofishing line as needed. These connectors create electrical connections to allow data and power transfer, and also form mechanical connections to allow force transfer along the electrofishing line. The connector at the distal end of the electrofishing line mates with a short pigtail of the electrofishing line that is attached directly to the camera module or permanently to the camera module. The connector at the proximal end of the electrofishing line mates with a short pigtail of the electrofishing line that is attached directly to the fishing reel or permanently to the fishing reel.

[0109] If there is a pigtail of the electrofishing line external to the camera module, it may be advantageous to armor this section of the line to protect it from potential fish bites or other sources of damage.

[0110] Alternatively, the electrofishing line may be terminated, both mechanically and electrically, inside the camera module housing. In this approach, the electrofishing line enters the camera module housing in a sealed manner to prevent water ingress into the camera module, for example, through the use of an O-ring around the outer jacket of the line. The strength members of the electrofishing line are then anchored in some manner, for example, knotted, crimped, etc., to the camera module housing to allow for the transfer of force from the camera module to the fishing line. The conductors on the inside of the electrofishing line are then connected to the camera module to form the electrical connection. This process of sealing, anchoring, and connecting the electrofishing line to and inside the camera module may be performed by an end user of the video fishing system, either in the field or at home. The end user may, for example, want to disconnect a length of electrofishing line that has been damaged and re-terminate the remaining undamaged length of line on the camera module. A similar approach may be used for the connection of the electrofishing line to the base station.

[0111] Another line, either a typical fishing line or an electrofishing line, terminating in the bait extends from the distal end of the camera module. If this terminating line (called the "leader line" in fishing jargon) is an electrofishing line, power and / or data may be communicated from the camera module to the electric bait, or vice versa, across the electrofishing line to enable various electrical and / or mechanical functions within the electric bait to be activated (e.g., lighting or flashing of the bait, or mechanical vibration or movement of the bait). Such electric bait functions may be activated by the angler to increase the likelihood that a fish will take the electric bait.

[0112] To reduce the risk of losing the camera module in the event of a line break, the leader line can be weaker than the electrofishing line. With this setup, if a bait is hooked, or if the hooked fish is strong and / or large enough to break the leader line, the leader line will break before the electrofishing line. The bait will be lost, but the camera module will be recovered.

[0113] An electrofishing line may also be assembled from multiple shorter lengths of electrofishing line with connectors on each end. These connectors are small enough that they can be wound onto a fishing reel without significant or detrimental effects on the user experience. The advantage of forming a longer electrofishing line from multiple shorter electrofishing lines in this way is that in the event of a line failure, the entire line would not need to be replaced. Rather, simply the segment of the electrofishing line that has ceased to function would be replaced. This setup would be particularly advantageous for any fishing technique that used particularly long fishing lines, e.g., 400 meters or more. In such a setup, a single 400 meter electrofishing line may be assembled by connecting four separate 100 meter electrofishing lines together in series. (In-line slip ring)

[0114] It is widely understood that some baits will, intentionally or unintentionally, spin about the long axis of the fishing line as they are moved through the water in order to attract fish. Without the presence of a swivel or other component designed to allow for rotation, this can lead to a common phenomenon known as line twist, in which the fishing line twists about its long axis. Line twist can permanently deform, damage, or break the line. To prevent this problem, a swivel element is typically installed in line with the fishing line, i.e., usually between the main line and the leader line, or directly between the bait and the line.

[0115] One approach to providing the same line twist compensation mechanism for electrofishing lines involves an in-line electrical slip ring. The slip ring maintains electrical contact between two conductors on either side of the slip ring even while one side of the slip ring rotates relative to the other. The slip ring may be located at or within the connector between the camera module and the distal end of the electrofishing line, or may be located on the pigtail outside of the camera module, or may be integrated into the camera module itself. The slip ring may also be located anywhere along the electrofishing line. A slip ring (or an additional slip ring) may also be located between the camera module and an electric bait, if such an electric bait is used. The slip ring is designed to be waterproof and neutrally or nearly neutrally buoyant so as not to adversely affect the fishing technique or the presentation of the bait. (Fishing reel slip ring)

[0116] Electrical slip rings are most likely to be needed on fishing reels because most fishing reels are designed so that the fishing line rotates relative to the angler. A "spinning" reel (also called a "fixed reel" reel) has a reel that rotates about an axis parallel to the long axis of the fishing rod to prevent the line from breaking under "drag" conditions, i.e., when the line is being pulled away from the reel by the fish. A "bait casting" reel has a reel that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the long axis of the fishing rod under normal conditions, i.e., when casting or retrieving. An electrical slip ring allows the reel to rotate while maintaining electrical continuity between the base stations, most likely fixed relative to the rotating reel. An electrical slip ring is most likely integrated into the reel itself. An electrical slip ring has two or more conductors. It may be electrically arranged to pass AC communication signals, DC power signals, or both signals. (Camera module)

[0117] The camera module is placed at the distal end of the electrofishing line and provides the user with a real-time view of the underwater environment. It is designed to have as little impact as possible on the fishing experience so that the video fishing user experience is as similar as possible to traditional fishing. To achieve this, the camera module is made as small as possible and with neutral or near neutral buoyancy. Reducing the size of the camera module reduces the drag it generates when it is being pulled through the water. Adjusting the camera module to be neutrally buoyant ensures that it does not impart positive or negative lift to the bait, so that the bait moves through the water in the same way it moves when the camera is not present. The camera module may also include stabilizing fins to ensure dynamic stability as the camera module is pulled through the water. These stabilizing fins may be adjustable so that the angler can best adjust the camera to improve swimming dynamics for their current fishing technique, bait, or environmental conditions. The elevation angle of these fins may be passively user-adjustable or actively user-adjustable through an electrical actuation mechanism. The camera module is primarily designed for dynamic fishing techniques where the bait is pulled through the water (e.g., cast and retrieve, trolling), but it is also very well suited for static techniques where the bait and camera are stationary (e.g., float fishing, bottom fishing). In addition, the camera is designed to have a streamlined shape so that it is less likely to become snagged on underwater structures such as rocks or submerged trees or other structures. The camera module shape is also designed to have low hydrodynamic drag.

[0118] The components within the camera module are likely to be positioned in a way that gives the camera module a center of gravity that is below its center of buoyancy. With this feature, the camera module will naturally self-right in the water and tend to remain upright so that the captured video is upright. This is the same principle employed by submarines to keep them upright when submerged. Additional ballast may be included within or below the camera module to further improve this property. In addition, the printed circuit board (PCB) located within the camera module may be designed to promote it having a low center of gravity. For example, the densest components on the circuit board (e.g., inductors) may be located on the bottom of the board so that they are placed low within the camera module.

[0119] The camera module includes some or all of the following electrical components: one or more image sensors, a host processor capable of image signal processing and video and image encoding, communication electronics, power receiving electronics, reverse discharge protection diodes, and additional sensors. It may also include electronics for illumination of the bait and / or underwater environment, such as visible or infrared LEDs. It may also include one or more IR cut filters. It may also include lenses for each image sensor. It may also include a battery or other energy storage device, but this would affect the feasibility of achieving a neutrally buoyant small camera module. The battery or energy storage device may be a small device whose purpose is not to power the entire camera module 100% of the time, but to provide burst power requirements when needed. An example of an architecture that would include burst power requirements is an electric actuation used to adjust the elevation angle of the fins when commanded by the angler. Another example is a bait lighting functionality triggered by the user. Due to their high power density, supercapacitors may be a good choice for an energy storage device whose purpose is to provide burst power in some situations. The burst power energy storage device will be periodically recharged using excess power available from the power delivered by the conductor so that these commanded functionalities can be triggered as needed.

[0120] The camera module includes a primary port to which the electrofishing line is connected. Alternatively, the port for the primary electrofishing line can be a connector at the end of a short pigtail that is attached to the camera module. The primary port can enable some or all of the following functions: mechanical attachment and / or anchoring of the electrofishing line to the camera module such that forces can be transferred from the camera module to the line, electrical connection such that data and / or power can be transmitted between the camera module and the line, and sealing to prevent water from entering the camera module and / or the line. In some embodiments, the primary port is used for sealing to prevent water from entering the camera module and / or the electrofishing line, and the mechanical anchoring and electrical connection are located inside the camera module.

[0121] The camera module may also have a secondary electrical port, or secondary pigtail, to which an additional length of leader-length electrofishing line connects. This secondary port allows for the connection and communication of bait with electrically powered features, as previously described. The secondary port serves to mechanically and electrically connect the bait to the camera module, allowing for the transfer of power, communication, and power.

[0122] The camera module housing provides protection from the surrounding water and depth pressure to the components contained within the camera module. It protects the internal components from hooks or other impacts to which they may be subjected during use.

[0123] The electronics and sensors within the camera module housing are in a pressure environment of about 1 atmosphere, i.e., the camera module housing acts as a pressure vessel. Alternatively, the camera module may employ a flooded design, in which water fills some or all of the unoccupied space within the camera module and electronics, and the sensors may be coated or potted or protected in some other way from the water.

[0124] The camera module may include a mechanism for adjusting the buoyancy of the camera module, so that it may be adjusted to optimize use for the angler's fishing technique, bait, and environmental conditions. For example, the camera may be adjusted to be heavy to encourage the camera and bait to sink in the water, or light to encourage the camera and bait to rise or float in the water. Buoyancy may also be adjusted according to the density of the water being fished, for example, salt water exerts a greater buoyant force on a submerged object than does fresh water due to the higher density of salt water.

[0125] The camera module may include additional sensors that collect data about environmental conditions. This data can be provided to the angler for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. Additionally, this data can be used to improve and / or adjust image quality by image signal processing in the camera module host processor. The following sensors may be included within the camera module: depth or pressure sensors, water temperature sensors, water immersion sensors, salinity sensors, water velocity sensors, ambient light sensors, infrared sensors, force sensors, mechanical strain sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, internal temperature sensors, microphones, and hydrophones, and others. Alternative embodiments may include depth sounding and / or sonar capabilities within the camera module.

[0126] Images and sensor data captured by the camera module may also be integrated using sensor fusion techniques with sonar or other data captured from a separate system, for example data from a sonar system mounted on a boat.

[0127] The camera module may include two or more image sensors. For example, it may include a front-facing image sensor and a rear-facing image sensor, so that both the bait and the boat and / or angler can be viewed and / or recorded simultaneously. Alternatively, it may include multiple image sensors arranged circumferentially to allow a 360-degree view image to be produced using image stitching. Alternatively, some lenses may face downward or upward to provide these views, which may be beneficial for certain fishing techniques, such as vertical jigging. (Transmission of data via electrofishing lines)

[0128] Due to the ever-increasing resolution and frame rate of digital video, the amount of raw data generated by digital video systems is large. For example, a video stream of 1,920×1,080 pixels at 30 frames per second (fps) with a typical color depth of 24 bits (otherwise known as full high definition, or FHD resolution) generates nearly 1.5 gigabits (Gbps) of data per second. If the resolution is increased to 3,840×2,160 pixels (also known as 4K resolution), the data rate increases to nearly 6 Gbps. Transmitting such high data rates over wired media is power intensive and expensive, requiring the use of cables with low insertion loss at high frequencies. 10GBase-T, an Ethernet standard rated up to 10 Gbps, requires the use of Category 6 cabling, which includes four twisted pairs, each rated to an insertion loss of 31.1 dB or less at 250 MHz. Meeting the insertion loss regulation requires the use of at least 24 AWG copper conductors at a maximum cable length of 55 meters. Due to its large size (approximately 5 mm diameter), it is clear that it is not feasible to use Category 6 Ethernet cable as a fishing line. For reference, 25 pound test monofilament is approximately 0.5 mm in diameter. Since the objective is to make an electric fishing line as similar in diameter as possible to conventional fishing line, it is clear that data rates in the Gbps range are not achievable and that video compression (also called video encoding) would be required.

[0129] There are many video encoding standards in use, such as Advanced Video Coding (AVC, or H.264) and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC, or H.265). These technologies use compression techniques to significantly reduce the data rate of digital video. For example, 1080p 30fps video using H.264 encoding can have a data rate in the range of 1-5Mbps and still achieve excellent image quality. Using H.265, it is possible to encode 4K 60fps video at 10Mbps and still achieve excellent image quality.

[0130] It is widely understood that there is a relationship between signal frequency and attenuation in electrical transmission lines. Specifically, higher frequencies (enabling higher data rates) are attenuated more severely than lower frequencies, which reduces the achievable transmission distance. In addition, the use of smaller conductors (desirable to keep the overall electrical fishing line small and light) results in higher attenuation than that of larger conductors. For video fishing systems, reasonable requirements for transmission data rate and distance are 10 Mbps and 100 meters. It is also desirable to keep the electrical fishing line as small as possible, for example, the previously presented 40 AWG twisted pair UHMWPE with an outer diameter of 0.50 mm and a breaking force of 30 lbf. At the time of writing, there are two technologies that are capable of achieving this goal, namely, 10Base-T1L single pair Ethernet and power line modems utilizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

[0131] 10Base-T1L establishes a full-duplex communication link over a single pair of conductors with bidirectional and simultaneous data rates of up to 10Mbps. The transmission distance of 10Base-T1L is over 1,000 meters using 18AWG cabling. However, if smaller conductors are used, this transmission distance will be reduced, as previously described. The 10Base-T1L standard specifies an insertion loss limit for the 2.4Vpp operating mode, defined by the following:

number

[0132] This insertion loss limit can be used to predict the maximum length of an electric fishing line that can establish a 10Base-T1L link for a given insertion loss per unit length in the frequency band of interest. For an example electric fishing line of 40 AWG, a cable length of 135 meters is close to this insertion loss limit but remains within this range. Adjusting the conductor size, spacing, and dielectric material properties will affect the insertion loss and therefore the maximum achievable 10Base-T1L transmission distance. Scaling up the size of things, for example, will result in an electric fishing line design with increased breaking strength, increased diameter, and increased maximum allowable length to achieve a 10Base-T1L link. In other words, a larger, more powerful fishing line can achieve a longer transmission distance. By scaling the design in this way, electric fishing lines of different strengths, lengths, and sizes can be produced to address the needs of different fishing techniques. At the time of writing, establishment of a 10Base-T1L link with the 40 AWG exemplary design presented herein has been successfully tested and demonstrated with a cable length of 75 meters using a newly released 10Base-T1L integrated circuit from a well-known silicon manufacturer.

[0133] An alternative approach to 10Base-T1L using baseband signaling is to use power line modems employing OFDM, which is a wideband signaling approach that utilizes more of the available spectrum. Power line modems are a communication technology that uses power lines within a home, office, or other setting as a medium for transmitting high throughput data. OFDM divides the available spectrum into many subcarriers, allowing increased spectral efficiency over baseband signaling techniques. For a given spectral bandwidth, insertion loss, and noise profile, power line modems can yield higher data rates than 10Base-T1L. Data rates above 10 Mbps can be useful for extremely high resolution, frame rates, or stitched video formed from the inputs of multiple image sensors. However, at the time of writing, available power line modem devices require significantly more power than 10Base-T1L devices do, making them a less attractive option for video fishing systems with remotely powered camera modules. Since power is provided to the camera module by a high resistance conductor, it is important to reduce the power draw in the camera module. For example, a typical power line modem consumes 2-3 W of power, while a 10Base-T1L PHY or MAC and PHY consumes less than 130 mW of power. Reducing the power draw in a camera module allows the use of higher resistance conductors, which allows for electric fishing lines with smaller diameters, lengths, or both.

[0134] Although the majority of the data will be communicated from the camera module to the base station, the two-way communication link would be valuable, in particular because it would allow remote programming or reprogramming of firmware in the camera module processor, and would allow the angler to issue commands to activate certain functionality within the camera module, e.g., illumination lights, vibration, etc. (Electric fishing line transmission)

[0135] As previously discussed, transmitting power through the conductors of the electric fishing line obviates the need for a battery or other energy source located inside the camera module, which dramatically reduces its size and weight. By transmitting DC power through the same pair of conductors that carry AC signals to transmit data, the total number of conductors inside the electric fishing line can be reduced to a single pair, which allows for the construction of a smaller and lighter electric fishing line that is very similar to a conventional fishing line. However, the use of small conductors presents a high DC resistance, and power must be transmitted through the high DC resistance, which presents a challenge. In addition, when the electric fishing line is wound on the reel winder, it is more susceptible to overheating due to the effective increase in thermal resistance in this configuration. In other words, heat generated in the inner winding of the wound electric fishing line (essentially buried under the continuous outer winding) must typically be conducted through an insulating material that has poor thermal conductivity.

[0136] The solution to both challenges is to reduce resistive power losses in the conductors, not only by transmitting DC power at high voltage and low current, but also by reducing the power draw of the camera module so that less power must be transmitted by the electric fishing line. At the time of writing, a good estimate for the power required by the camera module is 1W, which is consumed by three main components: the image sensor, the video processor, and the communication electronics.

[0137] A common example of a technology that transmits DC power over the same conductors used for AC signal transmission is Power over Ethernet (PoE). For safety reasons, the voltages in PoE systems are limited to 60V or less so that they do not present a shock hazard to personnel and can be classified as ES1 by the governing standard IEC 62368-1. The power that can be delivered to a load through a resistor is determined by the V 2It is widely understood that the resistance of a conductor is defined by V / 4R, where V is the source voltage and R is the resistance of the conductor. For the 100 meter long 40 AWG electric fishing line design presented above, the total round trip resistance is 688 ohms, which would allow for a maximum power delivery of 1.3 W to the load. Delivering this amount of power would require a DC current of 43 mA.

[0138] However, given the thermal limits presented earlier, a current of 43 mA in a 40 AWG electric fishing line would generate too much heat and produce temperatures in and on the outer insulation of the line that are too high for product safety and reliability. For magnet wire, a common technique used to estimate the maximum allowable current is to use the current density metric. For transformers wound with magnet wire, a common upper limit used is 2.5 A / mm 2 which translates to 25mA for 40 AWG wire. However, the electric fishing line will have a lower thermal conductivity than pure wound magnet wire due to the addition of other materials in the construction (e.g., thread, outer jacket). In addition, the temperature of the electric fishing line will need to be kept lower than the transformer windings for which this rule of thumb is intended due to touch temperature safety requirements. Given these facts, it is necessary to increase the electric fishing line voltage to over 60V to achieve sufficient power delivery to the camera module while maintaining low power dissipation in the conductors and low temperatures in and on the jacket on the electric fishing line.

[0139] If the voltage exceeds 60V, it can be classified as ES1 if the current in the line is limited to 2mA or less. Delivering 1W to the camera module at a current of less than 2mA would require a voltage of over 500V. However, increasing the voltage to this high level presents additional design challenges. The first of these challenges is the voltage that the electric fishing line can withstand before experiencing dielectric breakdown of the insulating material, i.e., corona discharge effects that will degrade the insulating material over time. The thickness and material selection of the insulating material between the two conductors and the outer jacket will dictate the amount of voltage that can exist across the conductors. The second of these challenges is the availability, size, and efficiency of voltage conversion electronics that are available or feasible. Voltage conversion electronics would be necessary since the base station module does not have a voltage source in the range of several hundred volts and the camera module electronics are not capable of running at high voltages. The third challenge presented with such high voltages is that any capacitance connected to the high voltage presents a safety hazard. To address this, IEC 62368-1 limits the total amount of capacitance that may be connected to lines of a given energy source classification (i.e., ES1, ES2, ES3) and voltage. Limiting capacitance to meet these safety requirements is tricky because there will be capacitance required at the output of a boost converter, at the input of a buck converter, and likely there will be capacitance required to facilitate communication over the electric fishing lines.

[0140] An alternative solution that alleviates some of these challenges is to classify the device as ES2, which increases the allowable current in the line to 25mA and does not impose any limitations on the allowable voltage. For example, by selecting a bus voltage of 250V, the current in the line can be 6mA while still allowing at least 1W of power to be delivered to the camera module after step-down voltage conversion losses and cable resistive losses are taken into account. At a voltage of 250V, the allowable bus capacitance on the line is increased to a more feasible level that is allowed when the bus voltage is 500V or higher.

[0141] There are several possible techniques that can be implemented to limit the current into the line to less than 25mA under any load condition, including short circuit, to keep the device within the ES2 limits. The first is to select or limit the switching frequency and / or duty cycle and / or inductors and / or transformers of the boost switching converter, as well as all expected input voltage levels, such that it is not capable of delivering more than 25 mA at voltages above 120V (to avoid exceeding the ES2 limit) under all output load conditions, including short circuits. The second technique is to implement a current limiting circuit that utilizes current sensing resistors and various transistors such as those typically found in the output stage of a power supply. The third technique is to implement an active circuit protection device to limit the current, commonly known as an electronic fuse, which uses a MOSFET or other semiconductor device placed in series with the high or return side of an electrical line, in addition to current sensing circuitry, to limit the maximum current in the line.

[0142] There are several possible techniques that can be implemented to mitigate the challenge of complying with the capacitance limits for the high voltage lines in 62368-1. First, the capacitor at the input of the buck voltage converter located in the camera module can be prevented from discharging into the line by placing one or more diodes on one or both of the two conductors connected to the buck converter. If a full bridge rectifier is placed at the camera module input, it also prevents the input capacitance of the buck converter from back discharging into the electric fishing line while allowing the wire to be polarity independent (i.e., the electric fishing line can be connected to the camera module in either polarity with the same results). This is a beneficial feature since both communication architectures presented (10Base-T1L and power line modem) are also polarity independent. Second, the capacitor at the output of the boost voltage converter located in the base station can be prevented from discharging into the line by using one of the current limiting techniques presented above. Alternatively, the total capacitance at the output of the boost converter can be reduced by including a capacitance multiplier circuit in the system. These circuits use amplifiers and / or semiconductor devices to remove ripple (such as that which would be produced by a switched-mode boost voltage converter) from the signal, at the expense of additional power consumption. The inclusion of a capacitance multiplier circuit allows for a reduction in the amount of capacitance required at the output of the boost converter while still achieving the same minimum ripple requirement. Removing ripple from the output of a boost voltage converter that is supplying a DC voltage for power by electric fishing lines is important because this ripple can interfere with AC signal communications used for communication. Third, any capacitors included to enable or improve the use of communication electronics can be reduced to the lowest possible value.

[0143] As an additional safety measure, the video fishing system may include functionality to remove the high voltage supply from the electrofishing line if communication is suddenly stopped during normal use. Such a sudden cessation of communication may indicate a mechanical failure or line break in the electrofishing line, in which case it may be advantageous to remove it from the conductor for safety reasons, since high voltages may be exposed to the user. In addition, a device may be included within the camera module and / or base station to detect when either is in a disassembled state (and thus accessible to the user) and automatically turn off the high voltage supply. (Computer Vision and Object Identification)

[0144] The camera module and / or base station and / or electric bait may include a computer vision system. The system will identify fish species, animals, and other objects of interest in the images captured by the camera module. Identification of these objects may be instantly shared with the angler for informational or entertainment purposes and / or stored in the system's memory in addition to video and other sensor data.

[0145] The computer vision system may also be used to trigger an alarm to alert the angler or other personnel that a fish or other item of interest has been detected. The alarm may be audible, visual, vibratory, or other means to alert the angler or other participant or observer. (Audio Mixing)

[0146] As previously mentioned, the camera module and base station and electric bait may include microphones and / or hydrophones to capture audio. This audio may be synchronized and / or combined with the video and sensor data for informational or entertainment purposes. The audio from the base station may be combined with the video and / or audio from the camera module and / or electric bait. This blending technique would allow, for example, audio from the base station (which may include responsive dialogue of the angler and nearby observers) to be combined with the video and audio from the camera module to produce stimulating, entertaining, and informational video.

[0147] The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Various configurations may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components, as appropriate. For example, in alternative configurations, the method may be performed in a different order than described, and various steps thereof may be added, omitted, or combined. Features described with respect to one configuration may also be combined in various other configurations. Different aspects and elements of the configurations may be combined in a similar manner. Technology also evolves, and thus many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

[0148] For example, the embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to block diagrams and / or operational diagrams of methods, systems, and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The functions / acts described in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially in parallel, depending on the functionality / acts involved, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order. Additionally or alternatively, not all of the blocks shown in any flowchart need to be executed and / or performed. For example, if a given flowchart has five blocks including functions / acts, only three of the five blocks may be executed and / or performed. In this example, any of the three of the five blocks may be executed and / or performed.

[0149] A statement that a value exceeds (or is above) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value is slightly above the first threshold, meets or exceeds a second threshold, e.g., the second threshold is one value higher than the first threshold within the resolution of the relevant system. A statement that a value is below (or is within) a first threshold is equivalent to a statement that the value is slightly below the first threshold, below or equal to the second threshold, e.g., the second threshold is one value lower than the first threshold within the resolution of the relevant system.

[0150] Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the example configurations (including implementations). However, the configurations may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques are shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring the configurations. This description only provides an example configuration and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the foregoing description of the configurations will provide those skilled in the art with an effective description for implementing the described techniques. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A conductive fishing line, wherein the fishing line is A first conductor and A second conductor and A primary dielectric element of the transmission line that separates the first conductor and the second conductor, A waterproof jacket including the first conductor, the second conductor, and the primary dielectric element. Equipped with, A fishing line comprising the first conductor, the second conductor, and the primary dielectric element, wherein the first conductor, the second conductor, and the primary dielectric element form an electrical transmission line, characterized in that the primary dielectric element is at least one of woven yarn, fiber yarn, or monofilament.

2. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein the electrical transmission line has a balanced configuration.

3. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein the electrical transmission line has an unbalanced configuration.

4. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are twisted around the primary dielectric element.

5. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are not twisted around the primary dielectric element.

6. The fishing line according to claim 1, further comprising at least one secondary dielectric element.

7. The fishing line according to claim 6, wherein the at least one secondary dielectric element is twisted around the primary dielectric element.

8. The fishing line according to claim 6, wherein the at least one secondary dielectric element is not twisted around the primary dielectric element.

9. The fishing line according to Claim 1, having a specific gravity of about 0.97 to about 2.

0.

10. The fishing line according to claim 1, having a proximal end and a distal end, with a connector provided at each of the proximal end and the distal end.

11. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein the primary dielectric element is a thread having high strength of about 1.1 GPa and a maximum of 5.8 GPa, and modules of about 52 GPa and a maximum of 270 GPa.

12. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second conductor is bare copper.

13. The fishing line according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second conductors is a magnetic wire.

14. A video fishing system utilizing an electric fishing line equipped with a waterproof jacket, wherein the waterproof jacket comprises an electrical conductor having a DC resistance per unit length of 34AWG or smaller size copper wire, and the video fishing system transmits data via the electric fishing line using at least one of 10Base-T1L, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, power line modem signaling, or Ethernet®.

15. The video fishing system according to claim 14, configured to transmit power through the electric fishing line using a combination of high voltage and low current.

16. The video fishing system according to claim 14, further comprising an electrical safety mechanism for controlling the voltage and / or current on the electric fishing line.

17. An animated fishing system utilizing an electric fishing line equipped with a waterproof jacket, wherein the waterproof jacket comprises an electrical conductor having a DC resistance per unit length of 34AWG or smaller size copper wire, and the animated fishing system is configured to transmit power through the electric fishing line using a combination of high voltage and low current.

18. The video fishing system according to claim 17, further comprising an electrical safety mechanism for controlling at least one of the voltage or current of the electric fishing line.

19. A video fishing system, wherein the video fishing system is Waterproof camera module, Base station module and An electric fishing line connecting the waterproof camera module and the base station module, wherein the electric fishing line comprises a waterproof jacket containing an electrical conductor and Equipped with, A video fishing system in which data is transmitted via the electric fishing line using a signal communication frequency greater than 500 kHz.

20. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein the electric fishing line has a length of at least 30 meters.

21. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein data is transmitted via the electric fishing line at a data rate greater than 1 Mbps.

22. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein the data transmitted via the electric fishing line includes encoded video.

23. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein the base station module is integrated into a fishing rod or reel.

24. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein data is transmitted via a balanced transmission line.

25. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein data is transmitted via an unbalanced transmission line.

26. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein data is transmitted via the electric fishing line using at least one of 10Base-T1L, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, power line modem signaling, or Ethernet®.

27. ​​The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein data is transmitted from the base station module to the camera module, thereby remotely programming or reprogramming the firmware or embedded software of the camera module.

28. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein the electric fishing line has a diameter of about 0.41 mm to about 1.05 mm.

29. The video fishing system according to claim 19, wherein both power and data are transmitted via the electric fishing line.

30. The video fishing system according to claim 29, wherein both power and data are transmitted via the same conductor.

31. A conductive fishing line, wherein the fishing line is A first conductor having a polymer or enamel insulating layer, A second conductor having a polymer or enamel insulating layer, A waterproof jacket including the first conductor, the second conductor, and their respective insulating layers. Equipped with, A fishing line wherein the insulating layer forms a dielectric element of the transmission line, and the fishing line is configured to transmit power and data at a data rate greater than 1 Mbps.

32. The fishing line according to claim 31, wherein data is transmitted via the electric fishing line using at least one of 10Base-T1L, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, power line modem signaling, or Ethernet®.

33. The fishing line according to claim 31, wherein data including encoded video is transmitted via the electric fishing line.

34. The fishing line according to claim 31, wherein the fishing line has a diameter of about 0.41 mm to about 1.05 mm.

35. The fishing line according to claim 31, wherein the fishing line includes a balanced transmission line.

36. The fishing line according to claim 31, wherein the fishing line includes an unbalanced transmission line.

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