Compatible digital portable antenna
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2026512323
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-25
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-08
Smart Images
Figure 2026530454000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND ART
[0001] A dismount antenna is known to be used for maintaining the communication connection of ground forces during movement or while holding a position in tactical communication during combat. A dismount antenna is generally an elongated device extending from a soldier, and the movement of a radio operator may be restricted during operational actions on the battlefield due to the size and position of the antenna element extending from the radio. A dismount antenna may also be a factor that causes the radio operator to be identified as a target.
[0002] Many modern tactical voice radios are known to incorporate linearly polarized antennas that enable long-range communication compared with circularly polarized antennas of the same gain. Tactical dismount antennas are designed to operate in the range of 30 MHz to 512 MHz. With advances in computer science, it has become possible to encrypt tactical voice radio, and it has become possible to transmit a large amount of data via radio waves in high-speed bursts of signals using more complex encryption schemes.
[0003] Several different variations have been developed in dismount antenna design. Whip-type and blade-type antenna structures are designed to have a low visual profile, high gain, and good voltage standing wave ratio. A dismount antenna may be directly connected to a portable radio transceiver such that the antenna is oriented in a substantially vertical direction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The following is a summary of the subject matter described in more detail herein. This summary is not intended to be limiting with respect to the claims. In the first example, the communication device includes a radio frequency (RF) converter component configured to convert a transmit optical signal into a transmit RF signal and a receive RF signal into a receive optical signal. A flexible optical fiber cable is configured to transmit the transmit and receive optical signals between the signal converter and the radio transceiver. A flexible antenna is configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object. The flexible antenna is configured to transmit and receive the transmit and receive RF signals.
[0005] According to the second example, a method of communication using a communication device includes the step of converting a transmit analog signal to a transmit optical signal via a wireless transceiver. The method includes the step of transmitting the transmit optical signal to a flexible antenna via a flexible optical fiber cable. The method includes the step of converting the transmit optical signal to a transmit radio frequency signal in the flexible antenna. The method includes the step of transmitting an RF signal via a flexible antenna configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object. The method includes the step of receiving an RF signal in the flexible antenna. The method includes the step of converting the received RF signal to a received optical signal in the flexible antenna. The method includes the step of transmitting the received optical signal to a wireless transceiver via a flexible optical fiber cable. The method includes the step of converting the received optical signal to a received analog signal in the wireless transceiver.
[0006] In the third example, the wearable communication system includes a wireless transceiver. The wireless transceiver includes a microphone positioned in a first location for acquiring first audio signal data representing a first voice communication associated with an utterance by a first user. The wireless transceiver includes a speaker positioned in a second location for acquiring second audio signal data representing a second voice communication associated with an utterance by a second user. The wearable communication system includes a signal converter configured to convert a transmit analog signal into a transmit optical signal and a received optical signal into a received analog signal. The wearable communication system includes a flexible optical fiber cable configured to transmit the transmit optical signal and the received optical signal. The flexible optical fiber cable is coupled to the wireless transceiver. The wearable communication system includes an optical converter configured to convert the transmit optical signal of the wireless transceiver into a transmit radio frequency signal and a received RF signal into a received optical signal. The wearable communication system includes a flexible antenna configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object. The flexible antenna is configured to transmit and receive the transmit RF signal and the received RF signal. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] The general concept of the invention, as well as its exemplary examples and advantages, will be described in more detail below, with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] This is an exploded view of a digital antenna system. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of the entire system. [Figure 3] This diagram shows a compatible digital antenna mounted on a typical helmet. [Figure 4] This diagram shows a compatible digital antenna attached to a camouflage net. [Figure 5] This is a block flow diagram illustrating how a digital antenna system performs communication, as described in one or more examples herein. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] The following detailed descriptions are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the examples and / or the application or use of the examples. Furthermore, you are not intended to be bound by any express or implied information presented in the preceding sections on background art or the summary of the invention, or on modes for carrying out the invention.
[0009] As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly distinguishes them.
[0010] Unless otherwise indicated, any element, characteristic, feature, or combination of elements, characteristics, and features may be used in any example disclosed herein, whether or not the element, characteristic, feature, or combination is expressly disclosed in the example. A feature described in relation to any particular embodiment described herein may be applicable to other embodiments described herein, insofar as the feature is suitable for that embodiment. In particular, a feature described herein in relation to a method may be applicable to an antenna product, and vice versa.
[0011] Next, one or more examples are described with reference to the drawings, and similar reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to similar elements. In the following descriptions, numerous specific details are given for illustrative purposes, but this is to give a more complete understanding of one or more examples, which can be carried out without these specific details or using other methods, components, materials, etc. In other examples, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring a particular aspect.
[0012] Throughout this specification, any reference to “an example” or “a particular example” means that the specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in relation to the example is included in at least one example. Therefore, the occurrences of the phrases “in an example,” “in one aspect,” or “in a particular example” in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same example. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be combined in any suitable aspect in one or more examples.
[0013] The words “exemplary” and / or “exemplary” are used herein to mean that they serve as examples, cases, or illustrations. To avoid misunderstanding, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by these examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and / or “exemplary” should not necessarily be construed as being preferable or more advantageous than other aspects or designs, nor should it be meant to exclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be comprehensive, as is the term “comprising” as an open-ended term, without excluding any additional or other elements.
[0014] Referring to Figure 1, an exploded view of a digital antenna system 100 capable of operating in both transmit and receive modes is shown. The digital antenna system 100 is a multilayer antenna system that can be used on or incorporated into clothing or coverings. The system may include a protective layer 102 to mitigate impact and environmental damage. The protective layer 102 is the outermost layer of the system, shielding the visual identification of the communication means. A flexible radiating element 104 is fixed beneath the protective layer and may include one or more radiating elements to enable beamforming. Below the radiating element is a spacer layer 106 made of a flexible dielectric material which can be configured to control the radiating characteristics of the flexible radiating element 104. A radio frequency (RF) distribution layer 108 is located below the spacer layer 106. The RF distribution layer 108 connects electronic equipment to the flexible radiating element via RF transmission lines. Below the RF distribution layer 108 is an electronic circuit layer 112 that provides interface functions for the digital antenna system 100. The interface functions include an optical fiber signal converter (not shown) that converts optical signals to RF signals, and a function that converts analog signals to digital signals. The innermost layer of the digital antenna system 100 is a compressible material layer 114 that provides a buffer between the digital antenna system 100 and the object to be covered.
[0015] The digital antenna system 100 may be an integrated component of a vehicle cover or equipment worn by the user, reducing weight and preventing the antenna from getting caught in the user's surroundings. The digital antenna system 100 may be connected to a transceiver (not shown) having a transceiver circuit (not shown) that is carried by the user or mounted for the user's access. Flexible optical fiber transmission lines (not shown) provide a suitable optical signal path along the bendable material of the cover or equipment. Particularly in helmet applications, when the helmet is manufactured, it is often made using a compression lamination process. The digital antenna system 100 may be laid as a specific layer during the process without adding significant weight to the helmet. Similarly, in the case of clothing or backpacks, the system may be a sewn-in layer with a fabric layer that adds little or no weight or thickness.
[0016] In one example, the outermost protective layer 102 can conform to the shell defining the exterior and interior of the shell, receive the wearer's head, and is configured to extend circumferentially and vertically to protectively cover the head over the top of the wearer's skull. The protective layer 102 may be a thin composite flexible housing for protecting the lower layers and a buffer between the digital antenna system 100 and the exterior of the helmet. The protective layer 102 may be an impact-resistant pad formed from a material designed to dissipate impact forces on the digital antenna system 100. For example, the impact-resistant pad may include a layer of elastomer material. The elastomer material can provide impact resistance by absorbing and dissipating impact forces laterally along the surface of the elastomer material. The number, shape, and size of the protective layer 102 in Figure 1 are shown for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit. Different numbers or different shapes or sizes of protective layers 102 may be used without deviating from the scope of the digital antenna system 100.
[0017] In another example, the protective layer 102 may be a flexible layer to allow application to the user's clothing. The protective layer 102 may be, for example, a film or coating applicable to the upper surface of the digital antenna system 100, or it may be part of the user's clothing. The digital antenna system 100 may be woven into the clothing to create a comfortable and conformable fabric and to form bends in the material that allow transmitted and received signals to be transmitted. The protective layer 102 is an RF-permeable material that provides good signal quality to the flexible radiating element 104, as well as structural support and visual concealment for the digital antenna system 100. The protective layer 102 may include microperforations that are not visible to the naked eye while allowing RF radiation to pass through. The microperforations may include perforations that penetrate the material, and isolated islands of material separated by grooves or channels.
[0018] Figure 1 shows that the digital antenna system 100 is configured to include a flexible radiating element 104 for sending and receiving voice and data communications to and from a wearable communication platform. The flexible radiating element 104 may comprise an electroactive material made from a single wire, a fine wire mesh, a conductive fabric, a conductive ink, or multiple graphite composite components to conform to the bending of the material worn by the user or the material covering the vehicle. The flexible radiating element 104 may have one or more parasitic elements (not shown) positioned adjacent to it to create an array effect, allowing the antenna shape to be changed as needed without the use of mechanical devices or motors.
[0019] The flexible radiating element 104 can be a driving array of low-gain dipole elements for transmitting and receiving omnidirectional radio frequency energy for the digital antenna system 100. The flexible radiating element 104 can be fed from an RF transmission line carrying RF energy converted from an optical signal. When used for reception, separate radio frequency currents from individual antenna elements are combined in a transceiver (not shown) in the correct phase relationship to enhance the received signal from the desired direction and cancel out signals from the unwanted direction. The digital antenna system 100 can utilize different communication protocols combined with wide-area coverage technologies, including, but is not limited to, public land mobile communication networks (2G to 5G systems, including machine-to-machine communication based on NB-IoT or M-Cat), local area networks (e.g., WiFi-802.11 protocol), body area networks (e.g., Bluetooth® / Bluetooth® low energy or short-range communication), or wireless sensor networks (e.g., ZigBee®, LoRa, eNOcean or IQRF, among others).
[0020] In another example, the flexible radiating element 104 may be a microstrip patch printed directly onto the digital antenna system 100, based on the deposition of a uniform layer of conductive ink paste on a flexible substrate. The inks used in conventional screen printing processes are typically silver or silver chloride based due to their low cost, conductivity, and flexibility in the deposition process. The conductive paste can be deposited on the flexible substrate by applying pressure with a mechanical plate that displaces the conductive paste on the flexible substrate according to a pattern provided by a stencil placed between the deposition head and the host substrate. A common connector is typically a microstrip launcher, which requires soldering the upper connector pins to the microstrip access transmission line and the bottom of the connector to the flexible radiating element 104. Alternatively, the RF connection can be made via RF feedthrough or open coupling.
[0021] Beneath the flexible radiating element 104, a spacer layer 106 made of a dielectric material configured to control the radiation characteristics of the digital antenna system 100 is disposed. The dielectric constant of the dielectric material used for the spacer layer 106 affects the radiation pattern of the flexible radiating element 104. When the flexible radiating element 104 is embedded in a high dielectric constant material, the size of the flexible radiating element 104 can be reduced as the wavelength of electromagnetic waves in the immediate vicinity of the digital antenna system 100 decreases. By combining circuit miniaturization technology with a microstrip patch antenna embedded in a high dielectric constant material, the digital antenna system 100 can be manufactured in a miniaturized form. By using a high dielectric constant material, a high-directivity antenna can transmit and receive information over longer distances.
[0022] A low dielectric constant material for the spacer layer 106 provides a lower dielectric constant that helps increase transmission speed, reduce delay, and reduce signal loss. The lower the dielectric constant of the dielectric material used, the smaller the signal delay and the higher the signal fidelity. Low dielectric polymer materials are known for use in communication substrate materials (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and polyimide (PI), among others). On the other hand, there are also polymers having a considerably high dielectric constant, such as epoxy resin. In terms of electrical characteristics, the low dielectric constant material used in the spacer layer 106 can have low loss and low current leakage characteristics. In terms of mechanical characteristics, low dielectric constant materials have lower adhesiveness and strength characteristics compared to high dielectric constant materials.
[0023] The digital antenna system 100 can include a high dielectric constant material or a low dielectric constant material in the spacer layer 106 depending on the application. For clothing and apparel applications, a more miniaturized digital antenna system 100 is advantageous, while camouflage nets used for covering large vehicles benefit from the ability to communicate over longer distances.
[0024] Immediately below the spacer layer 106, an RF feed layer 108 that connects the flexible radiating element 104 to the electronic components of the electronic circuit layer 112 is disposed. The RF feed layer 108 is an integrated signal distribution device connected to an optical fiber line for connection to the electronic circuit of the digital antenna system 100. The function of the RF feed layer 108 is to generate a plurality of copies of a signal while minimizing degradation of signal integrity. The RF feed layer 108 is designed to distribute low-noise RF signals to a plurality of locations where the flexible radiating elements 104 require the use of low-noise RF signals. The RF feed layer 108 includes an input unit for receiving an RF signal converted from an optical signal in the electronic circuit layer 112, while providing a plurality of outputs for the plurality of flexible radiating elements 104. The input signal may be regulated by a circuit limiter (not shown) that provides a fixed output level and high input gain. The high input gain allows amplification to provide a specified output power over the entire input power range.
[0025] The RF feed layer 108 is used to connect the flexible radiating element 104 to the electronic circuit layer. The RF feed layer 108 may include an RF signal splitter or combiner, and may be used to deliver a centralized reference signal to the plurality of flexible radiating elements 104. A wide range of applications are applicable to the digital antenna system 100 (for example, GSM®, CDMA, LTE, Bluetooth®, GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo), evaluation of active and passive cellular and wireless front-end components, research and development (R&D), air interface emulation, Wi-Fi communication testing, and fading simulation). The digital antenna system 100 is generally wireless-based, and typically provides a point-to-point link for an air interface between an active base station and a mobile station.
[0026] The electronic circuit layer 112 is located below the RF power supply layer 108 and is provided on a heat-resistant, thin-walled flexible material combining a polymer (e.g., polyimide and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) and a thin copper layer. In the electronic circuit layer 112, a flexible substrate is used to complete a multilayer substrate with microchips, interfaces, and integrated circuits. The flexible substrate is used as a printed circuit board (PCB) because its flexibility allows the digital antenna system 100 to conform to the bending of the material into which it is embedded when installed by the user or placed on a vehicle, while also providing resistance to the effects of shaking, vibration, and high levels of heat. PCBs fabricated on a flexible substrate function with minimal malfunction because they do not have wiring components or mechanical connectors.
[0027] The electronic circuit layer 112 is electrically connected to a wireless transceiver (not shown) via a flexible optical fiber cable 110. The high-frequency electronic component is a circuit that controls the transmission and reception of the digital antenna system 100 based on various high-frequency signals and power signals. This allows the electronic circuit layer to supply a high-frequency signal RF to each of the flexible radiating elements 104. When a high-frequency signal RF is supplied, a current flows in a predetermined direction within the radiating element 104, and polarization parallel to the direction of current flow is radiated.
[0028] The electronic circuit layer 112 includes the function of interface connecting the flexible RF distribution layer and the fiber optic cable 110 using an optical fiber converter. The optical fiber converter also includes a laser interface for connecting to the fiber cable 110. In addition, the optical fiber converter allows the digital antenna system 100 to use flexible, compact fiber optic cables instead of bulky coaxial cables. The electronic circuit layer 112 may include analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, RF filters, amplifiers, and RF switches.
[0029] The innermost layer surrounds the digital antenna system 100 and provides a buffer between the digital antenna system 100 and the user. In one example, the compressible material layer 114 may be the lining of protective clothing. Another example is a cushioning, flexible material layer inside a helmet. The digital antenna system 100 is integrated with or attachable to any wearable clothing, protective gear, or vehicle cover. Thereafter, the compressible material layer 114 may be a rubbery foam layer, a silicone casing layer, or any other suitable material. The flexible radiating element 104, spacer layer 106, RF distribution layer 108, and electronic equipment layer may be positioned in a space appropriately fixed between the protective layer 102 and the compressible material layer 114, as can be best understood by referring to Figure 1.
[0030] Referring here to Figure 2, a further example of a digital antenna system 200 including a soldier / truck-mounted radio 202, which includes a microphone 204, a speaker 206, and a transceiver 208, is schematically shown. The adaptive digital antenna 210 is shown to include a flexible antenna element 212, an RF / fiber converter 214, and a DC power / fiber converter 216. For example, the digital antenna system 200 could be a flexible fiber optic cable 218 connecting the transceiver 208 and the adaptive digital antenna 210.
[0031] A microphone 204 located in a first position within the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 acquires audio signal data representing voice communications related to user utterances. A adaptive digital antenna 210 processes the audio signal data to provide a clean signal output transmitted by the digital antenna system 200. The soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 includes a transceiver 208 for transmitting user voice communications to another device and receiving communications from other devices. These other devices may be user equipment or Internet of Things devices. A speaker 206 located in a second position within the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 outputs an audio signal representing voice communications related to utterances received from the adaptive digital antenna 210. The adaptive digital antenna 210 processes the received audio signal data to provide a clean signal input received by the digital antenna system 200.
[0032] The digital optical signal to be transmitted is converted to an RF signal by an RF / optical converter 214 in the adaptive digital antenna 210. The RF / optical converter 214 converts the signal from the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 into a format that can be processed by the flexible antenna element 212. The RF / optical converter 214 converts the optical signal to a frequency to which any frequency compatible with the digital antenna system 200 can be assigned. The RF / optical converter 214 generates a broadcast RF signal that can be supplied to the flexible antenna element 212. Similarly, the signal received by the adaptive digital antenna 210 is converted to a digital optical signal by the RF / optical converter 214.
[0033] Voice communication for transmission is spoken by the user into the microphone 204 of the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202. This voice communication becomes an analog signal in the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202, is converted into a digital signal, and transmitted to the adaptive digital antenna 210 via the flexible optical fiber cable 218. The transmitted optical signal is converted into a transmitted radio signal and radiated via the flexible radiating element 212. When the adaptive digital antenna 210 receives an RF signal, the RF signal is converted into an optical signal and transmitted to the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 via the optical fiber transmission line in the adaptive digital antenna 210 and the flexible optical fiber cable 218, and converted into an audible voice communication for the user.
[0034] The adaptive digital antenna 210 includes a DC power / optical converter 216 that converts analog signals to digital optical signals and digital optical signals to analog signals. Upon receiving a signal to the adaptive digital antenna 210, the signal is converted to a digital optical signal by the DC power / optical converter 216 and transmitted to the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 via a flexible optical fiber cable 218. The transmitted digital optical signal is generated in the soldier / truck-mounted radio 202 and converted to an RF signal within the adaptive digital antenna 210. The transmitted RF signal is then radiated by a flexible radiating element 212.
[0035] Referring here to Figure 3, considering variations and alternatives of the adaptable digital portable antenna, the digital portable antenna can be fixed to wearable clothing or cover to provide a low-load, unrestricted antenna system for communications, data connectivity, telemetry, etc. The flexible communication means includes means for adapting to any form of clothing, protective gear, concealment covering, or structure.
[0036] Figure 3 shows a head protection helmet 300 including an adaptive digital antenna 302 mounted on the helmet, which is a first example of the present application and is useful for using a wireless transceiver to operate any wireless communication device or for communication in intercom mode between multiple users. The adaptive digital antenna 302 mounted on the head protection helmet 300 worn by the user can receive and transmit voice and / or data communications.
[0037] While an embodiment is shown in which a responsive digital antenna 302 is positioned on the top of the head protection helmet 300, other parts of the user's body can be used, including the entire back, the entire chest, the sleeve direction, and the leg direction of the trousers. The responsive digital antenna 302 can be embedded inside the head protection helmet 300 or mounted on the outside of the head protection helmet 300. In one example, the responsive digital antenna 302 is curved to follow the contour of the top of the head, thereby enabling the user to communicate hands-free with the portable antenna embedded inside the head protection helmet 300.
[0038] The head protection helmet 300 may include a suitable rigid outer shell in which the adaptive digital antenna 302 is positioned to conform to the contour of the helmet. The adaptive digital antenna 302 may be attached to a suitable flexible material cover that allows the adaptive digital antenna 302 to curve along the user's head or to fold the material. In the example in Figure 3, the adaptive digital antenna 302 is attached to the garment by sewing, hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesive, rivets, or other suitable fasteners. The adaptive digital antenna 302 may be embedded in the surface of the garment, positioned on the surface, or positioned beneath the surface.
[0039] The flexible fiber optic cable 304 is coupled to the adaptive digital antenna 302 for connection to a wireless transceiver (not shown). The flexible fiber optic cable 304 can also extend along the contours of the user's body and may be embedded in, on, or beneath the surface of clothing equipped with the adaptive digital antenna 302. Because the flexible fiber optic cable 304 can pass through the user's clothing, backpack, armor, helmet, etc., it is lightweight, thin, and inconspicuous. By directly connecting the adaptive digital antenna 302 to the wireless transceiver via the flexible fiber optic cable 304, the user's range of motion of the limbs is increased.
[0040] The jacket of the flexible optical fiber cable 304 is covered with a sheath and can be formed from resin materials such as polyethylene, flame-retardant polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and other suitable polymer materials. The core of the flexible optical fiber cable 304 may contain numerous optical fiber cords for transmitting or receiving information via optical signals from a wireless transceiver (not shown) or an external source.
[0041] Referring here to Figure 4, a camouflage netting 400 including an adaptive digital antenna 402 covering an all-terrain vehicle 404 is shown. When the camouflage netting 400 described herein is incorporated and the camouflage netting 400 is secured around a physical object, the adaptive digital antenna 402 provides radio transceiver communication. The camouflage netting 400 may be of any sewn structure suitable for the end use and may include, but are not limited to, woven, knitted, nonwoven, and tufted fabrics. Woven fabrics may include, but are not limited to, plain weave, satin weave, twill weave, basket weave, poplin weave, and crepe weave fabrics. A number of processes, such as melt-blown, spunbond, air-ray, needle-punching, and card-web bonding processes, can be used to form a nonwoven or substrate to include the adaptive digital antenna 402. The openings of the camouflage net 400 may vary, but it is preferable that they be small enough to conceal the compatible digital antenna 402 and the flexible optical fiber 406 cable.
[0042] In one example, the fibers of the camouflage net 400 can serve as a protective layer for the adaptive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406. The adaptive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406 can be curved to follow the contour of the camouflage net 400 mounted on the all-terrain vehicle 404.
[0043] The responsive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406 can be attached to the camouflage net 400 by any known means, including but not limited to adhesive, sewing, and ultrasonic welding. The attachment may be at regular or irregular intervals and may be in a set pattern, such as a series of straight lines. The responsive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406 are attached to the camouflage net 400 such that at least a portion of the responsive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406 are oriented so as to be out of the plane of the camouflage net 400. The resulting uneven angles increase the visual camouflage element of the camouflage net 400, including the responsive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406, and make the camouflage fabric more flexible to conform to the contours of the all-terrain vehicle 404.
[0044] The camouflage net 400, including the adaptive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406, may be printed with a visual camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern may be formed by any known method, including printing or dyeing. For example, the adaptive digital antenna 402 and the flexible fiber optic cable 406 may be dyed black, and the woven sheet may be dyed in various random patterns of green, brown, and black to match the colors of the forest terrain in which the camouflage structure is to be employed. Furthermore, the patterns formed may be for desert or other terrains.
[0045] The need for multiple adaptive digital antennas 402 and flexible fiber optic cables 406 may vary depending on the type of physical object to be camouflaged by the camouflage net 400, which includes adaptive digital antennas 402 and flexible fiber optic cables 406, and its operating environment. For example, with respect to certain types of transmissions to manned or unmanned aerial vehicles, command centers, or field teams, communication may be more important than secrecy. The adaptive digital antenna 402 may be formed by multiple radiating elements (not shown) to provide beamforming for transmitting or receiving directional signals. Upon reception, information from different sensors is combined in such a manner that the expected radiation pattern is preferentially observed.
[0046] Next, referring to Figure 5, a flowchart 500 is shown for a digital antenna system that performs communication according to one or more examples described herein. In 502, the flowchart 500 includes converting a transmitted analog signal to a transmitted optical signal via a wireless transceiver.
[0047] In 504, the flowchart 500 includes transmitting the transmission optical signal to a flexible antenna via a flexible optical fiber cable. In 506, the flowchart 500 includes converting a transmitted optical signal into a transmitted radio frequency (RF) signal in a flexible antenna.
[0048] In 508, the flowchart 500 includes transmitting a transmit RF signal via a flexible antenna configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object. In 510, the flowchart 500 includes receiving the RF signal in a flexible antenna.
[0049] In 512, the flowchart 500 includes converting a received RF signal into a received optical signal in a flexible antenna. In 514, the flowchart 500 includes transmitting the received optical signal to a wireless transceiver via a flexible optical fiber cable.
[0050] In 516, the flowchart 500 includes converting a received optical signal into a received analog signal in a wireless transceiver. Performing communication may further include filtering the transmitted and received RF signals through an RF filter to provide bandpass, bandblock, lowpass, or widepass of frequencies in the transmitted and received RF signals.
[0051] Performing communication may further involve amplifying the transmitted RF signal to convert the low-power RF signal into a high-power RF signal, with the amplifier driving a flexible antenna.
[0052] Performing communication may further involve switching the routing configuration of the transmitted and received RF signals using an RF switch. The above description includes non-limiting embodiments of various examples. Naturally, it is impossible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methods for the purpose of illustrating the disclosed subject matter, and those skilled in the art will recognize that further combinations and substitutions of various examples are possible. The disclosed subject matter is intended to encompass all changes, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the spirit of the appended claims.
[0053] With respect to the various functions performed by the components described above, the terms used to describe such components (including references to “means”) are intended to include, unless otherwise indicated, any structure(s) that perform the specified function (e.g., a functional equivalent) of the described component, even if they are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure. In addition, even if a particular feature of the disclosed subject matter is disclosed in relation to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments so as to be useful and advantageous for any given or particular use.
[0054] As used herein, the terms “exemplary” and / or “exemplific” are to mean examples, cases, or illustrations. To avoid misunderstanding, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by these examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and / or “exemplific” should not necessarily be construed as being preferable or more advantageous than other aspects or designs, nor should it be meant to exclude equivalent structures and techniques known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be comprehensive, as is the term “comprising” as an open-ended term, without excluding any additional or other elements.
[0055] The description of the illustrated examples of this disclosure provided herein, including those described in the abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed examples to the exact form disclosed. While certain examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible that are considered to fall within the scope of such examples, as can be recognized by those skilled in the art. In this regard, while the subject matter is described herein in relation to various examples and corresponding drawings, it should be understood that, where applicable, other similar examples may be used, or modifications and additions may be made to the described examples to perform the same, similar, alternative, or substitute functions of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single example described herein, but rather should be interpreted in terms of its breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.
Claims
1. A communication device, A radio frequency (hereinafter referred to as RF) converter component configured to convert a transmitted optical signal into a transmitted RF signal and a received RF signal into a received optical signal, A flexible optical fiber cable configured to transmit the transmitted optical signal and the received optical signal between a signal converter and a wireless transceiver, A communication device comprising: a flexible antenna configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object, the flexible antenna configured to transmit and receive the transmit RF signal and the receive RF signal.
2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible laminate of electronic equipment including conductive wiring that conforms to the contour of the covering.
3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the flexible laminate of the electronic device includes an RF filter, an amplifier, and an RF switch.
4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein a dielectric material is provided as a spacer, and the dielectric material has a lower dielectric constant to reduce signal loss.
5. The communication device according to claim 4, wherein the dielectric material provides a higher dielectric constant for controlling the radiation characteristics of the flexible antenna.
6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible antenna includes one or more radiating elements for providing an array effect for beamforming.
7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible antenna comprises a wire mesh, a conductive fabric, a conductive ink, or a plurality of graphite composite material components.
8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the uppermost layer provides a flexible protective coating containing an RF-permeable material.
9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the innermost layer comprises a compressible foamed material.
10. A method of communication using a communication device, The steps include converting a transmitted analog signal to a transmitted optical signal via a wireless transceiver, The steps include: transmitting the aforementioned optical signal to a flexible antenna via a flexible optical fiber cable; The steps include converting the transmitted optical signal into a transmitted radio frequency (hereinafter referred to as RF) signal in the flexible antenna, The steps include transmitting the transmit RF signal via the flexible antenna configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object, The steps include receiving a received RF signal in the flexible antenna, The flexible antenna comprises the step of converting the received RF signal into a received optical signal, The steps include transmitting the received optical signal to the wireless transceiver via the flexible optical fiber cable, A method comprising the step of converting the received optical signal into a received analog signal in the wireless transceiver.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of filtering the transmitted RF signal and the received RF signal through an RF filter to provide bandpass, bandblock, lowpass, or widepass of frequencies in the transmitted RF signal and the received RF signal.
12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of amplifying the transmit RF signal in order to convert the low-power RF signal into a high-power RF signal, wherein the amplifier drives the flexible antenna.
13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of switching the path configuration of the transmitted RF signal and the received RF signal using an RF switch.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible antenna comprises one or more radiating elements for providing an array effect for beamforming.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible antenna comprises a wire mesh, a conductive fabric, a conductive ink, or a plurality of graphite composite material components.
16. A wearable communication system, A wireless transceiver comprising a microphone positioned at a first location for acquiring first audio signal data representing first voice communication associated with a first user's utterance, and a speaker positioned at a second location for acquiring second audio signal data representing second voice communication associated with a second user's utterance, A signal converter configured to convert a transmitted analog signal into a transmitted optical signal and a received optical signal into a received analog signal, A flexible optical fiber cable configured to transmit the transmitted optical signal and the received optical signal, wherein the flexible optical fiber cable is coupled to the wireless transceiver, An optical converter configured to convert the transmitted optical signal of the wireless transceiver into a transmitted radio frequency (hereinafter referred to as RF) signal, and to convert the received RF signal into the received optical signal, A wearable communication system comprising: a flexible antenna configured to conform to the contour of a covering on an object, the flexible antenna configured to transmit and receive the transmit RF signal and the receive RF signal.
17. The wearable communication system according to claim 16, further comprising an RF filter configured to provide band-pass filtering, band-blocking filtering, low-pass filtering, or wide-pass filtering of frequencies in the transmitted RF signal and the received RF signal.
18. The wearable communication system according to claim 16, further comprising an amplifier configured to drive the flexible antenna, wherein the transmitted RF signal is amplified from a low-power RF signal to a high-power RF signal.
19. The wearable communication system according to claim 16, further comprising an RF switch for switching the path configuration of the transmitted RF signal and the received RF signal.
20. The wearable communication system according to claim 16, wherein the flexible antenna includes one or more radiating elements for providing an array effect for beamforming.