Sony patents floating device that talks to underwater sensors
Sony describes a floating device with antennas designed to send and receive radio signals while submerged in liquid. The system uses two specific types of antennas to switch between signals based on which one is stronger, improving connection stability in water.
In the filing’s own words
A communication device that includes a first antenna connected to a communication network in a liquid, and a first signal processing circuit that processes at least one of a signal received by the first antenna or a signal transmitted by the first antenna, in which the first antenna is a circularly polarized antenna. The communication device further includes a second antenna connected to a communication network in a gas, and a second signal processing circuit that processes at least one of a signal received by the second antenna or a signal transmitted by the second antenna are further included. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a communication device installed in sea water.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A communication device, comprising: a body configured to float on a liquid; a first antenna connected to the body and configured to be submerged in the liquid when the body is floating on the liquid, wherein the first antenna is wirelessly connected to a first communication network submerged in the liquid; and a first signal processing circuit connected to the first antenna and that processes a first signal, wherein the first signal is a radio frequency (RF) signal that is received from the first communication network that is submerged in the liquid by the first antenna or that is transmitted to the first communication network that is submerged in the liquid by the first antenna, wherein the first antenna comprises two circularly polarized antennas, and wherein the communication device further comprises: a first polarization switching circuit connected to a first of the two circularly polarized antennas; a second polarization switching circuit connected to a second of the two circularly polarized antennas; a switching control circuit connected to the first and second polarization switching circuits, wherein the switching control circuit switches the first signal that is transmitted or received between the first and second polarization switching circuits based on one of two received signals having a polarization having higher power at a time of reception.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Communication device and communication system
- Patent number
- US12756483B2
- Application number
- 18567798
- Filed
- Feb 15, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 10
Classified under
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.