WO2020141728A1 - Communication connector having permanent electromagnet and underwater exploration device using same - Google Patents

Abstract

An underwater exploration device is disclosed. The present device comprises: a wire winch fixed to a predetermined portion of a wing bar connected to an unmanned watercraft; a communication connector provided with a permanent electromagnet including a first connector part and a second connector part that are connected to a wire end of the wire winch; and an aquatic environment information collection unit connected to the second connector part to collect underwater environment information, wherein the first connector part and the second connector part are coupled by magnetism, and when DC power is applied to the first connector part such that the first connector part and the second connector part are separated from each other, a wire wound around the wire winch may be released, and thus the second connector part may be moved toward the seabed. Accordingly, underwater exploration can be performed more effectively.

Description

Communication connector with electromagnet and underwater exploration device using the same

The present invention relates to an underwater exploration device for collecting underwater environment information using the communication connector and the communication connector provided with a permanent magnet.

Electromagnets are magnetized when energized, and magnetized when they are not energized and return to their original state. They are used in solenoids, superconducting magnets, etc. In the case of an electromagnet, when it is used for a long time, heat inevitably generates an operation error.

To overcome this limitation of electromagnets, a permanent electromagnet has appeared, which has magnetism when electricity is not supplied, and when electricity is supplied, magnetism disappears. In this way, the electromagnet is driven as opposed to the electromagnet and has the characteristics of a permanent magnet, and can be operated according to the supply of power, so it has an advantage of being easy to use.

Accordingly, various devices that can further improve user convenience by using an electromagnet will be requested.

Meanwhile, the above information is only presented as background information for understanding the present invention. As to whether or not any of the above is applicable as the prior art related to the present invention, no decision has been made, and no claim is made.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an embodiment of the present invention proposes a communication connector having a permanent magnet and an underwater exploration device using the same.

The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the following description. Will be able to.

The communication connector provided with the electromagnet according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first electromagnet, a first coil disposed inside the first electromagnet, and electrically connected to the first coil to transmit data through the first coil. A first connector unit including a first communication module for transmitting and receiving wirelessly; And a second communication module that is electrically connected to a second electromagnet, a second coil disposed inside the second electromagnet, and the second coil to transmit and receive data wirelessly through the second coil. It includes a connector portion, the first connector portion and the second connector portion is adjacent to a predetermined distance, the first connector portion and the second connector portion is coupled by magnetism, the first communication module and the state in the coupled state Communication is performed between the second communication modules.

In some embodiments, when the first connector part and the second connector part are magnetically coupled, the first connector part and the second connector part are separated when DC power of a predetermined intensity is applied to the first connector part. Can.

On the other hand, the underwater exploration device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a wire winch fixed to a predetermined portion of the wing line connected to the unmanned watercraft; A communication connector provided with an electromagnet comprising a first connector portion and a second connector portion connected to a wire end of the wire winch; And an underwater environment information collection unit connected to the second connector unit to collect underwater environment information, wherein the first connector unit and the second connector unit are magnetically coupled, and DC power is applied to the first connector unit. When the first connector part and the second connector part are separated, the wire wound on the wire winch is released and the second connector part is moved in the seabed direction.

In some embodiments, if the first connector portion and the second connector portion are magnetically coupled while the unwinded wire is wound, underwater environment information collected through the underwater environment collection portion is provided to the first connector portion through the second connector portion. Can be.

In some embodiments, each of the first connector portion and the second connector portion has a through hole to allow the wire to pass through, and the second connector portion and the wire end may be combined.

On the other hand, the underwater exploration device according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the outside of the underwater exploration device, the first communication connector having a permanent magnet connected to the underwater exploration device; And a power supply unit that applies DC power to the first communication connector, accesses within a predetermined range with the underwater mooring equipment having a second communication connector magnetically coupled to the first communication connector, and accesses the first communication connector. And when the second communication connector is adjacent within a predetermined range, the first communication connector and the second communication connector are automatically coupled to communicate.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a communication connector having a permanent magnet that is safely and permanently used may be provided, and the communication connector may be applied in various industries, and may be particularly effective in collecting underwater environment information. have.

The effects obtainable in the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. will be.

1 and 2 are diagrams for schematically explaining a communication connector having a permanent magnet according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

3 is a view for explaining the internal structure of a communication connector having a permanent magnet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining an underwater exploration device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining a method of connecting a wire to a communication connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an underwater exploration device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the driving of the underwater exploration robot according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in the description of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 and 2 are diagrams for schematically explaining a communication connector 100 having a permanent magnet according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the communication connector 100 includes a first connector part 100A and a second connector part 100B, and the first connector part 100A is DC (Direct Current) through a cable 20A. Power can be applied.

In an embodiment, the first connector unit 100A and the second connector unit 100B may be magnetically coupled when electricity is not supplied, and when DC power is applied from the outside to the first connector unit 100A The magnetism is removed so that the first connector portion 100A and the second connector portion 100B can be separated.

In addition, the first connector unit 100A and the second connector unit 100B may perform wireless communication with each other in a coupled state, and for this purpose, a communication module and a coil for wireless communication may be provided.

The above-described second connector unit 100B can communicate with the first connector unit 100A through an internal coil even when DC power is not directly connected.

In addition, in describing FIG. 1, DC power is not directly connected to the second connector unit 100B, but DC power may be directly connected to the second connector unit 100B according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of first connector parts (100AA, 100AB, and 100AC) may be implemented. When the plurality of first connector parts 100AA, 100AB, and 100AC are connected to the second connector part 100BA, they may be coupled to the second connector part 100BA with greater magnetism than the first connector part formed in a singular form.

In addition, DC power may be separately input (20B, 20C, and 20D) to each of the plurality of first connector units 100AA, 100AB, and 100AC, so that DC power is applied to each of the plurality of first connector units 100AA, 100AB, and 100AC. When this is applied, it may be separated from the second connector unit 100BA. Although DC power is not connected to the second connector unit 100BA in this specification, DC power may be directly connected to the second connector unit 100BA according to an implementation example.

In this case, only a specific first connector unit (eg, 100AB) may be implemented to communicate with the second connector unit 100BA, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

3 is a view for explaining the internal structure of a communication connector 100 having a permanent magnet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the communication connector 100 includes a first connector portion 100A and a second connector portion 100B.

In an embodiment, the first connector part 100A is electrically connected to the first electromagnet 120, the first coil 123 disposed inside the first electromagnet 120, and the first coil 123. It may include a first communication module 110 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data through one coil (123).

Specifically, the first electromagnet 120 may be implemented with various permanent magnet materials used for permanent magnets, for example, ferrite 　, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, neodymium, and plastic, but the embodiment is limited to the material. It is not.

The first coil 123 may be disposed in whole or in part within the first electromagnet 120, and may transmit and receive data through the first communication module 110 connected to the first coil 123. The first coil 123 may be designed to have an appropriate phase and arrangement for transmitting and receiving data to and from the second connector unit 100B.

When the first connector module 100A and the second connector unit 100B are coupled by magnetism, the first communication module 110 receives data by the induction current principle that satisfies Fleming's right hand rule and Lenz's law. It can be transmitted and received through (123). The first communication module 110 may transmit and receive data to and from the second connector unit 100B through the first coil 123 using RS485, RS232, or the like, which is a type of serial communication.

The second connector portion 100B includes the second electromagnet 140, the second coil 143, and the second communication module 130, similar to the first connector portion 100A, and the first connector portion 100A Although the same function as can be performed, descriptions common to the first connector unit 100A will be omitted.

However, the DC power supply unit 20 may be connected to the first connector unit 100A, and when DC power of a predetermined intensity is applied, the first connector unit 100A and the second connector unit 100B are magnetically resolved and separated. Can be. Here, the predetermined intensity may be 12V, but depending on the implementation example, a DC power of different intensity may be applied according to the magnetism of the electromagnet.

Various sensors are attached to the second connector unit 100A to transfer the collected information to the first connector unit 100B through the second connector unit 100, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B. Shall be

4A and 4B show an underwater exploration device 200 equipped with a communication connector 100 equipped with a permanent magnet, and the underwater exploration device 200 will be described as an example of a wave glider.

First, the underwater exploration device 200 may include an unmanned watercraft 210A and an unmanned watercraft 210A with a wing line 210B connected to a steel wire or a structure 213. The unmanned floating boat 210A may be supplied with power through the solar panel 211. The unmanned floating boat 210A and the wing line 210B may be disposed on the water surface or underwater.

A wire winch 220 may be disposed at a predetermined portion of the wing line 210B. The wire winch 220 is a module that can wind or loosen the wire, and the underwater environment information collecting unit 260 can be disposed at a predetermined depth. The wire winch 220 may be controlled by a winch driving unit disposed on the unmanned water well 210A or the wing line 210B, but in another embodiment, when a specific event occurs, the wire may be automatically wound or unwound. It may be.

A first connector portion 100A and a second connector portion 100B of the communication connector 100 provided with a permanent magnet may be disposed at the end of the wire 223 of the wire winch 220, and the second connector portion 100B ) May be connected to the underwater environment information collecting unit 260.

The underwater environment information collection unit 260 may include a camera, a salinity sensor, a direction sensor, and a temperature sensor that can collect various information. The underwater environment information collection unit 260 may provide the collected information to the second communication module of the second connector unit 100B.

4A and 4B, the first connector part 100A is magnetically coupled with the second connector part 100B, but the DC power is supplied to the cable 215 by the power supply part disposed in the unmanned water well 210A. ), it can be separated from the second connector portion (100B). If only the cable 215 is connected to the first connector portion 100A, it is not necessary to be connected to the second connector portion 100B. Accordingly, there is no need to extend the unnecessary power or communication signal cable to the second connector portion 100B moving in the seabed direction, and accordingly, the weight burden of the wire winch 220 can be improved compared to the prior art, and the cable ( 215) Since only a small amount can be used, the volume burden of the equipment can be improved.

At this time, the wire winch 220 may be implemented to extend the wire in the submarine direction when the second connector portion 100B is separated from the first connector portion 100A. Specifically, when the DC voltage is applied to the first connector portion 100A, the wire may be implemented to extend in the subsea direction through the unmanned water well 210A, and the wire winch 220 itself may include the second connector portion ( 100B) may detect the event of separation, so that the wire may be extended.

Also, the underwater exploration device 100 may transmit a command to wind the wire to the wire winch 220 when the underwater environment information collecting unit 260 is collected again. The wire winch 220 may wind the wire in its original state, and depending on the implementation example, the wire extending after a predetermined time may be automatically wound around the wire winch 220.

5 is a view for explaining a method of connecting a wire to the communication connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first connector portion 100A and the second connector portion 100B may include through holes 160A, 160B, and 170A, respectively, and may be formed to penetrate the wire 223, and the wire 223 ) May be fixed to the inside or outside of the second connector 100B.

The wire 223 may pass through the through holes 160A and 160B of the first connector portion 100A. The first connector portion 100A may be implemented without any change in position even when the wire 223 extends in the seabed direction. To this end, a fixed material fixed to the wire 223 or fixed to the first connector portion 100A may be used. It may further include.

The wire 223 may pass through the first connector portion 100A and be fixed to the second connector portion 100B. When the wire extends in the seabed direction or is wound around the wire winch 220, the first connector portion 100A Is fixed to the corresponding position, it may be implemented to move only the second connector portion (100B). The first connector part 100A and the second connector part 100B are separated, and the wires disposed therebetween enable only physical connection without cables related to communication and power, so that communication failure due to wire disconnection can be prevented. Can be prevented.

At this time, the underwater environment information can be easily collected through the underwater environment information collecting unit 260 connected to the second connector unit 100B, and the second connector unit 100B is again connected to the first connector unit 100A. When combined, the second connector unit 100B may provide the collected underwater environment information to the first connector unit 100A.

5, the first connector portion 100A and the second connector portion 100B are described as having through holes, but in the implementation, if only the second connector portion 100B can move in the subsea direction, other than through holes The wire 223 may be connected in various ways.

6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an underwater exploration device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the underwater exploration device 300 includes a communication unit 240, a location information receiving unit 245, a communication connector 250, the 100, a power supply unit 255, an underwater environment information collecting unit 260, and a winch. It includes a driving unit 263, a storage unit 265 and the processor 270. The components shown in FIG. 5 are not essential components for constructing the underwater exploration apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and additional components may be added or specific components may not be included depending on implementation examples. However, the previously described module will be omitted.

The communication unit 240 is a module that can communicate with an external system, and may include a mobile communication module and a short-range communication module. The communication unit 240 may transmit the collected underwater environment information to the external system, and the external system may perform various control and statistical operations using the collected underwater environment information.

The location information receiving unit 245 is a module that receives location information of the underwater exploration apparatus 200 using a satellite or the like at a predetermined cycle, and may be implemented as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

The power supply unit 255 may provide power to the communication connector 250. A DC voltage may be applied, and various information may be provided to the communication connector 250.

Under the control of the processor 270, the winch driving unit 263 may release a wire wound on the winch to extend the wire or act as a trigger for winding the extended wire on the winch. However, the winch driving unit 263 may be omitted according to an implementation example.

The storage unit 265 is a module that stores the measured information under the control of the processor 270, and the processor 270 is a module that controls the underwater exploration device 200 as a whole.

7 shows an underwater exploration device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The underwater exploration device 300 may be implemented as an underwater exploration robot, and may search and dock the underwater mooring equipment 610 on the seabed.

The underwater exploration device 300 may be provided with a first connector portion 100A having an electromagnet, and a second connector portion 100B may be provided in the underwater mooring equipment 610.

The first connector part 100A is disposed outside the underwater exploration device 300, can be connected to the underwater exploration device 300, can be fixed by a structure such as a robot arm, and the first connector part 100A A power supply module for applying DC power may be connected.

The underwater exploration device 300 may be docked with the second connector portion 100B by magnetism when the first connector portion 100A is adjacent to the underwater mooring equipment 610 only a predetermined distance, and the second connector portion 100B ) Can be received through the communication module.

When the underwater exploration device 300 approaches the underwater mooring equipment 610 within a predetermined range, and the first connector portion 100A is adjacent to the second connector portion 100B connected to the underwater mooring equipment 610 within a predetermined range 7A, the first connector portion 100A and the second connector portion 100B may be automatically coupled by magnetism and may communicate (FIG. 7B). Accordingly, various coupling between connectors may be induced using the electromagnet.

On the other hand, this specification includes details of a number of specific implementations, but these should not be understood as limiting with respect to any invention or the scope of the claims, but rather to features that may be specific to a particular embodiment of the particular invention. It should be understood as an explanation. Likewise, certain features described herein in the context of individual embodiments may be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments individually or in any suitable subcombination. Further, although features may operate in a particular combination and may be initially depicted as so claimed, one or more features from the claimed combination may in some cases be excluded from the combination, and the claimed combination subcombined. Or sub-combinations. Also, although the descriptions describe the operations in the drawings in a specific order, it should be understood that such operations must be performed in the specific order or sequential order shown in order to obtain a desired result, or that all illustrated actions should be performed. Can not be done.

As such, this specification is not intended to limit the invention to the specific terms presented. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above-mentioned examples, those skilled in the art can make modifications, alterations and modifications to these examples without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the following claims rather than the above detailed description, and it should be interpreted that all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts thereof are included in the scope of the present invention. do.

Claims (6)

A first connector comprising a first electromagnet, a first coil disposed inside the first electromagnet, and a first communication module that is electrically connected to the first coil and transmits and receives data wirelessly through the first coil. part; And A second connector comprising a second electromagnet, a second coil disposed inside the second electromagnet, and a second communication module electrically connected to the second coil to wirelessly transmit and receive data through the second coil. Includes wealth, When the first connector part and the second connector part are adjacent to each other by a predetermined distance, the first connector part and the second connector part are magnetically coupled, and in the coupled state, the first communication module and the second communication module A communication connector having an electromagnet, in which communication is performed with each other. According to claim 1, When the first connector portion and the second connector portion are magnetically coupled, and when a DC power of a predetermined intensity is applied to the first connector portion, the first electromagnet is separated from the first connector portion and the second connector portion. Communication connector equipped. A wire winch fixed to a predetermined portion of the wing line connected to the unmanned watercraft; A communication connector provided with an electromagnet comprising a first connector portion and a second connector portion connected to a wire end of the wire winch; And It includes an aquatic environment information collecting unit connected to the second connector unit for collecting aquatic environment information, When the first connector part and the second connector part are magnetically coupled, and DC power is applied to the first connector part to separate the first connector part and the second connector part, a wire wound around the wire winch An underwater exploration device in which the second connector portion is moved in the seabed direction while being unwound. According to claim 3, If the first connector portion and the second connector portion are magnetically coupled while the unwound wire is wound, underwater environment information collected through the underwater environment information collecting portion is provided to the first connector portion through the second connector portion, underwater exploration Device. According to claim 3, Each of the first connector portion and the second connector portion is provided with a through hole to be formed so that the wire penetrates, and the second connector portion and the wire end are combined, an underwater exploration device. In the underwater exploration device, A first communication connector disposed outside the underwater exploration device and equipped with a permanent magnet connected to the underwater exploration device; And It includes a power supply for applying DC power to the first communication connector, If the first mooring equipment has a second communication connector that can be magnetically coupled to the first communication connector and is approached within a predetermined range, and the first communication connector and the second communication connector are adjacent within a predetermined range, the first communication An underwater exploration device in which a connector and the second communication connector are automatically coupled to communicate.

Images