Magnetic Through-The-Earth Miner Transceiver for Emergency Communications

描述（由申请人提供）：矿山事故仍然经常发生，经常导致数十人丧生。如果有一个可靠的紧急通信系统，向搜救方和被困矿工提供救生信息，那么这些死亡事故中的许多都是可以避免的。为了解决这个问题，物理光学公司（POC）提出开发一种手持收发器，用于双向通过地球通信（语音，文本和信标），基于新颖的收发器硬件和数据处理算法，设计用于在1hz至10khz频段运行。在极低频（ELF）和极低频（VLF）频段运行确保在所有紧急情况下都能保持地雷与地面的通信。接收机的创新使得仅用一个不大于对讲机的手持设备就能在超过2000英尺的覆盖层上与地面发射机保持通信链路。出于安全和电池寿命的考虑，地下发射机的功率是有限的，在电池电量完全耗尽的情况下，还包括一个零功率信标。应用定制的数字降噪数据处理，使地面接收机能够在矿井环境噪声中检测到来自井下发射机的微弱信号。这些优点也使拟议的收发器在商业上具有吸引力，因为它主要基于现有技术的集成，潜在市场不仅包括矿山安全，还包括建筑和能源工业，以及许多军事和安全应用。因此，POC提出的研究将通过提供可靠、紧凑、贯穿地球的通信系统，对参与地下作业的人员的安全产生重大而积极的影响。这直接支持了国家职业安全和健康研究所改善矿工安全和健康的使命。第一阶段的目标是确定地面救援队和地下矿工之间仅使用手持设备即可可靠实现的最远范围和最高数据速率，这种通信完全基于对矿井使用完全安全的地球通信，而不依赖于额外的基础设施。POC计划通过设计和组装面包板原型来证明该概念的可行性，以确认设计的发送/接收特性。第一阶段项目将建立坚实的科学基础，并确定一个成熟的全功能原型的全尺寸工程的主要性能和技术参数，该原型将在第二阶段的矿山环境中进行操作测试。POC将确保设计符合矿山安全和健康管理局的规定。该技术的成功开发将产生一种全新的应急通信系统，它将克服当前矿山通信技术的安全性、可靠性、功率和尺寸问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mining accidents are still a regular occurrence, often resulting in the loss of dozens of lives. Many of these fatalities could have been averted had there been a reliable emergency communications system in place to provide life-saving information to search-and-rescue parties and to trapped miners. To address this problem, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a handheld transceiver for two-way through-the-earth communications (voice, text, and beacon), based on novel transceiver hardware and data processing algorithms, designed for operation in the 1 Hz to 10 kHz band. Operation in the extremely low frequency (ELF) and very low frequency (VLF) bands ensures that mine-to-surface communications can be maintained in all emergency situations. Innovations in the receiver enable maintaining a communication link with a surface transmitter through more than 2000 ft of overburden with only a handheld device no larger than a walkie-talkie. Underground transmitter power is limited, both for safety and for battery longevity-a zero-power beacon is included for situations where battery power is completely depleted. Application of customized digital noise reduction data processing allows the surface receiver to detect the weak signals arriving from the underground transmitter, amid the mine environmental noise. These advantages also make the proposed transceiver commercially attractive, since it is based largely on integration of existing technology, and potential markets include not only mine safety, but also the construction and energy industries, in addition to numerous military and security applications. As a result, POC's proposed research will significantly and positively impact the safety of personnel involved in underground operations by providing a reliable, compact, through-the-earth communications system. This directly supports the mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to improve safety and health of mining workers. The goal of Phase I is to determine the longest range and highest data rate that can reliably be achieved for communication between a surface rescue team and an underground miner with only a handheld-sized device, based purely on through-the-earth communication that is completely safe for mine use, without relying on additional infrastructure. POC plans to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept by designing and assembling a breadboard prototype to confirm the transmit/receive characteristics of the design. The Phase I project will establish a solid scientific foundation and define the major performance and technical parameters for the full-scale engineering of a mature fully functional prototype that will be tested for operation in a mine environment in Phase II. POC will ensure the design meets Mine Safety and Health Administration regulations. Successful development of this technology will result in an entirely new emergency communications system that will overcome the safety, reliability, power, and size issues of current mine communications technology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed handheld radio transceiver will offer two-way voice, text, and data communications for underground mine workers that can be used to communicate with search and rescue teams on the surface in case of a mine emergency such as fire, explosion, or roof cave-in. Fully compliant with mine safety regulations, the transceiver offers robust communication through up to 2000 ft overburden.