Subterranean system comprising wireless communication network and syntactic foam panels
US9820164B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/02
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A subterranean system including a tunnel network, a plurality of syntactic foam panels, and a wireless communications network is disclosed. The wireless communications network comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers positioned throughout the tunnel network. The wireless communication range defined by communicatively coupled transceivers is a function of signal strength attenuation in a wireless signal traveling between the communicatively coupled transceivers. The tunnel network comprises tunnel support structure that contributes to the signal strength attenuation and a plurality of support apertures formed in the tunnel support structure. The syntactic foam panels are secured to the tunnel support structure to cover at least some of the support apertures and the composition and configuration of the syntactic foam panels are such that the panels do not make a significant contribution to the signal strength attenuation between communicatively coupled transceivers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.