Patent Description:
In some environments and applications, an atmospheric suit is used not only for protection against impacts but also to maintain a habitable environment. In a space application, for example, an extravehicular mobility unit (EMU), which includes a helmet and full body suit supplied by an oxygen tank, maintains an environment that sustains the astronaut. An atmospheric suit is described in <CIT>.

In one aspect, a system in an atmospheric suit is provided as defined by claim <NUM>.

In embodiments, the controller may obtain data from one or more sensors coupled to one or more of the plurality of ports.

In embodiments, the one or more sensors may include a camera, a proximity sensor, a range finder, or a Geiger counter and the controller may process the data from the one or more sensors to obtain information.

In embodiments, a wearer of the atmospheric suit may specify processing of the data.

In embodiments, the controller may provide information based on the data to a wearer of the atmospheric suit as output to one or more output devices.

In embodiments, the one or more output devices may include audio, video, or haptic output devices.

In embodiments, one of the one or more sensors may be a camera, one of the one or more output devices may be a display device, and the controller may obtain images from the camera and provide the information based on the images for display to the wearer on the display device.

In embodiments, the system may also include microcontrollers corresponding with one or more of the plurality of ports.

In embodiments, the network may include redundant communication between two or more of the plurality of microcontroller or between two or more of the ports.

In embodiments, the system may also include a cover on each of the plurality of ports.

In another aspect, a method of assembling a system in an atmospheric suit is provided as defined by claim <NUM>.

In embodiments, the configuring the controller may include the controller obtaining data from one or more sensors coupled to one or more of the plurality of ports.

In embodiments, the one or more sensors may include a camera, a proximity sensor, a range finder, or a Geiger counter and the configuring the controller may include the controller processing the data from the one or more sensors to obtain information.

In embodiments, the configuring the controller may include the controller obtaining an indication of the processing of the data from a wearer of the atmospheric suit.

In embodiments, the configuring the controller may include the controller providing information based on the data to a wearer of the atmospheric suit as output to one or more output devices.

In embodiments, one of the one or more sensors may be a camera, one of the one or more output devices may be a display device, and the configuring the controller may include the controller obtaining images from the camera and providing the information based on the images for display to the wearer on the display device.

In embodiments, the arranging the network may include disposing microcontrollers corresponding with one or more of the plurality of ports.

In embodiments, the arranging the network may include configuring redundant communication between two or more of the plurality of microcontroller or between two or more of the ports.

In embodiments, the method may also include disposing a cover on each of the plurality of ports.

As previously noted, an atmospheric suit maintains a habitable environment for the wearer in different applications. In the exemplary space application, the atmospheric suit may be an EMU. While the atmospheric suit is essential in an otherwise uninhabitable environment, it can be bulky and restrict spatial awareness. For example, unlike a motorcycle helmet or the like, the helmet of the atmospheric suit is fixed such that a wearer moves their head without moving the helmet (i.e., the transparent portion of the helmet). Thus, looking to the side or behind requires moving the body (and, correspondingly, the atmospheric suit) to expose the side or back to the transparent portion of the helmet. In addition, depending on the nature and duration of an extravehicular mission, sensors may be needed for safety or data-gathering. These sensors may be difficult to carry and operate in the atmospheric suit.

Embodiments of the systems and methods detailed herein relate to a dynamic sensor network in an atmospheric suit. The network may be structured in a hub and spoke configuration with a controller of the atmospheric suit acting as the hub. Each spoke may lead to a port accessible outside the atmospheric suit, and different sensors may be coupled to the port, as needed. According to claimed additional embodiments, a battery of the atmospheric suit acts as the hub with the spokes facilitating charging of the sensors.

<FIG> shows an atmospheric suit <NUM> that includes a dynamic sensor network <NUM> (<FIG>) according to one or more embodiments. The exemplary atmospheric suit <NUM> shown in <FIG> is an EMU <NUM>. Systems that are affixed as part of the EMU <NUM> include a primary life support system (PLSS) <NUM> and a display and control module (DCM) <NUM>. These systems <NUM>, <NUM>, along with components of the EMU <NUM>, create a habitable environment for a wearer performing extravehicular activity in space. While an EMU and a space application are specifically discussed for explanatory purposes, applications for the controller system architecture according to one or more embodiments may also include underwater (e.g., in an atmospheric diving suit), earth-based (e.g., in a hazmat suit or contamination suit), high-altitude (e.g., in a flight suit), and sub-surface environments. Generally, any suit that includes the helmet to maintain a habitable environment is referred to as an atmospheric suit.

The EMU <NUM> includes a helmet <NUM>, shown with an exemplary in-helmet display as one exemplary output device 115a and a speaker as another exemplary output device 115b (generally referred to as output device <NUM>). The helmet <NUM> has a transparent inner bubble that maintains the environment in the EMU <NUM>, as well as a transparent outer bubble that protects against impacts. The display device may include a screen on a swingarm that allows the screen to be raised to eye level for viewing or may include an organic light emitting diode (OLED) array. An OLED display device may be inside the helmet, with the inner bubble acting as a substrate, or may be in the gap between the inner and outer bubbles, with the outer bubble acting as the substrate. A display device may also be on a swingarm or otherwise affixed on the outside of the helmet <NUM>. According to exemplary embodiments, the EMU <NUM> may include two or more display devices whose number and location is not intended to be limited by the discussion of exemplary embodiments.

The speaker may be inside the inner bubble or may include a diaphragm on the outside of the inner bubble that vibrates to produce an audio output. The numbers, types, and locations of speakers is not intended to be limited by the examples. Further, in addition to audio and visual output devices <NUM>, haptic or combination output devices <NUM> may be provided in the EMU <NUM>. The numbers, types, and locations of output devices <NUM> that provide information to the wearer of the EMU <NUM> are not intended to be limited by the discussion of specific examples.

One or more sensors <NUM> (e.g., video/still camera, infrared camera, proximity sensor, Geiger counter, rangefinder) may dynamically be affixed to the EMU <NUM>. Dynamic refers to the fact that the numbers and positions of sensors <NUM> may be changed at any time, even during extravehicular activity. Two exemplary sensors <NUM> are indicated in <FIG>. Also indicated is an unused port <NUM>. While not visible, each of the sensors <NUM> is coupled to the dynamic sensor network <NUM> via a port <NUM>. As the expanded view indicates, the port <NUM> may have a cover <NUM> when unused to prevent dust or other particles from entering the port <NUM>. In <FIG>, one sensor <NUM> (e.g., Geiger counter) is shown affixed to an arm of the EMU <NUM> and another sensor <NUM> (e.g., camera) is shown affixed at the hip. As shown, the camera may be angled down so that the path ahead of the EMU <NUM> may be viewed in real time on a display used as the output device <NUM> while walking. The dynamic sensor network <NUM> that facilitates obtaining data from these and other sensors <NUM> and providing information via one or more output devices <NUM> is detailed with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary dynamic sensor network <NUM> according to one or more embodiments. As previously noted, the dynamic sensor network <NUM> may be in a spoke and hub arrangement. According to an exemplary embodiment, a controller <NUM> acts as the hub. The controller <NUM> may be part of the DCM <NUM>, for example, with one or more processors and memory devices that facilitate obtaining data from one or more of the sensors <NUM> via communication lines <NUM> (i.e., spokes) and providing information to one or more output devices <NUM>. The exemplary dynamic sensor network <NUM> is shown with sensors 140a through 140n (e.g., camera, infrared camera, proximity sensor, Geiger counter, rangefinder) while ports 155a through 155x are shown. That is, some ports <NUM> may be unused during a given mission. <FIG> also shows output devices 115a through <NUM> (e.g., audio, visual, haptic).

For example, one of the sensors <NUM> may be a camera coupled to a port <NUM> near the hand of the EMU <NUM>. This camera may be used to see around objects in a cave or the like. The images provided as data over the communication line <NUM> corresponding to the data port <NUM> may be projected to an OLED display on the inner bubble of the helmet <NUM> as the output device <NUM>. As another example, a sensor <NUM> may be a Geiger counter coupled to one of the ports <NUM>. The radiation readings provided to the controller <NUM> over the corresponding communication line <NUM> may be checked by the controller <NUM> to determine if a threshold value has been crossed. If so, the controller <NUM> may provide an audible alert to an output device <NUM> that is a speaker or provide haptic feedback to an output device <NUM> that implements a vibration.

The type of data provided by a given sensor <NUM> may determine the analysis performed by the controller <NUM>, as well as the output provided to an output device <NUM>. The data may be provided with an identifier or may be recognizable based on the content. The controller <NUM> may essentially implement a mapping of the processing that is appropriate for each data type. Input from the wearer of the EMU <NUM>, provided via the DCM <NUM>, for example, may affect the processing that is performed by the controller <NUM>. The table below provides exemplary processing that may be performed based on the data obtained by the controller <NUM>. The examples provided for explanatory purposes are not intended to limit additional sensors <NUM>, processing by the controller <NUM>, or additional output devices <NUM>.

A battery <NUM> of the EMU <NUM> is also a hub. The battery may be part of the PLSS <NUM>, for example. One or more sensors <NUM> may be powered or charged via power lines <NUM> from the battery <NUM> to corresponding ports <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an exemplary dynamic sensor network <NUM> according to one or more embodiments. <FIG> shows additional or alternate features as compared with the exemplary dynamic sensor network <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The fundamental components of the controller <NUM> and communication lines <NUM> from various ports <NUM> to which sensors <NUM> may couple is shown. As shown in <FIG>, each port <NUM> may include an optional microcontroller 310a through 310x (generally referred to as <NUM>). Thus, data from each sensor <NUM> that is coupled to a port <NUM> may be routed through a microcontroller <NUM> via a communication line <NUM> to the controller <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, redundant wired or wireless communication lines <NUM> may be included between ports or, more specifically, between microcontrollers <NUM>. That is, sensors <NUM> may communicate data from a corresponding port <NUM> to another port <NUM> for relay to the controller <NUM> via a communication line <NUM> from the other port <NUM>. This may be necessitated due to failure of the communication line <NUM> from the port <NUM> corresponding with the sensor <NUM>, for example. Alternatively, microcontrollers <NUM> may communicate data obtained from a corresponding sensor <NUM> to another microcontroller <NUM>. The data may be relayed to the controller <NUM> or may be combined with data from the sensor <NUM> corresponding to the other microcontroller <NUM> prior to being provided to the controller <NUM>, for example.

Claim 1:
A system for an atmospheric suit, the system comprising:
a controller (<NUM>) within the atmospheric suit (<NUM>); and
a first network (<NUM>) configured as a first hub and spoke network arranged within the atmospheric suit, wherein the controller is the hub of the first network, each spoke of the first network represents first wiring (<NUM>) that leads to one of a plurality of ports (<NUM>) accessible from outside the atmospheric suit;
a battery (<NUM>); characterized by
a second network configured as a second hub and spoke network arranged within the atmospheric suit, wherein the battery is the hub of the second network, each spoke of the second network represents second wiring (<NUM>) that leads to one of the plurality of ports accessible from outside the atmospheric suit.