Patent ID: 8618898

Claim:
A system for attaching a device to an exterior of a vehicle, subsequently operating the device and transferring electrical power, data signals or both from an interior of the vehicle to the device on the exterior of the vehicle without skin penetrations or damage, the system comprising: a first module suitable for disposition on an external surface of the vehicle; a first magnet arrangement attached to the first module, the first magnet arrangement configured to be adjacent to the external surface of the vehicle; a second module suitable for disposition on an internal surface of the vehicle; and a second magnet arrangement attached to the second module, the second magnet arrangement configured to be adjacent to the internal surface of the vehicle; wherein the first magnet arrangement and the second magnet arrangement are selected in combination to provide sufficient magnetic attraction therebetween to maintain the first module at a fixed position on the external surface of the vehicle by overcoming an air load force when the vehicle is in motion, wherein at least a portion of a skin of the vehicle is made of a non-ferrous material; a first transducer coupled to the first module, the first transducer including at least one of a piezoelectric transducer or a magnetic transducer and positioned on the external surface of the vehicle; and a second transducer coupled to the second module, the second transducer including at least one of a piezoelectric transducer or a magnetic transducer and positioned on the internal surface of the vehicle; wherein each of the first transducer and the second transducer is configured to deform the skin of the vehicle and to convert a deformation of the skin into electrical energy, thereby providing a bidirectional signaling path between the first transducer and the second transducer for transferring electrical power.