CONNECTION INTERFACE FOR UNDERWATER APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The application relates to a connection interface for underwater applications, in particular for water sport equipment, including a connection unit for transmitting data and having a charging coil for inductively transmitting energy to a similar connection interface, the connection unit being designed as an optical connection unit, in particular as an infrared connection unit, for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal.

Claims

1. A connection interface for underwater applications, comprising a connection unit for transmitting data and having a charging coil for inductively transmitting energy to a similar connection interface, wherein the connection unit is designed as an optical connection unit, for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal.

2. The connection interface according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit comprises a transmitting unit, and/or a receiving unit.

3. The connection interface according to claim 2, wherein the connection unit comprises a transmitting unit and a receiving unit and the charging coil is disposed between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

4. The connection interface according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit comprises at least one optical waveguide for conducting the optical signal.

5. A water sport equipment, comprising a diver propulsion vehicle comprising a housing and an energy storage device disposed in the housing, wherein the connection interface according to claim 1 is provided on an outer wall of the housing, the charging coil whereof is connected to the energy storage device.

6. The water sport equipment according to claim 5, wherein the connection interface is disposed substantially parallel to the outer wall.

7. The water sport equipment according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a fastening apparatus, for temporary fastening of an extension module to the water sport equipment so that the connection interface of the water sport equipment can be connected to a connection interface of the extension module.

8. An extension module for a water sport equipment, comprising a module housing, wherein the connection interface according to claim 1 is provided, wherein the charging coil of the connection interface is adapted for supplying energy to the extension module.

9. The extension module according to claim 8, wherein a module fastening apparatus, is provided for temporary fastening to the water sport equipment so that the connection interface of the extension module can be connected to a connection interface of the water sport equipment.

10. The extension module according to claim 8, wherein the extension module is configured as a control device, as a lighting device and/or as a camera.

11. A set comprising the water sport equipment according to claim 5; and an extension module, comprising a module housing provided with a module connection interface, wherein a charging coil of the module connection interface is adapted for supplying energy to the extension module; wherein in a usage state the connection interface of the water sport equipment and the module connection interface of the extension module are connected to one another in such a manner that energy transmission is possible from the connection interface of the water sport equipment to the module connection interface of the extension module and data transmission is possible between the connection interface of the water sport equipment and the module connection interface of the extension module.

12. The set according to claim 11, wherein in the connected state the distance between the connection interface of the water sport equipment and the connection interface of the extension module is less than 1 cm.

13. The connection interface according to claim 1, wherein the connection unit is designed as an infrared connection unit for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal.

14. The connection interface according to claim 2, wherein the connection unit comprises a transmitting diode and/or a receiving diode.

15. The water sport equipment interface according to claim 6, wherein the charging coil is disposed substantially parallel to the outer wall.

16. The water sport equipment interface according to claim 7, wherein the fastening apparatus is a mechanical and/or magnetic fastening apparatus.

17. The water sport equipment interface according to claim 7, wherein the fastening apparatus is a fastening rail.

18. The extension module according to claim 9, wherein the module fastening apparatus is a mechanical and/or magnetic module fastening apparatus.

Description

[0022] The invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to the figures which show exemplary embodiments to which, however, the invention should not be restricted.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through water sport equipment and an extension module with respectively one connection interface.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows water sport equipment in the form of a diver propulsion vehicle with two extension modules, namely a control device and a lighting device.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through water sport equipment 1 in the form of a diver propulsion vehicle 2 and an extension module 3 in the form of a display module 4 fastened temporarily to the water sport equipment 1. A diver propulsion vehicle 2 is an underwater drive device for a person which enables more rapid movement under water. The diver propulsion vehicle 2 has a watertight housing 5 and an energy storage device 6 disposed inside the housing 5 (see FIG. 2, accommodated in the front part of the cylindrical jacket) which serves inter alia to supply energy to a drive unit (not shown) of the diver propulsion vehicle 2. A connection interface 8 is disposed on an outer wall 7 of the housing 5. The connection interface 8 has an optical connection unit 9 for transmitting data and a charging coil 10 for transmitting electrical energy. In the embodiment shown, the optical connection unit 9 comprises a transmitting unit 11 in the form of an IR transmitting diode 12 and a receiving unit 13 in the form of an IR receiving diode 14. The charging coil 10 is disposed between the transmitting unit 11 and the receiving unit 13 to avoid signal crosstalk between the transmitting unit 11 and the receiving unit 13. The charging coil 10 is configured as a flat coil and oriented parallel to the outer wall 7. The connection unit 9 and the charging coil 10 are connected to a printed circuit board 15. Located on the printed circuit board 15 is a plug connector 16 for a flat band cable that connects the printed circuit board 15 to a main circuit board (not shown) of the diver propulsion vehicle 2, a microprocessor for controlling the charging coil 9 and communication being disposed on the main circuit board. The charging coil 10 is connected to the energy storage device 6 and transmits energy from the connection interface 8 to another similar connection interface 8 of the extension module 3.

[0026] The connection interface of the extension module 3 designated hereinafter as module connection interface 8 also has a transmitting unit 11 in the form of an IR transmitting diode 12, a receiving unit 13 in the form of an IR receiving diode 14 and a charging coil 10. In the embodiment shown, the module connection interface 8 of the extension module 3 additionally comprises two optical waveguides 17 which conduct the optical signals to the receiving unit 13 or away from the transmitting unit 11. It is thus possible to arrange the transmitting unit 11 and the receiving unit 13 at a different, possibly more favourable location when viewed from the construction technology viewpoint. In FIG. 1 it can be identified that in the module connection interface 8 of the extension module 3 SMD diodes (SMD surface mounted devices) are used for the transmitting unit 11 and the receiving unit 13. The extension module does not have its own energy storage device but is supplied with energy from the water sport equipment 1 via the connection interfaces 8 and 8.

[0027] The extension module 3 has a module housing 18 and a display 19 on a side facing away from the diver propulsion vehicle 2. In order to detachably connect the extension module 3 to that of the water sport equipment 1, the water sport equipment 1 can have a fastening device 20 and the extension module 3 can have a corresponding module fastening device 21 (see FIG. 2). For example, the module fastening device 21, as shown, can comprise a screw 23 which can be screwed into a fastening hole 24 of the fastening device 20 which can be configured as fastening rail 30. In FIG. 2 the diver propulsion vehicle 2 and the extension module 3 are shown in a screwed position. Alternatively or additionally the fastening device 20 can comprise a latching mechanism (not shown) by means of which the extension module 3 can be locked in a latching position with the fastening device 20. The latching position or the screwed position can be a position in which the connection interface 8 and the module connection interface 8 lie adjacent to one another in such a manner that the charging coils 10 and 10; are arranged above one another and parallel to one another. In addition, in the latching position it can be provided that an optical signal passes from the transmitting unit 11 of the connection interface 8 of the water sport equipment 1 to the receiving unit 13 of the module connection interface 8 and an optical signal passes from the transmitting unit 11 of the module connection interface 8 to the receiving unit 13 of the connection interface 8 of the water sport equipment 1.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a set consisting of water sport equipment 1 in the form of a diver propulsion vehicle 2 and two extension modules 3 in the form of a control device 25 and a lighting device 26. The water sport equipment 1 has two connection interfaces 8. The control device 25 can transmit control signals to one of the two connection interfaces 8 of the diver propulsion vehicle 2 via the module connection interface 8. Conversely the corresponding connection interface 8 can transmit status data such as the charging state of the energy storage device 6 or speed of the diver propulsion vehicle 2 to the module connection interface 8 of the control device 25. The lighting device 26 can also exchange data with the other of the two connection interfaces 8 of the diver propulsion vehicle 2 via the module connection interface 8. In this case, it is also feasible that data can be exchanged between the lighting device 26 and the control device 25 via the diver propulsion vehicle 2, e.g. for switching on and switching off an illuminant or for adjusting the brightness, for controlling the light colour, for actuating control commands or for the status of the lighting device 26 such as the temperature of an illuminant (e.g. an LED) or error messages relating to the illuminant.

[0029] Statements relating to the connection interface 8 can, if technically appropriate, also be transmitted to the module connection interface 8 and conversely.