The present invention relates to an underwater vehicle such as a properly said submarine equipped with a deployment winch a wired receiving broadband antenna.
More particularly, the invention relates to such an underwater vehicle, which the wire antenna deployment winch is equipped with a radio frequency technology rotary collector, connecting the antenna to the rest of the equipment of the underwater vehicle.
It is known that underwater vehicles such as ordinary submarines, are now equipped with wire antennas receiving broadband enabling them to receive radio frequency signals.
These wire antennas are currently based on radio frequency technology.

These antennas then comprise a coaxial cable for connecting the antenna to the rest of the submarine via a radio frequency technology rotary collector, the winch.

But we also know that there are in the state of the art fiber optic technology for wire antennas.

If the antenna wire of this kind can be implemented on board now submarines under construction or in very major revisions of old submarines using antennas with radio frequency technology, these overhaul operations are extremely cumbersome and costly because they are long and require the replacement of a large number of parts.

Generally, the means necessary for this type of reform are not engaged and these ancient underwater so they can not be fitted with wire antenna to fiber optic technology.

The object of the invention is to solve these problems.

To this end, the invention relates to an underwater vehicle equipped with a deployment winch a wired receiving broadband antenna, the winch is equipped with a radio frequency technology rotary collector, connecting the antenna to the rest of the underwater vehicle, characterized in that the antenna is a fiber optic technology antenna whose end associated with the winch includes interface means in radio frequency technology rotary connector of this winch comprising converter forming means of the signal from the optical fiber to a radio frequency signal, whose output is connected through cable means coaxial to the collector rotating at radio frequency technology winch.

According to other characteristics of the device according to the invention, taken alone or in combination:

- Antenna optical fiber comprises:

- recovery means of a radiofrequency signal,

- broadband amplifying means thereof,

- of the radiofrequency signal conversion means into a light signal,

- means of transport of this light signal by optical fiber, and in that the interface means comprise means for converting the light signal into a radio frequency signal,

- broadband amplifying means of the radio frequency signal,

- the means forming a coaxial cable, and

- an RF connector;

- the antenna further comprises electrical power supply conductors extending along thereof;

- the antenna comprises at its free end, a terminating nipple wherein means are provided to supply electrical energy storage of this end of the antenna and whose operation is controlled by means of pressure sensor ;

- means for storing electrical energy are associated with a voltage / frequency converter for indicating the state of the storage means;

- the frequency signal delivered by the converter is integrated with the radio frequency signal to be transmitted along the fiber to the rest of the underwater vehicle;

- the energy storage means comprises batteries.

The invention will be better understood from reading the description which follows, given as an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a wire antenna to radio frequency technology of the prior art;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a wire antenna to optical fiber technology of the prior art;

- Figure 3 shows a schematic of a wire antenna according to the invention fiber optic technology compatible with a radio frequency technology connection of the underwater vehicle; and

- Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of an antenna according to the invention.

It has in fact shown in Figure 1, a wire antenna to radio frequency technology.

This antenna is designated by the general reference numeral 1 in this figure, and comprises at one end, a terminating nipple, designated by the general reference 2, and at its other end, a conventional connector to radio frequency technology, designated by the general reference 3 .

This connector is used to connect the antenna to the rest of the submarine equipment, by a complementary connector of a winch to deploy this antenna on board the submarine.

An antenna is conventionally, several tens or even hundreds of meters long.

Such an antenna then comprises means for amplifying the radio frequency signal received between a hot spot and a cold spot of the antenna.

These amplification means are designated by the general reference 4 in FIG 1 and are powered by an activation system / power designated by the general reference 5.

Thus the core of this wire antenna 1 not only receiving signals VLF / LF / HF, but also the supply of the line amplifier via the activation system / food.

A grounding braid is used.

It is this antenna configuration that is compatible with the majority of slip rings radio frequency technology in submarine with a deployment winch with a wire antenna radio frequency technology.

Illustrated in Figure 2, an exemplary embodiment of a wire antenna to optical fiber technology.

In this figure 2, the antenna is designated by the general reference 10 and therefore always comprises a teat termination designated by the general reference 1 1, wherein are defined a hot spot and a cold spot for the RF signal in active mode and passive mode respectively.

This termination 1 1 There nipple also includes a wideband amplifier designated by the general reference numeral 12, associated with a laser for converting the radio frequency signals into light signals.

This laser is designated by the general reference 13.

This laser 13 is associated at the output, to an optical fiber designated by the general reference 14, which extends along the antenna to the other end of this antenna to carry the signal.

This other end of the antenna is provided with a specific collector fiber optic technology, designated by the general reference 15, for connecting the antenna to the rest of the underwater vehicle.

It will be understood that fiber optic technology is not compatible with the RF connector as deployed in certain submarine and illustrated in Figure 1.

The invention therefore proposes to make the fiber optic technology wire antenna supports a radio frequency connection.

An exemplary embodiment of such a wire antenna is illustrated in Figure 3. In this Figure 3, the antenna is designated by the general reference 20 and always includes a terminating nipple designated by the general reference 21.

This has always wire antenna a cold spot and a hot point for the signals, and includes a wideband amplifier designated by the general reference 22 and a laser designated by the general reference 23, for converting the radio frequency signals into light signals.

An optical fiber designated by the general reference 24, can carry the light signals from one end to the other of the wire antenna.

At the other end of the wire antenna, that is to say, that associated with the submarine, and more particularly to the deployment winch of the antenna of the submarine, there are provided interface means designated by the general reference 25, for converting the received light signal into a radio frequency signal.

Thus, these means comprise means of detection of this light signal, designated by the general reference 26, from the optical fiber.

These detection means are associated with a designated amplifier by the general reference 27.

The supply of these bodies is provided by supply means 28. The output of the interface means 25 is then connected through means coaxial cable, designated by the general reference 29, a conventional connector to radio frequency technology designated by the general reference 30 and thus to connect this wire antenna to fiber optic technology with equipped with a radio frequency connection winch.

It is thus possible to equip submarines which the wire antenna deployment winch is provided with a RF connector with a wire antenna to fiber optic technology without involving heavy redesign of work of the machine under Marino, including the replacement of connectors.

In the examples which have just been described, and in particular in Figure 3, the antenna also comprises electrical power supply conductors extending along thereof.

These electrical conductors are then used to supply all the components of this antenna and particularly those arranged at its termination teat, from the connector of the underwater winch.

Current studies indicate that a coaxial cable has a density equivalent to a cable with an optical fiber and a pair of copper conductors. To obtain a lower density in order for example to improve the immersion / speed chart must be able to overcome this pair of copper conductors and hence define another way to power the components of the terminal portion of the antenna wired.

An exemplary embodiment of such an antenna and corresponding means shown in FIG 4.

In this figure 4, the wire antenna is designated by the general reference 40 and the terminating nipple thereof by the reference 41.

This terminal portion of the antenna always has broadband amplifying means designated by the general reference 42 and a laser designated by the general reference 43.

The output of this laser 43 is associated with an optical fiber 44 whose end associated with the underwater vehicle always includes signal detection means 45, amplifier means 46 and means 47 feed this part of the antenna.

Means coaxial cable 48 always possible to connect this end of the antenna through a standard connector to radio frequency 49 to a plug connector of the deployment winch of the antenna of the submarine.

While in Figure 3 the supply organs or components arranged at the free end of the antenna, is ensured by a pair of copper wires, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, this supply is provided from energy storage means such as for example batteries designated by the general reference 50, placed in for example the end of the antenna terminating nipple.

These means 50 supply electric energy storage of this end of the antenna then possible to ensure electric power feeding thereof for example under the control of means pressure sensor, designated by reference General 51 in FIG 4.

For example, when the antenna is on the surface, the nipple is not under pressure and the pressure sensor 51 is the maximum volume to close the contact with the batteries.

The antenna is thus supplied.

When the antenna is below the surface, the nipple is pressurized and the pressure sensor is at minimum volume.

This makes it possible to cut contact with the batteries and the antenna is no longer supplied.

When the antenna is stored in the submarine, the nipple is not under pressure.

A battery deactivation system is then set up.

The batteries or other electrical energy storage means can be easily replaced by removing the nipple or part of it on board.

In this figure 4, the energy storage means such as for example batteries, are also associated with means for monitoring and indicating the status and in particular of their state of charge SOC.

In the example illustrated in this figure 4, said means for monitoring comprises a voltage / frequency converter, the indication of the status of these storage means.

This converter is designated by the general reference 52, and therefore makes it possible to grant a state indication signal, whose frequency is a function for example of the battery voltage.

A mixer designated by the general reference 53, allows to integrate said frequency signal delivered by the converter to the radio frequency signal, to be transmitted along the optical fiber 44, to the rest of the underwater vehicle.

Operators can then edit the signal for status information of energy storage means.

Of course, other embodiments of these means can be considered.

It is therefore conceivable that such a structure of this antenna a number of advantages.

Indeed, it is possible to integrate on board a submarine, a wire antenna fiber optic new technology, without the need for heavy work on the submarine, and in particular winch deployment the wire antenna thereof, while using a radiofrequency connection.

Further improvements of the operational characteristics of the antenna are also obtained

CLAIMS

1. - underwater vehicle equipped with a deployment winch a wired broadband receiving antenna (20; 40), the winch being equipped with a radio frequency technology rotary collector, the antenna connection to the rest of 'underwater vehicle, characterized in that the antenna is a fiber optic technology antenna whose end associated with the hoist includes means (25) interfacing to the radiofrequency technology rotary connector of this winch, comprising means (26; 45) forming a converter of the signal from the optical fiber (24; 44) in a radio frequency signal, the output of which is connected through means coaxial cable (29; 48) to the slip ring technology radiofrequency winch.

2. - Machine submarine according to claim 1, characterized in that the aerial optical fiber comprises:

- recovery means of a radiofrequency signal,

- means (22; 42) broadband amplification thereof,

- means (23; 43) for converting the radio frequency signal into a light signal,

- means (24; 44) for conveying the luminous signal by optical fiber, and in that the interface means (25) comprises means (26; 45) for converting the light signal into a radio frequency signal,

- means (27; 46) of broadband amplification of the radiofrequency signal,

- means (29; 48) forming a coaxial cable, and

- a radio frequency connector (30; 49).

3. - Machine submarine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna also comprises electrical power supply conductors extending along thereof.

4.- Machine submarine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the antenna comprises at its free end, a terminating nipple (41) wherein are arranged means (50) for storing electrical energy feeding said end of the antenna, and the operation of which is controlled by means of pressure sensor (51).

5. - Machine submarine according to claim 4, characterized in that the means (50) for storing electrical energy are associated with a voltage / frequency converter (52) for indicating the state of these means storage.

6. - Machine submarine according to claim 5, characterized in that the frequency delivered by the converter signal (52) is embedded (at 53) to the radio frequency signal to be transmitted along the fiber to the rest of the underwater vehicle.

7. - underwater vessel as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the means (50) for storing energy comprises batteries.