IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,656,110
Granted Patent B2
US 12,656,110 · App. 18/503,381 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Water buoy data processing

Inventor: John W. Tauriac (Santa Cruz, CA)
G01C13/002B63B21/24B63B22/04B63B22/18B63B79/15F03B13/145F03B13/1865F03B13/262G06F15/76G06N20/00H04W4/38B63B2201/00B63B2205/00B63B2207/00B63B2209/14G06Q10/40H04W4/90
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,656,110
App. No.
18/503,381
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a water buoy, a power system generates electrical energy from water kinetics and transfers the electrical energy to a sensor array, processing circuitry, and communication interface. In the water buoy, the sensor array detects buoy locations, water velocities, water velocity directions, and wind speeds. In the water buoy, the processing circuitry aggregates the detected buoy locations, the detected water velocities, the detected water velocity directions, and the detected wind speeds into data messages. In the water buoy, the communication interface wirelessly transfers the data messages for delivery to a computer system.

Claims (52)

1 . A method to operate a water buoy comprising:

a power system generating electrical energy from water kinetics and transferring the electrical energy to a sensor array, processing circuitry, and communication interface,

wherein the power system comprises a power regeneration device that includes a first layer of electrical conductor and a second layer of non-conductive insulation;

the sensor array detecting buoy locations, water velocities, water velocity directions, and wind speeds;

the processing circuitry aggregating the buoy locations, the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds into data messages; and

the communication interface wirelessly transferring the data messages to a computer system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the sensor array detecting visual images; and

the processing circuitry aggregating the visual images into the data messages.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the sensor array detecting water temperatures, water pressures, and wind speed directions; and

the processing circuitry aggregating the water temperatures, the water pressures, and the wind speed directions into the data messages.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the sensor array detecting water depths, water clarities, and water particle counts; and

the processing circuitry aggregating the water depths, water clarities, and water particle counts into the data messages.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the sensor array detecting the water velocities comprises detecting water orbital velocities; and

the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities into the data messages comprises aggregating the water orbital velocities into the data messages.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

the processing circuitry averaging the water velocities and the wind speeds; and

the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities and the wind speeds into the data messages comprises aggregating average water velocities and average wind speeds into the data messages.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds into the data messages comprises determining wave heights and indicating the wave heights in the data messages.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds into the data messages comprises determining wave lengths and indicating the wave lengths in the data messages.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds into the data messages comprises determining wave periods and indicating the wave periods in the data messages.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds into the data messages comprises determining wave peaks and indicating the wave peaks in the data messages.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry aggregating the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds into the data messages comprises determining wave propagation and indicating the wave propagation in the data messages.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises an accelerometer, vibration sensor, pressure transducer, temperature probe, camera, and Global Positioning System (GPS) unit.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the power regeneration device further includes a magnetic rotating core encased in copper coils, and surrounded by the first layer of electrical conductor and the second layer of non-conductive insulation.

14 . A method to operate a water buoy, comprising:

a power system generating electrical energy from water kinetics and transferring the electrical energy to a sensor array, processing circuitry, and communication interface,

wherein the power system comprises a power regeneration device that includes a first layer of electrical conductor and a second layer of non-conductive insulation;

the sensor array detecting buoy locations, water velocities, water velocity directions, and wind speeds;

the processing circuitry processing the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds and responsively determining wave heights, wave lengths, and wave periods;

the processing circuitry aggregating the buoy locations, the wave heights, the wave lengths, and the wave periods into data messages; and

the communication interface wirelessly transferring the data messages for delivery to a computer system.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the power regeneration device further includes a magnetic rotating core encased in copper coils, and surrounded by the first layer of electrical conductor and the second layer of non-conductive insulation.

16 . A water buoy, comprising:

a power system configured to generate electrical energy from water kinetics and transfer the electrical energy to a sensor array, processing circuitry, and communication interface,

wherein the power system comprises a power regeneration device that includes a first layer of electrical conductor and a second layer of non-conductive insulation;

the sensor array to detect buoy locations, water velocities, water velocity directions, and wind speeds;

the processing circuitry to process the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds and to responsively determine wave heights;

the processing circuitry to aggregate the buoy locations and the wave heights into data messages; and

the communication interface to wirelessly transfer the data messages for delivery to a computer system.

17 . The water buoy of claim 16 , further comprising:

the processing circuitry to process the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds and to responsively determine wave lengths; and

the processing circuitry to aggregate the wave lengths into the data messages.

18 . The water buoy of claim 16 , further comprising:

the processing circuitry to process the water velocities, the water velocity directions, and the wind speeds and to responsively determine wave periods; and

the processing circuitry to aggregate the wave periods into the data messages.

19 . The water buoy of claim 16 , further comprising:

a battery, wherein the electrical energy generated from the water kinetics provides power for the battery.

20 . The water buoy of claim 16 , wherein the power regeneration device further includes a magnetic rotating core encased in copper coils, and surrounded by the first layer of electrical conductor and the second layer of non-conductive insulation.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 17073201 · Oct 16, 2020
Continuation PCTUS2019027644 · Apr 16, 2019
Continuation 15974570 · May 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62658542 · Apr 16, 2018
Provisional Application 62503165 · May 8, 2017
Related Publication 20240140572A1 · May 2, 2024
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