US3579180A — Beam interpolating system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 315 words

In a sonar receiving system including means for effectively forming a plurality of receiving beams, each beam representable by a composite signal comprising signals received from another azimuth range the effective center line of each beam having an azimuth in the center of said azimuth range, said sonar receiving system further including processing and computing means for processing each composite signal to detect the range of a target having an azimuth within the azimuth range of 1 of said beams, an improved system for interpolating the composite signal in which a target has been detected to resolve the azimuth of the target with respect to the azimuth of the center line of said beam comprising: means for splitting a composite signal representative of a receiving beam in which a target has been detected into a pair of signals representative of a pair of beams which are parallel to said center line and equidistantly disposed with respect thereto; a pair of multibit delay lines, coupled to receive said pair of signals; a plurality of analog storing units, each unit, corresponding to a different azimuth deviation with respect to the azimuth of said center line, being coupled to 2 bits of said pair of delay lines; means for integrating in each of said storing units analog signals as a function of the phase correlation of signals in two different bits of said pair of delay means, the 2 bits having signals exhibiting a maximum phase correlation being related to the azimuth deviation of said target from the azimuth of said center line; means for scanning said plurality of storing units to detect the unit coupled to the 2 bits having signals which exhibit a maximum of phase correlation; and means for providing as a function of the detected unit an output signal which indicates the azimuth deviation of the target from the azimuth of said center line.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 315 words

In a sonar receiving system including means for effectively forming a plurality of receiving beams, each beam representable by a composite signal comprising signals received from another azimuth range the effective center line of each beam having an azimuth in the center of said azimuth range, said sonar receiving system further including processing and computing means for processing each composite signal to detect the range of a target having an azimuth within the azimuth range of 1 of said beams, an improved system for interpolating the composite signal in which a target has been detected to resolve the azimuth of the target with respect to the azimuth of the center line of said beam comprising: means for splitting a composite signal representative of a receiving beam in which a target has been detected into a pair of signals representative of a pair of beams which are parallel to said center line and equidistantly disposed with respect thereto; a pair of multibit delay lines, coupled to receive said pair of signals; a plurality of analog storing units, each unit, corresponding to a different azimuth deviation with respect to the azimuth of said center line, being coupled to 2 bits of said pair of delay lines; means for integrating in each of said storing units analog signals as a function of the phase correlation of signals in two different bits of said pair of delay means, the 2 bits having signals exhibiting a maximum phase correlation being related to the azimuth deviation of said target from the azimuth of said center line; means for scanning said plurality of storing units to detect the unit coupled to the 2 bits having signals which exhibit a maximum of phase correlation; and means for providing as a function of the detected unit an output signal which indicates the azimuth deviation of the target from the azimuth of said center line.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 150 words

In a sonar receiving system wherein a target is detected in a receiving beam comPrising signals received from a particular azimuth range, an improved beam interpolating system for resolving the azimuth of said target by providing an output signal indicative of the deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of a center line of said beam comprising: means for forming signals representative of said receiving beam split into two beams parallel to said center line and equidistantly disposed with respect thereto; two multibit delay lines each line coupled to receive signals of another of said two parallel beams; and correlation means coupled to the two delay lines for correlating the phase of the signals of said two beams on a bit-by-bit comparison to provide an output signal which indicates the deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of the center line of said beam.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 150 words

In a sonar receiving system wherein a target is detected in a receiving beam comPrising signals received from a particular azimuth range, an improved beam interpolating system for resolving the azimuth of said target by providing an output signal indicative of the deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of a center line of said beam comprising: means for forming signals representative of said receiving beam split into two beams parallel to said center line and equidistantly disposed with respect thereto; two multibit delay lines each line coupled to receive signals of another of said two parallel beams; and correlation means coupled to the two delay lines for correlating the phase of the signals of said two beams on a bit-by-bit comparison to provide an output signal which indicates the deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of the center line of said beam.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 118 words

The system of claim 2 wherein said correlation means include: a plurality of storing units; means for coupling 2 bits each of another of said delay lines to each storing unit; first means for controlling the storing of signals in each storing unit as a function of the phase correlation of the signals in the 2 bits coupled to said storing unit, the relationship of the phases of said signals being related to the deviation of the azimuth of said target with respect to the azimuth of said center line; and second means for sequentially scanning said storing units to provide said output signal as a function of the storing unit having a maximum of signals stored therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 87 words

The system of claim 3 wherein each of said 2 multibit delay lines comprises a multibit shift register said system including clock pulse generating means for providing clock pulses at a selected rate; and means for energizing the two shift registers with said clock pulses to clock the signals of said two parallel beams into said registers at said selected rate, the time required for signals to advance 1 bit in one of said registers representing a predetermined azimuth deviation from the azimuth of said center line.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system of claim 4 further including: range gate generating means responsive to range gating signals from said sonar receiving system for controlling said analog correlation means to store signals in said storing units only during a predetermined period related to the range of said target from said sonar receiving system.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 73 words

The system of claim 5 wherein said range gate generating means include means for enabling said correlation means to store signals in said storing means when said receiving system receives signals from a range RT being the detected range of said target and Delta R being a selected incremental range portion, said range gate generating means include means for disabling said correlation means when said sonar receiving system receives signals from a range

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 338 words

In combination with a sonar receiving system wherein received signals are combined to form a plurality of composite signals representative of a plurality of beams, each beam being representable by signals received from another azimuth range, the system including processing and computing means to process each beam and detect a target having an azimuth within the azimuth range of the particular beam, said system further providing a signal indicative of the range of the detected target, a signal interpolating system for resolving the azimuth of the detected target within said azimuth range with respect to the azimuth of a center line of said beam comprising: first means responsive to the signals received from another azimuth range for forming a pair of signals representative of a pair of beams parallelly aligned with the center line of the beam representable by the signals received from said azimuth range and equidistantly disposed with respect thereto; a pair of multibit shift registers each coupled to said first means to receive another of said pair of signals; Means for clocking said pair of signals into said pair of shift registers at a predetermined rate, the time required for a signal to advance in one of said registers by 1 bit corresponding to a phase shift between related signals of said pair of beams received from a target which has an azimuth deviating by a selected azimuth increment from the azimuth of said center line; correlation means coupled to each of the bits of said pair of shift registers for correlating the phase of the signals in different pairs of bits and detecting the pair of bits having signals with a maximum phase correlation; and output means responsive to the pair of bits having signals with the maximum phase correlation for providing an output signal which represents the azimuth deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of said center line, the accuracy of said selected azimuth increment which is a function of the rate signals are clocked in said shift registers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 338 words

In combination with a sonar receiving system wherein received signals are combined to form a plurality of composite signals representative of a plurality of beams, each beam being representable by signals received from another azimuth range, the system including processing and computing means to process each beam and detect a target having an azimuth within the azimuth range of the particular beam, said system further providing a signal indicative of the range of the detected target, a signal interpolating system for resolving the azimuth of the detected target within said azimuth range with respect to the azimuth of a center line of said beam comprising: first means responsive to the signals received from another azimuth range for forming a pair of signals representative of a pair of beams parallelly aligned with the center line of the beam representable by the signals received from said azimuth range and equidistantly disposed with respect thereto; a pair of multibit shift registers each coupled to said first means to receive another of said pair of signals; Means for clocking said pair of signals into said pair of shift registers at a predetermined rate, the time required for a signal to advance in one of said registers by 1 bit corresponding to a phase shift between related signals of said pair of beams received from a target which has an azimuth deviating by a selected azimuth increment from the azimuth of said center line; correlation means coupled to each of the bits of said pair of shift registers for correlating the phase of the signals in different pairs of bits and detecting the pair of bits having signals with a maximum phase correlation; and output means responsive to the pair of bits having signals with the maximum phase correlation for providing an output signal which represents the azimuth deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of said center line, the accuracy of said selected azimuth increment which is a function of the rate signals are clocked in said shift registers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 152 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein said correlation means include a plurality of analog storing units, each unit being coupled to another pair of bits of said pair of shift registers for accumulating analog signals as a function of the phase correlation of the signals in said pair of bits, the magnitude of the analog signals accumulated during a predetermined period in each of said units being related to the correlation product of the pair of bits coupled thereto in said pair of shift registers and the actual azimuth deviation of the azimuth of said target with respect to the azimuth of said center line, and said output means including means for scanning said plurality of storing units and detecting the unit storing analog signals having a maximum magnitude to provide said output signal which represents the azimuth deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of said center line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 64 words

The combination of claim 8 wherein said signal interpolating system further includes range gate means for controlling the accumulation of said analog signals to a predetermined period which is related to a period during which said sonar receiving system receives signals from sources located between ranges and where RT is the detected range of said target and Delta R is a predetermined range interval.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein said signal interpolating system further includes means for controlling said means for clocking whereby signals are clocked into said shift registers at one of a plurality of selected rates to control the azimuth increment represented by the time required for a signal to advance in either of said shift registers by 1 bit.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 152 words

The combination of claim 10 wherein said correlation means include a plurality of analog storing units, each unit being coupled to another pair of bits of said pair of shift registers for accumulating analog signals as a function of the phase correlation of the signals in said pair of bits, the magnitude of the analog signals accumulated during a predetermined period in each of said units being related to the correlation product of the pair of bits coupled thereto in said pair of shift registers and the actual azimuth deviation of the azimuth of said target with respect to the azimuth of said center line, and said output means including means for scanning said plurality of storing units and detecting the unit storing analog signals having a maximum magnitude to provide said output signal which represents the azimuth deviation of the azimuth of said target from the azimuth of said center line.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 64 words

The combination of claim 11 wherein said signal interpolating system further includes range gate means for controlling the accumulation of said analog signals to a predetermined period which is related to a period during which said sonar receiving system receives signals from sources located between ranges and where RT is the detected rangE of said target and Delta R is a predetermined range interval.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 68 words

The combination of claim 10 said signal interpolating system further including beam offsetting means responsive to signals of the processing and computing means of said sonar receiving system for electronically offsetting the center of said pair of beams from said center line and aligning said center with a target line directed to said detected target to resolve the azimuth of said target with respect to said target line.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 231 words

In a target detection receiving system including a plurality of receivers, means for forming a plurality of receiving beams, each beam comprising signals received from another azimuth range and processing and computing means for deriving the range of a target detected in one of said receiving beams an improved system for interpolating said receiving beam to resolve the azimuth of said target with respect to the azimuth range of said receiving beam comprising: means for separating the signals which comprise said beam into two signals which effectively represent two parallel beams equally spaced within respect to a center line having an azimuth which is centered in the azimuth range of one of said receiving beams; a pair of delay means; means for supplying said two signals which effectively comprise said two parallel beams to said pair of delay lines; means coupled to said delay lines for correlating signals received therefrom to provide a plurality of analog signals, each analog signal being a function of the phase correlation between another set of two signals from said delay lines; and means for scanning said analog signals and detecting the analog signals related to the two signals having the highest degree of phase correlation to determine the azimuth of said target as a function of the azimuth deviation represented by said detected analog signal with respect to the azimuth represented by said center line.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 231 words

In a target detection receiving system including a plurality of receivers, means for forming a plurality of receiving beams, each beam comprising signals received from another azimuth range and processing and computing means for deriving the range of a target detected in one of said receiving beams an improved system for interpolating said receiving beam to resolve the azimuth of said target with respect to the azimuth range of said receiving beam comprising: means for separating the signals which comprise said beam into two signals which effectively represent two parallel beams equally spaced within respect to a center line having an azimuth which is centered in the azimuth range of one of said receiving beams; a pair of delay means; means for supplying said two signals which effectively comprise said two parallel beams to said pair of delay lines; means coupled to said delay lines for correlating signals received therefrom to provide a plurality of analog signals, each analog signal being a function of the phase correlation between another set of two signals from said delay lines; and means for scanning said analog signals and detecting the analog signals related to the two signals having the highest degree of phase correlation to determine the azimuth of said target as a function of the azimuth deviation represented by said detected analog signal with respect to the azimuth represented by said center line.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-05-17	1974-11-16	1975-05-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-05-17	1978-11-16	1979-05-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-05-17	1982-11-16	1983-05-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Beam interpolating system

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