Side looking sonar apparatus

Claim 2

Side looking sonar apparatus, comprising: first transducer means including a first elongated transducer active element extending between a first pair of spaced points; second transducer means including a second elongated transducer active element extending between a second pair of spaced points; the projection of a straight line joining said first pair of spaced points onto a vertical Z-Y plane being divergent at an angle Alpha with respect to the projection of a straight line joining said second pair of spaced points onto said Z-Y plane; the projection of said line joining said first pair of spaced points, onto a horizontal X-Y plane being divergent at an angle phi with respect to the projection of said line joining said second pair of spaced points, onto said X-Y plane; said angles Alpha and phi being relatively small and substantially less than 90*; one of said transducer means being for narrow beam projection of acoustic energy toward a target area; the other of said transDucer means being for narrow beam reception of said acoustic energy reflected back from said target area.

Claim 3

Side looking sonar apparatus for travel along a course line over a target area comprising: a. first transducer means including a first elongated transducer active element for propagation of acoustic energy onto said target area, the impingement of said acoustic energy producing a relatively narrow insonified area; b. second transducer means including a second elongated transducer active element for reception of acoustic energy reflected from a relatively narrow receiver strip on said target area; c. said first and second transducer means being oriented relative to one another that i. said insonified area is at an angle phi , greater than zero degrees and substantially less than 90*, with respect to said receiver strip, ii. said insonified area is displaced from said receiver strip, by a distance d, along a projection of said course line onto said target area, iii. said receiver strip sweeps substantially all of said insonified area during the course of said travel over said target area.

Claim 4

Side looking sonar apparatus for travel along a course line over a target area comprising: a. first transducer means including a first elongated transducer active element for propagation of acoustic energy onto said target area, the impingement of said acoustic energy producing a relatively narrow insonified area; b. second transducer means including a second elongated transducer active element for reception of acoustic energy reflected from a relatively narrow receiver strip on said target area; c. said first and second transducer means being oriented relative to one another that i. said insonified area is at an angle phi , greater than zero degrees and substantially less than 90*, with respect to said receiver strip, ii. said insonified area is displaced from said receiver strip, by a distance d, along a projection of said course line onto said target area, iii. said receiver strip sweeps substantially all of said insonified area during the course of said travel over said target area.

Claim 5

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. an elongated transducer transmitter; b. an elongated transducer receiver; c. said transmitter being skewed relative to said receiver by an angle phi ; d. said transmitter additionally being tilted relative to said receiver by an angle Alpha ; e. said angles Alpha and phi being relatively small and substantially less than 90*.

Claim 6

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. an elongated transducer transmitter; b. an elongated transducer receiver; c. said transmitter being skewed relative to said receiver by an angle phi ; d. said transmitter additionally being tilted relative to said receiver by an angle Alpha ; e. said angles Alpha and phi being relatively small and substantially less than 90*.

Claim 7

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a housing member having at least a wall surface; b. a plurality of blocks each including a rear surface, a front surface angularly disposed relative to said rear surface, said front surface including a groove; c. acoustic backing material disposed in each said groove and containing a short segment of transducer active element having a rear surface and an active face; d. electrode means forming electrical connection with said short segments of transducer active elements; e. cooperative engagement positioning means on said rear surface for positioning said blocks along said wall surface in end to end configuration forming an elongated transducer means.

Claim 8

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a housing member having at least a wall surface; b. a plurality of blocks each including a rear surface, a front surface angularly disposed relative to said rear surface, said front surface including a groove; c. acoustic backing material disposed in each said groove and containing a short segment of transducer active element having a rear surface and an active face; d. electrode means forming electrical connection with said short segments of transducer active elements; e. cooperative engagement positioning means on said rear surface for positioning said blocks along said wall surface in end to end configuration forming an elongated transducer means.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the electrode means includes: a. a first electrode contacting the rear surface of each short segment of transducer active element; and b. a second electrode in the form of a continuous wire looped over the active face of each short segment of transducer active element to make electrical contact therewith at at least two points.

Claim 10

Side looking sonar apparatus for travel over along a course line over a target area comprising: a. first transducer means operable at a first frequency for propagation of acoustic energy onto said target area, the impingement of said acoustic energy producing a relatively narrow first insonified area; b. second transducer means operable at a second frequency for propagation of acoustic energy onto said target area, the impingement of said acoustic energy producing a relatively narrow second insonified area; c. third transducer means responsive to said first frequency for reception of acoustic energy reflected from a relatively narrow first receiver strip on said target area; d. fourth transducer means responsive to said frequency for reception of acoustic energy reflected from a relatively narrow second receiver strip on said target area; e. said first, second, third and fourth transducer means being oriented relative to one another that i. said first and second insonified areas are adjacent and at angles greater than 0* with respect to said first and second receiver strips and ii. said first and second insonified areas are displaced from said first and second receiver strips, respectively, by respective predetermined distances, along a projection of said course line onto sAid target area.

Claim 11

Side looking sonar apparatus for travel over along a course line over a target area comprising: a. first transducer means operable at a first frequency for propagation of acoustic energy onto said target area, the impingement of said acoustic energy producing a relatively narrow first insonified area; b. second transducer means operable at a second frequency for propagation of acoustic energy onto said target area, the impingement of said acoustic energy producing a relatively narrow second insonified area; c. third transducer means responsive to said first frequency for reception of acoustic energy reflected from a relatively narrow first receiver strip on said target area; d. fourth transducer means responsive to said frequency for reception of acoustic energy reflected from a relatively narrow second receiver strip on said target area; e. said first, second, third and fourth transducer means being oriented relative to one another that i. said first and second insonified areas are adjacent and at angles greater than 0* with respect to said first and second receiver strips and ii. said first and second insonified areas are displaced from said first and second receiver strips, respectively, by respective predetermined distances, along a projection of said course line onto sAid target area.