Side looking sonar transducer

Claim 2

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a transducer means having an elongated radiating surface extending between end points for radiating acoustic energy; b. the width of said radiating surface being nonuniform; c. said transducer means being for travel through a body of water; d. electrical means; e. said transducer means being responsive to said electrical means for radiating the said acoustic energy toward a relatively narrow area on the bottom of said body of water.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. the width of the radiating surface is greater at at least one of the end points than toward the center portion of the radiating surface.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: a. the radiating surface is symmetrical about a line perpendicular to a line joining the end points.

Claim 5

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a transducer means having an elongated receiving surface extending between end points for receipt of acoustic energy; b. the width of said receiving surface being nonuniform; c. said transducer means being for travel through a body of water; d. said transducer means providing an output signal upon receipt of the said acoustic energy propagating through said water toward said transducer means.

Claim 6

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a transducer means having an elongated receiving surface extending between end points for receipt of acoustic energy; b. the width of said receiving surface being nonuniform; c. said transducer means being for travel through a body of water; d. said transducer means providing an output signal upon receipt of the said acoustic energy propagating through said water toward said transducer means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: a. the width of the receiving surface is greater at at least one of the end points than toward the center portion of the receiving surface.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: a. the receiving surface is symmetrical about a line perpendicular to a line joining the end points.

Claim 9

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of transducer active elements each having an active surface of a certain length and width; b. said elements being arranged in end-to-end relationship and lying substantially along a line extending between end points; c. the width of said elements nearer said end points being greater than the elements near the center of said line; d. electrical means; e. said elements being connected to said electrical means for collective operation; f. said collective operation providing a predetermined beam pattern associated with said transducer means.

Claim 10

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. a plurality of transducer active elements each having an active surface of a certain length and width; b. said elements being arranged in end-to-end relationship and lying substantially along a line extending between end points; c. the width of said elements nearer said end points being greater than the elements near the center of said line; d. electrical means; e. said elements being connected to said electrical means for collective operation; f. said collective operation providing a predetermined beam pattern associated with said transducer means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: a. the line is a curved line.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: a. The line is an arc of a circle of radius R; and b. the apparatus is for positioning over a target area at a distance R.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: a. the elements are oriented with a certain depression angle such that a line perpendicular to an active surface will intersect the target area.

Claim 14

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. elongated transducer means having an active surface for transmission and/or reception of acoustic energy b. said active surface having a width that varies in the range of from greater than lambda to less than lambda , where lambda is the wavelength of the operating frequency in the medium in which the transducer operates.

Claim 15

Side looking sonar apparatus comprising: a. elongated transducer means having an active surface for transmission and/or reception of acoustic energy b. said active surface having a width that varies in the range of from greater than lambda to less than lambda , where lambda is the wavelength of the operating frequency in the medium in which the transducer operates.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein: a. the length of the active surface is greater than 150.

Claim 17

Side looking apparatus comprising: a. elongated transducer means having an active surface for transmission and/or reception of acoustic energy; b. said active surface having a width so varied that during operation over a target area said elongated transducer means has a length L with respect to points relatively distant on said target area, and has a simulated length L'' with respect to points relatively close on said target area, where L>L''.

Claim 18

Side looking apparatus comprising: a. elongated transducer means having an active surface for transmission and/or reception of acoustic energy; b. said active surface having a width so varied that during operation over a target area said elongated transducer means has a length L with respect to points relatively distant on said target area, and has a simulated length L'' with respect to points relatively close on said target area, where L>L''.