US3675191A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic sounder
Assignee: Department of Supply
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Filing: 1969-12-29
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1989-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of recording upper atmospheric characteristics which comprises transmitting in a generally upward direction recurrent pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive back a reflected signal from a target, receiving the back-scattered energy on a facsimile recorder or other indicating mechanism which records the time and/or intensity and/or duration and/or direction of the backscattered energy to permit upper atmospheric characteristics to be determined at airports or other localities where such information is of vital importance, the apparatus including a transducer to radiate the pulses of acoustic energy and to receive the backscattered energy and to record from it the required data.
Inventors
- 👤 Lindsay G Mcallister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P5/001; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/02; G01N29/032; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/885; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/28; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W2001/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
The method of recording turbulent air in the troposphere which comprises transmitting form a plurality of acoustic energy arrays, in a generally upward direction, recurrent pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation and at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive backscattered energy from a target, receiving the back-scattered energy, and selectively recording time of arrival, intensity, and direction of the returning back-scattered energy, said plurality of acoustic energy arrays being alternately switched from a transmit mode to a receive mode and the output signals of the arrays in the receive mode being at least in part independently analyzed to determine characteristics of the target.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
The method of recording turbulent air in the troposphere which comprises transmitting form a plurality of acoustic energy arrays, in a generally upward direction, recurrent pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation and at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive backscattered energy from a target, receiving the back-scattered energy, and selectively recording time of arrival, intensity, and direction of the returning back-scattered energy, said plurality of acoustic energy arrays being alternately switched from a transmit mode to a receive mode and the output signals of the arrays in the receive mode being at least in part independently analyzed to determine characteristics of the target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 comprising plotting the backscattered energy in a time of day amplitude relationship on a facsimile recorder to give an acoustic radar plot indicating height of the target turbulence in relation to time of day.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 comprising recording the angle of arrival of the backscattered from in relation to the transmitter to indicate wind speed and direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of acoustical energy arrays which are alternately switched from a transmit mode to a receive mode are collectively energized in the transmit mode and the output signals of the arrays in the receive mode are collectively fed to an amplitude recorder but the output signals of group arrays are independently analyzed to indicate wind speed and direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the recurrent pulses of acoustic energy have a frequency of about 950 Hz at a pulse repetition rate of about 0.5 pulses per second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for recording turbulent air in the troposphere inclusive of inversion layers and wind velocities and direction, said apparatus comprising transducer means for radiating pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation and at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive backscattered energy, and means to record the backscattered energy, said transducer means comprising an array of speakers directed towards the target area, and means for alternatively switching the speakers with a delay therebetween to a transmit mode and a receive mode so that acoustic energy is transmitted into the troposphere and backscattered energy is received by the said array, a plurality of said arrays being connected to be collectively energized in the transmit mode but selectively connected to indicator means in the receive mode so that target shift as well as distance and backscatter intensity is recorded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for recording turbulent air in the troposphere inclusive of inversion layers and wind velocities and direction, said apparatus comprising transducer means for radiating pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation and at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive backscattered energy, and means to record the backscattered energy, said transducer means comprising an array of speakers directed towards the target area, and means for alternatively switching the speakers with a delay therebetween to a transmit mode and a receive mode so that acoustic energy is transmitted into the troposphere and backscattered energy is received by the said array, a plurality of said arrays being connected to be collectively energized in the transmit mode but selectively connected to indicator means in the receive mode so that target shift as well as distance and backscatter intensity is recorded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said arrays of speakers are arranged in columns and rows, the switching means comprising separate multicoupler means connected to the outputs of each array for connecting the same to produce a number of output signals inclusive of one representing the sum of the outputs of all arrays, and others representing the sum of the output signals in the arrays in each row and column, phase detector means for determining phase difference between the output signals of the arrays in the rows and for determining phase difference between the output signals of the arrays in columns, said indicator means including indicators coupled to the phase detector means for indicating wind velocity in two directions as a function of the phase differences between the output signals in the arrays respectively in columns and rows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for recording turbulent air in the troposphere inclusive of inversion layers and wind velocities and direction, said apparatus comprising transducer means for radiating pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation and at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive backscattered energy, and means to record the backscattered energy, said transducer means comprising an array of speakers directeD towards the target area, and means for alternatively switching the speakers with a delay therebetween to a transmit mode and a receive mode so that acoustic energy is transmitted into the troposphere and backscattered energy is received by the said array, a plurality of said arrays being spaced and angled relative to one another to operate at angles to record doppler shift.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
Apparatus for recording turbulent air in the troposphere inclusive of inversion layers and wind velocities and direction, said apparatus comprising transducer means for radiating pulses of acoustic energy at a selected frequency band of operation and at a repetition interval longer than that required to receive backscattered energy, and means to record the backscattered energy, said transducer means comprising an array of speakers directeD towards the target area, and means for alternatively switching the speakers with a delay therebetween to a transmit mode and a receive mode so that acoustic energy is transmitted into the troposphere and backscattered energy is received by the said array, a plurality of said arrays being spaced and angled relative to one another to operate at angles to record doppler shift.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |