US3676839A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Switching apparatus for a phased transducer array
Assignee: Edco Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-10
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1989-11-10
Abstract
Abstract Analog switching apparatus electrically focuses a phased transducer array by interconnecting the outputs of selected transducer elements with selected taps of a multitapped electrical delay line. A first portion of the switching apparatus selects a subset of the transducer array to define a focusing search sector, and a second switching apparatus portion sequentially advances through a complete switching cycle for each transducer subset selection to traverse the focus of the array across the search sector in discrete increments.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J Wohl
- 👤 Jonathan L Schere
- 👤 Thomas V Costello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:38
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/345; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/24; H01Q3/242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
In combination in a phased hydrophone transducer arrangement, a plurality of hydrophones disposed in a circular array, each of said hydrophones exhibiting a response characteristic which is substantially uniform for a broad range of bearings relative to said hydrophone, a tapped delay line including an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, a plurality of intermediate signal terminals fewer in number than said hydrophones, input analog signal switching means for connecting a selected subset of said hydrophones to said intermediate terminals for defining an effective focusing sector for said hydrophones, output analog switching means for connecting said intermediate terminals to said delay line input terminals for defining a particular sensing axis within said sector, control means for controlling said input and output switching means, said control means includes a source of repetitive pulses, a counter cycled by said pulse source, and a command decoder including means responsive to the most significant bits of said counter for controlling said input switching means to operatively select differing subsets of said hydrophones and responsive to the least significant bits of said counter for controlling said output switching means to effect a plurality of connection patterns between said selected hydrophones and said delay line input terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
In combination in a phased hydrophone transducer arrangement, a plurality of hydrophones disposed in a circular array, each of said hydrophones exhibiting a response characteristic which is substantially uniform for a broad range of bearings relative to said hydrophone, a tapped delay line including an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, a plurality of intermediate signal terminals fewer in number than said hydrophones, input analog signal switching means for connecting a selected subset of said hydrophones to said intermediate terminals for defining an effective focusing sector for said hydrophones, output analog switching means for connecting said intermediate terminals to said delay line input terminals for defining a particular sensing axis within said sector, control means for controlling said input and output switching means, said control means includes a source of repetitive pulses, a counter cycled by said pulse source, and a command decoder including means responsive to the most significant bits of said counter for controlling said input switching means to operatively select differing subsets of said hydrophones and responsive to the least significant bits of said counter for controlling said output switching means to effect a plurality of connection patterns between said selected hydrophones and said delay line input terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
201 words
In combination, an array of transducers each having a relatively broad response characteristic, said array being capable of being electronically focused, delay means having an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, said delay means including means for effecting a characteristic delay between each of said input terminals and said output terminal, input analog switching means for operatively selecting a subset of said plural transduCers thereby focusing said transducer array within an angular sector, output switching means for selectively connecting said selected transducers to said input terminals of said delay means for defining a particular focusing direction within said sector, control means for controlling said input and output switching means, said control means including a source of repetitive pulses, a counter cycled by said pulse source, and a command decoder including means responsive to the most significant bits of said counter for controlling said input switching means to operatively select differing subsets of said transducers and responsive to the least significant bits of said counter for controlling said output switching means to effect a plurality of connection patterns between said selected transducers and said delay means input terminals for each selection of said transducers by said input analog switching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
201 words
In combination, an array of transducers each having a relatively broad response characteristic, said array being capable of being electronically focused, delay means having an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, said delay means including means for effecting a characteristic delay between each of said input terminals and said output terminal, input analog switching means for operatively selecting a subset of said plural transduCers thereby focusing said transducer array within an angular sector, output switching means for selectively connecting said selected transducers to said input terminals of said delay means for defining a particular focusing direction within said sector, control means for controlling said input and output switching means, said control means including a source of repetitive pulses, a counter cycled by said pulse source, and a command decoder including means responsive to the most significant bits of said counter for controlling said input switching means to operatively select differing subsets of said transducers and responsive to the least significant bits of said counter for controlling said output switching means to effect a plurality of connection patterns between said selected transducers and said delay means input terminals for each selection of said transducers by said input analog switching means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
In combination, an array of transducers each having a relatively broad response characteristic, said array being capable of being electronically focused, delay means having an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, said delay means including means for effecting a characteristic delay between each of said input terminals and said output terminal, input analog switching means for operatively selecting a subset of said plural transducers thereby focusing said transducer array within an angular sector, said input analog switching means including matrix means having a plurality of cross-point analog switches, which comprise field effect transistors, for converging outputs from said plural transducers at a fewer number of matrix output terminals, output switching means for selectively connecting said selected transducers to said input terminals of said delay means for defining a particular focusing direction within said sector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
In combination, an array of transducers each having a relatively broad response characteristic, said array being capable of being electronically focused, delay means having an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, said delay means including means for effecting a characteristic delay between each of said input terminals and said output terminal, input analog switching means for operatively selecting a subset of said plural transducers thereby focusing said transducer array within an angular sector, said input analog switching means including matrix means having a plurality of cross-point analog switches, which comprise field effect transistors, for converging outputs from said plural transducers at a fewer number of matrix output terminals, output switching means for selectively connecting said selected transducers to said input terminals of said delay means for defining a particular focusing direction within said sector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
231 words
In combination, an array of transducers each having a relatively broad response characteristic, said array being capable of being electronically focused, delay means having an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, said delay means including means for effecting a characteristic delay between each of said input terminals and said output terminal, input analog switching means for operatively selecting a subset of said plural transducers thereby focusing said transducer array within an angular sector, said input analog switching means including matrix means having a plurality of cross-point analog switches for converging outputs from said plural transducers at a fewer number of matrix output terminals, output switching means for selectively connecting said selected transducers to said input terminals of said delay means for defining a particular focusing direction within said section, control means for controlling said input and output switching means, said control means including a source of repetitive pulses, a counter cycled by said pulse source, and a command decoder including means responsive to the most significant bits of said counter for controlling said input switching means to operatively select differing subsets of said transducers and responsive to the least significant bits of said counter for controlling said output switching means to effect a plurality of connection patterns between said selected transducers and said delay means input terminals for each selection of said transducers by said input analog switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
In combination, an array of transducers each having a relatively broad response characteristic, said array being capable of being electronically focused, delay means having an output terminal and a plurality of input terminals, said delay means including means for effecting a characteristic delay between each of said input terminals and said output terminal, input analog switching means for operatively selecting a subset of said plural transducers thereby focusing said transducer array within an angular sector, said input analog switching means including matrix means having a plurality of cross-point analog switches for converging outputs from said plural transducers at a fewer number of matrix output terminals, output switching means for selectively connecting said selected transducers to said input terminals of said delay means for defining a particular focusing direction within said section, control means for controlling said input and output switching means, said control means including a source of repetitive pulses, a counter cycled by said pulse source, and a command decoder including means responsive to the most significant bits of said counter for controlling said input switching means to operatively select differing subsets of said transducers and responsive to the least significant bits of said counter for controlling said output switching means to effect a plurality of connection patterns between said selected transducers and said delay means input terminals for each selection of said transducers by said input analog switching means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination as in claim 4 wherein said delay means comprises a multitapped delay line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3526872A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |