US3710310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for determining depth of water
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1970-12-23
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1990-12-23
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure is directed to a system for surveying ocean or inland water to obtain depth or slant range information without recording false signals. The system makes use of a single generator that generates a signal which starts a counter and is transmitted into the water. A portion of the generated signal is directed into the delay circuit which delays the signal that controls a gate through which the return signal is processed. The return signal is passed through an automatic gain control and the gate which is controlled by the delayed signal. The delay is sufficient to prevent processing of any false signals. The return signal that passes through the gate is detected and stops the counter which was started upon initiation of the generated signal. The counter output is directed to a digital recorder which indicates a measure of distance in accordance with the amount of time the counter was operational.
Inventors
- 👤 G Moss
- 👤 G Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S15/10; G01S15/18; G01S15/14; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/523; G01S7/526; G01S7/529
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for determining depth of water, which comprises; a signal generator for generating electrical pulses, a counter, a delay means, a correlation signal processor, said counter, said delay means and said correlation signal processor so arranged for simultaneously receiving signals from said signal generator, an amplifier for receiving and amplifying an output from said correlation signal processor, means for receiving a signal from said amplifier and directing an acoustical signal into a water surrounding, means for receiving sound waves reflected back and converting sound waves to an electrical signal and directing the electrical signal into said correlation signal processor, an automatic gain control so arranged to receive a signal output from said correlation signal processor, a gate means, said gate means so arranged to receive a signal from said delay means and said automatic gain control, a threshold detector, said threshold detector so arranged to receive a signal from said gate means and to direct a signal to said counter to stop said counter, and means for recording timing pulses generated by said counter, whereby depth is determined by the number of timing pulses generated by said counter during operation thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
192 words
A system for determining depth of water, which comprises; a signal generator for generating electrical pulses, a counter, a delay means, a correlation signal processor, said counter, said delay means and said correlation signal processor so arranged for simultaneously receiving signals from said signal generator, an amplifier for receiving and amplifying an output from said correlation signal processor, means for receiving a signal from said amplifier and directing an acoustical signal into a water surrounding, means for receiving sound waves reflected back and converting sound waves to an electrical signal and directing the electrical signal into said correlation signal processor, an automatic gain control so arranged to receive a signal output from said correlation signal processor, a gate means, said gate means so arranged to receive a signal from said delay means and said automatic gain control, a threshold detector, said threshold detector so arranged to receive a signal from said gate means and to direct a signal to said counter to stop said counter, and means for recording timing pulses generated by said counter, whereby depth is determined by the number of timing pulses generated by said counter during operation thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein; said delay means is adjustable to control the time of delaying a signal from said signal generator to said gate means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of determining the depth of a body of water which comprises, setting the delay time of a delay means, setting the threshold of a threshold detector, generating a first electrical signal, directing said signal to start operation of a counter, simultaneously directing said electrical signal into said delay means and into a correlation signal processor, generating a reference waveform output in said correlation signal, amplifying Said reference waveform and transmitting an acoustic signal into the water corresponding to said reference waveform, receiving acoustical waves reflected back and converting said acoustical waves into a corresponding second electrical signal, directing said second electrical signal into said correlation signal processor to generate an output signal equal to the cross correlation function of the second electrical signal and said reference waveform and directing the output signal to an automatic gain control circuit, directing an output signal from said automatic gain control circuit to a gate means, directing a signal from said delay means to said gate, means, directing a signal from said gate means to said threshold detector, whereby a signal having a threshold greater than the setting of said threshold detector is directed to said counter to stop said counter.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of determining the depth of a body of water which comprises, setting the delay time of a delay means, setting the threshold of a threshold detector, generating a first electrical signal, directing said signal to start operation of a counter, simultaneously directing said electrical signal into said delay means and into a correlation signal processor, generating a reference waveform output in said correlation signal, amplifying Said reference waveform and transmitting an acoustic signal into the water corresponding to said reference waveform, receiving acoustical waves reflected back and converting said acoustical waves into a corresponding second electrical signal, directing said second electrical signal into said correlation signal processor to generate an output signal equal to the cross correlation function of the second electrical signal and said reference waveform and directing the output signal to an automatic gain control circuit, directing an output signal from said automatic gain control circuit to a gate means, directing a signal from said delay means to said gate, means, directing a signal from said gate means to said threshold detector, whereby a signal having a threshold greater than the setting of said threshold detector is directed to said counter to stop said counter.
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) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |