US3723952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for differentiating between side lobe and main lobe returns in depth sounding systems
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1970-05-26
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-05-26
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus includes means for acoustically illuminating the ocean bottom, and a receiving arrangement. The receiving arrangement comprises means for extracting an acoustic echo signal out of noise, and means for generating a signal magnitude proportional to the phase difference between echo signal arrivals at two spatially separated points. A logic arrangement gates through extracted echo signals when the phase difference signal magnitude is less than a predetermined quantity. This permits identification of the received echo returns in term of their angle of arrival. Consequently, all side lobe returns may be excluded. The apparatus further comprises means for measuring the time of arrival of gated through extracted acoustic signals in order to complete the depth sounding function.
Inventors
- 👤 G Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/28; G01S7/285; G01S7/292; G01S7/2921; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/42; G01S7/52; G01S7/52003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/901; Y10S367/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
In combination: a plurality of directional signal radiating devices; each of said devices having a radiation pattern including a main lobe and a plurality of side lobes; said devices being oriented such that at least portions of the main lobes and of side lobes of said devices overlap; means coupled to said devices for deriving output signals from said main lobe patterns of said devices, said deriving means including means for correlating signals of said main lobe patterns with a replica for providing said output signals; and means responsive to signals derived from overlapping side lobes of said devices for controlling said output signals derived from said main lobes, said controlling means including means for phase shifting signals obtained from one of said side lobe patterns relative to signals obtained from a second of said side lobe patterns, means for correlating said phase shifted signals of said first side lobe pattern with the signals of said second side lobe pattern, means coupled to said correlating side lobe means for integrating successive results of said correlation of said side lobe signals, and means resettable by a transmitter of signals to be received by said radiating devices for gating out signals provided by said replica correlator means when the output of said integrator exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
In combination: a plurality of directional signal radiating devices; each of said devices having a radiation pattern including a main lobe and a plurality of side lobes; said devices being oriented such that at least portions of the main lobes and of side lobes of said devices overlap; means coupled to said devices for deriving output signals from said main lobe patterns of said devices, said deriving means including means for correlating signals of said main lobe patterns with a replica for providing said output signals; and means responsive to signals derived from overlapping side lobes of said devices for controlling said output signals derived from said main lobes, said controlling means including means for phase shifting signals obtained from one of said side lobe patterns relative to signals obtained from a second of said side lobe patterns, means for correlating said phase shifted signals of said first side lobe pattern with the signals of said second side lobe pattern, means coupled to said correlating side lobe means for integrating successive results of said correlation of said side lobe signals, and means resettable by a transmitter of signals to be received by said radiating devices for gating out signals provided by said replica correlator means when the output of said integrator exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a movable vehicle for carrying said radiating device, and a stabilizing device mounted on said movable vehicle for stabilizing said radiating device as it is carried over a terrain, the output of said integrator varying with changes in said terrain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said controlling means comprises means for determining the relative phase of the signals derived from said side lobes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiating device comprises beam stabilizing and beam forming means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein said control means comprises phase detecting means for detecting the relative phase of two signals derived from said beam forming means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radiating device comprises means for radiating compressional wave signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said radiating device comprises means for radiating compressional wave signals through a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The combination in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a display unit coupled via said gating means to the signal output from said radiating means, said display unit including a counter which is reset by the resetting of said gating means by said transmitter, the counting of said counter being terminated in response to the presence of a signal from said replica correlating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
A depth sounder comprising: means for acoustically illuminating the ocean bottom with a narrow transmission beam substantially normal to the plane of the ocean surface; means for extracting acoustic echo signals out of noise, said means including a split beam receiving array having a pair of receiving apertures each of which being sufficiently wide in beam width to encompass at least one side lobe of a received beam, said split beam array spatially separating the phase centers of each receiving beam; means for generating a signal magnitude proportional to the phase difference between echo signal arrivals at the two spatially separated phase centers; means for gating through extractEd acoustic signals when the phase difference signal magnitude is less than a predetermined magnitude; and means for measuring the time of arrival of gated through extracted acoustic signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
136 words
A depth sounder comprising: means for acoustically illuminating the ocean bottom with a narrow transmission beam substantially normal to the plane of the ocean surface; means for extracting acoustic echo signals out of noise, said means including a split beam receiving array having a pair of receiving apertures each of which being sufficiently wide in beam width to encompass at least one side lobe of a received beam, said split beam array spatially separating the phase centers of each receiving beam; means for generating a signal magnitude proportional to the phase difference between echo signal arrivals at the two spatially separated phase centers; means for gating through extractEd acoustic signals when the phase difference signal magnitude is less than a predetermined magnitude; and means for measuring the time of arrival of gated through extracted acoustic signals.
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) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |