US3731264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for determining the position of a surface vessel with respect to a signal source
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1972-01-24
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for determining the position in azimuth of a surface vessel, with respect to an underwater sonar signal source, irrespective of the motion of the surface vessel, comprising a hydrophone, capable of determining the azimuth of an underwater sonar signal source with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel, and a universal joint, connecting the hydrophone to the surface vessel, its two axes of rotation being parallel to the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel, thereby effectively permitting the hydrophone to rotate about the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel. A vertical reference, attached to the hydrophone so as to pitch and roll with it, comprises a roll sensor and a pitch sensor for determining the roll and pitch, respectively, of the hydrophone. A roll summer and a pitch summer, whose two inputs are the outputs from the hydrophone and the roll sensor and pitch sensor, respectively, serve to determine the true azimuth of the sonar signal source, with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface ship, in spite of any roll or pitch of the hydrophone, or of the surface vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 L Campbell
- 👤 J Vetter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/80; G01S3/802; G01S3/805; G01S3/807; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
Apparatus for determining the position in azimuth of a surface vessel, with respect to an underwater sonar signal source, irrespective of the motion of the surface vessel, comprising; a hydrophone, capable of determining the azimuth of an underwater sonar signal source with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel; a universal joint, connecting the hydrophone to the surface vessel, its two axes of rotation being the same as the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel, thereby permitting the hydrophone to rotate about the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel; a vertical reference, attached to the hydrophone so as to pitch and roll with it, comprising: a roll sensor for determining the roll of the hydrophone; and a pitch sensor for determining the pitch of the hydrophone; a roll summer, whose two inputs are the outputs from the hydrophone and the roll sensor; and a pitch summer, whose two inputs are the outputs from the hydrophone and the pitch sensor; the two summers serving to determine the true azimuth of the sonar signal source, with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface ship, in spite of any roll or pitch of the hydrophone, or of the surface vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
Apparatus for determining the position in azimuth of a surface vessel, with respect to an underwater sonar signal source, irrespective of the motion of the surface vessel, comprising; a hydrophone, capable of determining the azimuth of an underwater sonar signal source with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel; a universal joint, connecting the hydrophone to the surface vessel, its two axes of rotation being the same as the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel, thereby permitting the hydrophone to rotate about the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel; a vertical reference, attached to the hydrophone so as to pitch and roll with it, comprising: a roll sensor for determining the roll of the hydrophone; and a pitch sensor for determining the pitch of the hydrophone; a roll summer, whose two inputs are the outputs from the hydrophone and the roll sensor; and a pitch summer, whose two inputs are the outputs from the hydrophone and the pitch sensor; the two summers serving to determine the true azimuth of the sonar signal source, with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface ship, in spite of any roll or pitch of the hydrophone, or of the surface vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The position-determining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for determining the depth of the sonar signal source with respect to the surface of the water, located upon the surface vessel and connected to the output of the roll and pitch summers; the position-determining means thereby being able to determine the range and the azimuth of the sonar signal source with respect to the roll and pitch axes of the surface vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The position determining apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: means for determining the presence of a valid target, connected to the input of the hydrophone, roll and pitch mixers, whose inputs are the outputs of the roll and pitch summers, respectively, and the valid target determining means, the mixers providing an output only if a valid target has been detected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The position-determining apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: roll and pitch preamplifiers, connected between the outputs of the roll and pitch sensors and the roll and pitch summers, respectively, for amplifying the roll and pitch signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The position-determining apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: roll and pitch channel amplifiers, connected between the roll and pitch mixers, respectively, and the depth-determining means, for amplifyIng the outputs of the roll and pitch mixers, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The position-determining apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: roll and pitch channel drivers connected to the depth-determining means, for amplifying the outputs of the roll and pitch channels, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The position-determining apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: an oscilloscope, whose input is connected to the outputs of the roll and pitch channel output amplifiers, for viewing the relative position of the surface vessel with respect to the sonar signal source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2019497A
Cited
US2426657A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |