US3864666A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Directional sonar apparatus
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-12
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-06-12
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus, typically a homing torpedo, includes an array of main directional sonar electroacoustic transducers, typically Tonpiltz oscillators, so distributed as to have directional response to signals and connected to generate commands to control the apparatus. The response pattern of this array alone has a main lobe and side lobes, the response to signals along the direction of the main lobe being substantially higher than to signals along the direction of the side lobe. An auxiliary predominately omnidirectional electroacoustic transducer (a hydrophone) is spaced of the order of one wavelength of the signal outwardly from a central main transducer and the combined response of this auxiliary transducer and central main transducer is compared to the total response from the array. If the combined response exceeds the total response, the control commands for the signals are suppressed and if the total response exceeds the combined response the control commands for the signals are enabled to control the apparatus. There is also apparatus including an array of main electroacoustic transducers and an auxiliary predominately omnidirectional electroacoustic transducer associated with, and spaced outwardly from, each main transducer. Each pair of main transducers and auxiliary transducers are so spaced and their response so combined as to suppress side lobes in the reception pattern of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 George R Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:07
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G7/00; F41G7/20; F41G7/22; F41G7/2273; F41G7/228; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0607; B06B1/0611; B06B1/0618; G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/80; G01S3/802; G01S3/803; G01S3/8034; G01S3/8038; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/901; Y10S367/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
Directional sonar apparatus for receiving signals from sources in predetermined directions with respect to said apparatus, said apparatus including an array of main electroacoustic transducers, said electroacoustic transducers being spacially distributed with respect to each other so that the response of said array to said signals is directional, the directional pattern of said response having a main lobe and at least one side lobe, the response to said signals along the direction of said main lobe being substantially greater than the response to said signals along the direction of said side lobe, at least one predominately omnidirectional auxiliary electroacoustic transducer in receiving relationship with said signals, said auxiliary transducer being connected to at least one of said main electroacoustic transducers to produce a combined response with said one transducer, actuable means connected to said array and said auxiliary transducer to be actuated thereby, and means connecting said auxiliary electroacoustic transducer and said one main electroacoustic transducer in comparison relationship with said array of main transducers so that said combined response of said auxiliary transducer and said one main transducer modifies the response of said array so as to suppress the actuation of said actuable means responsive to signals along the direction of said side lobes but to permit actuation of said actuable means along the direction of said main lobe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
Directional sonar apparatus for receiving signals from sources in predetermined directions with respect to said apparatus, said apparatus including an array of main electroacoustic transducers, said electroacoustic transducers being spacially distributed with respect to each other so that the response of said array to said signals is directional, the directional pattern of said response having a main lobe and at least one side lobe, the response to said signals along the direction of said main lobe being substantially greater than the response to said signals along the direction of said side lobe, at least one predominately omnidirectional auxiliary electroacoustic transducer in receiving relationship with said signals, said auxiliary transducer being connected to at least one of said main electroacoustic transducers to produce a combined response with said one transducer, actuable means connected to said array and said auxiliary transducer to be actuated thereby, and means connecting said auxiliary electroacoustic transducer and said one main electroacoustic transducer in comparison relationship with said array of main transducers so that said combined response of said auxiliary transducer and said one main transducer modifies the response of said array so as to suppress the actuation of said actuable means responsive to signals along the direction of said side lobes but to permit actuation of said actuable means along the direction of said main lobe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the each main electroacoustic transducer is broad-beamed but generally directional.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one electroacoustic transducer is substantially centrally located in said array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary transducer is spaced of the order of one wavelength of the signal from the one main transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including an enclosure for the array, the enclosure including a window transparent to the signals, said window being disposed over the array so that the signals are received by the array through the window, the auxiliary electroacoustic transducer being embedded in the window.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spacing of the auxiliary transducer from the one main transducer is such as to maximize the combined response of the auxiliary transducer and of the one main transducer in the direction of the side lobe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuable means includes: a. summing means for summing the response to signals of substantially all main electroacoustic transducers of the array; b. subtracting means for subtracting the response to said signals received by the predominant number of said transducers of a part of said transducers of a part of said array from the response to said signals of the predominant number of the remainder of said transducers of said array; c. means for deriving a measure of the relationship between the total response of said summing means and the net response of said subtracting means; d. means, connected to said deriving means, when enabled, for actuating said actuable means in dependence upon said measure; the comparing means comparing the combined response of the auxiliary transducer and the one main transducer with the sum produced by the summing means, and the said actuable means also including means, responsive to the comparing means, for enabling said actuable means only when the sum produced by the summing means exceeds the combined response.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
116 words
Directional sonar apparatus for receiving signals from sources in predetermined directions from said apparatus, the said apparatus including an array of main electroacoustic transducers, an auxiliary predominately omnidirectional transducer associated with each main transducer, means interconnecting each main transducer and its associated omindirectional transducer so that a combined response to said signals is derived from each pair of main and auxiliary transducers, the transducers of said array and their respective associated auxiliary transducers being spatially distributed with respect to each other so that the response to said signals is directional, the spacing and interconnection between each auxiliary transducer and its associated main transducer being such as to suppress response to said signals laterally of said array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
Directional sonar apparatus for receiving signals from sources in predetermined directions from said apparatus, the said apparatus including an array of main electroacoustic transducers, an auxiliary predominately omnidirectional transducer associated with each main transducer, means interconnecting each main transducer and its associated omindirectional transducer so that a combined response to said signals is derived from each pair of main and auxiliary transducers, the transducers of said array and their respective associated auxiliary transducers being spatially distributed with respect to each other so that the response to said signals is directional, the spacing and interconnection between each auxiliary transducer and its associated main transducer being such as to suppress response to said signals laterally of said array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 8 including an enclosure for said array, the enclosure including a window to the signals, said window being disposed over said array so that said signals are received by the array through the window, the auxiliary electroacoustic transducers being embedded in said window.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each auxiliary transducer is spaced from its associated main transducer about one wavelength of the signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each main electroacoustic transducer has a longitudinal axis and each auxiliary transducer is of generally spherical form, the center of the auxiliary transducer being along the axis of the main transducer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each main electroacoustic transducer is directional.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3290684A
Cited
US3478309A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |