Patent US3879697A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3879697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wide angle fish detector
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-06-18
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic Doppler system for detecting the presence of fishes and other moving aquatic animals over a wide angle at a discrete depth in a body of water. In a preferred embodiment, cylindrical piezoelectric transducers operating in the radial mode are used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy omnidirectionally. Means are included for maintaining the cylindrical transducers with their longitudinal axes vertical to effect omnidirectional transmission and reception in the horizontal plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph D Richard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/96; A; A01; A01K; A01K79/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of moving aquatic animals at a discrete depth within a body of water comprising: a waterproof instrumented housing suitable for positioning at some discrete depth in a body of water; means for continuously transmitting ultrasonic energy omnidirectionally in a least one plane into the water adjacent the said housing; means for receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from objects in the water adjacent the said housing, said receiving means being omnidirectional in at least one plane; means for deriving an output signal dependent on the frequency difference between said transmitted and received ultrasonic energy; means for monitoring the frequency characteristics of said output signal; and means for orienting said ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means at a discrete depth in a body of water so that the aforementioned omnidirectional transmission and reception are in a horizontal plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of moving aquatic animals at a discrete depth within a body of water comprising: a waterproof instrumented housing suitable for positioning at some discrete depth in a body of water; means for continuously transmitting ultrasonic energy omnidirectionally in a least one plane into the water adjacent the said housing; means for receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from objects in the water adjacent the said housing, said receiving means being omnidirectional in at least one plane; means for deriving an output signal dependent on the frequency difference between said transmitted and received ultrasonic energy; means for monitoring the frequency characteristics of said output signal; and means for orienting said ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means at a discrete depth in a body of water so that the aforementioned omnidirectional transmission and reception are in a horizontal plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of moving aquatic animals at a discrete depth within a body of water comprising: a waterproof instrumented housing suitable for positioning at some discrete depth in a body of water; means for continuously transmitting ultrasonic energy omnidirectionally in a least one plane into the water adjacent the said housing; means for receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from objects in the water adjacent the said housing, said receiving means being omnidirectional in at least one plane; means for deriving an output signal dependent on the frequency difference between said transmitted and received ultrasonic energy; means for monitoring the frequency characteristics of said output signal; and means for orienting said ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means at a discrete depth in a body of water so that the aforementioned omnidirectional transmission and reception are in a horizontal plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of moving aquatic animals at a discrete depth within a body of water comprising: a waterproof instrumented housing suitable for positioning at some discrete depth in a body of water; means for continuously transmitting ultrasonic energy omnidirectionally in a least one plane into the water adjacent the said housing; means for receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from objects in the water adjacent the said housing, said receiving means being omnidirectional in at least one plane; means for deriving an output signal dependent on the frequency difference between said transmitted and received ultrasonic energy; means for monitoring the frequency characteristics of said output signal; and means for orienting said ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means at a discrete depth in a body of water so that the aforementioned omnidirectional transmission and reception are in a horizontal plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of aquatic animals as described in claim 1 wherein the said instrumented housing is suspended from an electrically conductive waterproof cable; and the said ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means are coaxial piezoelectric cylinders maintained by said suspension in a vertical orientation, so that the said omnidirectional transmitting and receiving beam patterns are overlapping and maintained in a horizontal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus for detecting the presence of aquatic animals as described in claim 1 wherein the said instrumented housing is mounted on a sled for towing on the bottom of a body of water; and the said ultrasonic transmitting and receiving means are piezoelectric cylinders maintained vertically oriented on the said sled so that the resulting omnidirectional transmitting and receiving beam patterns are maintained parallel to the aforementioned bottom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 including a radio buoy connected to the said housing for transmitting the said output signal to a remote location.
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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |