US3893076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Speed measurement system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1973-10-18
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1993-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A system adapted for the measurement of ship''s speed by utilizing the doppler shift imparted to sonic energy reflected from the bottom of a body of water or from sources of reflection within the water itself. Pulsed sonic transmissions are directed from the ship at an angle to the vertical to provide a forward or aft component to the received doppler frequency signal. The received signal is translated to an intermediate frequency lower than the received frequency and the elapsed time of a predetermined number of cycles at the intermediate frequency in each of a succession of received pulse signals is measured. After ascertaining the equality of successive ones of these measurements, the system provides for the storing of successive ones of these measurements and the generation of a periodic pulse train signal having a frequency dependent on these measurements. The pulses of the pulse train wave are then counted during fixed time intervals to provide a number representing the doppler frequency shift and the corresponding speed of the ship.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J Clifford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/50; G01S15/58; G01S15/60; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S15/10; G01S15/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A speed measurement system comprising: a transducer system for coupling radiant energy into a medium into which a vehicle is moving; means coupled to said transducer system for extracting data from a predetermined number of cycles of such part of said radiant energy as is Reflected through said medium, said data extracting means comprising a plurality of intermediate storage means each of which stores data obtained respectively from successive ones of said cycles; memory means coupled to said data extracting means for storing said data; means coupled to said memory means for providing a periodic signal having said data; and means coupled to said periodic signal providing means for counting cycles of said periodic signal to provide a measure of ships speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A speed measurement system comprising: a transducer system for coupling radiant energy into a medium into which a vehicle is moving; means coupled to said transducer system for extracting data from a predetermined number of cycles of such part of said radiant energy as is Reflected through said medium, said data extracting means comprising a plurality of intermediate storage means each of which stores data obtained respectively from successive ones of said cycles; memory means coupled to said data extracting means for storing said data; means coupled to said memory means for providing a periodic signal having said data; and means coupled to said periodic signal providing means for counting cycles of said periodic signal to provide a measure of ships speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said data extracting means further comprises means coupled to said intermediate storage means for comparing the data of one of said intermediate storage means with a second of said intermediate storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said intermediate storage means comprises means for measuring the duration of said predetermined number of cycles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said intermediate storage means comprises a counter and means for transmitting clock pulses to said counter during the duration of said predetermined number of cycles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
In combination: means for receiving radiant energy; means coupled to said receiving means for making successive measurements of the period of a predetermined number of cycles of said radiant energy; means coupled to said period measuring means for signaling a substantial equality among a plurality of said measurements; and means coupled to said equality signaling means for generating a periodic signal having a frequency proportional to one of said measurements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
In combination: means for receiving radiant energy; means coupled to said receiving means for making successive measurements of the period of a predetermined number of cycles of said radiant energy; means coupled to said period measuring means for signaling a substantial equality among a plurality of said measurements; and means coupled to said equality signaling means for generating a periodic signal having a frequency proportional to one of said measurements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination according to claim 5 further comprising means coupled to said generating means for measuring the frequency of said periodic signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination according to claim 6 wherein said period measuring means includes means for storing successive ones of said measurements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 7 wherein said equality signaling means includes means for measuring the difference between successive ones of said stored period measurements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination according to claim 8 wherein said period measuring means comprises a counter for counting clock pulses and means responsive to the duration of individual ones of said cycles of said radiant energy for gating the counting of said clock pulses by said counting means during said period of said predetermined number of cycles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination according to claim 9 wherein said receiving means includes means for translating a carrier frequency of said radiant energy to an intermediate frequency of lower magnitude than said carrier frequency, said intermediate frequency being coupled to said period measuring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
A combination according to claim 10 wherein said receiving means includes a plurality of transducer elements arranged for receiving radiant energy from a plurality of directions, and wherein said frequency measuring means includes means for arithmetically combining the frequency obtained from said generating means in respect of a radiant energy signal received by one of said transducer elements with the frequency obtained from said generating means in respect of the radiant energy signal received from a second of said transducer elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A combination according to claim 11 wherein said frequency combining means comprises an up-down counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination according to claim 5 wherein said period measuring means comprises means for translating the frequency of said radiant energy to a lower frequency prior to said measurement of said period.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
In combination: means for receiving energy at a first carrier frequency; means coupled to said receiving means for translating the frequency of said received energy to a second frequency lower than said first frequency; means coupled to said translating means for making successive measurement of the period of a plurality of cycles of said energy at said second frequency; means coupled to said perIod measuring means for generating a signal which varies in accordance with the magnitudes of said successive period measurements; and means coupled to said signal generating means for providing an average value of said signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
In combination: means for receiving energy at a first carrier frequency; means coupled to said receiving means for translating the frequency of said received energy to a second frequency lower than said first frequency; means coupled to said translating means for making successive measurement of the period of a plurality of cycles of said energy at said second frequency; means coupled to said perIod measuring means for generating a signal which varies in accordance with the magnitudes of said successive period measurements; and means coupled to said signal generating means for providing an average value of said signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination according to claim 14 wherein said means for providing said average value provides a signal having a frequency proportional to the average value of said measured periods of said period measuring means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3594716A
Cited
US3795893A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |