US3913060A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermooptic sonar system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1974-03-04
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A means of generating usable sonar beams in water comprising, a high powered laser, a standpipe for conducting a beam from the laser to a predetermined depth in the water, a beam splitter for directing the laser beam along two paths in the water, the laser beam being absorbed in the water and the energy contained therein converted to acoustical energy by the expansion of the water along the paths thereby generating a coherent acoustic beam perpendicular to the two paths.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J Westervelt
- 👤 Richard S Larson
- 👤 Thomas G Muir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G10; G10K; G10K15/00; G10K15/04; G10K15/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An improved thermooptic sonar system for location of remote targets comprising: a. a laser for generating a laser beam; b. a elongated cylindrical housing having a first major axis filled with a non-light absorbing material; c. means for directing said laser beam along said first major axis; d. a beam splitter positioned on said first major axis, said beam splitter splitting said laser beam and projecting said laser beam along a second and a third axis; e. optical windows in said housing positioned along said second and third said axis allowing said split laser beam to be projected along said second and third said axis into water, said beam being absorbed along said second and third said axis, causing heat in small increments in water along said axis thereby causing thermal expansion of said small incremental portions in said water, and generating a sound wave that is projected at right angles to said second and third axis; f. an acoustical sound receiver in juxtaposition with said first axis to receive echo signals from said generated acoustical beam; and, g. circuitry coupled to said receiver and said laser to process signals from said laser and said receiver to display return echoes from remotely spaced targets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An improved thermooptic sonar system for location of remote targets comprising: a. a laser for generating a laser beam; b. a elongated cylindrical housing having a first major axis filled with a non-light absorbing material; c. means for directing said laser beam along said first major axis; d. a beam splitter positioned on said first major axis, said beam splitter splitting said laser beam and projecting said laser beam along a second and a third axis; e. optical windows in said housing positioned along said second and third said axis allowing said split laser beam to be projected along said second and third said axis into water, said beam being absorbed along said second and third said axis, causing heat in small increments in water along said axis thereby causing thermal expansion of said small incremental portions in said water, and generating a sound wave that is projected at right angles to said second and third axis; f. an acoustical sound receiver in juxtaposition with said first axis to receive echo signals from said generated acoustical beam; and, g. circuitry coupled to said receiver and said laser to process signals from said laser and said receiver to display return echoes from remotely spaced targets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved thermooptic sonar system of claim 1 wherein said second and third axis are substantially 180* apart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
A thermooptic sonar system comprising: a laser head for projecting a laser beam; b. a modulator in the path of said beam to provide modulation to said beam; c. a standpipe filled with non-light absorbing material for coupling said modulated laser beam to a predetermined point in water; d. a beam splitter in said standpipe for splitting said modulated beam along a first and a second axis thereby causing a coherent sound wave to be propagated in said water at right angles to said first and second axis; e. a sonar hydrophone positioned adjacent to said standpipe for the purpose of receiving sonar echoes from a target; and, f. circuitry coupled to said hydrophones to process return signals from an echo and to display in usable form the information of said return signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
A thermooptic sonar system comprising: a laser head for projecting a laser beam; b. a modulator in the path of said beam to provide modulation to said beam; c. a standpipe filled with non-light absorbing material for coupling said modulated laser beam to a predetermined point in water; d. a beam splitter in said standpipe for splitting said modulated beam along a first and a second axis thereby causing a coherent sound wave to be propagated in said water at right angles to said first and second axis; e. a sonar hydrophone positioned adjacent to said standpipe for the purpose of receiving sonar echoes from a target; and, f. circuitry coupled to said hydrophones to process return signals from an echo and to display in usable form the information of said return signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermooptic sonar system of claim 3 wherein the laser beam generated is in the optical range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The thermooptic sonar system of claim 4 wherein the laser beam is in the wave length wherein it has the least absorption per unit distance.
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) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |