US3942149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid state depth sounder
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1974-08-19
•
Granted: 1976-03-02
•
Expires: 1994-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A solid state depth sounding system, for measuring depth and detecting the presence of underwater objects, comprises an oscillator, producing high frequency electrical signals, a transmitter, for intermittently amplifying those signals, a transducer, and a receiver. The transducer produces high frequency sound impulses from the intermittent amplified signals, and transmits those impulses through the water until they are reflected by some underwater object. The transducer also picks up the reflected sound impulses and provides a high frequency electrical signal to the receiver which amplifies and detects it to produce a return pulse related in analog value to the strength of the reflected signal. The time delay between the transmission and reception of the high frequency sound impulse, and consequently the distance to the reflecting object, is measured by applying either a transmit pulse or a return pulse to the serial input of a multibit BBD or CCD shift register with a specified number of parallel outputs. When the contents of the shift register are sampled, the pulse or pulses in the register are used to drive display elements corresponding to the bit or bits in which those pulses are found. A properly calibrated display, driven by these pulses will indicate the presence and depth of underwater reflecting objects. By applying the analog return pulse to the input of the shift register, and by sampling at predetermined intervals the display will indicate, by the relative intensity of the driven display elements, the relative strength of the reflected signals. A number of such solid state depth sounders may be used to provide multidirectional depth measuring and detection with a single coordinated display. The display device and signal processing equipment are designed to indicate the lateral distance to a reflecting object as well as its depth.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilmer J. Westfall, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/56; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S15/10; G01S15/14; G01S15/87
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
A system for measuring depth, said system comprising: a. means for producing high frequency sound impulses and periodically transmitting said impulses through the water at predetermined time intervals; b. means for receiving high frequency sound impulses reflected from a number of reflecting objects; c. means for producing return signals which are each coincident in time to one of said reflected high frequency sound impulses and are analog values directly related to the strength of said reflected high frequency sound impulses; d. means for producing desired clock frequencies; e. means for measuring the time elapsed between transmission of the high frequency sound impulse and the reception of the reflected sound impulse, said means comprising: i. a shift register device having a serial input and a specified number of bits through which an analog signal appearing at said input may be shifted at a rate related to the clock frequency; ii. means for applying said analog return signal or signals to the input of said shift register, said analog return signal or signals being shifted serially through said shift register for timing reference; iii. means to sample, upon the occurrence of a specified transfer signal, the individual bits of the shift register device and produce analog output signals corresponding to the bit or bits in which a pulse was found and corresponding to the analog values of said pulses, whereby said output signals have an analog value directly related to the strength of said reflected high frequency sound impulses; iv. means for producing said transfer signal periodically at desired time intervals, said transfer signal having a specified duration; and f. an analog display output means capable of producing a visual display from the analog output signals of the time delay measurement means, said display being calibrated to indicate depth to the reflecting objects, and said display output means being further capable of indicating the relative strength of the reflected high frequency sound impulses.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
321 words
A system for measuring depth, said system comprising: a. means for producing high frequency sound impulses and periodically transmitting said impulses through the water at predetermined time intervals; b. means for receiving high frequency sound impulses reflected from a number of reflecting objects; c. means for producing return signals which are each coincident in time to one of said reflected high frequency sound impulses and are analog values directly related to the strength of said reflected high frequency sound impulses; d. means for producing desired clock frequencies; e. means for measuring the time elapsed between transmission of the high frequency sound impulse and the reception of the reflected sound impulse, said means comprising: i. a shift register device having a serial input and a specified number of bits through which an analog signal appearing at said input may be shifted at a rate related to the clock frequency; ii. means for applying said analog return signal or signals to the input of said shift register, said analog return signal or signals being shifted serially through said shift register for timing reference; iii. means to sample, upon the occurrence of a specified transfer signal, the individual bits of the shift register device and produce analog output signals corresponding to the bit or bits in which a pulse was found and corresponding to the analog values of said pulses, whereby said output signals have an analog value directly related to the strength of said reflected high frequency sound impulses; iv. means for producing said transfer signal periodically at desired time intervals, said transfer signal having a specified duration; and f. an analog display output means capable of producing a visual display from the analog output signals of the time delay measurement means, said display being calibrated to indicate depth to the reflecting objects, and said display output means being further capable of indicating the relative strength of the reflected high frequency sound impulses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for measuring depth as defined in claim 1 wherein said shift register device is further defined as a bucket brigade device with a serial input and a specified number of bits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for measuring depth as defined in claim 1 wherein said shift register device is further defined as a charge coupled device with a serial input and a specified number of bits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said analog display output means comprises: a. means for producing an analog display of numerals or characters when driven by specified analog display signals, wherein the intensity of the display is determined by the analog value of the signals used to drive the display; and b. means for encoding said analog output signals, so as to produce said analog display signals which will drive said numerical and status display means to show numerically the depths of the various reflecting objects and to indicate by relative intensity of the display the relative strengths of the various reflected signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said analog display output means comprises a linear display means capable of indicating depth to the reflecting objects and relative strengths of the reflected signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said analog display output means comprise: a. a specified number of analog display elements arranged linearly; and b. means for encoding said analog output signals, corresponding to bit position of analog pulses in the shift register device and corresponding to the analog values of said pulses, so as to produce analog display signals which will drive the proper ones of said analog display elements, whereby the depths of the various reflecting objects will be shown and the relative strengths of the various reflected sound impulses will be indicated by the relative intensity of the displays produced by the driven elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said analog display output means comprises: a. a specified number of analog numerical display elements, arranged linearly; and b. means for encoding said analog output signals to produce analog display signals which will drive the proper ones of said analog numerical display elements to indicate numerically the depths of the various reflecting objects, said encoder means further including means for producing said encoded display signals directly related in analog value to said analog output signals, whereby the depths of the various reflecting objects will be shown numerically in a position related to the depth, and whereby the relative strengths of the various reflected sound impulses will be indicated by the relative intensity of the numerical displays produced by the driven elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A multidirectional depth measuring system, said system comprising: a. a specified number of depth measuring systems as defined in claim 1, each of said depth measuring systems further including means to indicate the lateral range of the various reflecting objects, said lateral range indication means being calibrated in realtion to the direction in which said high frequency sound impulses are transmitted; and b. means for specifying the high frequency associated with each of the depth measuring systems, whereby each of the depth measuring systems may be made to operate at a different frequency.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A multidirectional depth measuring system, said system comprising: a. a specified number of depth measuring systems as defined in claim 1, wherein said display output means of each individual depth measurement system comprises: i. a two dimension array of analog display elements; ii. means to correlate the delay measured by said time delay measurement means and the direction of transmission of the high frequency sound impulse and to produce analog display signals to said array of analog display elements, whereby the lateral range and depth of the various reflecting objects will be displayed, and whereby the relative strengths of the various reflected signals will be indicated by the relative intensities of the displays produced by the analog display elements; and b. means for specifying the high frequency associated with each of the depth measuring systems, whereby each of the depth measuring systems may be made to operate at a different frequency.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
261 words
A system for measuring depth, said system comprising: a. means for producing sound impulses of a specified high frequency, and periodically transmitting said impulses directionally through the water at predetermined time intervals; b. means for selectively receiving sound impulses of a specified high frequency, said impulses being reflected from a number of reflecting objects; c. means for producing return signals which are each coincident in time to one of said reflected high frequency sound impulses; d. means for producing desired clock frequencies; e. means for measuring the time elapsed between transmission of the high frequency sound impulse and the reception of the reflected sound impulse, said means comprising: i. a shift register device having a serial input and a specified number of bits through which a signal appearing at said input may be shifted at a rate related to the clock frequency; ii. means for applying said return signal or signals to the input of said shift register, said return signal or signals being shifted serially through said shift register for timing reference; iii. means to sample, upon the occurrence of a specified transfer signal, the individual bits of the shift register device and produce output signals corresponding to the bit or bits in which a pulse was found; iv. means for producing said transfer signal periodically at desired time intervals, said transfer signal having a specified duration; and f. a display output means capable of producing a visual display from the output signals of the time delay measurement means, said display being calibrated to indicate depth to the reflecting objects.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
261 words
A system for measuring depth, said system comprising: a. means for producing sound impulses of a specified high frequency, and periodically transmitting said impulses directionally through the water at predetermined time intervals; b. means for selectively receiving sound impulses of a specified high frequency, said impulses being reflected from a number of reflecting objects; c. means for producing return signals which are each coincident in time to one of said reflected high frequency sound impulses; d. means for producing desired clock frequencies; e. means for measuring the time elapsed between transmission of the high frequency sound impulse and the reception of the reflected sound impulse, said means comprising: i. a shift register device having a serial input and a specified number of bits through which a signal appearing at said input may be shifted at a rate related to the clock frequency; ii. means for applying said return signal or signals to the input of said shift register, said return signal or signals being shifted serially through said shift register for timing reference; iii. means to sample, upon the occurrence of a specified transfer signal, the individual bits of the shift register device and produce output signals corresponding to the bit or bits in which a pulse was found; iv. means for producing said transfer signal periodically at desired time intervals, said transfer signal having a specified duration; and f. a display output means capable of producing a visual display from the output signals of the time delay measurement means, said display being calibrated to indicate depth to the reflecting objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for measuring depth as defined in claim 10 wherein said shift register device is further defined as a bucket brigade device with a serial input and a specified number of bits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system for measuring depth as defined in claim 10 wherein said shift register device is further defined as a charge coupled device with a serial input and a specified number of bits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 10 wherein said display output means comprises: a. means for producing a display of numerical and status data; and b. means for encoding said output signals, corresponding to bit position of pulses in the shift register device, so as to produce signals which will drive said numerical and status display means to show numerically the depths of the various reflecting objects.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 10 wherein said display output means comprises: a. means for printing numerical and status data on paper or film adjacent to said printing means; and b. means for encoding said output signals, corresponding to bit position of pulses in the shift register device, so as to produce signals which will drive said numerical and status printing means to print numerically the depths of the various numerically reflecting objects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 14 further including: means for driving said paper or film at a rate proportional to time or to motion of the depth measurement system through the water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 10 wherein said display output means comprises a linear display means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 10 wherein said display output means comprises: a. a specified number of display elements arranged linearly; b. means for encoding said output signals, corresponding to bit position of pulses in the shift register device, so as to produce signals which will drive the proper ones of said elements to be activated in a manner which will show the depths of the various reflecting objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 17 wherein said display elements comprises means for displaying numerical data and wherein said encoder means comprises means for producing display signals which will drive the proper ones of said elements to show numerically the depth corresponding to that element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 17 wherein each of said display elements comprises means for printing characters on paper or film adjacent to said display elements, and wherein means are included, within said display output means, for driving said paper or film at a rate proportional to time or to motion of the depth measurement system through the water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
89 words
A depth measuring system as defined in claim 17 wherein each of said display elements comprises means for printing numerical data on paper or film adjacent to said display elements, wherein said encoder means comprises means for producing signals which will drive the proper ones of said elements to print numerically the depth corresponding to that element, and wherein means are included, within said display output means, for driving said paper or film at a rate proportional to time or motion of the depth measurement system through the water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
A multidirectional depth measuring system, said system comprising: a. a specified number of depth measuring systems as defined in claim 10, each of said depth measuring systems further including means to indicate the lateral range of the various reflecting objects, said lateral range indication means being calibrated in relation to the direction in which said high frequency sound impulses are transmitted; and b. means for specifying the high frequency associated with each of the depth measuring systems, whereby each of the depth measuring systems may be made to operate at a different frequency.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
189 words
A multidirectional depth measuring system, said system comprising: a. a specified number of depth measuring systems as defined in claim 10, wherein said display output means of each individual depth measurement system comprises: i. means for printing characters or numerals on paper or film adjacent to said printing means at a number of positions along a straight line; ii. means for encoding said output signals, corresponding to bit position of pulses in the shift register device, to produce signals which will cause said numerical and character printing means to print numerically the depth of the various reflecting objects in a specified position along a straight line; iii. means to determine the printing positions of said numerical and character printing means, said positions being determined according to the lateral range of the reflecting objects; iv. means for driving said paper or film at a rate proportional to time or motion of the depth measurement system through the water; and b. means for specifying the high frequency associated with each of the depth measuring systems, whereby each of the depth measuring systems may be made to operate at a different frequency.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
122 words
A multidirectional depth measuring system, said system comprising: a. a specified number of depth measuring systems as defined in claim 10, wherein said display output means of each individual depth measurement system comprises: i. a two dimension array of display elements; ii. means to correlate the delay measured by said time delay measurement means and the direction of transmission of the high frequency sound impulse and to produce display signals to said array of display elements, whereby the lateral range and depth of the various reflecting objects will be displayed; and b. means for specifying the high frequency associated with each of the depth measuring systems, whereby each of the depth measuring systems may be made to operate at a different frequency.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3553711A
Cited
US3588795A
Cited
US3735334A
Cited
US3750095A
Cited
US3835447A
Cited
US3803629A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |