US4041442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic data acquisition system
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1976-03-03
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Granted: 1977-08-09
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Expires: 1996-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A data acquisition system is provided for acquiring acoustic information from an array placed in a body of water and for transmitting the information through a single transmission line to remotely located data processing equipment. The array includes a plurality of sensors, a plurality of sub-multiplexers, a master multiplexer and an A/D converter. The sensors are arranged to receive acoustic signals from objects submerged in the water and each sensor provides an analog electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal received thereby. Each sub-multiplexer has a plurality of inputs and a single output with each of the inputs being connected to a corresponding one of the sensors. The sub-multiplexers sequentially sample signals received at their inputs from the sensors connected thereto and transmit these samples to a single output provided on each sub-multiplexer. The master multiplexer sequentially samples signals from the outputs of the sub-multiplexers and transmits these samples to the A/D converter. Multiplexer timing is controlled so that the A/D converter repeatedly receives analog samples from all acoustic sensors. The master multiplexer may further include two individual multiplexers and means for alternately connecting outputs of these multiplexers to the master multiplexer output. The A/D converter encodes each sample into a binary data word. These binary words are changed to a ternary code by a ternary encoder and then transmitted through the single transmission line to the data processing equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Alden Marquardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A data acquisition system for acquiring acoustic information from objects submerged in body of water and for transmitting the information from an array disposed in the water to remotely located data processing equipment, said array comprising: a. a plurality of sensors arranged to receive acoustic signals from the submerged objects, each sensor providing an analog electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal received thereby; b. a plurality of sub-multiplexers for sampling analog signals from the sensors, each of said sub-multiplexers having a plurality of inputs and a single output, each of said inputs being connected to corresponding one of said sensors, each sub-multiplexer sequentially connecting its input to its single output; c. a master multiplexer for sampling the analog signals at the outputs of the sub-multiplexers, said master multiplexer including first and second individual multiplexers with each individual multiplexer having a plurality of inputs connected to the outputs of half of the sub-multiplexers and each having a single output, said master multiplexer further including switching means for alternating connecting the individual multiplexer outputs to the master multiplexer output, said switching means being controlled so that the output sequentially receives samples from one-half of the sub-multiplexers while the other half of the sub-multiplexers are in the process of changing sensor connections to their outputs, whereby any transients resulting from the changing of such connections are not transmitted to the A/D converter; d. an A/D converter connected to the output of the master multiplexer for converting the sampled analog signals received therefrom to digital signals for transmission to the data processing equipment; and e. a single transmission line for transmitting the digital signals from the A/D converter to the data processing equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A data acquisition system for acquiring acoustic information from objects submerged in body of water and for transmitting the information from an array disposed in the water to remotely located data processing equipment, said array comprising: a. a plurality of sensors arranged to receive acoustic signals from the submerged objects, each sensor providing an analog electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal received thereby; b. a plurality of sub-multiplexers for sampling analog signals from the sensors, each of said sub-multiplexers having a plurality of inputs and a single output, each of said inputs being connected to corresponding one of said sensors, each sub-multiplexer sequentially connecting its input to its single output; c. a master multiplexer for sampling the analog signals at the outputs of the sub-multiplexers, said master multiplexer including first and second individual multiplexers with each individual multiplexer having a plurality of inputs connected to the outputs of half of the sub-multiplexers and each having a single output, said master multiplexer further including switching means for alternating connecting the individual multiplexer outputs to the master multiplexer output, said switching means being controlled so that the output sequentially receives samples from one-half of the sub-multiplexers while the other half of the sub-multiplexers are in the process of changing sensor connections to their outputs, whereby any transients resulting from the changing of such connections are not transmitted to the A/D converter; d. an A/D converter connected to the output of the master multiplexer for converting the sampled analog signals received therefrom to digital signals for transmission to the data processing equipment; and e. a single transmission line for transmitting the digital signals from the A/D converter to the data processing equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system as in claim 1 and further including encoding means connected between the A/D converter and the transmission line for encoding binary digital signals produced by the A/D converter to ternary digital signals having an average DC level of zero, thereby permitting the transmission line to be used for the dual purpose of transmitting DC power to the array and transmitting digital signals from the A/D converter to the data processing equipment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the array is of linear configuration with the sensors and sub-multiplexers arranged linearly along the array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein said array includes a central section and first and second end sections adjacent said central section, and where the master multiplexer and the A/D converter are located in said central section and wherein one-half of the sub-multiplexers and sensors are located in said first section and the remaining half of the sub-multiplexers and sensors are located in said second section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein the array is adapted to be towed through the water by a towing vehicle and wherein the transmission line serves the triple purposes of acting as a towing cable, transmitting DC power to the array and transmitting digital signals from the A/D converter to the data processing equipment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
243 words
A data acquisition system for acquiring acoustic information from objects submerged in a body of water and for transmitting the information from an array disposed in the water to remotely located data processing equipment, said array comprising: a. first and second groups of sensors arranged to receive acoustic signals from the submerged objects, each sensor providing an analog electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal received thereby; b. first and second multiplexers for sampling analog signals from the sensors, each of said multiplexers having a plurality of inputs and a single output, each of the inputs of said first multiplexer being connected to a corresponding one of the first group of sensors, each of the inputs of said second multiplexer being connected to a corresponding one of the second group of sensors; c. an A/D converter for converting sampled analog signals to digital signals for transmission to the data processing equipment; d. switching means for alternately connecting the outputs of the first and second multiplexers to the A/D converter, said switching means connecting the output of one of said multiplexers to the A/D converter while the other of said multiplexers is changing connection of its output from one of its inputs to another of its inputs, whereby any transients resulting from the changing of such connection are not transmitted to the A/D converter; and e. a single transmission line for transmitting the digital signals from the A/D converter to the data processing equipment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
243 words
A data acquisition system for acquiring acoustic information from objects submerged in a body of water and for transmitting the information from an array disposed in the water to remotely located data processing equipment, said array comprising: a. first and second groups of sensors arranged to receive acoustic signals from the submerged objects, each sensor providing an analog electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal received thereby; b. first and second multiplexers for sampling analog signals from the sensors, each of said multiplexers having a plurality of inputs and a single output, each of the inputs of said first multiplexer being connected to a corresponding one of the first group of sensors, each of the inputs of said second multiplexer being connected to a corresponding one of the second group of sensors; c. an A/D converter for converting sampled analog signals to digital signals for transmission to the data processing equipment; d. switching means for alternately connecting the outputs of the first and second multiplexers to the A/D converter, said switching means connecting the output of one of said multiplexers to the A/D converter while the other of said multiplexers is changing connection of its output from one of its inputs to another of its inputs, whereby any transients resulting from the changing of such connection are not transmitted to the A/D converter; and e. a single transmission line for transmitting the digital signals from the A/D converter to the data processing equipment.
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) | 1980-08-08 | 1981-02-07 | 1981-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-08 | 1985-02-07 | 1985-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-08 | 1989-02-07 | 1989-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |