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US5216640A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Inverse beamforming sonar system and method

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1992-09-28
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2012-09-28
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and method for detecting, processing, and tracking sonar sigs is provided. Plane wave energy from the sonar signal source is measured at multiple points using an array of plane wave energy receptors. These measurements are processed using an inverse beamformer to generate output beam levels. These output beam levels are then processed using the spectrum normalizer to yield spatially and spectrally normalized output beam levels. The normalized beam levels are then processed using an eight nearest-neighbor peak-picker to provide plane wave peaks. Finally, the plane wave peaks are processed by a three-dimensioned M of N tracker to identify peaks within a specified limit of frequency and angle change over time. The identified peaks may be displaced or recorded for further analysis.

Inventors

  • 👤 James Donald
  • 👤 Albert H. Nuttall
  • 👤 James H. Wilson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 07:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/80; G01S3/802; G01S3/808; G01S3/8083; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/901

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals comprising the steps of: receiving a sonar signal; generating a plurality of normalized output beam levels from said received sonar signal, said step of generating normalized output beam levels further comprising, generating a covariance matrix from said received sonar signal, said step of generating a covariance matrix from a received sonar signal further comprising calculating a Fourier solution thereby producing a time series of the signal source data, and generating output beam levels from said covariance matrix; deriving peaks from said normalized output beam levels; identifying said peaks within predetermined selection criteria over time; and displaying and recording said identified peaks.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 109 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals comprising the steps of: receiving a sonar signal; generating a plurality of normalized output beam levels from said received sonar signal, said step of generating normalized output beam levels further comprising, generating a covariance matrix from said received sonar signal, said step of generating a covariance matrix from a received sonar signal further comprising calculating a Fourier solution thereby producing a time series of the signal source data, and generating output beam levels from said covariance matrix; deriving peaks from said normalized output beam levels; identifying said peaks within predetermined selection criteria over time; and displaying and recording said identified peaks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals as in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a Fourier solution comprises calculating a Fourier series solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals as in claim 1 wherein said step of calculating a Fourier solution comprises calculating a Fourier integral solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals as in claim 1 wherein said step of generating output beam levels from the covariance matrix further comprises solving the Fourier Integral Method and fourier Series Method spatial beamforming equations for linear, planar, and volumetric arrays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals as in claim 1 wherein said step of generating normalized output beam levels comprises applying Wilson noise normalization.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals as in claim 1 wherein said step of driving peaks from the normalized output levels further comprises selecting eight nearest-neighbor peaks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method for detecting and processing sonar signals as in claim 1 wherein said steps of identifying peaks within predetermined criteria further comprises identifying peaks within specified frequency and azimuthal criteria.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4965732A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-05-31 1996-11-30 1997-06-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-05-31 2000-11-30 2001-06-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-05-31 2004-11-30 2005-06-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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