ACOUSTIC LOCATOR FOR ELEMENTS OF A FLEXIBLE SONAR ARRAY

Abstract

An acoustic array, useful for sonar, comprises a plurality of transducing elements which are free floating and not connected to each other. Means are provided for locating the position of each of the transducer elements. The acoustic array may be one-dimensional, that is, a line array, a two-dimensional array, or a three-dimensional array. In another embodiment of the acoustic array, the transducing elements are free-floating but connected to each other by a flexible tether, which limits the range of separation of one transducing element from any of the others. The locator comprises a centrally located element to which there are attached three horizontal rigid arms. On the end of each arm is a high-frequency acoustic transducer. Periodically, each of the transducers transmits a high-frequency broadband pulse. The pulse from each of the three transducers is unique and identifiable. The rigid structure also contains a magnetic compass sensor which indicates the orientation of the rigid structure in the horizontal plane.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1MICHAEL A. HALLING

Sensitive facility: San Diego CA (SAIC/General Dynamics)

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