FIBER OPTIC LEVER TOWED ARRAY

Abstract

A small diameter towed acoustic line array comprising a plurality of miniature fiber optic lever hydrophones spaced at preselected locations along the array and held in place by fiber holders. The array hydrophones are enclosed within a tubular outer sheath which is filled with an acoustically transparent fluid. The hydrophones respond to either the pressure mode or the pressure gradient mode, each hydrophone further comprising at least one receiving and one transmitting optic fiber of the same diameter, a covering sheath, a clear elastomer and a small reflector. The information received is transmitted to and processed by a beamformer external to the array.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1FRANK W. CUOMO