US4912685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Side looking sonar apparatus
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1988-11-30
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Granted: 1990-03-27
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Expires: 2008-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A focused arc transducer which lies on an arc of a circle having a radius of curvature R is used as the transmitting transducer in a side looking sonar system. The arc lies in a plane which is tilted slightly with respect to a vertical orientation and the apparatus as utilized at an altitude H above a target area wherein H in one embodiment is greater than the radius of curvature and in another embodiment where it is less than the radius of curvature. This operation results in a desired trapezoidal insonification pattern on the target area with the pattern at maximum range being a little wider than the collective width of a plurality of receiver beams for a multibeam system.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Gilmour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8902; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) an elongated transmitter transducer which lies along an arc of a circle having a radius R; (B) said arc lying in a plane which is at angle θ with respect to vertical during operation, where 0°<|θ|≦6°; (C) said transmitter transducer being at an altitude H above said target area, where H≠R; and (D) means for energizing said transmitter transducer to periodically project acoustic energy toward said target area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) an elongated transmitter transducer which lies along an arc of a circle having a radius R; (B) said arc lying in a plane which is at angle θ with respect to vertical during operation, where 0°<|θ|≦6°; (C) said transmitter transducer being at an altitude H above said target area, where H≠R; and (D) means for energizing said transmitter transducer to periodically project acoustic energy toward said target area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) H<R and θ is positive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) H<R and θ is negative.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes: (A) a housing; (B) said transmitter transducer being contained within said housing; (C) said housing being rotatable about a horizontal axis so as to selectably vary said angle θ.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) a transmitter transducer; (B) a receiver transducer; (C) signal processing means connected to said receiver transducer for forming three high resolution receiver beams for receiving acoustic returns from a relatively narrow trapezoidal shaped insonified strip on said target area; (D) said transmitter transducer being operable to insonify said strip; (E) said transmitter transducer lying along an arc of a circle of radius R and lying in a plane which is at an angle θ with respect to vertical during operation of said apparatus, where 0°<θ≦6°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) a transmitter transducer; (B) a receiver transducer; (C) signal processing means connected to said receiver transducer for forming three high resolution receiver beams for receiving acoustic returns from a relatively narrow trapezoidal shaped insonified strip on said target area; (D) said transmitter transducer being operable to insonify said strip; (E) said transmitter transducer lying along an arc of a circle of radius R and lying in a plane which is at an angle θ with respect to vertical during operation of said apparatus, where 0°<θ≦6°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) a transmitter transducer lying along an arc of a circle and being operable to project acoustic energy toward a line of focus which is perpendicular to the plane in which said circle lies; (B) said transmitter transducer being at an altitude above said target area such that said line of focus is positioned below the plane of said target area; (C) said plane in which said circle lies being tilted toward said target area at an angle θ with respect to vertical, where 0°<θ≦6°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) a transmitter transducer lying along an arc of a circle and being operable to project acoustic energy toward a line of focus which is perpendicular to the plane in which said circle lies; (B) said transmitter transducer being at an altitude above said target area such that said line of focus is positioned below the plane of said target area; (C) said plane in which said circle lies being tilted toward said target area at an angle θ with respect to vertical, where 0°<θ≦6°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) a transmitter transducer lying along an arc of a circle and being operable to project acoustic energy toward a line of focus which is perpendicular to the plane in which said circle lies; (B) said transmitter transducer being at an altitude H above said target area such that said line of focus is positioned above the plane of said target area; (C) said plane in which said circle lies being tilted away from said target area at an angle θ with respect to vertical 0°<θ≦6°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
Side looking sonar apparatus for operation over a target area, comprising: (A) a transmitter transducer lying along an arc of a circle and being operable to project acoustic energy toward a line of focus which is perpendicular to the plane in which said circle lies; (B) said transmitter transducer being at an altitude H above said target area such that said line of focus is positioned above the plane of said target area; (C) said plane in which said circle lies being tilted away from said target area at an angle θ with respect to vertical 0°<θ≦6°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-26 | 1993-09-25 | 1994-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-26 | 1997-09-25 | 1998-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-26 | 2001-09-25 | 2002-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |