Logarithmic three-color display sonar

Claim 2

A target system, comprising in combination: means for receiving a signal from a target located within a predetermined environmental medium; means connected to the output of said receiving means for compressing the signal received thereby in accordance with a predetermined nonlinear mathematical function; first means effectively connected to the output of said received signal compressing means for passing said compressed signal whenever the level thereof exceeds a first preset voltage, said first means including a preset thresholder effectively connected to the output of the aforesaid first signal compressing means; a normally open diode gate driver having a data signal input, a gating input for effecting the closure thereof in response to a predetermined gating signal, and an output, with the data signal input thereof connected to the output of said thresholder; a diode gate having a data signal input, a gating input, an output, with the data signal input thereof effectively connected to the output of the aforesaid received signal compressing means, and with the gating input thereof connected to the output of said diode gate driver; and a subtract circuit having a pair of inputs and an output, with one of the inputs thereof connected to the output of said diode gate, and with the other input thereof connected to the output of the aforesaid diode gate driver; means connected to the output of the subtract circuit of said compressed signal passing means for amplifying the signal passing thereby in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the predetermined nonlinear compressing mathematical function of the aforesaid received signal compressing means; and means effectively connected to the output of said compressed signal amplifying means for reading out said amplified signal as a first predetermined color display.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a signal from a target located within a predetermined environmental medium comprises a transducer.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 wherein said means connected to the output of said receiving means for compressing the signal received thereby in accordance with a predetermined nonlinear mathematical function comprises a logarithmIc compression receiver.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 wherein said means connected to the output of the subtract circuit of said compressed signal passing means for amplifying the signal passed thereby in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the predetermined nonlinear compressing mathematical function of the aforesaid received signal compressing means comprises a logarithmic expander amplifier.

Claim 6

The device of claim 1 wherein said means effectively connected to the output of said compressed signal amplifying means for reading out said amplified signal as a first predetermined color display comprises a cathode-ray tube.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 further characterized by means operationally associated with said receiving means for broadcasting a predetermined target search signal throughout said environmental medium that is capable of being received by said receiving means after being reflected by said target.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 further characterized by: second means effectively connected to the output of said received signal compressing means for simultaneously inactivating said first compressed signal passing means and passing said compressed signal whenever the level thereof exceeds a second preset voltage that is a given amount greater than said first preset voltage; second means connected to output of said second inactivating and passing means for amplifying the signal passed thereby in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially the inverse of the predetermined nonlinear compressing mathematical function of the aforesaid received signal compressing means; third means effectively connected to the output of said received signal compressing means for simultaneously inactivating said first and second compressed signal passing means and passing said compressed signal whenever the level thereof exceeds a third preset voltage that is a given amount greater than said second preset voltage; third means connected to the output of said second inactivating and passing means for amplifying the signal passed thereby in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially the inverse of the predetermined nonlinear compressing mathematical function of the aforesaid received signal compressing means; and means combined with the aforesaid readout means connected to the outputs of said second and third amplifying means for reading out the amplified signals therefrom as second and third predetermined color displays.

Claim 9

A sonar system comprising in combination: a transducer for receiving an acoustical signal from a target located within an aqueous medium and converting it into an electrical output signal proportional thereto; a receiver connected to the output of said receiving transducer for compressing the electrical output signal therefrom in accordance with a predetermined nonlinear mathematical function; a first channel connected to the output of said receiver for passing the compressed signal therefrom whenever it exceeds a first predetermined voltage level and for amplifying it in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the aforesaid receiver signal compression function; a second channel connected to said first channel and to the output of said receiver for inhibiting said first channel, for passing the compressed signal therefrom whenever it exceeds a second predetermined voltage level that is a given amount greater than said first predetermined voltage level, and for amplifying said passed signal in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the aforesaid receiver mathematical signal compressing function; a third channel connected to said channel, effectively connected to said first channel, and connected to the output of said receiver for inhibiting said first and second channels, for passing the compressed signal therefrom whenever it exceeds a third predetermined voltage level that is a given amount greater than said second voltage level, and for amplifying said passed signal in accordance wit a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the aforesaid receiver mathematical signal compressing function; and a three-color readout having a trio of inputs respectively connected to the outputs of said first, second, and third channels for reading out the amplified output signals therefrom as a trio of different colors.

Claim 10

A sonar system comprising in combination: a transducer for receiving an acoustical signal from a target located within an aqueous medium and converting it into an electrical output signal proportional thereto; a receiver connected to the output of said receiving transducer for compressing the electrical output signal therefrom in accordance with a predetermined nonlinear mathematical function; a first channel connected to the output of said receiver for passing the compressed signal therefrom whenever it exceeds a first predetermined voltage level and for amplifying it in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the aforesaid receiver signal compression function; a second channel connected to said first channel and to the output of said receiver for inhibiting said first channel, for passing the compressed signal therefrom whenever it exceeds a second predetermined voltage level that is a given amount greater than said first predetermined voltage level, and for amplifying said passed signal in accordance with a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the aforesaid receiver mathematical signal compressing function; a third channel connected to said channel, effectively connected to said first channel, and connected to the output of said receiver for inhibiting said first and second channels, for passing the compressed signal therefrom whenever it exceeds a third predetermined voltage level that is a given amount greater than said second voltage level, and for amplifying said passed signal in accordance wit a mathematical function that is substantially equal to and the inverse of the aforesaid receiver mathematical signal compressing function; and a three-color readout having a trio of inputs respectively connected to the outputs of said first, second, and third channels for reading out the amplified output signals therefrom as a trio of different colors.

Claim 11

The device of claim 8 wherein said receiver connected to the output of said receiving transducer for compressing the electrical output signal therefrom in accordance with a predetermined nonlinear mathematical function comprises a logarithmic compression receiver.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 wherein said three-color readout having a trio of inputs respectively connected to the output of said first, second, and third channels for reading out the amplified output signals therefrom as a trio of different colors comprises a three-color cathode-ray tube.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 8 further characterized by a transmitter for broadcasting a predetermined acoustical target search signal throughout said aqueous medium that is capable of being received by said receiving transducer after it has been reflected by said target.

Claim 14

The device of claim 8 wherein said first, second, and third channels each comprises: a preset thresholder effectively connected to the output of said receiver for passing a signal supplied thereto when it exceeds predetermined voltage level; a diode gate driver having a data signal input, a gating input, and an output, with the data signal input thereof connected to the output of said thresholder; a diode gate having a data signal input, a gating input, and an output, with the data signal input thereof effectively connected to the output of said receiver, and with the gating input thereof connected to the output of the aforesaid diode gate driver; a subtract circuit having a pair of inputs and an output, with one of the inputs thereof connected to the output of said diode gate, and with the other input thereof connected to the output of the aforesaid diode gate driver; an expander amplifier connected to the output of said subtract circuit for amplifying the output signal therefrom in accordance with a mathematical function which is substantially equal to and the inverse of the predetermined nonlinear mathematical function of the aforesaid receiver.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 12 further characterized by a video output amplifier having an input and an output, with the input thereof connected to the output of said expander amplifier, and with the output thereof adapted for being connected to one of the trio of inputs of the aforesaid three-color readout.