US3673554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Depth sounder digitizer
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1969-09-30
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1989-09-30
Abstract
Abstract a water depth digitizer produces an averaged digital readout synchronized with an external clock. The digital readout is produced from a depth sounder having a timing cycle which is asynchronous with respect to the clock. A digital counter is started in response to the occurrence of selected acoustic ranging pulses. Pulses which are proportional in time to the velocity of sound in water are counted until the returned echo from the sea bottom stops the count. Ten counts are accumulated in the digital counter which is arranged to count in decades. The least significant decade is dropped to produce a readout directly representing water depth.
Inventors
- 👤 Silvan E Mcalpin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S15/10; G01S15/14; G01S15/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A water depth digitizer producing an averaged digital readout from a depth sounder operating on its own timing cycle for producing acoustic ranging pulses, said depth sounder including a transducer producing a receive signal representing the return of a reflected acoustic ranging pulse, comprising: an external clock, a digital counter producing a digitized readout synchronized with said external clock and representing water depth, a first bistable circuit which enables said counter when said bistable circuit is set, and a second bistable circuit set in response to selected pulses from said external clock and reset by pulses representing the time occurrence of said acoustic ranging pulses, said first bistable circuit being set when said second bistable circuit is reset to enable said counter to start counting, said receive signal being applied to reset said first bistable circuit thereby stopping said counter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A water depth digitizer producing an averaged digital readout from a depth sounder operating on its own timing cycle for producing acoustic ranging pulses, said depth sounder including a transducer producing a receive signal representing the return of a reflected acoustic ranging pulse, comprising: an external clock, a digital counter producing a digitized readout synchronized with said external clock and representing water depth, a first bistable circuit which enables said counter when said bistable circuit is set, and a second bistable circuit set in response to selected pulses from said external clock and reset by pulses representing the time occurrence of said acoustic ranging pulses, said first bistable circuit being set when said second bistable circuit is reset to enable said counter to start counting, said receive signal being applied to reset said first bistable circuit thereby stopping said counter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
123 words
The digitizer recited in claim 1 wherein said external clock produces major timing pulses and minor timing pulses synchronized with, but at a faster repetition rate than, said major timing pulses, said digitizer further comprising: a timing control counter, said minor timing pulses being applied to said timing control counter, and a decoding circuit, the outputs of said timing control counter being applied to said decoding circuit, said decoding circuit being connected to set said second bistable circuit a selected number of times between major timing pulses so that said digital counter accumulates a digital Readout representing the time interval between the selected number of acoustic ranging pulses and their corresponding receive signals, said digital counter being reset once per major timing cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The digitizer recited in claim 2 wherein said digital counter when enabled counts pulses which are proportional in time to the velocity of sound in water, said decoding circuit being connected to set said second bistable circuit in response to ten minor timing cycles occurring between successive major timing pulses so that the digital readout of said digital counter, ignoring the least significant digit of said readout, represents average water depth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The digitizer recited in claim 1 further comprising: a receive gate, said receive signal being applied to said receive gate, and a receive gate timer, said receive gate timer being reset upon receipt of said receive signal, said receive gate timer producing a selectable time width gating signal a selectable period of time after being reset, said gating signal being applied to said receive gate to enable the transmission of said receive signal through said gate to reset said first bistable circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2568926A
Cited
US3344421A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |