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Patent US3716825A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3716825A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Contour measuring apparatus especially for use in a sea bottom elevation measurement
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1970-07-30
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1990-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A contour measuring apparatus for determining the elevation of sea bottom features with respect to a reference plane. The apparatus comprises means for projecting a burst of acoustic energy upon a subsurface contour. As the burst leading edge and the following elements roll over the sea bottom, respective portions of the burst will be reflected back at an angle psi (t) which varies as a function of time. When a sudden elevation is encountered, the reflected portions of the echo pulse are reflected at an angle psi (t) + Delta phi . Consequently, the signals detected at spaced transducer phase centers will show a change in their phase relationship within a given time interval. As seen at an acoustic receiver the variations in contour elevation h appear as changes in the angle of arrival psi (t) as represented by the incremental angle Delta phi . Thus, the receiver signal representation of psi (t) for a flat horizontal reference plane must be subtracted from psi (t) + Delta phi in order to determine Delta phi .
Inventors
- 👤 G Walsh
- 👤 M Chramiec
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:21
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
In combination: means for directing energy towards a surface from a point displaced from said surface; means responsive to energy reflected from said surface for measuring a predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival of said reflected energy; means for synthesizing a reference signal, said synthesizing means varying said reference signal in accordance with a predetermined temporal function, said temporal function being representative of energy reflected from a predetermined surfaCe; and means for forming the difference between said reference signal and said measurement of the predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
In combination: means for directing energy towards a surface from a point displaced from said surface; means responsive to energy reflected from said surface for measuring a predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival of said reflected energy; means for synthesizing a reference signal, said synthesizing means varying said reference signal in accordance with a predetermined temporal function, said temporal function being representative of energy reflected from a predetermined surfaCe; and means for forming the difference between said reference signal and said measurement of the predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
In combination: means for directing energy towards a surface from a point displaced from said surface; means responsive to energy reflected from said surface for measuring a predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival of said reflected energy; means for synthesizing a reference signal, said synthesizing means varying said reference signal in accordance with a predetermined temporal function, said temporal function being representative of energy reflected from a predetermined surfaCe; and means for forming the difference between said reference signal and said measurement of the predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
In combination: means for directing energy towards a surface from a point displaced from said surface; means responsive to energy reflected from said surface for measuring a predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival of said reflected energy; means for synthesizing a reference signal, said synthesizing means varying said reference signal in accordance with a predetermined temporal function, said temporal function being representative of energy reflected from a predetermined surfaCe; and means for forming the difference between said reference signal and said measurement of the predetermined temporal function of the angle of arrival.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for displaying said difference.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for measuring the angular projection Delta phi of an elevation h along a surface contour from a distance z comprising: means for acoustically illuminating the surface with a pulsed beam; receiving means for measuring a predetermined function of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t)+ Delta phi of each portion of the acoustic pulse echo; a function generator for synthesizing a signal varying as a predetermined function of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t) of an equivalent acoustic pulse echo reflected from a reference flat plane at the distance z; and means for subtracting the synthesized function of signal psi (t) from the time varying measured function of signal psi (t)+ Delta phi .
Claim 7
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for measuring the angular projection Delta phi of an elevation h along a surface contour from a distance z comprising: means for acoustically illuminating the surface with a pulsed beam; receiving means for measuring a predetermined function of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t)+ Delta phi of each portion of the acoustic pulse echo; a function generator for synthesizing a signal varying as a predetermined function of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t) of an equivalent acoustic pulse echo reflected from a reference flat plane at the distance z; and means for subtracting the synthesized function of signal psi (t) from the time varying measured function of signal psi (t)+ Delta phi .
Claim 8
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for measuring the angular projection Delta phi of an elevation h along a surface contour from a distance z comprising: means for projecting a burst of acoustic energy at velocity c upon the surface at burst frequency f in a beam having a width in at least one angular dimension; receiving means having a pair of detecting phase center means oriented in the angular dimension and spaced apart by a distance d for measuring the sinusoid of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t)+ Delta phi of each portion of the acoustic pulse echo, the measured signal varying as (f d/c) sine( psi (t)+ Delta phi ); a function generator for synthesizing a signal varying as the sinusoid of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t) of an equivalent acoustic pulse echo reflected from a reference flat plane at distance z, the synthesized signal varying as (f d/c) sine psi (t); and means for subtracting the synthesized signal from the measured signal to form another signal varying as (f d/c) (sine psi (t)) Delta phi .
Claim 9
Independent Claim
180 words
An apparatus for measuring the angular projection Delta phi of an elevation h along a surface contour from a distance z comprising: means for projecting a burst of acoustic energy at velocity c upon the surface at burst frequency f in a beam having a width in at least one angular dimension; receiving means having a pair of detecting phase center means oriented in the angular dimension and spaced apart by a distance d for measuring the sinusoid of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t)+ Delta phi of each portion of the acoustic pulse echo, the measured signal varying as (f d/c) sine( psi (t)+ Delta phi ); a function generator for synthesizing a signal varying as the sinusoid of the time varying angle of arrival psi (t) of an equivalent acoustic pulse echo reflected from a reference flat plane at distance z, the synthesized signal varying as (f d/c) sine psi (t); and means for subtracting the synthesized signal from the measured signal to form another signal varying as (f d/c) (sine psi (t)) Delta phi .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the receiving means comprise: a first and second signal path including a preamplifier and phase shifter in series; a correlator means for providing signal indication output of the product of signal appearing on the first and second signal paths; and an integrator coupling the correlator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second signal paths each comprise a chain of high gain amplifiers; and a polarity coincidence detector having a first output signal indication when signals appearing on the first and second paths match and a second output signal indication when the signals mismatch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
177 words
A sea bottom slope contour mapping apparatus comprising: means for projecting a pulsed coherent beam of acoustic energy upon the sea bottom, the beam having a width in at least one angular dimension; receiving means having a pair of spaced apart phase detecting centers oriented in the one angular dimension for forming a first and second receiving beam; correlator means to which the first and second receiving beams are applied for generating a signal proportional to a sinusoidal function of the time delay between signal arrivals at the first and second phase centers; a function generator for synthesizing a signal representative of a base plane contour and varying as a sinusoidal function of the angle of arrival of an equivalent acoustic pulse echo reflected from a reference flat plane at a predetermined distance; a comparison network coupling the correlation means and the function generator for forming a signal varying as the difference between the sinusoidal function of the measured signal and the sinusoidal function generated by the function generator; and a utilization circuit coupling the comparison network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
177 words
A sea bottom slope contour mapping apparatus comprising: means for projecting a pulsed coherent beam of acoustic energy upon the sea bottom, the beam having a width in at least one angular dimension; receiving means having a pair of spaced apart phase detecting centers oriented in the one angular dimension for forming a first and second receiving beam; correlator means to which the first and second receiving beams are applied for generating a signal proportional to a sinusoidal function of the time delay between signal arrivals at the first and second phase centers; a function generator for synthesizing a signal representative of a base plane contour and varying as a sinusoidal function of the angle of arrival of an equivalent acoustic pulse echo reflected from a reference flat plane at a predetermined distance; a comparison network coupling the correlation means and the function generator for forming a signal varying as the difference between the sinusoidal function of the measured signal and the sinusoidal function generated by the function generator; and a utilization circuit coupling the comparison network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2616077A
Cited
US3400363A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |