US4253168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
CCD Signal processor
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1978-10-23
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Granted: 1981-02-24
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Expires: 1998-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for forming one or more sonar beams in response to acoustic energy received by a transducer array. To minimize volume utilization, a plurality of CCD's are formed on an integrated circuit chip with the CCD's being of progressively smaller length. Half of the CCD array is folded over to match the other half so that each CCD has an opposing CCD with both CCD's propagating a signal toward a common output diode. By providing one integrated circuit chip for each desired beam with appropriately different clocking frequencies multiple beams may be formed, and with the provision of a variable clocking frequency, one or more beams may be steered. Transversal filter operations may also be performed by the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Petrosky
- 👤 Marvin H. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:27
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03H; H03H15/00; H03H15/02; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/34; G10K11/341; G10K11/345; H10; H10D; H10D84/00; H10D84/891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Signal processing apparatus comprising: (A) an integrated circuit chip having defined therein a plurality of CCD's each having an input means and an output means; (B) means for providing chosen ones of said CCD input means with respective input signals; (C) means for propagating, along the length of said CCD's, the respective said signals provided thereto; (D) said plurality of CCD's being comprised of a first and second group; (E) said CCD's of said first group being colinearly arranged with respective CCD's of said second group in a manner that signals in respective colinearly arranged CCD's propagate toward one another to said CCD output means; (F) an output circuit; (G) means for connecting said output means of said CCD's with said output circuit; (H) said output circuit being responsive to the signal provided thereto by said output means to provide an output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Signal processing apparatus comprising: (A) an integrated circuit chip having defined therein a plurality of CCD's each having an input means and an output means; (B) means for providing chosen ones of said CCD input means with respective input signals; (C) means for propagating, along the length of said CCD's, the respective said signals provided thereto; (D) said plurality of CCD's being comprised of a first and second group; (E) said CCD's of said first group being colinearly arranged with respective CCD's of said second group in a manner that signals in respective colinearly arranged CCD's propagate toward one another to said CCD output means; (F) an output circuit; (G) means for connecting said output means of said CCD's with said output circuit; (H) said output circuit being responsive to the signal provided thereto by said output means to provide an output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes: (A) a plurality of acoustic sensors each providing a respective output signal in response to received acoustic energy; and (B) means for providing said sensor output signals to chosen ones of said CCD input means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) said output circuit is fabricated as part of said integrated circuit chip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the output means for one CCD of said first group is the same for a colinearly opposed CCD of said second group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) said plurality CCD's are of varying length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: (A) the CCD's of said first group are parallel to one another; and (B) the CCD's of said second group are parallel to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein: (A) adjacent CCD's of each group differ in length by one unit of CCD delay.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: (A) each of said acoustic sensors is connected with a respective CCD input means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the CCD's of said first group are parallel to one another; (B) the CCD's of said second group are parallel to one another; (C) said CCD's define an array having first, second, third and fourth sides; (D) said means for propagating include a plurality of clock signal feed lines; (E) said feed lines being wrapped around and adjacent to three of said sides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the CCD's of said first group are parallel to one another; (B) the CCD's of said second group are parallel to one another; (C) said CCD's defining an array having first, second, third and fourth sides; (D) said means for propagating including a first plurality of clock signal feed lines; (E) said means for propagating including a second plurality of clock signal feed lines; (F) said first plurality of feed lines extend along said first side and then along the adjacent second side and then down the middle of said array for a predetermined distance; (G) said second plurality of feed lines extend along said third side and then along the adjacent fourth side and then up the middle of said array for a predetermined distance;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: (A) said input means are positioned along said second and fourth sides of said array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3883437A
Cited
US4152678A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-24 | 1984-08-25 | 1985-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-24 | 1988-08-25 | 1989-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-24 | 1992-08-25 | 1993-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |