A waterborne sound receiver is disclosed, comprising a receiving unit and a decoder. The receiving unit is configured to receive a waterborne sound signal comprising compressed image data having a first resolution and to convert the waterborne sound signal into a data stream. The decoder is configured to decode the data stream as to obtain the compressed image data. The decoder is further configured to upsample the image data as to obtain image data having a second resolution which is higher than the first resolution, wherein the decoder is implemented as a neural network.
H04B 13/02 - Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy
H04N 19/59 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals using predictive coding involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
2.
ELECTRONIC MODULE, TRANSPORT CONTAINER AND SEA, AIR OR LAND VEHICLE
The invention relates to an electronic module for mobile sea, land and air loading at least comprising the following components: a.) a base frame comprising a main frame and a secondary frame connected to the main frame; b.) a support frame connected to the main frame vertically or at right angles; c.) at least one inner or cross member arranged within the main frame; d.) a switch cabinet, wherein the switch cabinet is connected to the support frame via connection elements; and wherein the switch cabinet is connected to the inner and or cross member and/or main frame via connection elements; an input and control unit arranged on the secondary frame.
B65D 85/68 - Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form
3.
WEAPON HAVING A DEFLAGRATION IGNITER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A WEAPON
The present invention relates to a weapon and to a method for operating a weapon of this kind. The weapon comprises an explosive charge, an activatable detonation ignition means, an activatable deflagration ignition means, and an ignition device. The ignition device is able to activate, selectively, the detonation ignition means or the deflagration ignition means. The activated detonation ignition means is able to cause the explosive charge to detonate. The activated deflagration ignition means is able to cause the same explosive charge to deflagrate. According to the method, the ignition device activates the detonation ignition means. The activated detonation ignition means causes the explosive charge to detonate. If a predetermined event takes place without the explosive charge having been previously detonated, the ignition device activates the deflagration ignition means. The activated deflagration ignition means causes the explosive charge to deflagrate.
The present invention relates to a launching device for launching an underwater running body from a platform, in particular from a watercraft, and to a method using such a launching device. The launching device comprises a ramp, which extends along a longitudinal ramp axis, and a propellant deflection unit. The ramp encloses an underwater running body with a propulsion unit under water. The launching device activates the propulsion unit, which then emits a propellant. The propellant deflection unit deflects emitted propellant into an outlet direction. This outlet direction of the propellant is directed perpendicularly or obliquely away from the platform.
The disclosure relates to a sound transducer assembly for transmitting and/or receiving waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has an antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a towing cable and can be towed in the water by means of a towboat, and the sound transducer assembly has a tensioning frame, wherein during a towing process the tensioning frame is tensioned in a tensioned state, with the result that the antenna can be positioned flexibly in a defined orientation with respect to an averaged surface of the water by means of the tensioning frame. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a towed array sonar, a winch for a towboat, a towboat and a method for deploying and/or retrieving a sound transducer assembly and/or a towed array sonar and for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals.
G10K 11/00 - Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
6.
SOUND TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY, TOWED ARRAY SONAR, WINCH, TOWBOAT AND DEPLOYMENT AND RETRIEVAL METHOD
The invention relates to a sound transducer assembly for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals, wherein the sound transducer assembly has a first antenna with a plurality of sound transducers and a first towing cable, and wherein the sound transducer assembly can be pulled in the water by a towboat, and the first antenna and/or the first towing cable have or has a coupling element or a plurality of coupling elements, with the result that the first antenna and/or the first towing cable can be reversibly connected to a second antenna and/or a second towing cable. Furthermore, the invention relates to a towed array sonar, a winch for a towboat, a towboat and a method for deploying and/or retrieving a sound transducer assembly and/or a towed array sonar and for receiving and/or transmitting waterborne sound signals.
The invention relates to a drum for a towed antenna, comprising a drive, wherein the drum has a first towed antenna, and wherein a second drum having a second towed antenna can be associated with the drum, wherein, in a case of association, the first towed antenna is connected to the second towed antenna by means of a first connecting unit such that, in the case of a switch from the first drum to the second drum, the first towed antenna runs over onto the second towed antenna or, in the case of a switch from the second drum to the first drum, the second towed antenna runs over onto the first towed antenna. The invention further relates to a winch for a towed antenna, to a towed antenna for towing in water, and to a ship for towing a towed antenna in water.
B63B 21/66 - Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables
B65H 75/14 - Kinds or types of circular or polygonal cross-section with two end flanges
B65H 75/42 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools or machines
B66D 1/30 - Rope, cable, or chain drums or barrels
G01V 1/38 - Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting specially adapted for water-covered areas
H01Q 1/34 - Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes
8.
METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE DIRECTION OF A SOURCE OF WATERBORNE SOUND, A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, A COMPUTER OR SONAR, AND A WATERCRAFT
The invention relates to a method for determining the direction of a source of waterborne sound that emits a waterborne acoustic signal, by means of a hydrophone arrangement which forms a linear antenna or a virtual linear antenna, as well as to a computer program product, a computer, a sonar, and a watercraft.
G01S 3/805 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity characteristics of a transducer or transducer system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that transducer or transducer system, e.g. to give a maximum or minimum signal
G01S 15/74 - Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
9.
MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A WATERCRAFT OR SEVERAL WATERCRAFTS AS WELL AS A PROCESS FOR VERIFYING A WATERCRAFT OR SEVERAL WATERCRAFTS
The invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a watercraft or several watercrafts, having an identification device and a first hydrophone, which is configured such that acoustic signals that are emitted by watercrafts are determined as underwater sound information therein, whereby the identification device has a first memory for storing the underwater sound information and a second memory for storing watercraft information, whereby the first and second memories are interconnected, characterized in that the first hydrophone is arranged in a stationary and fixed manner.
G01S 1/76 - Systems for determining direction or position line
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G08G 3/00 - Traffic control systems for marine craft
The invention relates to an acoustic converter (101), in particular a hydrophone (103), comprising an interferometer and an associated first vibration element (151, 251), which is maintained by a support. Said interferometer comprises a light source (111), a first signal beam (113), a signal beam splitter, a first reference beam (115), a first scanning beam (117), a first measuring beam (119) and an optical sensor (141). Said light source emits the first signal beam and the first reference beam and the first measuring beam are superimposed onto the optical sensor. The first scanning beam is directed to the first vibration element and the first measuring beam causes a Doppler shift with respect to the first scanning beam based on a vibration of the first vibration element, characterized in that the first vibration element is arranged in a first liquid.
G01D 5/48 - Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using wave or particle radiation means
B63B 45/08 - Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices the devices being acoustic
G01H 3/00 - Measuring vibrations by using a detector in a fluid
The invention relates to a reeling device for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar (4) towed in water (6). The reeling device comprises a connection unit (15) arranged on at least one tow cable (12/14), said connection unit being designed to allow a towed body (8) to be automatically coupled to, or uncoupled from, the tow cable (12/14). In addition, the connection unit (15) according to the invention comprises two coupling units (72, 74) which are arranged at a distance from one another and which can be used to create a respective detachable coupling of the towed body (8) and the tow cable (12/14), in particular an electrical and/or optical connection and a mechanical coupling. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for releasing and retrieving a towed array sonar (4).
The invention relates to a method for classifying one or more watercraft on the basis of the sound waves (2) emitted or transmitted by these craft. In this case, the sound waves (2) are received by an arrangement of waterborne sound sensors of a Sonar receiving installation (4) and processed to form received signals (6). At least one amplitude spectrum (24) is produced from these received signals (6), said amplitude spectrum (24) having one or more sets of frequency lines and possible single lines, from which characteristic craft parameters (28) are determined automatically in a frequency line pattern identification module (26) or manually. Subsequently, the characteristic craft parameters (28) are compared with parameters in a database, with this comparison being rated with a correspondence factor (34). One or more watercraft are determined as a result of the classification, taking the correspondence factor (34) into account. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding device for carrying out the method.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
13.
UNDERWATER WORKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN UNDERWATER WORKING SYSTEM
The invention relates to an underwater work system 1 with at least one autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle 2 and one unmanned relay vehicle 4 floating at the surface of the water 3, which comprises a radio antenna 5 for external communication 26 and a drive 16. The underwater vehicle 2 is connected to the relay vehicle 4 via an internal communication device. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating an underwater work system. In order to create an underwater work system with an autonomous underwater vehicle and an unmanned relay vehicle floating at the surface of the water as well as a method for operating such an underwater work system, which provides an increased efficiency of the autonomous underwater vehicle 2 with short mission times, it is provided according to the invention that the relay vehicle 4 is controllable by means of a control unit 16 via the at least one autonomous underwater vehicle 2 in due consideration of navigation information 17.
The invention relates to a support module 20 for an acoustic underwater antenna 4 having at least one electroacoustic and/or optoacoustic transducer element 32, wherein the support module 20 has a shaped piece, which is composed of at least two parts, for accommodating the transducer elements 32. The shaped piece has a central axial opening 38 for a traction cable to pass through and has at least one releasable connection between the parts of the shaped piece for opening or closing the support module 20. The invention also relates to an acoustic underwater antenna 4, in particular a towed antenna 4, having at least one above-described support module 20, and also to a corresponding method for attaching a support module 20 of this kind to the traction cable of said underwater antenna 4.
G10K 11/00 - Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
The invention relates to a sea container (10) that can be closed on all sides, comprising a base frame (28), which has four corner posts (44, 46, 48, 50), a top-side frame (32), and a bottom-side frame construction (42), wherein the corner posts are rigidly connected to the top-side frame (32) and to the bottom-side frame construction (42). The bottom-side frame construction (42) has a bearing frame (52), wherein installations in the container (10) are fastened to the bearing frame and the bearing frame (52) has tie-down means (54) for tying down and for absorbing forces acting horizontally. Thus the invention makes it possible to accommodate installations such as a deploying device for a trailing antenna in a sea container even though traditional sea containers are unsuitable therefor.
An impact initiated attachment device for attachment to a target, comprises a housing having a front face which abuts against the target in use, one or more fasteners, a drive mechanism for driving the fastener(s) from a first position within the housing to a second position protruding from the front face of the housing, and a trigger mechanism for triggering activation of the drive mechanism comprising a trigger extending from the front face of the housing. The device is particularly useful in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and demolition for attaching one or more disruptors to a target for disposal.
The invention relates to an unmanned underwater vehicle having at least one sensor unit (7) which can be used to acquire sensor information (8) relating to objects in the area surrounding the underwater vehicle (1). The invention also relates to a method for operating an unmanned underwater vehicle (1) In order to sense structures and contours of objects under water as quickly and accurately as possible, the invention provides for the at least one sensor unit (7) to be arranged such that it can be moved in a tangential direction (12) of the underwater vehicle, that is to say tangentially with respect to the longitudinal axis (14) of the underwater vehicle (1) or an axis running parallel to the longitudinal axis, and can be positioned in the circumferential direction (12) by a positioning device (13) to which the sensor information (8) can be specified.
The invention relates to a method for passive determination of target data R, K, V, which is associated with a target, from measured and estimated bearing angles. In this case, the measured bearing angles 4 are determined by means of a sonar receiving installation 2 by directionally selective reception of sound waves which are emitted or sent from a target, and the estimated bearing angles are determined from estimated positions of the target. The bearing angle differences from estimated and measured bearing angles are minimized iteratively over a plurality of processing cycles, and a position of the target, on which the minimum is based, is determined as the optimized solution 12. Furthermore, limit values 10 are defined for the target data R, K, V to be determined, in order to exclude unrealistic target data R, K, V as solutions. However, because, the optimized solution 12 from the optimization method 6 does not converge with the actual solution if the limit values 10 are chosen erroneously, an error handling process 14 for identification and correction of incorrect limit values is carried out according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention.
The invention relates to an apparatus for transferring data and to a method for transferring data from or to an underwater pressure body 30 having a bulk storage apparatus 10. The bulk storage apparatus 10 is normally located within the underwater pressure body 30, such that only by means of a time-consuming disassembly of the underwater pressure body 30 can the bulk storage apparatus 10 be disconnected from a computation unit 32 of the underwater pressure body 30, and the data of the separate bulk storage apparatus 10 can be transferred by passing on to the bulk storage apparatus 10. The problem of time-consuming transfer of data is solved by means of an apparatus according to the invention which comprises the bulk storage apparatus 10, which has a pressure-resistant insulation body 24 through which water cannot pass and which has no air in it, and which can be detachably connected to a connecting apparatus 36 which is arranged on the outside of the underwater pressure body 30. There is therefore no need to disassemble the underwater pressure body 30 in order to remove the bulk storage apparatus 10, and the time for transferring the data is substantially shortened.
The invention relates to a method for measuring a ground profile by means of a transmitting arrangement for directed emission of sound signals mounted on a waterborne vehicle (2) and a receiving arrangement having at least two transformers for receiving the sound waves reflected by the ground profile. The transformers A and B each generate a received signal (24) that is sampled and saved at predetermined sampling points in time. A coarse delay time (44) is determined from the received signals (24) of two transformers, indicating the number of sampling points in time by which the received signals (24) are shifted. Using the shifted received signals (28), a phase difference ? f is determined for a predetermined number of sampling points in time, each corresponding to a fine delay time (52). A chain difference (56) can be determined from the sum of the coarse delay time (44) and the fine delay time (52) for said sampling points in time, from which a received angle (60) and an impingement coordinate (64) can be derived in conjunction with a signal curve time (38) of the sound signals. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method.
The invention relates to a method for identifying changes of course and/or speed for a destination using a multiplicity of measured bearing angles (22) which are ascertained by virtue of the directionally selective reception of sound waves emitted from the destination using an arrangement of water borne sound pickups (86) in a sonar receiving installation. To this end, a first bearing profile (40) is calculated from a predetermined number k of most recently ascertained bearing angles, and a second bearing profile (42) is calculated from a predetermined number i of earlier bearing angles ascertained before the k bearing angles. An expected bearing angle (56, 58) for each of the two bearing profiles (40, 42) is calculated at a current time (54) and is used to form a bearing angle difference |d|. This bearing angle difference |d| can be compared with a plurality of threshold values C1, C2, wherein an intersection point (72) for the bearing profiles (40, 42) and an associated target manoeuvre time (74) are ascertained when one of the threshold values C1, C2 is reached and are output together with an information signal (75) relating to the identification of the target manoeuvre. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out such a method.
G01S 15/58 - Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
G01S 3/808 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
22.
DIRECTION-FINDING METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR DETECTION AND TRACKING OF SUCCESSIVE BEARING ANGLES
The invention relates to a direction-finding method for detection and tracking of successive bearing angles of sound-emitting targets, wherein intensity plots of successive clock cycles in a waterfall plot show bearing traces of successive bearing angles, and preferred bearing traces are marked by a tracker. In order to automate the setting and deletion of trackers, starting from trace state vectors, which are determined at the time t = k-1, are each associated with one bearing trace and each have a bearing angle as well as its time derivative, which is referred to as the bearing rate, and possibly an intensity and its time derivative, which is referred to as the intensity rate, and trace errors associated with the trace state vectors for the time t = k, predicted state vectors are together with predicted estimation errors. In this case, the prediction of each predicted state vector and of its estimation error are used as the basis for the approximation of a time profile of a bearing trace with linear subelements as target motion model dynamics. Each predicted bearing angle or each predicted intensity is calculated from the sum of the bearing angle or intensity determined most recently at the time t = k-1 and a most recently determined bearing rate or intensity rate, multiplied by the clock cycle, of the same bearing trace. Measured bearing angles and/or intensities are examined for an association probability of association with one of the bearing traces. As a function of a determined association probability, a measured bearing angle and possibly a measured intensity are calculated, together with a predicted bearing angle and possibly a predicted intensity, to form an estimated bearing angle and possibly an estimated intensity at the time t = k. The estimated value or values determined in this way, together with the estimated bearing rate and possibly estimated intensity rate, form the trace state vector of the relevant bearing trace. When a plurality of measured bearing angles and possibly a plurality of measured intensities are associated to form a bearing trace, the respective estimated values are added in a weighted form, forming the trace state vector of this bearing trace. The trace state vector provides the output variables of the trace state vector predicted in the next clock cycle for the relevant bearing trace for prediction of t = k to t = k + 1. Bearing traces formed in this way are displayed as a function of a trace quality. The invention also relates to a correspondingly designed direction-finding installation.
G01S 3/808 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
In the case of an electroacoustic underwater antenna, which has a reflector (11) and sprung elements which fix the reflector (11) on an antenna mount (10), in particular on the hull of a submarine, in order to produce an underwater antenna which can be produced at low cost from only a small number of components, and in which the reflector (11) to which electroacoustic transducers are fitted is at an adequate distance from the antenna mount (10), is acoustically well decoupled from the antenna mount (10) and is largely resistant to shock loading, the sprung elements have an upper and a lower resilient rocker (19, 20), wherein each rocker (19, 20) extends over the horizontal extent of the reflector (11) in the fitted position. Each rocker (19, 20) has a rear contact limb (192, 202), for making contact with and fixing on the antenna mount (10), and a front contact limb (191, 201), for making contact with and fixing on the reflector (11).
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for passive determination of target parameters by directionally selective reception of sound waves, emitted or transmitted from a target, from estimated bearing angles, determined from estimated positions of the target, and bearing angles measured at a measurement point. A bearing angle difference between measured and estimated bearing angles is iteratively minimized and, when the minimum is reached, the target parameters are used for an optimized solution. To estimate the reliability of this optimized solution, during each processing cycle a multiplicity of different target tracks are calculated from. possible solutions for the target parameters. Associated bearing angles are assumed for each of these possible solutions, and the assumed bearing angles are used to calculate a quality measure along each of the assumed target tracks. A reliability level is determined from the distribution of the quality measure.
G01S 3/808 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
G01S 5/20 - Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
patents
