A horizontal acoustic sediment and current profiler and methods of use. In one implementation, the horizontal acoustic sediment and current profiler includes a housing that is configured to house a plurality of transducer elements. In some implementations, these plurality of transducer elements include a plurality of rectangular transducer elements that are each configured to form a beam having a beam width of less than one degree; a first transducer element that is configured to form a first beam at a first frequency; a second transducer element that is configured to form a second beam at a second frequency, the second frequency differing from the first frequency; and a vertical transducer element that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the first transducer element and the second transducer element, the vertical transducer element configured to measure a depth of placement of the horizontal acoustic sediment and current profiler with respect to a surface of a fluidic medium.
G01P 5/24 - Mesure de la vitesse des fluides, p.ex. d'un courant atmosphérique; Mesure de la vitesse de corps, p.ex. navires, aéronefs, par rapport à des fluides en mesurant l'influence directe du courant de fluide sur les propriétés d'une onde acoustique de détection
G01S 15/02 - Systèmes utilisant la réflexion ou la reradiation d'ondes acoustiques, p.ex. systèmes sonar utilisant la réflexion d'ondes acoustiques
G01S 15/50 - Systèmes de mesure basés sur le mouvement relatif de la cible
G01S 15/58 - Systèmes de détermination de la trajectoire ou de la vitesse; Systèmes de détermination du sens d'un mouvement
G01S 15/89 - Systèmes sonar, spécialement adaptés à des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou la représentation
G01S 7/539 - DÉTERMINATION DE LA DIRECTION PAR RADIO; RADIO-NAVIGATION; DÉTERMINATION DE LA DISTANCE OU DE LA VITESSE EN UTILISANT DES ONDES RADIO; LOCALISATION OU DÉTECTION DE LA PRÉSENCE EN UTILISANT LA RÉFLEXION OU LA RERADIATION D'ONDES RADIO; DISPOSITIONS ANALOGUES UTILISANT D'AUTRES ONDES - Détails des systèmes correspondant aux groupes , , de systèmes selon le groupe utilisant l'analyse du signal d'écho pour la caractérisation de la cible; Signature de cible; Surface équivalente de cible
2.
HYBRID TRANSDUCER APPARATUS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE
Hybrid transducer apparatus which is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams. In one implementation, the hybrid transducer apparatus consists of a relatively thin piezoceramic disk portion having an aspect ratio less than unity as well as a plurality of diced piezoelectric elements with each of these elements having an aspect ratio greater than unity. The resultant hybrid transducer apparatus reduces the multiple spurious frequency responses seen in prior art implementations and thus can be efficiently treated as a piezoelement having a single degree of freedom along its thickness direction. The hybrid transducer apparatus may also be suitable for use in high voltage and/or high power applications via the inclusion of, for example, a heat conductive epoxy that encapsulates the diced piezoelectric elements.
G10K 11/00 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour transmettre, conduire ou diriger le son en général; Procédés ou dispositifs de protection contre le bruit ou les autres ondes acoustiques ou pour amortir ceux-ci, en général
Multi frequency piston transducers which are capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple overlaid acoustic beams. In one implementation, a dual frequency piston transducer is disclosed which is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming two overlaid acoustic beams. The transducer consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent piston transducers operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated into a single multi-frequency configuration. This single multi-frequency configuration consists of a high frequency aperture disposed within the aperture area of a lower frequency piston transducer. Additionally, multiple dual frequency piston transducers that are incorporated within a single housing are also disclosed that are useful in, for example, ADCP and measurement of vessel/ship speed applications. Methods of manufacturing and using the aforementioned multi frequency piston transducers are also disclosed.
G10K 11/00 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour transmettre, conduire ou diriger le son en général; Procédés ou dispositifs de protection contre le bruit ou les autres ondes acoustiques ou pour amortir ceux-ci, en général
Improved two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, the two-dimensional planar array transducer is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams in two axes and at two or more widely separated acoustic frequencies from a single flat planar array transducer. The transducer planar array consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent two dimensional planar transducer array structures operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated onto a single multi frequency configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a second higher frequency transducer array is positioned within the aperture area of a lower frequency planar array transducer. Methods of using the aforementioned two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer are also disclosed.
G01S 15/89 - Systèmes sonar, spécialement adaptés à des applications spécifiques pour la cartographie ou la représentation
B06B 1/06 - Procédés ou appareils pour produire des vibrations mécaniques de fréquence infrasonore, sonore ou ultrasonore utilisant l'énergie électrique fonctionnant par effet piézo-électrique ou par électrostriction
G01S 15/58 - Systèmes de détermination de la trajectoire ou de la vitesse; Systèmes de détermination du sens d'un mouvement
G01S 15/60 - Systèmes de détermination de la trajectoire ou de la vitesse; Systèmes de détermination du sens d'un mouvement dans lesquels l'émetteur et le récepteur sont montés sur l'objet mobile, p.ex. pour déterminer la vitesse par rapport au sol, l'angle de dérive, le trajet au sol
G01S 7/52 - DÉTERMINATION DE LA DIRECTION PAR RADIO; RADIO-NAVIGATION; DÉTERMINATION DE LA DISTANCE OU DE LA VITESSE EN UTILISANT DES ONDES RADIO; LOCALISATION OU DÉTECTION DE LA PRÉSENCE EN UTILISANT LA RÉFLEXION OU LA RERADIATION D'ONDES RADIO; DISPOSITIONS ANALOGUES UTILISANT D'AUTRES ONDES - Détails des systèmes correspondant aux groupes , , de systèmes selon le groupe
H04R 1/40 - Dispositions pour obtenir la fréquence désirée ou les caractéristiques directionnelles pour obtenir la caractéristique directionnelle désirée uniquement en combinant plusieurs transducteurs identiques
Apparatus and methods for creating transmit and/or receive beams within a fluidic medium. In one aspect, a series of sub-arrays are used to create a larger array capable of forming multiple transmit/receive beams. In one embodiment, a single sided electrode is disclosed, which provides among other things a technological alternative to prior art 2- dimensional array technologies for the purpose of producing multiple beams for applications such as Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling sonars or other 2D array sonar applications. In another embodiment, a dual-sided approach is used which advantageously requires reduced drive voltage(s) for the same output power.
G01S 7/52 - DÉTERMINATION DE LA DIRECTION PAR RADIO; RADIO-NAVIGATION; DÉTERMINATION DE LA DISTANCE OU DE LA VITESSE EN UTILISANT DES ONDES RADIO; LOCALISATION OU DÉTECTION DE LA PRÉSENCE EN UTILISANT LA RÉFLEXION OU LA RERADIATION D'ONDES RADIO; DISPOSITIONS ANALOGUES UTILISANT D'AUTRES ONDES - Détails des systèmes correspondant aux groupes , , de systèmes selon le groupe
Apparatus and methods for velocity scanning in, e.g., bodies of water, in one embodiment, a scanned one-dimensional transducer array Doppler sonar arrangement is used to remotely measure both vertical and horizontal profiles of a river or channel along-stream water velocities within a cross-section of the river/channel from a single side-mounted sonar.
Improved two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, the two-dimensional planar array transducer is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams in two axes and at two or more widely separated acoustic frequencies from a single flat planar array transducer. The transducer planar array consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent two dimensional planar transducer array structures operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated onto a single multi frequency configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a second higher frequency transducer array is positioned within the aperture area of a lower frequency planar array transducer. Methods of using the aforementioned two- dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer are also disclosed.
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