Sonar Counter-measures Patents (Class 367/1)
  • Patent number: 11796288
    Abstract: A system and method that uses one or more jet engines to remove unmanned aircraft from restricted airspace. Generally, the force created by a jet engine can be used to remove drones or other unwanted objects from the restricted airspace. Once the system determines the presence of an unauthorized aircraft or object within the restricted airspace, the jet engine(s) can be activated and used to pull the drone or flying object towards the jet engine though the force created by the intake of the jet engine(s), or to expel the drone or object from the restricted area through the force created by the exhaust of the jet engine(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: COLLATERAL OPPORTUNITIES, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Howard Kusens
  • Patent number: 11758815
    Abstract: A semiconductor module and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor module includes a substrate comprising a front side and at least one semiconductor device formed on the front side, a shielding structure formed on the at least one semiconductor device, and a piezoelectric layer formed on the shielding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Zhi-Biao Zhou
  • Patent number: 11686832
    Abstract: An ultrasonic target, including a main reflector, the main reflector including three main faces, extending from a main vertex, the main faces forming a main trirectangular trihedron; defining a main base plane, lying facing the main vertex, and forming a base of the main trirectangular trihedron; the target including at least one auxiliary reflector fastened to the main reflector, the or each auxiliary reflector including three auxiliary faces, extending from an auxiliary vertex, the auxiliary faces forming an auxiliary trirectangular trihedron; defining an auxiliary base plane, lying facing the auxiliary vertex, and forming a base of the auxiliary trirectangular trihedron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: François Baque
  • Patent number: 11536343
    Abstract: A hyperdamping inclusion under constraint with large, broadband frequency damping properties is disclosed. The inclusion includes materials under near-buckling constraint such that fundamental eigenfrequency vanishes at near-buckling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventor: Ryan L. Harne
  • Patent number: 10689084
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is system comprising a lighter-than-air (LTA) device and method of making the same. In an embodiment, the system includes the LTA device, which includes a membrane having a flexible substrate and an active material disposed thereon, wherein the active material is configured to controllably change the surface area of at least a portion of the substrate when an electrical stimulus is applied to the active material. In addition, the system may include a payload box; an altitude control vent mechanism; a meteorological data collection package; a communication unit; and an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SPACE DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gerald Mark Knoblach
  • Patent number: 10565979
    Abstract: A noise cancellation system with harmonic filtering for a vehicle audio system may include at least one input sensor configured to transmit reference signals, and at least one input sensor configured to transmit at least two narrowband input signals each of the input signals including harmonic noise. The system may include a processor being programmed to receive the reference signals, the reference signals including at least two narrowband reference signals, receive the narrowband input signals, apply a gain reference control to the reference signals to determine whether the frequencies of each of the reference signals are within a predefined range of another, and remove one of the reference signals in response to the frequencies of each of the reference signals being within the predefined range of another to prevent common harmonic content from presiding on both reference signals during the algorithm adaption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan Christian, David Paul Trumpy
  • Patent number: 10468048
    Abstract: A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes noise canceling circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal and injects the anti-noise signal into the speaker or other transducer output to cause cancellation of ambient audio sounds. An error microphone may also be provided proximate the speaker to estimate an electro-acoustical path from the noise canceling circuit through the transducer. A processing circuit uses the reference and/or error microphone, optionally along with a microphone provided for capturing near-end speech, to determine whether one of the reference or error microphones is obstructed by comparing their received signal content and takes action to avoid generation of erroneous anti-noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Nitin Kwatra, Jeffrey Alderson, Jon D. Hendrix
  • Patent number: 10322671
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and mobile platforms are provided for providing auditory guidance. In certain exemplary embodiments, a method includes receiving information pertaining to a guidance task to provide auditory guidance proximate a location or target for a platform; selecting, via a processor, a plurality of transducers proximate the location or target, the plurality of transducers including: a first transducer disposed on a first side of the location or target; and a second transducer disposed on a second side of the location or target, opposite the first side; and controlling, via the processor, the plurality of transducers to provide auditory signals, such that the first transducer and the second transducer produce respective auditory signals that are phase cancelled with respect to one another, to thereby provide the auditory guidance to the location or target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ronald J. Mesic, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10290295
    Abstract: Provided is a sound masking device that can effectively mask a noise at a predetermined position in a vehicle. Sound masking device includes: information acquisition unit that acquires frequency information indicating a frequency of a noise; signal source that generates a masker signal in order to output a masker sound masking the noise; pitch shifting unit that performs pitch shifting on the masker signal according to the frequency information that has been acquired; first corrector that performs correction on the masker signal after the pitch shifting according to the predetermined position; and output unit that outputs the masker signal after the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Kiyohisa Higashi
  • Patent number: 10107896
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a radar signal is provided. The radar signal is generated from a digital reference signal. The measuring device comprises a memory configured to store a digitized radar signal derived from the radar signal and the digital reference signal. The measuring device further comprises a radar compression filter configured to filter the digitized radar signal, resulting in a correlation of the digitized radar signal with the digital reference signal. The measuring device further comprises a frequency shifter configured to successively perform a frequency shift of either the digital reference signal or the radar signal with at least two simulated Doppler shift frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Luke Cirillo, Steffen Heuel
  • Patent number: 10075142
    Abstract: A headphone with adjustable speaker drivers and a microphone can be used to determine and adjust sound pressure levels. The speaker drivers can be adjusted manually or wirelessly via a mobile device with a wireless connection to the headphone. Processing of audio and microphone data via the headphone can also be used to help determine and adjust the sound pressure levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: BITWAVE PTE LTD.
    Inventor: Siew Kok Hui
  • Patent number: 10059421
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lighter-than-air (LTA) device and method of making the same. In an embodiment, the LTA device may include a membrane having a flexible substrate and an active material disposed thereon, wherein the active material is configured to controllably change the surface area of at least a portion of the substrate when an electrical stimulus is applied to the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SPACE DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gerald Mark Knoblach
  • Patent number: 9531511
    Abstract: A device for bit-demultiplexing in a multicarrier MIMO communication system (e.g. precoded spatial multiplexing MIMO communication systems using adaptive OFDM), including a multicarrier MIMO transmitter and a multicarrier MIMO receiver. The multicarrier MIMO transmitter includes a demultiplexer and symbol mapper unit receiving an input bit stream and generating a plurality of symbol streams, each symbol stream being associated with a different transmission channel and including a plurality of data symbols, each data symbol being attributed to a different carrier; one or more multicarrier modulators generating at least two multicarrier modulated signals based on the symbol streams; and at least two transmit ports respectively transmitting the at least two multicarrier modulated signals, wherein a data throughput rate of each transmission channel is separately variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andreas Schwager, Weiyun Lu, Lothar Stadelmeier
  • Patent number: 9432773
    Abstract: A speaker includes a diaphragm and a magnetic circuit, a plurality of acoustic paths that provide connection between a space formed on a side including the magnetic circuit with respect to the diaphragm and a space exterior to the speaker are formed in the magnetic circuit, and the plurality of acoustic paths include a first acoustic path and a second acoustic path that differs in acoustic impedance from the first acoustic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakaguchi, Shuji Saiki, Toshiyuki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 9355463
    Abstract: Airborne tracking systems use sensors to track objects of interest. In order to track the objects of interests, the sensors need to be steered such that the object is kept, ideally, in the center of the sensors field of view. Automatic steering of optical sensors requires the generation of a track on an object of interest. When tracking boats on the water, current approaches to image processing may generate multiple detections on the object of interest. Embodiments of the present disclosure solve the track multiplicity problem by grouping tracks associated with the object of interest into a cluster and by estimating a most likely location of the object within the cluster of tracks. Based on the estimated location, embodiments of the present disclosure outputs a single track for the object. The single track is used by an automatic steering system to maintain a sensor aimed at the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Pablo Arambel, Arthur M. Newman, Mario Martinez
  • Patent number: 9344795
    Abstract: Provided is an active vibration noise suppression apparatus having good robustness without determining a secondary transfer function while not performing adaptive control. A first control unit generates a control signal by a first adaptive algorithm as a direct adaptive algorithm. A storing unit stores an equivalent value Gh of a secondary transfer function G which is adaptively updated as an adaptive filter by the first control unit. A second control unit uses a second adaptive algorithm which uses the equivalent value Gh of the secondary transfer function G stored in the storing unit as a feedforward coefficient and updates a filter coefficient C2 of the control signal as an adaptive filter based on the feedforward coefficient. The second control unit generates the control signal by the second adaptive algorithm when the first control unit does not generate the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwamoto, Kouichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9222229
    Abstract: In one embodiment, provided is a sound attenuating barrier having a core structure between face sheets with a mass attached to at least one face sheet, and having a spatially varied stiffness distribution and/or a spatially varied density. The sound attenuating barrier may include at least one face sheet and/or core having a spatially varied stiffness distribution and/or a spatially varied mass distribution. In one embodiment, a sound attenuating barrier is provided having a core structure between face sheets with a mass structure attached to at least one face sheet, with the core/and or face sheet(s) being constructed to design an effective vibration length as well as enable a variable local stiffness and mass across the sound attenuating barrier such that the sandwich structure provides variable resonance frequency responses and broadband coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Chang, Geoffrey P. McKnight, William Carter, Alan J. Jacobsen, Tobias A. Schaedler, Adour V. Kabakian
  • Patent number: 9225435
    Abstract: The invention relates to an underwater communication system and method. The system comprises at least one underwater remote device comprising a processing unit and functionally connected to the processing unit first magnetoinductive communication means capable of communicating with other underwater devices using magnetic induction, and a wearable underwater monitor device comprising second magnetoinductive communication means capable of communicating with said remote device using magnetic induction. According to the invention, the remote device further comprises functionally connected to said processing unit acoustic communication means capable of transmitting acoustic signals. The invention helps to keep the monitor device small and energy efficient, still allowing for long-distance underwater communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventors: Satu Rahkonen, Jyrki Uusitalo, Toni Leskela
  • Patent number: 9197382
    Abstract: A device for bit-demultiplexing in a multicarrier MIMO communication system (e.g. precoded spatial multiplexing MIMO communication systems using adaptive OFDM), including a multicarrier MIMO transmitter and a multicarrier MIMO receiver. The multicarrier MIMO transmitter includes a demultiplexer and symbol mapper unit receiving an input bit stream and generating a plurality of symbol streams, each symbol stream being associated with a different transmission channel and including a plurality of data symbols, each data symbol being attributed to a different carrier; one or more multicarrier modulators generating at least two multicarrier modulated signals based on the symbol streams; and at least two transmit ports respectively transmitting the at least two multicarrier modulated signals, wherein a data throughput rate of each transmission channel is separately variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andreas Schwager, Weiyun Lu, Lothar Stadelmeier
  • Patent number: 9061739
    Abstract: A self-stabilizing buoy and deployment methods can include a main body and a cage that can be attached to the main body. A ballast can be slidably positioned within the cage so that the ballast moves from within said cage to outside of the cage when the buoy is deployed. The cage can be formed with at least one slot. The buoy can include a locking mechanism to fix the ballast at the distal end of cage after deployment, which can include a locking head that can be fixed to the ballast and inserted into the slot, and at least one flexible cantilevered arm that can extend from the cage into the slot at its distal end. As the buoy is deployed, the weight of the ballast can be sufficient to urge the locking head past the cantilevered arm to fix and lock the ballast during buoy deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bret R. Thomson, Steve Whiteside, Brandon J. Wiedemeier, Steven J. Horstman, Michael Tall, Ronald Allen Skala
  • Patent number: 8990002
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided to permit an aerial asset to determine its current location and to, in turn, locate and track a target even as efforts are made by others to jam or otherwise hinder offboard communications that may prevent reliance upon GPS or other positioning systems. A method includes receiving, at a navigation control vehicle, information regarding the relative position of a target with respect to each of the at least two sonobuoys. The method also determines a relative position of the target with respect to the navigation control vehicle at least partially based on the information regarding the relative position of the target with respect to each of the at least two sonobuoys. The method provides information regarding the relative position of the target to an aerial asset to facilitate location of the target by the aerial asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James V. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20140369160
    Abstract: Electro-mechanical transducers are used to actively cloak a targeted object in a way that absorbs incoming waves without reflection, sends them out the opposite side of the target and returns the wave without leaving a shadow behind the target. The present invention pertains to an improvement in the cloaking of an object without requiring the use of special materials for the object itself and allows the use of SONAR and other possible transducer systems that would be covered and rendered ineffective with passive cloaking materials. Other means are also provided for extending the bandwidth as well as increasing the efficiency for cloaking or other transducers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: IMAGE ACOUSTICS INC.
    Inventor: John L. Butler
  • Patent number: 8773945
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for determining a parametric design of a large eddy breakup device in which the assembly comprises a water tunnel turbulent pipe flow section; a large eddy breakup device ring disposed within the pipe flow section; and a wall pressure sensor array operable to detect wall pressure in the turbulent pipe flow section. Energy in a wavenumber frequency spectra of wall pressure fluctuations is redistributed via changes to the parametric design in order to minimize turbulent wall pressure fluctuations with the result of reduced flow noise and drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William L Keith, Alia W Foley
  • Publication number: 20140126322
    Abstract: Disclosed an acoustically transparent material including an acoustic wave steering material, and methods for fabrication and use thereof. The materials are specially designed structures of homogenous isotropic metals. These structures are constructed to propagate waves according to Pentamode elastic theory. The metamaterial structures are two-dimensional, intended to propagate acoustic waves in the plane in a manner which closely emulates the propagation of waves in water. The acoustically transparent materials described herein have particular utility as acoustic wave steering materials and acoustic cloaks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Cipolla, Nachiket Gokhale, Andrew Norris, Adam Nagy
  • Patent number: 8614578
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to determining the attenuation of an electromagnetic signal passing through a conductive material. An antenna is provided and placed in relatively close proximity to the conductive material. An alternating current is passed through the antenna and the impedance of the antenna is measured. The attenuation is determined using the measured impedance. A single frequency measurement may be made, or multiple measurements using different frequencies may be made. Grouped parameters based on properties of the material and the frequency of the current are used to relate the coil impedance to the attenuation. A current frequency for which the ratio of the antenna's resistive part of the impedance to the angular frequency of the current is substantially insensitive to at least one of the parameters is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Guozhong Gao, H. Frank Morrison, Hong Zhang, Richard A. Rosthal, David Alumbaugh, Cyrille Levesque
  • Publication number: 20130088936
    Abstract: Described herein are countermeasure techniques (both active and passive). The techniques employ a plurality of devices that can be launched to different locations. The plurality of devices at the different locations, each including a sonar transmitter and receiver, can act in concert to emulate a target of a torpedo. The emulated target contains the necessary characteristics of a legitimate target to deceive the torpedo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: BITWAVE PTE LTD
    Inventor: Siew Kok Hui
  • Patent number: 8320214
    Abstract: A device for deflecting acoustic waves for an object in a liquid environment includes a heating grid and a cooling grid. The heating grid is positioned about the object and increases the temperature in the liquid environment. The cooling grid is positioned about the object to cool the liquid environment outside the heating grid. Jointly, these grids establish a temperature gradient in the liquid environment that is capable of bending acoustic waves in the environment. The cooling grid and heating grid can be established through mechanical, electrical or chemical methods. Alternatively, the required temperature gradient can be established by a heating grid alone in a moving vehicle wherein the heating grid is continuously in contact with undisturbed water at the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Anthony A. Ruffa, John F. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20110002191
    Abstract: An active sonar detection system may include a transmitter, which may project into the transmissive medium signals of any frequency, amplitude or phase using one or more transducers. A transmit beamformer to provide transmission directionality may also be included. Generated transmit waveforms may have different temporal and frequency spectra that are adapted for different purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Alion Science & Technology
    Inventors: Martin Paul DeMaio, John T. Green, Larry Freeman, Donald T. Lerro, Atul R. Shah
  • Patent number: 7623409
    Abstract: An apparatus having an array plate and an isolation section joined to the perimetrical edge of the plate. The isolation section has a plurality of isolation layers and a plurality of intermediate layers alternately arranged wherein an intermediate layer is positioned between consecutive isolation layers. An innermost isolation layer is joined to the perimetrical edge of the array plate and an outermost isolation layer is adapted to be joined to a hull structure of an underwater vehicle. Each isolation layer is made from energy absorbing material and each intermediate layer is made from generally rigid material. The isolation section substantially reduces vehicle self-noise from traveling to the array plate. Interchangeable depth stop members having various geometries are used to adjust the stiffness of the isolation section so as to maximize the isolation characteristics of the isolation section at particular water depths at which the underwater vehicle operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Stephen J. Plunkett, Neil J. Dubois
  • Patent number: 7596054
    Abstract: A suppressed feature waveform sonar transmission is produced by modulating a carrier wave with a baseband waveform that is generated from a known pulse sequence. A waveform embodiment of the pulse sequence is modified to create interference among the primary lobes of the constituent waveforms that are representative of the individual pulses. The baseband waveform so created appears as noise, making the baseband waveform modulation of the sonar transmission difficult to detect without knowledge of the pulse sequence or baseband waveform structure. The sonar transmission can be analyzed by cross-correlating the received signal with the baseband waveform or the pulse sequence waveform. The pulse sequence is preferably a complementary sequence. Modification of the pulse sequence may be obtained by passing an embodiment of the pulse sequence through a bandpass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Kremer, John Ziegler, Daniel J Goldkamp, Richard Lindquist
  • Patent number: 7263028
    Abstract: The present invention provides means of enhancing the acoustic attenuation and vibration damping of a material by (1) embedding a plurality of small particles of either a high characteristic acoustic impedance or a low characteristic acoustic impedance or combinations of high and low characteristic acoustic impedance materials to form a matrix material to act as a acoustic attenuator or vibration damper; and (2) combing this matrix material with a second layer of a decoupling material that serves to effectively isolate the matrix material and reduce its tendency to vibrate sympathetically to the impinging acoustic energy. The mass of the resultant material may be very low while retaining excellent acoustic attenuation, vibration damping, and structural characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerald B. Thomas, Paul R. Van Dyke, Bruce Guy
  • Patent number: 7257048
    Abstract: An acoustic countermeasure system comprises a plurality of individual countermeasure devices which act in concert to emulate a target with spatial extent. The individual countermeasure devices may be programmed to navigate into predetermined positions within a preset pattern with spatial characteristics similar to that of a target of interest, e.g., a submarine. The individual countermeasure devices are programmed to produce acoustic signals, such as in response to a ping or pulse by an incoming torpedo that collectively appears to be an echo similar to that which would come from a target having spatial extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lynn Alan Potter, Roderick E. Ayers, Joseph B. Lopes, C. Ray Dutton, Jarrod H. Wasko
  • Patent number: 7219612
    Abstract: A method for defeating or reducing the effectiveness of efforts to detect, track or target a naval vessel by means of its characteristic underwater and electrical fields. In this method, a wave form which mimics the characteristic electrical field produced by a particular type of naval vessel is first ascertained. A decoy which is able to produce, amplify and transmit this wave form which mimics the characteristic electrical field produced by said particular type of naval vessel is then deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information And Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Zank
  • Patent number: 7218571
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnetically generating an underwater high pressure pulse of sufficient strength to destroy underwater threats utilizes a pair of electrically conductive elements. The electrically conductive elements are arranged substantially parallel with each other and are separated by a gap. A pulse generator supplies an electrical pulse to at least one of the electrically conductive elements, which causes the generation of a magnetic repulsion force between the elements. The magnetic repulsion force causes one the electrically conductive elements to be displaced, thereby inducing a high pressure pulse in the liquid in which the pair of electrically conductive elements is submerged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Advanced Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Raleigh, Yeshayahu Goldstein, James Galambos
  • Patent number: 7020044
    Abstract: An apparatus that produces a gaseous vapor baffle that isolates an undersea sonar system from acoustic noise. The apparatus allows for craft carrying undersea sonar systems to travel at relatively high speeds while substantially isolating the undersea sonar systems from acoustic noise interference produced by propulsion systems, hull appendages, waves and bubbles. The apparatus has a support strut that has one end that is joined or attached to the hull of a craft. A sonar pod is attached to the other end of the support strut. The support strut has a ventilation duct and a plurality of ventilation ports. A cavitator is attached to the support strut and produces a sheet cavity as the craft travels in the water. Pressurized air or other gases are injected into the ventilation duct which then exit through the ventilation ports and into the sheet cavity. The pressurized air or gas exiting the ventilation ports expands the sheet cavity to form a gaseous vapor baffle that isolates the sonar pod from acoustic noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gieseke, Robert Kuklinski
  • Patent number: 6934217
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for a countermeasure threat emulator (CME) provided in a tubular housing that may be launched from a submarine or ship. The CME electronics include a CPU board for running software, communicating with a computer external to the housing and data recording. The external computer preferably incorporates a database having data representative of a plurality of both foreign and domestic countermeasures. The data may be downloaded to the CPU board as well as updated for reprogramming of the CPU board. A digital signal processing board utilizes a plurality of DSP processors for running software capable of producing a wide range of acoustic signal outputs. A neural network may be used for analyzing and identifying acoustic sounds from incoming threats and notifying the CPU board for selection of a preprogrammed response for transmission by a transducer stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: C. Ray Dutton, Lynn A. Potter, Joseph B. Lopes
  • Publication number: 20040228213
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for a countermeasure threat emulator. The countermeasure threat emulator is provided in a tubular housing that may be launched from a submarine or ship. The electronics of the countermeasure threat emulator include a CPU board for running software, communicating with a computer external to the tubular housing, and data recording. The computer external to the tubular housing preferably incorporates a database that includes data representative of a plurality of foreign countermeasures as well as domestic countermeasures. The data may be downloaded to the CPU board as well as updated for reprogramming of the CPU board. A digital signal processing board preferably utilizes a plurality of DSP processors for running the main software that is capable of producing a wide range of acoustic signal outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: C. Ray Dutton, Lynn A. Potter, Joseph B. Lopes
  • Patent number: 6744694
    Abstract: A sonar quieting system for a forward-looking sonar array is provided. The sonar quieting system includes a cavitator for forming an envelope, a strut for supporting the cavitator to a marine platform, such as a ship, a forward-looking sonar array mounted to a forward face of the cavitator, and a ventilation system for pumping a gas, such as air, into the envelope to create a gas cavity which envelops the supporting strut and equipment downstream of and during a forward movement of the cavitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gieseke, Robert Kuklinski
  • Patent number: 6600694
    Abstract: A system for producing a decoy to enable a target to avoid a homing torpedo that uses a sonar ping signal for homing in on the target comprises a transducer that operates in a receive mode in which it receives sonar signals and produces corresponding electrical signals and in a transmit mode in which it emits a sonar return pulse. A digital signal processor connected to the transducer is arranged to analyze the electrical signals corresponding to sonar signals received by the transducer and to determine whether they were emitted by the homing torpedo. The digital signal. processor is further arranged to switch the transducer to the transmit mode in response to receipt of a sonar ping signal from the homing torpedo and to cause the transducer to transmit a return pulse that acts as a decoy signal to the homing torpedo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Martin L. Whitfield, Donald P. Brutzman
  • Patent number: 6567341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of attenuating underwater transmission of sound or shock waves as well as boom systems designed for such use. The boom system is characterized by a material (e.g., curtain or combination curtain and skirt) which extends substantially the entire water column when placed in a body of water, thereby defining a perimeter and a gas injection system which includes a plurality of outlets which are positioned between the perimeter and the site of underwater activity. In use, the boom system is installed such that it surrounds the site of underwater activity and then gas is injected into the water through the plurality of outlets to form a gas curtain during performance of an underwater activity capable of generating sound or shock waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Gunderboom, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Dreyer, William F. Gunderson, III
  • Patent number: 6547733
    Abstract: Ultrasound images are obtained using a set of Golay codes with orthogonal property as ultrasound receiving and transmitting signals. Ultrasound signals having a plurality of codes are transmitted simultaneously by using the orthogonal property of the Golay codes. A superior signal-to-noise rate (SNR) is realized using the Golay codes, without suffering a decrease in the frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Medison Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Sub Hwang, Tai Kyong Song
  • Patent number: 6542109
    Abstract: There is provided an autonomous off-board defensive aids system (100) for use with a host craft (102), for example, with combat aircraft or submarines. More particularly, the host craft (102) deploys a plurality of controllable off-board units (104, 106) to counter an offensive threat or to engage in autonomous offensive actions. The controllable off-board units (104, 106) implement active stealth facilities: each off-board unit (104, 106) having a receiver unit for detecting impinging detection pulses, for example radar or sonar pulses, and a transmitter unit for generating an artificial detection pulse profile, for example “spoofing” or masking the presence of the host craft. The controllable off-board units are of two types: tethered (104) and free moving (106). The off-board units (104, 106) can have conventional propulsion apparatus, for instance, propellers, rockets or jets. Off-board units (104, 106) each have control apparatus which allows the off-board units (104, 106) to co-operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Roke Manor Research Limited
    Inventors: Peter Gregory Lloyd, Philip Edward Galloway, Thomas Welsh
  • Patent number: 6496447
    Abstract: A target simulation system is used to simulate a target, such as a submarine, for testing of homing projectiles, such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) torpedoes. The target simulation system includes a target portion having an impact structure and a plurality of acoustic reflectors spaced at a distance that simulates the spatial extent and acoustic highlights of the desired target. The target simulation portion is suspended at a predetermined depth within an underwater environment using one or more suspension assemblies. The suspension assemblies include one or more support floats that float on the surface of the water and suspension lines that extend from the respective support floats to the target portion. A reflector sail is coupled to a support float at one end of the target simulation system and captures the surface wind to apply a force to the target simulation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Gary M. Gabriel
  • Patent number: 6473364
    Abstract: The high frequency response of a versatile exercise mine system that emulates potentially threatening mines is extended by an acoustic float system. A watertight housing is buoyed upward from the mine system and has a first acoustic sensor to provide an omni-directional response to higher frequency acoustic signals in the range of 20 to 40 kHz that are transmitted from distant sources through ambient water. A second acoustic sensor adjacent to the first acoustic sensor produces a directional response to the higher frequency acoustic signals. Processing circuits receive signals from the acoustic sensors and generate signals representative of the higher frequency omni-directional and directional responses. An inclinometer generates signals representative of inclination of the acoustic system and a cable feeds the all the representative signals to a versatile exercise mine system for additional processing and/or evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Brian M. Koehn
  • Patent number: 6442104
    Abstract: A synthesizer and method for the generation of underwater background acoustic signals employs digital signal generation and processing in a multiplexed format. The synthesized digital signals comprise components of shaped noise, simple sinusoids, or double-sideband, suppressed-carrier, modulated sinusoids, or a combination of one or more of these signal types. Among the acoustic signals which are digitally synthesized are acoustic signals generated by antisubmarine-warfare hardware such as sonobuoys and hydrophones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventors: James Jefferson Ridgell, Jr., Henry Jay Friedman, Timothy Paul Magnani
  • Publication number: 20020080681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of attenuating underwater transmission of sound or shock waves as well as boom systems designed for such use. The boom system is characterized by a material (e.g., curtain or combination curtain and skirt) which extends substantially the entire water column when placed in a body of water, thereby defining a perimeter and a gas injection system which includes a plurality of outlets which are positioned between the perimeter and the site of underwater activity. In use, the boom system is installed such that it surrounds the site of underwater activity and then gas is injected into the water through the plurality of outlets to form a gas curtain during performance of an underwater activity capable of generating sound or shock waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Harold B. Dreyer, William F. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 6381196
    Abstract: A damping entity comprises a matrix of plural viscoelastic particles, typically between 0.05 in and 0.5 in in size, which slightly and fixedly contact one another. The particles generally bond with each other at their contact zones and approximately correspondingly therewith. Suitable particle viscoelasticities are defined by either or both of: (i) an approximate shear modulus range between 10 p.s.i. and 100,000 p.s.i.; and, (ii) an approximate loss factor range between 0.05 and 1.5. The particles which describe the matrix can be essentially identical in terms of size, shape and material composition, or can vary among themselves in one or more of these respects. These properties can be selected uniformly or more or less nonuniformly among the particles of a particular matrix in order to imbue the matrix with desired damping characteristics, e.g., in terms of frequency ranges and temperature ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Hein, Christopher F. Stack, Michael L. Drake
  • Patent number: 6341101
    Abstract: A launchable countermeasure device and method is disclosed that may be selectively operated to produce one or more of a plurality of countermeasure techniques. The device is compatible with presently existing launch control panels that are connected to an external connection that extends from the watertight hull. Although the signal formats of the launch control panel are different from those of an RS232 or RS422 connection used with a personal computer, nonetheless an interface is operable to accept any of these signal formats. The interface also includes a switch to direct communication from the personal computer to a RS232 port of an internally mounted countermeasure processor. Information downloaded by the personal computer can be used to effect or upgrade different countermeasure techniques such as sonar or incoming torpedo threat countermeasure techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: C. Ray Dutton, Lynn A. Potter, Joseph B. Lopes
  • Publication number: 20020006078
    Abstract: A sound-absorbing and reinforcing structure for engine nacelle (20) acoustic panel (24) designed to contain, in particular, jet engines for jet aircraft; each acoustic panel (24) has an inner layer (32), which is perforated and made of composite material, an outer layer (34), which is not perforated and is made of composite material, and an intermediate layer (36) made of a honeycomb structure pressed between the two previous layers. At each longitudinal joint (40) of the structure, the layers (32, 34, 36) are connected to a butt strap (35) by means of a series of connecting members (38) which ensure the continuity of the fan flow and maintain in position a portion (36A) of a layer that is honeycomb-structured and acoustically treated, the said portion (36A) contributing to the strength of the joint (40), and hence to the strength of the entire structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Massimo Battini, Sergio Pievani, Camillo Pedetti
  • Patent number: 6256263
    Abstract: An acoustic sensing countermeasure device is used to sense the direction of a threat projectile or vehicle in addition to countering the threat with noise or interference signals. Countermeasure device includes an acoustic receive array comprised of segmented vertical staves preferably mounted within a reduced diameter section around the outside housing of the countermeasure device. The staves are grouped to form directional acoustic beams across the entire horizontal plane. To determine the direction of the acoustic signals from the threat projectile or vehicle, the countermeasure device uses a method wherein the direction is indicated by the output of the directional acoustic beams. The countermeasure device locates a known reference direction used to determine the bearing of the threat. The bearing information can be transmitted, for example, to the vessel that deployed the countermeasure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Gerald T. Stevens