Sonar Patents (Class 434/6)
  • Patent number: 9836989
    Abstract: A training data management method and related system is disclosed comprising three integrated elements. A training data network may provide a network linking a remote instructor operating an off-board data network with a student operating an onboard data network. The remote instructor may, via the datalink connection, maintain a level of control of the data set available to the student. A method for providing training data may include an onboard and off-board safety monitor configured for perceiving a safety event and sending a notification thereof to an involved participant. A system for providing training data may include a data guard configured to monitor all communications between two networks and block sensitive information, training data, and classified communications between the networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason C. Wenger, Jaclyn A. Hoke, Brian R. Wolford, Alex Postnikov, James N. Potts, Alex W. Halfpenny
  • Patent number: 9602192
    Abstract: An insulating transmission medium with high insulation reliability which transmits electromagnetic energy between circuits having different reference voltages, with low loss, in small size, and at low cost, and a communication apparatus which uses radio waves between a rotator and a stator to perform two-way communication between at least one rotator-specific communication device placed on a rotator. One stator-specific communication device is placed on a stator and is connected to multiple stator-specific antennas. The rotator-specific communication device is connected to at least one rotator-specific antenna, and includes a signal strength indicator. The stator-specific communication device includes a phase shifter which increases or decreases the phase angle of the signal by a phase shift amount in such a manner as that the signal strength is equal to or more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shinoda
  • Patent number: 8363048
    Abstract: A method for visualizing data includes the step of providing a virtual flight visualization of image data representing a non-landscape object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Thomas Gering
  • Patent number: 7920821
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that mathematically simulates acoustic waves that are reflected off an ocean floor from a SONAR transducer mounted on a ship, submarine, or other water navigable craft. By varying the number of mathematical equations, the form of the equations, and the parameters of the equations, many different conditions may be simulated in the laboratory before testing and implementing a SONAR system at sea. The system can simulate either a spatial hydrophone SONAR system or a temporal hydrophone SONAR system for all ship speeds (i.e. all velocity components). The novel equations used in the system are based on the physics of correlation SONAR, and are applied in real time simulation environments to provide for accurate SONAR simulation of a ship's velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Scoca, Jerry G. Klein
  • Publication number: 20090253102
    Abstract: Region of interest (ROI) corresponding to a soft tissue mass are tracked in a training video acquired by sonography. The locations of the ROI are used to construct a directed graph in which each node represents a location of the tracked ROI, and the edges represent temporal relations of the ROIs. The soft tissue mass can also be tracked using the graph, and appropriate treatment can be delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Fatih M. Porikli, Quan Yuan
  • Publication number: 20090220922
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fishing simulation method, a fishing simulation execution method, and a fishing simulator, and more specifically, to a fishing simulation method, a fishing simulation execution method, and a fishing simulator, in which a fishing activity procedure of detecting a fish school, gathering fish, and catching the fish can be realized in a three-dimensional virtual space of a computer, and a fishery environment and fishing activity simulated in the computer virtual space comes to be similar to a real fishery environment and fishing activity by simulating the behavior of the fish school, including an avoidance behavior of fish entities forming the fish school, responding to the movement of a fishing boat and a fishing gear, thereby enhancing learning effects on the fishery environment and the fishing activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Chun Woo Lee, Ju Hee Lee, Gun Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7409323
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically characterizing data sets containing data points, which may be produced by measurements such as with sonar arrays, as either random or non-random. The data points for each data are located within a Cartesian space and a polygon envelope is constructed which contains the data points. The polygon is divided into grid cells by constructing a grid over the polygon. A prediction is made as to how many grid cells would be occupied if the data were merely a random process. The prediction takes one of two forms depending on the sample size. For small sample sizes, an exact Poisson probability method is utilized. For large sample sizes an approximation to the exact Poisson probability is utilized. A third test is utilized to test the adequacy of the Poisson based model is adequate to assess the data set as either random or non-random.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7269538
    Abstract: A method is provided for characterizing sparse data as either signal or noise. In one embodiment, a two-dimensional area which contains a distribution of data points of the sparse data from a selected time period is divided into equal size cells wherein each cell has an expectation of containing at least one data sample. Based on the expected proportion of a plurality cells which will be nonempty in a random distribution, a Poisson distribution or a Binomial distribution is utilized to determine a data sample mean. A probability of a false signal is determined from the number of cells utilized. A probability is also computed from the sample mean and compared to the probability of a false signal to determine whether to characterize the sparse data as signal or noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040166478
    Abstract: The present invention is a system that mathematically simulates acoustic waves that are reflected off an ocean floor from a SONAR transducer mounted on a ship, submarine, or other water navigable craft. By varying the number of mathematical equations, the form of the equations, and the parameters of the equations, many different conditions may be simulated in the laboratory before testing and implementing a SONAR system at sea. The system can simulate either a spatial hydrophone SONAR system or a temporal hydrophone SONAR system for all ship speeds (i.e. all velocity components). The novel equations used in the system are based on the physics of correlation SONAR, and are applied in real time simulation environments to provide for accurate SONAR simulation of a ship's velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Scoca, Jerry G. Klein
  • Patent number: 6584300
    Abstract: A detailed sonar target scattering simulation system using object-oriented techniques to implement a broadband computational simulation of a plurality of detailed target highlight features. The class library includes a target class and a highlight base class from which a plurality of highlight subclasses are drawn to accurately represent a wide range of target highlight features. The resulting standard high-level framework allows many operations to be naturally defined and used with reduced software code errors, thereby improving computational effectiveness. The system includes a data processor, a user interface for accepting user commands and data, a display for displaying the simulated acoustic received signal, and a data memory for storing information representing the properties of the acoustic source signal and the positions of the acoustic source signal, the acoustic received signal and the target, and a class library including a target class, a highlight base class and one or more highlight subclasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Gabriel A. Lengua
  • Publication number: 20030013069
    Abstract: A detailed sonar target scattering simulation system using object-oriented techniques to implement a broadband computational simulation of a plurality of detailed target highlight features. The class library includes a target class and a highlight base class from which a plurality of highlight subclasses are drawn to accurately represent a wide range of target highlight features. The resulting standard high-level framework allows many operations to be naturally defined and used with reduced software code errors, thereby improving computational effectiveness. The system includes a data processor, a user interface for accepting user commands and data, a display for displaying the simulated acoustic received signal, and a data memory for storing information representing the properties of the acoustic source signal and the positions of the acoustic source signal, the acoustic received signal and the target, and a class library including a target class, a highlight base class and one or more highlight subclasses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Gabriel A. Lengua
  • Publication number: 20020094521
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a methods for identifying compounds that inhibit or prevent infection of cells by enveloped viruses such as HIV-1 by preventing or disrupting conformational changes in the viral transmembrane protein that are required for virus fusion with those cells, and the compounds discovered by such methods. The invention also includes using these assays as diagnostic assays to detect antibodies in virus infected individuals that inhibit the viral entry processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Carl T. Wild, Graham P. Allaway
  • Patent number: 6150976
    Abstract: A digital radar landmass simulator (DRLMS) used for stimulation testing pulse radars, wherein the DRLMS operates by synthesizing time-overlapping chirp waveforms using finite impulse response filters. The DRLMS, thus, effectively generates many overlapping complex pulse signals from many radar reflectors representing a semi-infinite continuum of closely spaced targets. The DRLMS also allows the insertion/injection of the effects of Doppler shift and jamming into the synthesized modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Cooley
  • Patent number: 6118289
    Abstract: To securely clean dirty material deposited on ends of board electrical-test probes used in a board test device for executing tests including an incircuit test by a cleaning job executed once, the extreme ends of the contact pins of the board electrical-test probes are pierced through an elastic sheet molded by dispersing fine metal oxide particles dispersed therein in a specific weight percentage amount and then pulled out from the elastic sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Kitani, Kunio Satomi, Shigeo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6002914
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating reverberation signals in a multipath onar system is provided. The invention includes an input means for providing a plurality of simulated sonar system parameters. A defining means is joined to the input means to establish a plurality of eigenray parameters with terms corresponding to at least one of the simulated sonar parameters. A reverberation means is joined to the defining means for extrapolating said defined eigenray parameters responsive to the simulated sonar parameters to produce output signals simulating reverberation in the multipath sonar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Henry Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5995803
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for producing an output simulating a tipath sonar system. An input means produces signals corresponding to sonar system parameters. A generator means is jointed to the input means to generate a plurality of eigenray parameters in response to the input signals. A processing means combines the generated eigenray parameters from the generate means with sonar system parameters from the input means to produce output signals. A report means is provided for generating reports simulating the response of a mulitpath sonar system to the output signals from the processing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Henry Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5983067
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating the output of a multipath sonar sys. An eigenray module generates a plurality of eigenrays having terms that correspond with simulated parameters of a sonar system. A processing unit combines the eigenrays responsive to the simulated parameters to provide output signals that correspond with the output signals of a multipath sonar system. These signals may include one or more of the following types: lofargrams, autocorrelation coefficients, reverberation, and cross-correlations coefficients. The apparatus can also include a report generator for generating a display from the output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Henry Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5978646
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating a lofargram in a multipath sonar sym is provided. The invention includes an input means for providing a plurality of simulated sonar system parameters. A defining means is joined to the input means to establish a plurality of eigenrays with terms corresponding to at least one of the simulated sonar parameters. A lofargram means is joined to the defining means for interpolating said eigenrays to produce simulated lofargram output signals. The invention can also incorporate a report means for generating a report from the simulated lofargram output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Henry Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5978647
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for producing simulated autocorrelation coefficients of a multipath sonar system. An input means produces signals simulating sonar system parameters including total spectral density and erage pressure. A defining means produces a plurality of eigenrays with terms corresponding to these simulated system parameters. The present invention provides an autocorrelation means for interpolating the defined plurality of simulated sonar parameters to produce simulated autocorrelation coefficient output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Henry Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5299171
    Abstract: A torpedo countermeasure decoy which produces and broadcasts signals that e usually more attractive to a homing torpedo than those emanating from its intended target. Timely reset staircase generators combined with timely opened and closed gates generate stairstep signals which are added by a summing amplifier to produce a programmed composite signal thereof. A bank of voltage-controlled oscillators are driven by said composite signal in such a manner as to produce a predetermined plurality of discrete frequency signals within a predetermined plurality of consecutive but separated frequency bands within a given frequency spectrum, all of which are then effectively broadcast within the aqueous medium in the ambient environment of the torpedo's intended target--that is, the vessel to be protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1970
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Philip K. White, Clell A. Dildy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5062083
    Abstract: A Sonar decoy system receives an interrogating pulse from an energy source nd then distorts, elongates, amplifies, and retransmits the pulse to simulate an echo of that pulse rebounding from the various reflecting surfaces of a moving submarine. To refine the allusion of an actual echo, a portion of the pulse signal is circulated and recirculated through a delay line several times, and then reinserted into the outgoing signal to contribute random additions to and phase cancellations of the various frequency components of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1965
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Keith E. Geren, Claude C. Routh
  • Patent number: 5032083
    Abstract: A system for training or aiding an impaired individual to perform a series of tasks at spaced work sites comprises a mobile device for being worn or carried by the individual. The mobile device comprises circuits and devices for detecting the position of the mobile device relative to the spaced work sites. It further comprises a programmed computer having a memory for storing a data structure associating each task with the ordinal number of the task, a task description, the site at which the task is to be performed, a flag or pointer indicative of whether a task has been performed and messages containing cues and/or instructions for each task. The programmed computer also comprises a memory and processor for storing and executing a program which based upon the task flag or pointer and the location of the mobile module for cueing and/or instructing the individual to perform a task at a site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Augmentech, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark B. Friedman
  • Patent number: 4991143
    Abstract: This system is directed to an acoustic target simulator for use with active nd passive sonar systems. A receiver and a transmitter are mounted on the front and rear of the simulator. Separate high frequency channels are provided for the front transmitter and receiver and for the rear transmitter and receiver. The simulator utilizes a selector circuit that is operative upon receipt of a signal from one receiver-transmitter channel to disable the second receiver-transmitter channel. The simulator also includes a sonar becon which provides tracking capability for low-frequency sonars and an evasive action circuit which operates upon receipt of certain signals to disable the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1967
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Rene N. Foss, Edward W. Early
  • Patent number: 4973252
    Abstract: A sonar simulation system comprises a general purpose digital computer and n interface processor which receives position and intensity information from the computer for the effects to be simulated and spreads the effects in range and bearing to simulate a PPI display. Simulated range-bearing cells are displayed on the PPI with a resolution of 0.5.degree. making the time between cells 46 microseconds. During each 46 microseconds interval, all of the sonar effects are independently and successively examined to determine if they have a contribution to the next cell to be displayed. The intensity of each of the contributors are summed for output to the sonar interface equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1971
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Thomas A. Krueger
  • Patent number: 4972379
    Abstract: A sonic echo simulator for simulating sonar signals reflected from underwr targets having a transmitter which broadcasts sonar signals through a given amount of water toward a receiver for readout thereat. Prior to broadcast, various characteristics, such as target length, target aspect, target shadow length, range to sea floor, sea floor reverberation, and target highlights are selectively incorporated into said broadcast sonar signals by combined circuits for the timely generation thereof, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1966
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William G. Harris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4943951
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display depth finder using a sonar transducer is provided with a plurality of input keys interfaced to a microprocessor with each input key being dedicated to a particular function or feature usable with the depth finder. The microprocessor is utilized to control the operation of the transducer and the display of the data generated thereby in accordance with the particular function or set of functions chosen by the operator and to manipulate programming stored within the depth finder which will enable a tutorial mode comprising alphanumeric information and command key indication such that an the user may determine how the machine is to properly function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Microsonics, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Leavell, Earl W. Spencer, Jr., Bruce L. Bacon
  • Patent number: 4759067
    Abstract: An apparatus for extracting, storing and repetitively replaying a broadband atasample is fabricated from proven electronic components to assure long term reliability and reproducibility. A broadband acoustic signal is digitized and stored in a RAM until it is loaded with the desired signal. An adjustable clock controls the rate at which the stored signal is loaded and repetitively displayed so that its spectrum and characteristics can be fully analyzed. Appropriate filters are provided on the input and output sides to block incoming signals outside of the range of interest and those signal components attributed to the variable clock. Selection of particular portions of the stored desired signal may be addressed for detailed analysis on a repetitive basis if needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert E. Page
  • Patent number: 4667199
    Abstract: A simulator for simulating radar or sonar signals returned to an observation point from a three-dimensional object of non-uniform reflectivity. An imaginary three-dimensional object is defined spatially in the form of a series of three-dimensional regularly shaped elements. Each element has allocated to it a predetermined level of uniform reflectivity.The position of boundaries of the element along an imaginary radial line extending from the observation point are calculated and the reflectivity allocated to points on the line on each side of each of the boundary positions is calculated. A sequence of signals is then generated which is representative of the allocated reflectivities occurring along the length of the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Rediffusion Simulation Limited
    Inventor: Malcolm E. C. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4393483
    Abstract: A DICASS test set utilizes a microcomputer to process infromation from an put and a down link section, generate the appropriate control logic for all the various electronic sections and format the appropriate output data for the output in uplink sections. A keyboard is provided from which an operator can input data the controller. A display and printer is provided to which the controller outputs information to the operator. The down link section consists of a UHF receiver, envelope detector, timer, filter bank, decoder, frequency counter. The uplink section consists of a reverberation simulator, a signal synthesizer, bearing, echo level and sea state controllers, three separate noise sources, multipliers and summing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David C. Hammond, Stephen M. Elchenko, John M. Tralies, Peter W. Verburgt, Leon R. Robinson
  • Patent number: 4250634
    Abstract: The invention relates to a simulator for providing waveforms of the type produced at a receiver from a sonobuoy transmission. The simulator signal includes a component representing reverberation under different sea state conditions and a component representing echo pulses received from a target having relative motion with respect to the sonobuoy. Selected initial range and target speed values can be set in the simulator so that the signal includes a sequence of echo pulses having the varying delay and doppler shift which would occur from a target starting at the selected range and moving at the selected speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Buckler