Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm William F. Eipert
  • Patent number: 5666327
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for studying, identifying and cacterizing thermal gradients within a volume of water. The system includes a frame formed from a plurality of PVC tubing sections and connectors. The connectors are used to house at least one pair of acoustic transducers, which transducers are used to collect data for studying, identifying and characterizing the thermal gradients within the volume of water. A number of different frame configurations may be used to perform a number of different studies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Diane Medeiros, John Oeschger, Peter R. Hebda
  • Patent number: 5654937
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing an individual hydrophone element in an axially ending hydrophone array includes a pressure wave generator, an insonifier for directing the generated pressure waves toward a selected one of the elements of the array and a monitor for measuring the output of the array responsive to the generated arrays. The pressure wave generator is isolated so it does not produce pressure waves externally thereto. The insonifier includes a housing with an axially extending through aperture for receiving the array and a chamber formed in the housing with a first port connecting with the pressure wave generator and a second port connecting with the axially extending aperture so that the generated pressure waves insonify a selected one of the hydrophone elements disposed proximate the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Foster L. Striffler
  • Patent number: 5642331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for studying, identifying and cacterizing thermal gradients in a volume of water. The system includes a frame for supporting one or more measuring devices and a source of heat for generating a thermal plume in the volume of water. The frame includes a first plate to which the measuring devices are mounted by a plurality of mounting blocks spaced about the periphery of a hole in the first plate. The frame further includes a second plate, spaced from the first plate, to which the source of heat is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Diane Medeiros, John Oeschger, Peter R. Hebda, David F. Notarianni
  • Patent number: 5602801
    Abstract: An underwater vehicle sonar system has sonar sensors provided in arms to plement a nose mounted array. The arms are capable of use in an extended position to provide a large diameter sonar array offering improved image resolution in the forward direction. In the extended position the arms also are capable of acting as active hydrodynamic control surfaces. Additionally, the arms can be used in a stowed position to provide a linear array for side viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Fred Nussbaum, Charles H. Beauchamp
  • Patent number: 5568450
    Abstract: A system for characterizing ocean bottom properties in real-time by explong the multipath structure of reverberation to extract values for the bottom loss and the bottom scattering coefficient. The system obtains environmental and navigational data and synchronizes the data with sonar state data and acoustic beam data to produce an input data stream to an extraction processor. The extraction processor utilizes a digital signal processing means to produce a reverberation energy envelope from the acoustic beam data and time correlate the reverberation energy envelope with the environmental, navigational, and sonar state data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David W. Grande, Michael T. Sundvik, Judith L. Bishop, Bernard F. Cole
  • Patent number: 5568447
    Abstract: An interface module assembly for disposition between a marine tow cable and n array of acoustic receivers includes a plurality of bodies interconnected in series by flexible tethers. A proximal one of the bodies is adapted for connection to the tow cable and a distal one of the bodies is adapted for connection to the array. An external coaxial cable extends between each two of the bodies and is in communication with other external coaxial cables by way of internal coaxial cables within the bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Michael R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5566132
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer comprising a housing, and first and second stacks of ransduction plates disposed within the housing for engaging opposed wall portions of the housing, the first and second stacks being adapted to be held in compression between the housing opposed wall portions. A threaded stud extends from the first stack to the second stack, and a nut is threadedly engaged with the stud and adjacent one of the stacks. Movement of the nut on the stud operates to move the stacks toward the housing walls, respectively, to compress the stacks, and operates to relax compressive force on the stacks to enable withdrawal of one of the stacks and replacement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: The United Sates of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert S. Janus, Kurt J. Janecek, Robert A. Roush
  • Patent number: 5566135
    Abstract: A device for converting mechanical vibrations into a digital signal uses a iaphragm having a reflective surface with a plurality of reflective facets disposed on a face of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is mounted such that it will be displaced a distance proportional to the external stimulus, such as acoustic energy, it receives. A light source provides a continuous optical beam which is directed onto the reflective surface and reflected by the surface onto an optical detector, which in turn, produces an electrical signal identifying the position on the detector illuminated by the reflected beam. As the diaphragm vibrates in response to the external stimulus receive, the optical beam will be reflected in different directions thereby changing the position that the beam strikes the optical detector. A microprocessor receives the electrical signals from the optical detector and produces a digital signal corresponding to the displacement of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert B. MacLeod