Abstract: A motion sensing element with position sensing includes a case, a magnet positioned within the case, a spring assembly having an electrically conductive member and a coil assembly coupled to the spring assembly. The coil assembly and magnet are moveable with respect to one another. A capacitor plate is proximate the electrically conductive member with a distance between the capacitor plate and electrically conductive member being variable as the magnet and coil assembly move. Leads connect the capacitor plate and electrically conductive member to a sensing circuit for estimating the relative positions of the magnet and coil assembly.

Abstract: A communication system for use with a motorcycle includes a main unit that has a detector and a transmitter that transmits an alert signal upon the detection of a radar or laser by the detector. The system further includes either a visual indicator or an audio indicator. The visual indicator has a receiver that receives the alert signal from the transmitter, and a display which provides a visual display of the alert signal. The audio indicator has a receiver that receives the alert signal from the transmitter, and a speaker which emits an auditory response of the alert signal. The system can further include a mounting assembly having a connector that is removably connected to a part of a motorcycle, a support bracket to which the main unit is removably coupled, and a link that pivotably couples the support bracket and the connector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a navigation system for an unmanned underwater vehicle that includes at least two navigation sensors that provide latitude and longitude measurements of unequal accuracy, a processor and a memory. The memory stores a machine-readable set of instructions executable by the processor to process the latitude and longitude measurements received from the navigation sensors, and to estimate vehicle latitude and longitude with approximately equal accuracy.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for defense against missiles that have explosive substances and piezoelectric detonators, the detonator of the missile is excited by ultrasonic radiation, causing it to oscillate and thus be triggered in flight.

Abstract: A switch that couples transducer signal to a specific sounder of multiple sounders in response to a sensed signal from the specific sounder. The switch can include a first detection circuit that determines the sounder that is requesting the first transducer signal and a first control circuit that couples the first transducer signal to the requesting sounder. The switch can further include a second detection circuit that determines the sounder that is requesting the second transducer signal and a second control circuit that couples the second transducer signal to the requesting sounder.

Abstract: Described is a device for generating an acoustic signal in an electrically conductive medium such as salt water. The device of the present invention has a broadband frequency response and supports high bandwidth data transmission. Reliability is improved in comparison to conventional underwater acoustic transmitters as the device includes no moving components. In one embodiment, the device includes a parallel and alternating arrangement of electrodes and magnets. Neighboring electrodes have different voltages and neighboring magnets have opposite pole configurations such that the magnetic fields overlap the currents between the electrodes in the medium. The currents or the magnetic fields are modulated according to a data signal to generate an acoustic signal in the medium.

Abstract: A method of providing an indication of the direction of a target such as a sniper. A rifle mounted sensor array detects an acoustic pulse originating from the target. The signal is processed to estimate the direction of the target, and an indication is provided when the weapon is aligned with the estimated direction. The direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse is estimated by spectrally decomposing each signal from the sensor so as to generate one or more spectral components for each signal, and processing the spectral components to estimate the direction of arrival.

Abstract: Analog beamformers for continuous wave ultrasonic receivers, typically realized in integrated circuit form and using a direct quadrature baseband conversion architecture for CW Doppler to eliminate a second down conversion mixer and second synthesizer. The beamformers use integrated mixers and LO's for phase steering, and dedicated ring counters for each channel for lower noise. Input filtering may be provided with switchable RF input low pass filters. The integrated circuit includes the ultrasound signal VGA and beamformer on the same chip. An auxiliary channel may be included for a self-test mode. Also a programmable bit soft shutdown feature, programmable via the serial port, allows disabling individual channels. Various other features are disclosed including cascading of multiple integrated circuits for a much greater number of channels.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring a space for the presence of a foreign body comprises at least one transmitter and a first and second receiving device. The signal of the second receiving device which is spaced further apart from the transmitter than the first receiving device is evaluated for its parasitic signal portions. If the distance between the first and the second receiving device is not too great, it can be assumed that parasitic signal portions detected in the second received signal are also contained in the first received signal. In this case, it is recommended to discontinue monitoring the space or to discard any result of this monitoring already obtained at least until no parasitic signal portions are detected in a repeated evaluation of the second received signal.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for position awareness that can be used indoors in a large-scale environment and can minimize generation of radio frequency (RF) and ultrasonic waves in a wireless sensor network including low-priced sensor nodes capable of precise position measurement, thus improving energy efficiency by reducing unnecessary power consumption. The method includes the steps of: (a) calculating initial position coordinates using beacon information received from adjacent beacons through a broadcast beacon solicitation signal, sending a synchronization signal to the beacons, and synchronizing the beacons; (b) receiving ultrasonic waves generated from the adjacent beacons activated by a broadcast start message, and calculating position coordinates; and (c) when the calculated position coordinates correspond to a predetermined hand-off threshold position, transmitting a hand-off process message to a newly activated beacon, and executing a hand-off process routine.

Abstract: A sensing device and method. The device includes a first element and a second element. Each of the elements includes a first electrode, and a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer between and connected to the first and second electrode. The first electrode, second electrode and piezoelectric layer of each element form a pressure wave transducer. The first and second elements are oriented such that the second electrode of the first element faces the second electrode of the second element. The elements are displaced from one another such that the second electrodes form the plates of a capacitor.

Abstract: An unmanned underwater vehicle for use in water and with at least one acoustic signal source includes a vehicle body, a steering mechanism to direct the vehicle body through the water, a propulsion device to force the vehicle body through the water, and an adaptive Doppler guidance and control (ADGC) system. The ADGC system is configured to receive acoustic signals from the at least one acoustic signal source and to control the steering mechanism using changes in at least one frequency component of the received acoustic signals caused by Doppler shifts.

Abstract: An acoustic detection and localization system includes a signal acquisition stage, a biomimetic processor, and an acoustic feature processor. The system uses multiple acoustic cues including spectral content, inter-aural time delay (ITD), inter-aural intensity difference (IID), and periodicity content to detect, classify, and localize sound sources. Pairs of acoustic sensors are arranged geometrically with a spacing depending on the application. The biomimetic processing provides for echo suppression to enhance performance in reverberant environments, and automatic gain controls for robustness in noisy environments. Applications include mobile robotic platforms for reconnaissance and surveillance, helmet mounted systems for sniper detection, vehicle-mounted systems for combat awareness, general civilian security systems, and systems for environmental monitoring and tracking of animals.

Abstract: A method of estimating velocity with a correlation SONAR that provides improved velocity estimate due to a reduction in random and bias errors is disclosed. The method generates a velocity estimate based on a weighted average of pulse-pairs that includes processing of those pulse-pairs based on an optimal correlation time as well as pulse-pairs based on sub-optimal correlation times.

Abstract: Areal population density and detailed behavior of fish schools and their interaction are continuously monitored over continental-shelf-scale areas spanning thousands of square kilometers by ocean acoustic-waveguide remote sensing. In some embodiments, the capacity of certain geophysical environments, such as continental shelves, islands, etc. to behave as acoustic waveguides is utilized; sound propagates over long ranges via trapped modes that suffer only cylindrical spreading loss, rather than the spherical loss suffered in conventional sonar approaches.

Abstract: A light pipe device for fish sonar that displays information such as depth and density of detected objects. The device includes a motor with a rotary shaft, a shaft position sensor, a light conducting pipe fixed to the rotary shaft opposite the luminous tip of the pipe, a light source, and a front panel. Using this device, when a controller detects an object the controller causes the light source to turn on and off as the luminous tip revolves beneath the front panel. Light is transferred to the tip and front panel to indicate information regarding the object.

Abstract: A dive accessory has an outer shell that encompasses a light maker and a noise maker. The light maker is waterproofed and has a light source electrically connected to an electrical power source for powering the light source. A light switch selectively opens and closes the electrical connection to switch the light source on and off. The noise maker has a hollow chamber containing a solid object that is movable within the hollow chamber to produce a noise when the solid object strikes a wall of the hollow chamber. The solid object may be restrained from moving to prevent the solid object from making noise. Combining a light maker and a noise maker provides a more effective dive accessory.

Abstract: A water submersible communications device for use on a body of water includes a housing and a communications module. The housing has a geometric centroid. The housing is submersible in and floatable on the body of water. The communications module is mounted on and/or in the housing. A center of buoyancy of the communications device is located substantially at the geometric centroid of the housing.

Abstract: A location recognition system and method using stereophonic sound, the system having a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter uses the stereophonic sound and transmits location tracking information of an object. The transmitter includes a sound detector which detects a sound of the object and converts the detected sound to an electrical signal; a data converter which converts the electrical signal converted by the sound detector, to acoustic data; and a first communication interface which transmits the acoustic data converted by the data converter and the location tracking information to the receiver. A user can immediately recognize the location of the transmitter which transmits the location tracking information and is the target of the location tracking. Therefore, the mutual communications between the transmitter and the receiver which receives the location tracking information can be smoothly carried out.

Abstract: A modulated pulse wave requires a pulse width of 1 nsec or less, but it is difficult that a PIN diode, which is conventionally used treats such a modulated pulse wave with narrow pulse width. In order to solve such a problem, it is an object to provide a pulse modulator, which outputs a modulated pulse wave with narrow pulse width and a pulse wave radar device, which can output a modulated pulse wave with narrow pulse width. In order to achieve this operation, the pulse modulator and the pulse wave radar device of the present invention differentiate a pulse from a pulse generating circuit so as to generate a differentiated wave with narrow width, and switch an oscillated wave from an oscillating circuit according to the differentiated wave so as to output a modulated pulse wave with narrow pulse width.