Patents by Inventor Pierre Guthmann

Pierre Guthmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11112499
    Abstract: A synthetic aperture sonar moving along a first axis comprises an emitting device configured to emit, in each ping, at least one acoustic pulse toward an observed zone in a set of sectors comprising at least one sector. The sonar comprises a first physical receiving antenna extending along the first axis allowing measurements of backscattered signals to be acquired and a processing device configured to form, over R pings, for each sector, synthetic aperture beams from measurements of signals backscattered by the observed zone and generated by acoustic pulses emitted in the sector. The sonar comprises at least one gyrometer. The processing device is configured to correct for variations in the movement of the first receiving antenna during the formation of the synthetic aperture beams of the set of sectors by carrying out an autocalibration by intercorrelation of the successive pings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Nicolas Burlet, Nicolas Mandelert, Pierre Guthmann
  • Patent number: 10353059
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating submerged underwater objects having neutral buoyancy comprising mechanically steered sonar to image the water column comprises mechanically steered sonar with a single emission channel, to perform the insonification of a first individual sector in a first pointing direction by a single first acoustic pulse, the sonar forming a single reception channel suitable for acquiring a first acoustic signal resulting from insonification, the mechanically steered sonar being mounted on a carrier to advance in a main direction, the first pointing direction substantially lateral to the carrier and the first individual sector exhibits a wide relative bearing aperture and a narrow elevation aperture, the mechanically steered sonar comprising a mechanical pointing device to tilt the first pointing direction about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main direction allowing the sonar to acquire first acoustic signals resulting from insonifications performed in different pointin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Nicolas Mandelert, Pierre Guthmann
  • Patent number: 10351212
    Abstract: A recovery system for recovering an autonomous underwater vehicle from a ship, the underwater vehicle comprising a front portion referred to as the nose, the system comprising: a receiving device comprising a stop on which the nose of the underwater vehicle is capable of bearing, blocking means making it possible to secure the underwater vehicle to the stop, a flexible link intended to provide the interface between the receiving device and the ship, the flexible link being arranged so the ship pulls the assembly formed by the receiving device and the underwater vehicle on the front of the underwater vehicle when the latter is rigidly connected to the stop, stabilization means configured to make it possible to control the depth and the attitude, in particular the list and trim of the assembly formed by the receiving device and the underwater vehicle when the latter is rigidly connected to the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Michaël Jourdan, Albert Tom, Pierre Guthmann
  • Patent number: 10061022
    Abstract: A sonar system to image the seabed, comprises at least one emission antenna to emit an acoustic beam covering a useful angular sector delimited by a first direction and a second direction, the distance between the antenna and the seabed being more significant in the first direction than in the second direction. The emission device is configured to form an emission pattern whose maximum is situated substantially in the first direction and which decreases from the first direction to the second direction and from the first direction in the sense opposite to the second direction, the energy attenuation being faster in the sense opposite to the second direction than toward the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Pierre Guthmann, Nicolas Mandelert, Patrick Ferrara
  • Publication number: 20170059706
    Abstract: A synthetic aperture sonar moving along a first axis comprises an emitting device configured to emit, in each ping, at least one acoustic pulse toward an observed zone in a set of sectors comprising at least one sector. The sonar comprises a first physical receiving antenna extending along the first axis allowing measurements of backscattered signals to be acquired and a processing device configured to form, over R pings, for each sector, synthetic aperture beams from measurements of signals backscattered by the observed zone and generated by acoustic pulses emitted in the sector. The sonar comprises at least one gyrometer. The processing device is configured to correct for variations in the movement of the first receiving antenna during the formation of the synthetic aperture beams of the set of sectors by carrying out an autocalibration by intercorrelation of the successive pings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nicolas BURLET, Nicolas MANDELERT, Pierre GUTHMANN
  • Publication number: 20160223659
    Abstract: A system for detecting and locating submerged underwater objects having neutral buoyancy comprising mechanically steered sonar to image the water column comprises mechanically steered sonar with a single emission channel, to perform the insonification of a first individual sector in a first pointing direction by a single first acoustic pulse, the sonar forming a single reception channel suitable for acquiring a first acoustic signal resulting from insonification, the mechanically steered sonar being mounted on a carrier to advance in a main direction, the first pointing direction substantially lateral to the carrier and the first individual sector exhibits a wide relative bearing aperture and a narrow elevation aperture, the mechanically steered sonar comprising a mechanical pointing device to tilt the first pointing direction about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main direction allowing the sonar to acquire first acoustic signals resulting from insonifications performed in different pointin
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Nicolas MANDELERT, Pierre GUTHMANN
  • Publication number: 20160170012
    Abstract: A sonar system to image the seabed, comprises at least one emission antenna to emit an acoustic beam covering a useful angular sector delimited by a first direction and a second direction, the distance between the antenna and the seabed being more significant in the first direction than in the second direction. The emission device is configured to form an emission pattern whose maximum is situated substantially in the first direction and which decreases from the first direction to the second direction and from the first direction in the sense opposite to the second direction, the energy attenuation being faster in the sense opposite to the second direction than toward the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Pierre GUTHMANN, Nicolas MANDELERT, Patrick FERRARA
  • Publication number: 20160009344
    Abstract: A recovery system for recovering an autonomous underwater vehicle from a ship, the underwater vehicle comprising a front portion referred to as the nose, the system comprising: a receiving device comprising a stop on which the nose of the underwater vehicle is capable of bearing, blocking means making it possible to secure the underwater vehicle to the stop, a flexible link intended to provide the interface between the receiving device and the ship, the flexible link being arranged so the ship pulls the assembly formed by the receiving device and the underwater vehicle on the front of the underwater vehicle when the latter is rigidly connected to the stop, stabilization means configured to make it possible to control the depth and the attitude, in particular the list and trim of the assembly formed by the receiving device and the underwater vehicle when the latter is rigidly connected to the stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Michaël JOURDAN, Albert TOM, Pierre GUTHMANN
  • Patent number: 7215598
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an imaging sonar for detection of objects buried in a reflecting medium, comprising a “vertical” transmit antenna and a horizontal receive antenna forming a “Mills Cross”, said transmission means enabling a vertical radiation angle producing a slightly ensonified area thereby reducing masking of the echo from said buried objects by acoustic backscatter from said reflecting medium. The invention is applicable to sonars and “sonar towfish” used for seafloor imaging and enables detection of sub-bottom objects buried in submarine sediments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Pierre Guthmann
  • Publication number: 20040208084
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an imaging sonar for detection of objects buried in a reflecting medium, comprising a “vertical” transmit antenna and a horizontal receive antenna forming a “Mills Cross”, said transmission means enabling a vertical radiation angle producing a slightly ensonified area thereby reducing masking of the echo from said buried objects by acoustic backscatter from said reflecting medium. The invention is applicable to sonars and “sonar towfish” used for seafloor imaging and enables detection of sub-bottom objects buried in submarine sediments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Pierre Guthmann