Diamond nitrogen vacancy sensed ferro-fluid hydrophone

• US 10,088,336 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Fisk, Bryan Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T
• Application Number:
  US15/003,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20170211947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/032 using magneto-optic devices, e.g. Faraday or Cotton-Mouton effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/186 Hydrophones

Abstract

Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for a hydrophone using a nitrogen vacancy center diamond magnetic sensor.

Claims

1. A hydrophone comprising:

a ferro-fluid configured to deform when contacted by sound waves;

a magnet configured to activate the ferro-fluid;

at least one diamond nitrogen vacancy (DNV) sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the ferro-fluid and to detect movement of the ferro-fluid; and

an electronic processor configured to translate movement of the ferro-fluid into acoustic data associated with the sound waves.

2. The hydrophone of claim 1, wherein the magnet is strong enough to keep the ferro-fluid contained within the hydrophone.

3. The hydrophone of claim 1, further comprising a membrane configured to enclose the ferro-fluid and contain the ferro-fluid within the hydrophone.

4. The hydrophone of claim 1, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.

5. The hydrophone of claim 1, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

6. The hydrophone of claim 1, wherein the at least one DNV sensor comprises two or more DNV sensors.

7. The hydrophone of claim 1, wherein the at least one DNV sensor consists of one DNV sensor.

8. The hydrophone of claim 1, further comprising a ferro-fluid reservoir configured to contain additional ferro-fluid.

9. The hydrophone of claim 8, wherein the ferro-fluid reservoir is configured to replenish the ferro-fluid of the hydrophone with at least a portion of the additional ferro-fluid.

10. A vehicle containing hydrophone, the vehicle comprising:

the hydrophone comprising;

a ferro-fluid that is configured to deform when contacted by sound waves;

a magnet configured to activate the ferro-fluid;

at least one diamond nitrogen vacancy (DNV) sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the ferro-fluid and to detect movement of the ferro-fluid; and

an electronic processor configured to translate movement of the ferro-fluid into acoustic data associated with the sound waves; and

a cavity configured to contain the ferro-fluid.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the magnet is strong enough to keep the ferro-fluid contained within the hydrophone.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the hydrophone further comprises a membrane configured to enclose the ferro-fluid and contain the ferro-fluid within the cavity.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the at least one DNV sensor comprises two or more DNV sensors.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the at least one DNV sensor consists of one DNV sensor.

17. A vehicle containing a hydrophone, the vehicle comprising:

the hydrophone comprising;

a ferro-fluid that is configured to deform when contacted by sound waves and located outside of the vehicle;

a magnet configured to activate the ferro-fluid;

at least one diamond nitrogen vacancy (DNV) sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the ferro-fluid and to detect movement of the ferro-fluid; and

an electronic processor configured to translate movement of the ferro-fluid into acoustic data associated with the sound waves.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the magnet is strong enough to keep the ferro-fluid contained outside of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the hydrophone further comprises a membrane configured to enclose the ferro-fluid and contain the ferro-fluid within the cavity.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.

21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the magnet is an electro-magnet.

22. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the at least one DNV sensor comprises two or more DNV sensors.

23. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the at least one DNV sensor consists of one DNV sensor.