SIGNAL-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 3,614,722 A
• Filed: 10/27/1965
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1965
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Jones
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Farley, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US04/505,444
• Time in Patent Office: 2,183 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3PR,3R,6,6M,16,15.5 343/100.6,113
• US Class Current: 367/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/32 Transforming one recording into another or one representation into another

Abstract

A plurality of recording heads records, on a magnetic medium, the signals derived from a corresponding plurality of transducers arranged in an array. Each recording head records a respective transducer signal on a separate track of the recording medium which is movable relative to the recording heads and relative to a readout means. The readout means comprises a plurality of linear transducers each of which extends across all of the recording tracks. The orientation of each linear transducer is greater than 0* with respect to movement of the recording medium and each linear transducer is at an angle with respect to one another. The signal provided by each linear transducer accordingly represents energy impinging upon the transducer array from a specified direction dependent upon the orientation of the linear transducer means. A scanning function is simulated by a rotation of the linear transducer means.

Claims

1. Signal processing apparatus for a transducer array, comprising:

A. a signal-recording medium;

B. a plurality of recording devices each for recording a signal derived from a respective transducer of said array, on a separate track of said recording medium;

C. readout means;

D. said recording medium being movable relative to said recording devices, and said readout means;

E. said readout means including a plurality of linear transducer means, 1. each said linear transducer means extending across, and being in signal transfer relationship with, all said tracks, 2. each said linear transducer being positionable independently of said recording devices at an angle greater than 0* with respect to the direction of relative movement between said readout means and said recording medium, 3. at least two of said linear transducers being at an angle greater than 0* with respect to each other.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one linear transducer means of the readout means comprises a single transducer extending across all the tracks.

3. at least two of said linear transducers being at an angle greater than 0* with respect to each other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the recording medium is a magnetic tape and the recording devices are magentic recording heads.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally includes means for varying the orientation of the recording devices with respect to the readout means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally includes means for tilting the array of recording devices with respect to the direction of travel of the signal-recording medium.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally includes means for adjustably aligning the recording devices along a curved liNe to compensate for curvature of the transducer array.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between the recording devices is proportional to the spacing between transducers of the array.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally includes means for rotating the readout means.