Generalized drifting oceanographic sensor

• US 4,408,488 A
• Filed: 04/05/1982
• Issued: 10/11/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samuel W. Marshall
• Original Assignee: Samuel W. Marshall
• Inventors: Marshall, Samuel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodiel, Donald O.
• Application Number:
  US06/365,845
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 73/170 A, 441/32, 441/33, 441/21, 441/29, 441/30
• US Class Current: 73/170.29
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/02 Oceanography
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0002 Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding the measuring instrument or the object to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 13/00 Surveying specially adapted to open water, e.g. sea, lake, river or canal liquid level metering G01F

Abstract

A generalized drifting oceanographic sensor (GDOS) is cast adrift in the oceanographic environment along a pre-programmed depth schedule. A variable buoyancy housing has one or more external oceanographic sensors and an external acoustic telemetry transducer. Signal processing electronics are contained internal to the housing together with an electric power pack and multiplexer. The data from the sensors are processed, multiplexed and transmitted by the acoustic transducer. Additional data are obtained from azimuthal correlation by two or more fixed acoustic receivers.

Claims

1. A drifting oceanographic sensor system comprising:

a variable buoyancy housing;

an oceanographic sensor connected externally to said housing;

means contained internal to said housing for processing and multiplexing the electrical signal from said sensor;

means for acoustically transmitting the data output from said processing and multiplexing means; and

means for adjusting the buoyancy of said housing such that said sensor system drifts along a pre-programmed depth schedule.

2. A drifting oceanographic sensor system as recited in claim 1 wherein said acoustically transmitting means comprises:

means for storing said data output from said processing and multiplexing means;

means for modulating an acoustic carrier signal with the data stored in said storing means;

an acoustic transducer driven by said modulating means for transmitting said acoustic carrier modulated by said data from said storing means; and

means for transferring said data from said storing means at regular intervals to said modulating means such that said electrical signal from said oceanographic sensor is transmitted as a low duty cycle acoustic telemetry transmission.