Observations from below a rough water surface to determine conditions of or above the surface waves
First Claim
1. A method for obtaining and using information about an irregular water surface, based upon optical observations made from a distance below the surface;
- said method comprising the steps of;
from below the water surface, observing through the water directly the respective light intensity of each of a large number of areas of the irregular water surface;
based on the observed light intensity for each of the areas, estimating surface-slope magnitudes and orientations for at least some of the areas;
assembling the light-intensity information, at least for selected areas, to form a quantitative representation of the irregular water surface; and
applying the water-surface representation to control a physical process selected from the group consisting of;
using the representation to improve live radio and television weather reporting to the public, by characterizing interaction between the surface and electromagnetic radiation such as radar, then using the thus-characterized radiation interaction to refine characterization of electromagnetic-radiation observations made by satellites above the surface, then using the thus-refined satellite-observation characterization to enhance weather characterization and prediction by satellite-performed electromagnetic-radiation observations, and then reporting the thus-enhanced weather characterization and prediction to the public through public news media such as live television and radio news programs;
using the representation to improve the safety of small-craft ocean traffic, by characterizing precipitation conditions above the surface, then using the thus-characterized precipitation conditions to help make decisions about use of the surface and space above the surface by small craft, and then controlling such small-craft use according to the thus-made decisions;
using the representation to further improve the safety of small-craft ocean traffic, by estimating direction and speed of wind above the surface, then using the thus-estimated wind direction and speed to help make decisions about use of the surface and space above the surface by small craft, and then controlling such use according to the thus-made decisions;
using the representation to improve performance of wind-sensitive sound-receiving apparatus, by estimating direction and speed of wind above the surface, using the thus-estimated wind direction and speed to help make choices of acoustic-sensing-array orientation, and orienting at least one acoustic sensing array according to the thus-made choices;
using the representation to improve safety of boat traffic in areas subject to icebergs, by obtaining information about presence of icebergs, using the thus-obtained information to help make a plan for use of the surface by boats, and controlling such use by least one boat according to the thus-made plan; and
further improving the safety of small-craft ocean traffic, by associating said respective light intensity with respective above-water direction, for each of the areas, through use of the estimated surface-slope magnitudes and orientations;
assembling the light-intensity information as a function of direction, at least for selected areas, to determine whether it is cloudy above the surface, using the cloudiness determination to help make decisions about use of the surface or space above the surface by small craft, and controlling such small-craft use according to the thus-made decisions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Local data about the ocean surface and what is above it are used to improve public radio and TV weather reporting; to improve small-craft ocean traffic safety in view of local precipitation, wind, icebergs, or cloudiness; or to improve performance of wind-sensitive sound-receiving apparatus. (As to weather reporting, one mechanism is in effect a calibration of simultaneous satellite-based data. As to acoustic receivers, the mechanism is orienting receivers to the wind, to minimize wind-noise pickup.) These functions are based on observing, from a distance below the surface, light intensities of many areas of the irregular water surface. From these intensities surface-slope magnitudes and orientations are estimated; analysis of this information enables a quantitative, dynamic representation of the water surface itself. From this model in turn, the conditions enumerated earlier are inferred. The invention operates from a bottom-mounted or -tethered undersea platform or from mobile equipment, and in the latter case particularly can also advantageously provide a visual analogue of above-surface features for use in enhancing operations of that equipment.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for obtaining and using information about an irregular water surface, based upon optical observations made from a distance below the surface;
- said method comprising the steps of;
from below the water surface, observing through the water directly the respective light intensity of each of a large number of areas of the irregular water surface; based on the observed light intensity for each of the areas, estimating surface-slope magnitudes and orientations for at least some of the areas; assembling the light-intensity information, at least for selected areas, to form a quantitative representation of the irregular water surface; and applying the water-surface representation to control a physical process selected from the group consisting of; using the representation to improve live radio and television weather reporting to the public, by characterizing interaction between the surface and electromagnetic radiation such as radar, then using the thus-characterized radiation interaction to refine characterization of electromagnetic-radiation observations made by satellites above the surface, then using the thus-refined satellite-observation characterization to enhance weather characterization and prediction by satellite-performed electromagnetic-radiation observations, and then reporting the thus-enhanced weather characterization and prediction to the public through public news media such as live television and radio news programs; using the representation to improve the safety of small-craft ocean traffic, by characterizing precipitation conditions above the surface, then using the thus-characterized precipitation conditions to help make decisions about use of the surface and space above the surface by small craft, and then controlling such small-craft use according to the thus-made decisions; using the representation to further improve the safety of small-craft ocean traffic, by estimating direction and speed of wind above the surface, then using the thus-estimated wind direction and speed to help make decisions about use of the surface and space above the surface by small craft, and then controlling such use according to the thus-made decisions; using the representation to improve performance of wind-sensitive sound-receiving apparatus, by estimating direction and speed of wind above the surface, using the thus-estimated wind direction and speed to help make choices of acoustic-sensing-array orientation, and orienting at least one acoustic sensing array according to the thus-made choices; using the representation to improve safety of boat traffic in areas subject to icebergs, by obtaining information about presence of icebergs, using the thus-obtained information to help make a plan for use of the surface by boats, and controlling such use by least one boat according to the thus-made plan; and further improving the safety of small-craft ocean traffic, by associating said respective light intensity with respective above-water direction, for each of the areas, through use of the estimated surface-slope magnitudes and orientations;
assembling the light-intensity information as a function of direction, at least for selected areas, to determine whether it is cloudy above the surface, using the cloudiness determination to help make decisions about use of the surface or space above the surface by small craft, and controlling such small-craft use according to the thus-made decisions. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- said method comprising the steps of;
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3. A method for collecting above-water data, based upon optical observations made from a distance below the surface;
- said method comprising the steps of;
from below the water surface, preliminarily observing through the water directly the respective light intensity of each of a large number of areas of the irregular water surface; based on the observed light intensity for each of the areas, preliminarily estimating surface-slope magnitudes and orientations for at least some of the areas; based on the observed light intensities and on the slope-magnitude and slope-orientation estimates, predicting a time and a limited water-surface region at which conditions will be particularly favorable for collecting above-water data; after the predicting step, from below the water surface applying the predictions to control selective observation, through the water directly, of the respective light intensity of each of a large number of areas of the irregular water surface in the predicted region at the predicted time. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- said method comprising the steps of;
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9. A method for obtaining and using above-water-surface information, when the water surface is irregular, based upon optical observations made from a distance below the surface;
- said method comprising the steps of;
from below the water surface, observing through the water directly the respective light intensity of each of a large number of areas of the irregular water surface; based on the observed light intensity for each of the areas, estimating surface-slope magnitudes and orientations for at least some of the areas; associating said respective light intensity with respective above-water elevation and azimuth, for said at least some areas, through use of the estimated surface-slope magnitudes and orientations; assembling the light-intensity information as a function of said elevation and azimuth, at least for selected areas, to form an above-water representation; and applying the representation to control a physical process selected from the group consisting of; selectively collecting and interpreting optical information from a portion of what is above the surface that includes an optical information source, to receive information from the source, based upon said representation, deciding whether to move from below the surface to the surface, and then moving or not moving from below the surface to the surface in accordance with said deciding, based upon said representation, determining whether to move or not move below the surface, so as to avoid or encounter an object that is at least partly underwater and is at a distance, and then moving or not moving in accordance with said determining, and displaying a visible image that has light intensity as a function of elevation and azimuth substantially in accordance with said representation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- said method comprising the steps of;
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24. Apparatus for obtaining and using an above-water-surface representation, when the water surface is irregular, based upon optical observations made from a distance below the surface;
- said irregular surface having the effect of scrambling what is above the water as viewed from said distance below the surface;
said apparatus comprising;optical sensor means, for disposition at a distance below the surface to receive light from the surface, through the water directly, and in response generate signals corresponding to intensity of the received light as a function of reception angle; programmed processor means for processing said signals to analyze and correct for at least part of the scrambling effect of the surface and so form a representation of at least part of what is above the water; and utilization means for applying the representation to control a physical process. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- said irregular surface having the effect of scrambling what is above the water as viewed from said distance below the surface;
Specification