Method and system for detecting objects at or below the water's surface
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting an object below a surface of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
- radiating a beam of amplitude varying electromagnetic radiation through the air towards said surface, said electromagnetic radiation being of a wavelength absorbed by the water near said surface wherein said beam is converted from said electromagnetic radiation into acoustic energy; and
monitoring, from under said surface, said acoustic energy and an acoustic return generated in the water as a result of said acoustic energy being reflected from an object beneath said surface, wherein the presence of said acoustic return is indicative of the presence of said object and wherein differences between said acoustic energy and said acoustic return are used to characterize said object.
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Abstract
A method and system are provided for detecting objects at or below a surf of a body of water. A focused beam of amplitude varying electromagnetic radiation, e.g., a pulsed laser beam, is directed through the air towards the water'"'"'s surface. Acoustic energy under the water'"'"'s surface is monitored for any acoustic return that may be generated in the water as a result of the beam being incident on either an object at the water'"'"'s surface or the water'"'"'s surface above an object.
64 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for detecting an object below a surface of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
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radiating a beam of amplitude varying electromagnetic radiation through the air towards said surface, said electromagnetic radiation being of a wavelength absorbed by the water near said surface wherein said beam is converted from said electromagnetic radiation into acoustic energy; and monitoring, from under said surface, said acoustic energy and an acoustic return generated in the water as a result of said acoustic energy being reflected from an object beneath said surface, wherein the presence of said acoustic return is indicative of the presence of said object and wherein differences between said acoustic energy and said acoustic return are used to characterize said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for detecting an object below a surface of a body of water, comprising the steps of:
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pulsing a laser beam to create a pulsed laser beam; focusing said laser beam to create a focused pulsed laser beam; directing said focused pulsed laser beam through the air towards said surface such that, if uninterrupted by an object, said focused pulsed laser beam is incident on said surface, said focused pulsed laser beam being of a wavelength absorbed by the water near said surface wherein said focused pulsed laser beam is converted into acoustic energy; monitoring, from under said surface, said acoustic energy and an acoustic return generated in the water as a result of said acoustic energy being reflected from an object beneath said surface; and analyzing said acoustic energy and characteristics of said acoustic return, said characteristics of said acoustic return including time of occurrence of said acoustic return, amplitude of said acoustic return, duration of said acoustic return, and frequency spectrum of said acoustic return, wherein the presence of said acoustic return is indicative of the presence of said object and differences between said acoustic energy and said characteristics of said acoustic return are used to characterize said object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for detecting an object below a surface of a body of water comprising:
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a focused beam generator for directing a focused beam of amplitude varying electromagnetic radiation through the air towards said surface such that, if uninterrupted by an object, said focused beam is incident on said surface, said electromagnetic radiation being of a wavelength absorbed by the water near said surface wherein said beam is converted from said electromagnetic radiation into acoustic energy; an underwater acoustic detection system for monitoring said acoustic energy and an acoustic return generated in the water as a result of said acoustic energy being reflected from an object beneath said surface; and a processor coupled to said focused beam generator and said underwater acoustic detection system for analyzing said acoustic energy and characteristics of said acoustic return, said characteristics of said acoustic return including time of occurrence of said acoustic return, duration of said acoustic return, and frequency spectrum of said acoustic return, wherein the presence of said acoustic return is indicative of the presence of said object and differences between said acoustic energy and said characteristics of said acoustic return are used to characterize said object. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification