Aircraft detection system

• US 5,721,712 A
• Filed: 08/05/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: LaPointe, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US08/695,841
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 367/118, 367/129, 367/136, 367/135, 367/120, 367/906, 367/124, 367/125, 367/126, 367/127
• US Class Current: 367/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/8083 determining direction of source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/906 Airborne shock-wave detection

Abstract

A covert aircraft detection system for a submarine is described which inces an acoustic antenna array and a signal processor to process the acoustic signals to provide the location of the detected aircraft and to classify the detected aircraft. The acoustic antenna array is mounted on the submarine mast and includes a vertically extending rod having a microphone and connected thereto three or more folding legs having microphones connected thereto. The microphones detect the aircraft acoustic signals and these signals are transferred to the signal processor which provides the location of the aircraft and matches the acoustic signal with the database of aircraft acoustic signals to classify the type of aircraft. When the acoustic antenna array is connected to a rotatable mast, such as a periscope, a rotary encoder and mast bearing indicator are utilized to account for the rotation of the acoustic antenna array and the rotation of the mast, respectively.

Claims

1. An aircraft detection system for a submarine comprising an acoustic antenna array for detecting sound including:

mounting means for mounting said acoustic antenna array to said submarine;

a vertically extending rod connected to said mounting means and having a microphone connected at about the free end of said rod;

at least three movable leg members connected to said mounting means and each of said leg members having a microphone connected at about the free end of each of said leg members;

a drive means for moving said movable leg members; and

a signal processor operatively connected to said acoustic antenna array for processing sound detected said acoustic antenna array.

2. An aircraft detection system according to claim 1 wherein said submarine includes a rotating mast and said acoustic antenna array is mounted to said mast.

3. An aircraft detection system according to claim 2 further comprising a rotary encoder operatively connected to said acoustic antenna array.

4. An aircraft detection system according to claim 3 further comprising a bearing indicator operatively connected to said acoustic antenna array.

5. An aircraft detection system according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a motor means, a drive shaft and a disk slidably connected to said vertically extending rod.

6. An acoustic antenna array for a submarine for detecting sound comprising:

a mounting means for mounting said acoustic antenna array to said submarine;

a vertically extending rod connected to said mounting means and having a microphone connected at about the free end of said rod;

at least three movable leg members connected to said mounting means and each of said leg members having a microphone connected at about the free end of each of said leg members; and

a drive means for moving said movable leg members.

7. An acoustic antenna array for a submarine according to claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises a motor means, a drive shaft and a disk slidably connected to said vertically extending rod.