Dual-head multibeam sonar apparatus and method for tracking objects underwater
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for the three dimensional tracking of at least one object underwater comprising:
- a sound wave transmitter;
a first multibeam sonar head located in a first plane;
a second multibeam sonar head located in a second plane that intersects said first plane; and
a computer;
wherein said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head are synchronized;
wherein, during operation, said sound wave transmitter emits sound waves, and said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head receive sound waves reflected from objects;
wherein, during operation, said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head electronically transmit data; and
wherein said computer is capable of processing said data to provide three dimensional tracking of said at least one object.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for tracking the position in three dimensions of one or more objects underwater. Two multibeam sonar heads are positioned to operate in intersecting planes. The two multibeam sonar heads are synchronized to the time signals are emitted from a transmitter. The echoes of the emitted signals are detected by both heads and the data from the two sonar heads is transmitted to a computer that processes the data and can display the position of the one or more objects.
49 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the three dimensional tracking of at least one object underwater comprising:
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a sound wave transmitter; a first multibeam sonar head located in a first plane; a second multibeam sonar head located in a second plane that intersects said first plane; and a computer; wherein said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head are synchronized; wherein, during operation, said sound wave transmitter emits sound waves, and said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head receive sound waves reflected from objects; wherein, during operation, said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head electronically transmit data; and wherein said computer is capable of processing said data to provide three dimensional tracking of said at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for the three dimensional tracking of at least one object underwater comprising:
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providing a sound wave transmitter; providing a first multibeam sonar head located in a first plane; providing a second multibeam sonar head located in a second plane that intersects said first plane; and providing a computer; emitting a sound wave from said sound wave transmitter;
wherein said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head are synchronized;wherein said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head receive sound waves reflected from objects; wherein said first multibeam sonar head and said second multibeam sonar head electronically transmit data; and wherein said computer processes the data and provides three dimensional tracking of said at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification