Method and apparatus for determining the positioning of volumetric sensor array lines

• US 6,697,300 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Holt, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US10/242,823
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 367/127, 367/130, 367/19, 367/20
• US Class Current: 367/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/48 the waves arriving at the antennas being continuous or intermittent and the phase difference of signals derived therefrom being measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3835 measuring position, e.g. by GPS or acoustically

Abstract

Method and apparatus for determining the positioning of volumetric detection array lines. In the case of a sonar array, ultrasonic frequencies are used. Transmitter subsystems including ceramic transducers, and sensors such as hydrophones, are deployed on the lines of the array and code division multiple access (CDMA) type pseudo-random numbers are used to identify each transmitter. Transit times between transducers and sensors, as determined by detector electronics, are sent to a ship-board receiver in any of various formats, so that array line position can be determined.

Claims

1. A method of determining the relative position of an array line within a volumetric array connected to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a specific pseudo-random number (PRN) sequence;

sending the specific PRN sequence to a specific transmitter subsystem and at least one receive line of the volumetric array;

transmitting the specific PRN sequence by modulating a carrier wave being sent from the specific transmitter subsystem with the specific PRN sequence, the carrier wave having a frequency which is outside an analysis band for the volumetric array and the receiver;

identifying the specific PRN sequence at, at least two sensors on the receive line of the volumetric array and determining a transit time for the PRN sequence from the specific transmitter subsystem to the sensors; and

communicating the transit time to the receiver for position determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the volumetric array operates according to a code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme so that the specific PRN sequence is one of at least two PRN sequences being transmitted by at least two transmitter subsystems within the volumetric array.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicating step is accomplished by sending a digital word representing the transit time to the receiver.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communicating step is accomplished by sending an analog signal representing the transit time to the receiver.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the communicating step is accomplished by sending a digital word representing the transit time to the receiver.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the communicating step is accomplished by sending an analog signal representing the transit time to the receiver.

7. Apparatus for determining the relative position of an array line within a volumetric detection array connected to a receiver, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a specific pseudo-random number (PRN);

means for sending the specific PRN sequence to a specific transmitter subsystem and at least one receive line of the volumetric array;

means for transmitting the specific PRN sequence by modulating a carrier wave being sent from the specific transmitter subsystem with the specific PRN sequence, the carrier wave having a frequency which is outside an analysis band for the volumetric array and the receiver;

means for identifying the specific PRN sequence at, at least two sensors on the receive line of the volumetric array and determining a transit time for the PRN sequence from the transmitter to the sensors; and

means for communicating the transit time to the receiver for position determination.

8. A system for determining the relative position of at one least array line within a volumetric detection array connected to a receiver, each array line having a plurality of sensors, the system comprising:

a synchronization block for generating at least one pseudo-random number (PRN) sequence;

at least one transmitter subsystem disposed within the volumetric array, each transmitter subsystem connected to the synchronization block, each transmitter subsystem operable to modulate and transmit a carrier wave with a specific PRN sequence, the carrier wave having a frequency which is outside the analysis band of the volumetric array;

at least one detector disposed at, at least one array line, the at least one detector connected to the plurality of sensors, the at least one detector operable to identify the specific PRN sequence and determine a transit time for the specific PRN sequence from the transmitter subsystem to a sensor and communicate the transit time to the receiver for position determination; and

a display block within the receiver for determining the relative position of the array line based on the transit time.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each detector is operable for providing the transit time to the receiver as an analog signal.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein each detector is operable for providing the transit time to the receiver as digital words.

11. A detector for determining a transit time of a specific pseudo-random number (PRN) sequence from a specific transmitter subsystem a sensor disposed along an array line of a volumetric array, the apparatus comprising:

a demodulator for demodulating a carrier wave containing a PRN sequence, the carrier wave having a frequency which is outside the analysis band of the volumetric array;

a counter for counting time intervals between a synchronization pulse and receipt of the specific PRN sequence;

a sequence detection block for identifying the specific PRN sequence based on the synchronization pulse, the sequence detection block connected to the counter and being operable to latch the counter upon identifying the specific PRN sequence;

a shifter disposed between the demodulator and the sequence detection block for transferring the PRN sequence to the sequence detection block; and

an accumulator connected to the counter for outputting the transit time to a receiver for position determination.

12. The detector of claim 11 wherein the volumetric array operates according to a code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme so that the specific PRN sequence is one of at least two PRN sequences being transmitted by at least two transmitter subsystems within the volumetric array.

13. Apparatus for determining a transit time of a specific pseudo-random number (PRN) sequence from a specific transmitter subsystem to a sensor disposed along an array line of a volumetric array, the apparatus comprising:

means for demodulating a carrier wave containing a PRN sequence, the carrier wave having a frequency which is outside the analysis band of the volumetric array;

means for counting time intervals between a synchronization pulse and receipt of the specific PRN sequence;

means for identifying the specific PRN sequence based on the synchronization pulse, the means for identifying connected to means for counting and being operable to control the means for counting; and

means for outputting the transit time to a receiver for position determination.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the volumetric array operates according to a code division multiple access (CDMA) scheme so that the specific PRN sequence is one of at least two PRN sequences being transmitted by at least two transmitter subsystems within the volumetric array.