Underwater station

• US 7,382,687 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nautronix (Holdings) PLC (Proserv (1) Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nautronix (Holdings) PLC (Proserv (1) Ltd.)
• Inventors: Doolan, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/472,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• Field of Search: 367/3, 367/118, 367/89, 731/701.3
• US Class Current: 367/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/30 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205

Abstract

An underwater station including: a transmitter means located on a flotation means connected to the station, and a tracking means to determine the relative location of the flotation means.

Claims

1. An underwater station including:

an acoustic transmitter means located on a flotation means, wherein said flotation means is located below the surface of the water and connected to said station, and further wherein said station is positioned on the seabed; and

a tracking means to determine the relative location of said flotation means relative to said station.

2. A station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flotation means is connected to said station by a flexible riser or cable.

3. A station as claimed in claim 2 wherein the length of said flexible riser or cable is adjustable to control the height of said flotation means relative to said station.

4. A station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flotation means has adjustable buoyancy to control the height of said flotation means relative to said station.

5. A station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tracking means includes:

at least one transmitting hydrophone located on said station; and

a plurality of receive means located on said flotation means, wherein said receive means are able to detect a transmitting signal from said at least one transmitting hydrophone.

6. A station as claimed in claim 5, wherein said transmitting hydrophone is a directional transmitting hydrophone configured to direct said transmitting signal towards said flotation means.

7. A station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tracking means includes:

at least one transmitting hydrophone located on said flotation means; and

a plurality of receive means located on said station, wherein said receive means are able to detect a transmitting signal from said at least one transmitting hydrophone.

8. A station as claimed in claim 7, wherein said transmitting hydrophone is a directional transmitting hydrophone configured to direct said transmitting signal towards said station.

9. A station as claimed in claim 7, wherein four said receive means are located at extremities of said station.

10. A station as claimed in claim 7, wherein four said receive means are located about a transducer ring mounted on said station.

11. A station as claimed in claim 10, wherein said flotation means is connected to said station by a flexible riser or cable extendings substantially through a centre point of said transducer ring.

12. A station as claimed in claim 1, further including a housing for storing a power source.

13. A station as claimed in claim 5, wherein said receive means are receiving hydrophones.

14. A station as claimed in claim 1, further including a positioning means to determine tilt, roll, and/or heading of said station.

15. A station as claimed in claim 1, further including a processing means to determine underwater currents as a function of the position of the flotation means.