Multi-function broadband phased-array software defined sonar system and method

• US 9,772,416 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airmar Technology Corporation (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airmar Technology Corporation (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Caute, Didier, Axelsson, Oskar, Kenny, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/800,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 702 14, 702 13, 702182-185, 702188
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/02 using reflection of acoustic waves G01S15/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/38 specially adapted for water-covered areas G01V1/28 takes precedence

Abstract

A software defined platform is provided for subsea acoustic applications that utilizes a broadband phased array transducer and a configurable, multi-function software defined transducer that is configurable on the fly to enable various subsea acoustic systems to be achieved in a single unit thus reducing the space required on the vessel and the cost of having such multiple functions.

Claims

1. A software defined sonar transceiver for dynamically performing one of a plurality of subsea acoustic applications, said transceiver comprising:

a power supply;

a communicable connection to an external computing device for receiving instructions for a selected one of said acoustic applications;

one or more communicable connections to corresponding transducer elements for providing signals thereto in performance of said acoustic applications;

an embedded computer for receiving said instructions;

at least one programmable device to be dynamically programmed by said embedded computer according to said instructions;

at least one transmit channel comprising signal processing elements for generating a signal to be transmitted using said one or more transducers;

at least one receive channel comprising signal processing elements for processing incoming signals received by said one or more transducers; and

a transmit/receive switch for controlling the routing of transmit and receive signals.

2. A broadband transducer array for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals for a software defined sonar transceiver, said transducer array comprising one or more transducer elements each having a communicable connection for said transceiver;

and a sensor module, said sensor module comprising one or more sensors for monitoring environmental conditions surrounding said transducer array, said one or more sensors comprising at least one position monitoring sensor for providing information to said transceiver to control signals to be sent via said transducer array to compensate for movement of said transducer array.

3. A software defined sonar transceiver for dynamically performing one of a plurality of subsea acoustic applications, said transceiver comprising a stack of a plurality of units each having a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and transmit and receive channels to create enough channels to accommodate the number of transducer elements comprised by a broadband transducer array to be operated by said transceiver, one of said units comprising a single clock source shared by all of said units to create a master/slave relationship to enable a master FPGA to synchronize transmit and receive operations for every channel.