FIELD: sonar engineering; acoustic systems for metering ship location depth (echo sounders). SUBSTANCE: method involves correlation processing of bottom reflected and return signals to determine delay time of the latter; in addition, function inversely proportional to calculated coefficient of cross-correlation function is found; adjustable time delay of reflected signal is found by minimum of comparison with unit value of additionally determined function; device implementing this method has series-connected division unit and adder with preset functions inserted between integrator output and extremum regulator input of standard correlative echo sounder. EFFECT: improved transconductance of regulation function and, hence, improved measurement accuracy. 1 dwg
