ACTIVE SONAR Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC G01S15/06 

FIELD: physics; acoustics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to hydroacoustics, including active sonars for target detection and measurement of coordinates and motion parameters thereof. Active sonar comprises radiating and receiving acoustic antennas, generator, synchronising device, directional pattern generating device, time of delay of the target echo signal as regards to time of sounding signal radiation τ metering unit, unit for measuring angle of echo signal arrival in vertical plane, sound velocity vertical section unit and target depth metering unit. Generator output is connected to radiating acoustic antenna, directional pattern generating device input is connected to receiving acoustic antenna, inputs of τ metering unit are connected to output of directional pattern generating device, corresponding outputs of synchronising device are connected to generator input and to the second input of τ metering unit. Also, a computer, which determines prognostic echo signal delay time t_i as regards to time of sounding signal radiation for a set of possible target depth values H_i, and a differential unit, which determineds Δτ_i=t_i-τ, are connected in series. The first input of computer is connected to output of unit for metering the echo signal arrival angle in vertical plane, its second input is connected to output of sound velocity vertical section unit. The second input of differntial unit is connected to τ metering unit output, and differential unit output is connected to input of target depth H_t metering unit. The target depth is taken from the set of possible depths H_i, for minimal in modulus Δτ_i value.

EFFECT: possibility of long-range target depth measurement by direct target depth determination.

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