Patent · US Expired

Underwater mapping apparatus and method

US4232380A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 14, 1978
Grant dateNov 4, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S15/89
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing a linear plan view display of a seabed, employing a side scan sonar signal system, have circuitry for repeatedly determining the height of the transmitting source relative to the seabed, circuitry for sampling the returning sonar signals, and circuitry for providing from the height determination and the sampled signals, the slant range correction needed to provide a linear output display, at least in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the transmitting source. The preferred method and apparatus also have elements for determining the velocity of the transmitting source and for effecting a one-to-one aspect ratio linear plan view of the seabed topography. In other aspects of the invention, a method and apparatus for controlling the display and for implementing the mapping transformation are described.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.