Transducer to generate phase-encoded wavefields
US5557583A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 1994 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S1/76
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A transducer capable of generating a phase-encoded wavefield is described. The encoded phase is related to the angular co-ordinates of direction of transmission. By decoding the phase values of the received wavefield, a direction can be obtained. Therefore, in navigation applications this transmitter gives additional location information not available from a single received signal using traditional methods such as "range-range" and "hyperbolic" systems. In its simplest configuration, the new transducer comprises two transducers which can be individually controlled. In more complex constructions use of more than two transducers increases the controllability of the desired phase characteristics of the resulting wavefield. It has also been discovered that by using two different phase-encoded wavefields, direction finding of small reflectors can not only be accomplished, but small reflectors can be distinguished from large plane reflectors or else dispersive properties of the propagation medium can be characterized. The first wavefield takes the form of monotonic phase increments with direction as for example would be produced by the present invention, while the second wavefield simply…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.