USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Barbara J Sotirin

Jack R Olson

Thomas E Stixrud

Robert B Williams

J Mark Stevenson

Vincent K McDonald

A system for determining the time between the receipt of two different sils, includes a voltage ramp generator which generates a time dependent voltage signal upon receipt of a timing pulse at a time T.sub.1, and provides the instantaneous value of the voltage signal when the voltage ramp generator receives an input signal having a predetermined threshold value at time T.sub.2. A data processor coupled to receive the voltage signal, generates the timing pulse, and determines a time difference .DELTA.T from the voltage signal, where .DELTA.T=T.sub.2 -T.sub.1.

System for determining time between events using a voltage ramp generator

A buoyed sensor array communications system comprises multiple sensor syss electrically connected to a signal transmission line which are positioned at predetermined locations along the signal transmission line to form a linear sensor array. Each of the sensor systems generates a data signal in response to receiving an address signal. The system further includes; a processor system electrically connected to the signal transmission line for transmitting address signals to enable any one of the sensor systems at a time in a selectively accessed order and has a data storage memory for storing the data signal from each of the sensor systems as stored data. A radio frequency transmitting system is coupled to the data processor and transmits the stored data at a predetermined time. A negatively buoyant structure connected to the signal transmission line pulls the communications system to the bottom of a body of water upon deployment. A positively buoyant structure supports the processor system and radio frequency transmitting system, and is connected to the signal transmission line. A signal transmission line cutting system mounted in the buoyant structure severs the signal transmission line upon receipt of a cutting system enablement signal generated by said processor system, whereupon the buoyant structure floats to the surface of said body of water. Then the transmitting system transmits the stored data.

Buoyed sensor array communications system

This invention is an apparatus and method created around a specialized micomputer attachable to and addressable to each thermister in an array of thermisters used to measure temperature in the sea. The invention provides a number of options so that the same model of microcomputer can be adapted to several different modes of operation and used to monitor a variety of other sensors that have electrical resistance, voltage or current as outputs. Alternate modes of operation for resistive sensors are presented where a number that fixes the measurement as a fraction of the dynamic range of the variable being measured is determined. The system includes the circuits and memory needed to adapt it to any of a variety of sensors measuring physical quantities. The microcomputer contains a counter that can be incremented at several rates, a voltage comparator which can be used to interrupt the counter at a number that represents the measurement, input/output buffers for connections with a remote master control unit whereby command instructions and data can be relayed to and from the microcomputer, and a voltage reference source.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Barbara J Sotirin