The Commonwealth of Australia

Thales Underwater Systems Pty Limited

Ian Bedwell

Scott Foster

Alexei Tikhomirov

John Van Velzen

Francois Luc

A device () for sensing an acoustic signal is described. The device includes a flexible portion () including a laser active region () whose emitted wavelength varies according to a mechanical force acting on the flexible portion () and a flexible support member () operable to flex or bend according to the acoustic signal. The flexible portion () is coupled with the support member () so as to cause the flexible portion to flex or bend in accordance with the support member () thereby changing the emitted wavelength of the laser active region () of the flexible portion ().

Opto-acoustic pressure sensor

A hydrophone () for immersion in a liquid body defining a depth-dependent static pressure and a dynamic pressure. The hydrophone () includes a pressure-bearing element () for exposure to the liquid body; a motion sensor () spaced apart from the pressure bearing element (); and a dilatant coupling material () disposed intermediate the pressure-bearing element () and the motion sensor () so as to mechanically transmit movements substantially corresponding to the dynamic pressure from the pressure-bearing element () to the motion sensor (). The dilatant coupling material () does not transmit movements to the motion sensor () that substantially correspond to the depth-dependent static pressure.

Mechanically filtered hydrophone

A hydrophone () for immersion in a liquid body defining a pressure is disclosed The hydrophone () includes a sensor () for providing an electrical signal indicative of the pressure; and a transducer () electrically connected to the sensor (). The transducer () acts upon a fiber optic cable () so as to convert the electrical signal into a corresponding optical output signal for transmission within the fiber optic cable (). The liquid body defines a depth-dependent static pressure and a dynamic pressure and the sensor () provides an electrical signal having a first component indicative of the static pressure and a second component indicative of the dynamic pressure. A filter () is electrically connected to the sensor () so as to receive (the electrical signal, filter out the first component, and output to the transducer () a uttered electrical signal indicative of substantially only the second component.

Growing community of inventors

Rydalmere, Australia

Ian Bedwell