USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Jack E Holzschuh

John D Hightower

This invention is in the field of underwater ultrasonic communications systems, more particularly, underwater acoustic homing devices suitable for diver direction finding. This invention utilizes a single omnidirectional sound source and a simple receiver, located in close proximity to a scuba diver's torso and equipment. The acoustic discontinuity of the diver's torso and equipment provides the required directional sensitivity, thus allowing the device to incorporate the desirable characteristics of flexibility in range in combination with a simple receiver housing.

Homing device for underwater divers

A continuous optical data path is provided through an optical fiber exteng from a launch platform to a missile. The launch platform, a surface craft, submarine or aircraft, has a tether cable connected at one end with a length of the optical fiber extending to a dynamically designed body. The dynamically designed body prevents damage of the length of optical fiber by pulling it and the tether cable beyond the structure and propulsors of the launch platform. A body spool of the optical fiber provided on the dynamically designed body pays out optical fiber as the dynamically designed body is pulled along by the launch platform and a canister spool of optical fiber on a missile canister for the missile provides the continuous optical data path as the canister is deployed from the dynamically designed body. A missile spool of the optical fiber may be included on the missile to provide the continuous data path if it is desired to launch the missile from the missile canister. The concatenated spools of optical fiber assure that failure inducing stresses are avoided as the missile and launch platform each continue on their way.

Towed fiber optic data link payout system

A ferromagnetic material on an optical fiber assures that the fiber is held n a proper position on a spool by a magnetic field. This stabilizes the optical fiber during winding to permit an automation of the spooling process and provides a constant force for holding the spooled optical fiber during storage. The constant and predictable holding force helps assure a constant and predictable peel force during deployment of the optical fiber.

Magnetic stabilization of spooled fiber optic data links

A high data rate over-the-horizon communications capability is provided been two or more platforms at rest or in motion, in the air or on the surface. An RF transmitter/receiver-optical fiber interface unit is launched from a launch platform and is supported via a deployed parachute or balloon to provide a bidirectional RF data link with the launch platform and a bidirectional optical data link over an optical fiber extending to an autonomous vehicle platform, such as a missile.

Hybrid data link

An improvement for a sonar is provided wherein the improvement includes a ne array of N listening transducer elements, each listening element being capable of receiving an acoustic signal and outputting a corresponding electrical signal. A plurality of beamformers is provided wherein each beamformer has an input and an output, the input of each beamformer receiving the output from each listening element. A switching device is interconnected between the listening elements and the beamformers for alternately switching the outputs of the listening elements to each beamformer between two modes, one mode being a predetermined order and the other mode being an inversion of the predetermined order. With this arrangement only half the normal number of beamformers is required, thereby significantly reducing the weight and size of the sonar.

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Kailua, HI, United States of America

Jack E Holzschuh