Hydrophone and hydrophone system

Abstract

A hydrophone and a hydrophone system wherein the hydrophone comprises: a main body portion having a first cavity; the sensing part is accommodated in the first cavity, and the sensing part is used for receiving a sound wave signal and converting the sound wave signal into an electric signal; and the main body part and a supporting part are in pluggable connection through the electric connection structure. According to the technical scheme of the invention, the installation of the hydrophone is more convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of underwater equipment, in particular to a hydrophone and a hydrophone system. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, as underwater equipment has gradually become unmanned and autonomous, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) have received widespread attention. They have demonstrated great advantages in commercial and civilian fields such as underwater exploration and reconnaissance, marine engineering, and underwater operations.

[0003] Traditional cable-mounted hydrophone technology is widely used in current UUV sonar systems. While this type of hydrophone can functionally meet certain underwater detection requirements, its technical limitations are becoming increasingly prominent. Specifically, the main challenges facing traditional cable-mounted hydrophones are their large size and relatively poor consistency, which not only increases production costs but also presents numerous difficulties during integration and assembly on UUVs, such as space constraints and wiring complexity. Furthermore, the presence of cables can easily introduce electromagnetic or mechanical interference, affecting the overall performance stability and detection accuracy of the sonar system.

[0004] Furthermore, as UUV technology develops toward intelligent, clustered, and miniaturized systems, the inconvenience of traditional hydrophones in forming arrays limits their potential for high-precision, large-scale underwater detection missions. Furthermore, their high cost also hinders their widespread adoption in both commercial and civilian fields. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem solved by the utility model is to provide a hydrophone and a hydrophone system which are easy to install.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hydrophone, including a main body having a first cavity; a sensing part accommodated in the first cavity, the sensing part being used to receive sound wave signals and convert the sound wave signals into electrical signals; and an electrical connection structure, the main body and a support part being pluggable and connected through the electrical connection structure.

[0007] Optionally, the support portion is provided on an outer surface of an underwater device, and the underwater device is used to receive the electrical signal.

[0008] Optionally, the electrical connection structure includes: a plug portion, provided in one of the main body portion and the support portion; and a socket portion, provided in the other of the main body portion and the support portion to receive the plug portion.

[0009] Optionally, the plug portion includes at least one pin, the at least one pin extends outward from the plug portion, and the socket portion includes at least one socket, the at least one socket corresponding to the at least one pin.

[0010] Optionally, the number of the at least one pin is three, and the three pins are a power pin, a ground pin, and a signal transmission pin.

[0011] Optionally, the main body includes: a connecting portion, the connecting portion having a first end and a second end opposite to each other along the extension direction, wherein the first end is located in the first cavity and is electrically connected to the sensing portion, and the second end is located outside the first cavity and is used to form the electrical connection structure.

[0012] Optionally, the connecting portion includes at least one connecting wire, and each of the at least one connecting wire is used to electrically connect the first end and the second end.

[0013] Optionally, the main body further includes: a support frame, accommodated in the first cavity and supported by the first end of the connecting portion, and the sensing portion is fixed to the support frame.

[0014] Optionally, the support frame includes: a cylindrical portion, which is sleeved on the first end of the connecting portion; an extending portion, which extends from the cylindrical portion in a direction away from the connecting portion, and the sensing portion is connected to the extending portion.

[0015] Optionally, the sensing unit includes: a sensor chip for collecting the acoustic wave signal and converting the acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal; a circuit board for carrying the sensor chip, and the circuit board is fixedly connected to the support frame.

[0016] Optionally, the connecting portion includes a platform portion located between the first end and the second end, and the platform portion is used to close a connecting gap between the main body portion and the supporting portion.

[0017] Optionally, the main body further includes: a sealant layer, used to form the first cavity, and the sealant layer at least wraps the sensing part.

[0018] Optionally, the difference between the acoustic impedance of the material of the sealant layer and the acoustic impedance of water is smaller than a preset tolerance range.

[0019] Optionally, the wall of the sealant layer forming the first cavity is in contact with the sensing portion.

[0020] To solve the above technical problems, the present application also provides a hydrophone system, comprising: an underwater device, including a signal processing module; a plurality of the above-mentioned hydrophones, wherein the plurality of hydrophone arrays are arranged on the outer surface of the underwater device; wherein the signal processing module is used to receive the electrical signals output by the plurality of the hydrophones.

[0021] Optionally, the hydrophone system further includes: a plurality of supporting parts, which are arranged on the outer surface of the underwater equipment in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of hydrophones.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the embodiment of the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] In order to solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hydrophone, including a main body having a first cavity; a sensing part accommodated in the first cavity, the sensing part being used to receive sound wave signals and convert the sound wave signals into electrical signals; and an electrical connection structure, the main body and a support part being pluggable and connected through the electrical connection structure.

[0024] The technical solution of this application, through the pluggable connection design between the hydrophone and the support, makes the installation, replacement, and maintenance of the hydrophone more convenient, reducing the operational difficulty and cost. Furthermore, the more convenient assembly method also makes it easier to adjust the layout and number of hydrophones on the underwater equipment according to specific needs.

[0025] Furthermore, compared to traditional cable-mounted hydrophones, this design simplifies the assembly process and reduces the consumption of materials such as cables, thereby helping to lower overall costs. Furthermore, the modular design allows damaged components to be replaced individually, further reducing maintenance costs.

[0026] Furthermore, the hydrophone in this solution does not require towing cables outside the underwater device (such as a UUV), which reduces interference during signal transmission and improves the stability and accuracy of the electrical signal.

[0027] To solve the above technical problems, the present application also provides a hydrophone system, comprising: an underwater device, including a signal processing module; a plurality of the above-mentioned hydrophones, wherein the plurality of hydrophone arrays are arranged on the outer surface of the underwater device; wherein the signal processing module is used to receive the electrical signals output by the plurality of the hydrophones.

[0028] By adopting the technical solution of the present application, by arranging multiple hydrophones in an array on the surface of the underwater equipment, converting the sound wave signal into an electrical signal and transmitting it to the signal processing module for processing and analysis, the sound field around the underwater equipment can be acquired and constructed more accurately to achieve accurate detection of the environment around the underwater equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a hydrophone according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded view of the hydrophone;

[0031] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the hydrophone along the AA direction;

[0032] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A half-section view of the hydrophone from another angle;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a support portion according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0034] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of a hydrophone system according to an embodiment of the present utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] As mentioned in the background art, the existing hydrophones have a complicated assembly process and are large in size, making them difficult to be integrated into underwater equipment (such as unmanned underwater vehicles).

[0036] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a hydrophone and a hydrophone system, wherein the hydrophone includes a main body having a first cavity; a sensing part accommodated in the first cavity, the sensing part being used to receive sound wave signals and convert the sound wave signals into electrical signals; and an electrical connection structure, the main body and a support part being pluggable and connected through the electrical connection structure.

[0037] The technical solution of this application, through the pluggable connection design between the hydrophone and the support, makes the installation, replacement, and maintenance of the hydrophone more convenient, reducing the operational difficulty and cost. Furthermore, the more convenient assembly method also makes it easier to adjust the layout and number of hydrophones on the underwater equipment according to specific needs.

[0038] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and beneficial effects of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hydrophone 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] refer to Figure 1 The hydrophone 10 includes: a main body 1 having a first cavity; a sensing part 2 accommodated in the first cavity, the sensing part 2 being used to receive sound wave signals and convert the sound wave signals into electrical signals; an electrical connection structure 3, the main body 1 and a support part 4 are pluggable connected through the electrical connection structure 3.

[0041] Specifically, the hydrophone 10 can be used to receive acoustic signals in an underwater environment (such as seawater, lake water, or river water) and convert the acoustic signals into electrical signals. For example, when sound waves propagate underwater, they usually carry a wealth of information, such as the location, speed, shape, etc. of the target. The hydrophone 10 can capture these acoustic signals and convert them into processable electrical signals for subsequent signal processing and analysis. Furthermore, the hydrophone 10 can be widely used in various underwater devices 20 (see Figure 6 ), the underwater equipment 20 includes, but is not limited to, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), underwater robots, and marine exploration equipment. The hydrophone 10 can be used in underwater sonar systems to perform various civilian tasks, such as underwater target detection, underwater terrain mapping, underwater communications, and marine life monitoring.

[0042] Furthermore, a first cavity is formed within the main body 1 of the hydrophone 10. This first cavity is used to protect and secure internal components of the hydrophone 10, such as the sensor 2. Furthermore, the first cavity can be a sealed cavity to protect components such as the sensor 2 housed therein, ensuring that the hydrophone 10 can function properly in an underwater environment.

[0043] Furthermore, the sensing unit 2 can acquire sound wave signals in an underwater environment and convert the sound wave signals into electrical signals through the piezoelectric effect.

[0044] In other embodiments, the sensing unit 2 can also convert acoustic signals into electrical signals by sensing capacitance changes, using fiber optic sensing technology, or other methods. For example, the sensing unit 2 may include two or more plates, with a certain capacitance formed between the plates. When acoustic waves act on the plates, they change the distance between the plates or the dielectric constant of the medium (such as air or water), resulting in a change in capacitance. This capacitance change can be converted into an electrical signal through a circuit.

[0045] Furthermore, the electrical connection structure 3 can realize a pluggable connection between the main body 1 and the support part 4 . Figure 1 The schematic diagram exemplarily shows the connection state of the hydrophone 10 and the support 4. Thus, the hydrophone 10 can be easily installed on the underwater device 20, and also facilitates subsequent maintenance and replacement.

[0046] Furthermore, the support portion 4 is provided on the outer surface of an underwater device 20, and the underwater device 20 is used to receive the electrical signal.

[0047] In some typical application scenarios, combined with Figure 1 and Figure 6After the hydrophone 10 converts the acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal is further transmitted to the underwater device 20 for further processing, analysis, and utilization. Further processing, analysis, and utilization of the electrical signal may include, for example, signal amplification, filtering, decoding, storage, and wireless or wired transmission to a remote control center.

[0048] Furthermore, the support portion 4 and the hydrophone 10 can be structurally independent of each other. In practical applications, the support portion 4 can be pre-installed at a preset location on the surface of the underwater device 20. Before performing underwater detection tasks, the hydrophone 10 can be simply plugged into the support portion 4, thereby securing the hydrophone 10 in place. This simplifies the installation process for the hydrophone 10, reduces the complexity and time cost of on-site installation, and improves work efficiency. The preset location can, for example, be the surface of a wing (also known as a fin) of the underwater device 20.

[0049] In some applications, the hydrophone 10 can also be used to detect pipeline leaks. For example, the support portion 4 can be mounted on the inner wall of the pipeline, with the hydrophone 10 housed within the pipeline and connected to the support portion 4. Thus, the hydrophone 10 can receive acoustic signals transmitted by liquid substances (such as water or oil) within the pipeline, convert the acoustic signals into electrical signals, and transmit them to the support portion 4 for analysis by external equipment to determine the specific location of the leak on the inner wall of the pipeline.

[0050] Furthermore, the electrical connection structure 3 may include: a plug portion 31 provided at one of the main body portion 1 and the support portion 4 ; and a socket portion 32 provided at the other of the main body portion 1 and the support portion 4 to receive the plug portion 31 .

[0051] In some embodiments, the plug portion 31 may be provided on the main body 1, and the socket portion 32 may be provided on the support portion 4. Furthermore, at least a portion of the plug portion 31 may be pluggable with the socket portion 32 to achieve electrical connection between the main body 1 and the support portion 4.

[0052] Furthermore, a sealing structure may be provided at the connection between the plug portion 31 and the socket portion 32 to prevent water from entering the electrical connection structure 3 during operation of the hydrophone 10, causing short circuits and other malfunctions. For example, the sealing structure may be a sealing ring. Alternatively, after the plug portion 31 and the socket portion 32 are connected, a waterproof adhesive may be applied to the connection between the plug portion 31 and the socket portion 32 to form the sealing structure.

[0053] Further, combined Figures 3 to 5The plug portion 31 includes at least one pin 311 , which extends outward from the plug portion 31 , and the socket portion 32 includes at least one jack 321 , which corresponds one-to-one to the at least one pin 311 .

[0054] Specifically, the pin 311 is made of a conductive material to ensure the transmission of electrical signals. The cross-sectional shape of the jack 321 matches the cross-sectional shape of the pin 311 to ensure that the pin 311 can be inserted into the corresponding jack 321 .

[0055] In some embodiments, the interior of the jack 321 may be plated with a conductive material, such as gold or silver, to reduce contact resistance and improve signal transmission efficiency.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the number of the at least one pin 311 is three, and the three pins 311 are respectively a power pin, a ground pin, and a signal transmission pin.

[0057] The power pin is used to provide the hydrophone 10 with the necessary power. In an underwater environment, the power pin connects to the power system of the underwater device 20 via the corresponding socket 321 of the socket portion 32, ensuring stable and safe transmission of power to the hydrophone 10.

[0058] The grounding pin can provide a reference potential point, namely the ground potential, to ensure stable operation of the electrical system within the hydrophone 10. The grounding pin is connected to the grounding system of the underwater device 20, which helps prevent electrical interference and electromagnetic radiation from affecting signal transmission.

[0059] The signal transmission pins transmit the electrical signals output by the hydrophone 10 to the underwater device 20 for processing. When the underwater device 20 performs tasks such as underwater detection, monitoring, and communication, the signal transmission pins connect to the corresponding sockets 321 of the socket portion 32, forming an efficient electrical pathway that ensures accurate and rapid signal transmission to the target location. Thus, the three pins 311 each perform different electrical functions, improving the reliability and stability of the electrical connection. Furthermore, individual pins 311 can be individually repaired or replaced without affecting the normal operation of other components, facilitating maintenance and replacement of the pins 311.

[0060] In some embodiments, combined Figure 4 and Figure 5 The at least one pin 311 may be sheathed with a sleeve portion 310. The socket portion 32 may be provided with a receiving groove 320. The receiving groove 320 is annular and surrounds the at least one insertion hole 321. During the plug portion 31 and the socket portion 32, the sleeve portion 310 is gradually inserted into the receiving groove 320.

[0061] Furthermore, the opening shape of the receiving groove 320 is adapted to the cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve portion 310. When the sleeve portion 310 is inserted into the receiving groove 320, the sleeve portion 310 and the wall of the socket portion 32 forming the receiving groove 320 fit tightly together. Thus, the sleeve portion 310 and the receiving groove 320 cooperate to further enhance the sealing effect at the connection between the socket portion 31 and the socket portion 32.

[0062] Furthermore, the sleeve portion 310 and the receiving groove 320 may be connected by threaded engagement to enhance the stability of the connection between the plug portion 31 and the socket portion 32 .

[0063] In some embodiments, reference Figures 2 to 4 The main body 1 includes a connecting portion 11 having a first end 111 and a second end 112 extending in opposite directions. The first end 111 is located in the first cavity and electrically connected to the sensing portion 2, while the second end 112 is located outside the first cavity and forms the electrical connection structure 3. The second end 112 is adapted to form the plug portion 31 or the socket portion 32. Thus, the connecting portion 11 serves as a bridge, connecting different parts inside the hydrophone 10 (e.g., the sensing portion 2) and outside (e.g., the support portion 4).

[0064] Specifically, the first end 111 is located in the first cavity to connect to the sensing part 2. After the sensing part 2 receives the sound wave signal and converts the sound wave signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal can be transmitted from the sensing part 2 to the connecting part 11 for further transmission through the electrical connection with the first end 111.

[0065] Furthermore, the second end 112 is located outside the first cavity to facilitate electrical connection with an external device or system (e.g., the support portion 4). Thus, the connecting portion 11, through its two opposing endpoints—the first end 111 located inside the first cavity and the second end 112 located outside the first cavity—establishes an effective electrical connection between the sensing portion 2 within the first cavity and the support portion 4. In this scenario, the connecting portion 11 ensures that acoustic signals can be smoothly transmitted to the exterior of the hydrophone 10 for processing.

[0066] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 11 includes at least one connecting wire 113 , and each connecting wire 113 of the at least one connecting wire 113 is used to electrically connect the first end 111 and the second end 112 .

[0067] In some embodiments, the connecting wire 113 is located on a side of the connecting portion 11 facing the sensing portion 2, extends toward the sensing portion 2, and extends at least to the sensing portion 2 for electrical connection to the sensing portion 2. In this scenario, the first end 111 is formed at an end of the connecting wire 113 close to the sensing portion 2.

[0068] In some embodiments, the number of the connecting wires 113 can be 3, corresponding to the aforementioned power pin, ground pin and signal transmission pin, respectively, to respectively realize electrical connection between the power pin, ground pin and signal transmission pin and the sensing part 2.

[0069] Further, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The main body 1 may further include a support frame 12, which is accommodated in the first cavity and supported by the first end 111 of the connecting portion 11, and the sensing portion 2 is fixed to the support frame 12. The support frame 12 is used to support the sensing portion 2 on a side close to the first end 111 of the connecting portion 11, so as to facilitate electrical connection between the sensing portion 2 and the connecting portion 11.

[0070] Furthermore, the sensing unit 2 can be fixed to the support frame 12 by a fixing member 5. This can help reduce displacement or damage to the sensing unit 2 caused by vibration or impact, and also help improve the stability of the sensing unit 2 in acquiring sound wave signals. The fixing member 5 can be, for example, a screw.

[0071] Furthermore, the support frame 12 includes: a cylindrical portion 121 sleeved on the first end 111 of the connecting portion 11; an extending portion 122 extending from the cylindrical portion 121 in a direction away from the connecting portion 11, and the sensing portion 2 is connected to the extending portion 122.

[0072] Specifically, the cylindrical portion 121 is sleeved on the first end 111, and the sleeve portion 121 and the first end 111 can be connected by threaded engagement. Therefore, the length of the first end 111 passing through the cylindrical portion 121 can be determined according to actual needs to ensure that there is sufficient space for the first end 111 to be electrically connected to the sensing unit 2.

[0073] In other embodiments, the cylindrical portion 121 may also be tightly coupled to the first end 111 of the connecting portion 11 by snapping, welding, or other fixed connection methods to prevent loosening or falling off during use.

[0074] Furthermore, the extension portion 122 is used to physically connect the sensing portion 2. Through the extension portion 121, the sensing portion 2 can be fixed at a position relatively far away from the connecting portion 11 to ensure that there is no other structure around the sensing portion 2 that blocks the loss of the sound wave signal, which is beneficial to improving the sensitivity of the sensing portion 2.

[0075] Furthermore, the sensing unit 2 may include: a sensor chip 21 for collecting the acoustic wave signal and converting the acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal; a circuit board 22 for carrying the sensor chip 21 , and the circuit board 22 is fixedly connected to the support frame 12 .

[0076] The sensor chip 21 can capture weak underwater acoustic signals and convert them into electrical signals, providing basic data for subsequent signal processing and analysis. The circuit board 22 provides a stable mounting platform for the sensor chip 21. Through the circuit layout and component connections, it also enables electrical connection and signal transmission between the sensor chip 21 and external devices.

[0077] In some embodiments, the sensor chip 21 may be made of piezoelectric materials such as aluminum nitride (AlN) to improve the consistency of the sensor chip 21 .

[0078] In some embodiments, a pre-voltage amplification solution may be used on the circuit board 22 , and a voltage divider DC bias circuit may be arranged to achieve single power supply and reduce power consumption.

[0079] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 11 further includes a platform portion 114 located between the first end 111 and the second end 112 , and the platform portion 114 is used to close a connecting gap between the main body 1 and the supporting portion 4 .

[0080] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the platform portion 114 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the section of the connecting portion 11 adjacent to the platform portion 114. Therefore, when the hydrophone 10 is plugged into the support portion 4, the end surface of the platform portion 114 facing the insertion direction can shield the connection gap between the plug portion 31 and the socket portion 32, further improving the sealing effect.

[0081] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 The main body 1 further includes: a sealing layer 13 for forming the first cavity, and the sealing layer 13 at least wraps the sensing part 2.

[0082] Specifically, the sealant layer 13 forms a first cavity, a sealed and protected space for housing key components of the hydrophone 10, such as the sensing unit 2 and the connecting unit 11 (and its internal connecting wires 113). This first cavity serves as a critical barrier separating the underwater environment from the hydrophone's internal components, preventing external factors such as moisture, salt, and corrosive substances from invading and damaging the internal components.

[0083] Furthermore, the sealant layer 13 and the platform portion 114 may be connected by gluing or other methods to achieve a fixing and sealing effect.

[0084] In a typical application scenario, after the connection part 11 of the main body 1, the support frame 12 and the sensing part 2 are assembled, a mold can be installed on the outside of the sensing part 2 and the support frame 12, and the mold is installed at least from the sensing part 2 to the first end 111 of the connection part 11. In other words, the first end 111 of the connection part 11, the support frame 12 and the sensing part 2 are located inside the mold. Furthermore, one end of the mold abuts against the end of the platform part 114 toward the sensing part 2, and the other end extends in a direction away from the platform part 114 to beyond the sensing part 2. Furthermore, an opening can be provided at one end of the mold close to the sensing part 2 to facilitate the injection of glue from the opening into the interior of the mold, thereby forming the sealant layer 13, and realizing the encapsulation of the sensing part 2, the support frame 12 and the first end 111 of the connection part 11. As the injected glue solidifies in the mold, a sealed connection with the platform part 114 is simultaneously achieved while forming the sealant layer 13. Finally, the mold can be demoulded to obtain the following Figure 1 The hydrophone 10 is shown.

[0085] Furthermore, the wall of the sealant layer 13 forming the first cavity is in contact with the sensing unit 2. Thus, the sealant layer 13 tightly wraps and seals the sensing unit 2 and other electrical connection structures (such as the connecting wires 113), further protecting the sensing unit 2 and other electrical connection structures from external environmental damage, ensuring that the sensing unit 2 can maintain high sensitivity and stability during long-term underwater operation.

[0086] In some embodiments, the difference between the acoustic impedance of the material of the sealant layer 13 and the acoustic impedance of water is smaller than a preset tolerance range.

[0087] Specifically, acoustic impedance is a physical quantity that describes a medium's ability to hinder sound wave propagation. It reflects the combined effects of resistance and inertia encountered by sound waves propagating through a medium. In this embodiment, the hydrophone 10 operates underwater. Therefore, the acoustic impedance characteristics of the sealant layer 13, as the direct contact layer between the hydrophone 10 and the water, are particularly important. If the acoustic impedance of the sealant layer 13 differs significantly from the acoustic impedance of the water in the detection environment, it may affect the effective transmission and reception of the acoustic signal, thereby reducing the detection sensitivity and accuracy of the hydrophone 10. Therefore, by selecting a material for the sealant layer 13 whose acoustic impedance differs from that of water within a preset tolerance range, the reflection and transmission losses of sound waves between the sealant layer 13 and the water can be minimized, ensuring that the sound wave signal can smoothly pass through the sealant layer 13 and reach the sensing unit 2 for conversion. This not only improves the detection performance of the hydrophone 10 but also extends its service life.

[0088] In some embodiments, the preset tolerance range may be, for example, 3%-5% to ensure that the acoustic wave signal is not excessively lost.

[0089] As described above, the hydrophone 10 of the present embodiment, with its pluggable connection design between the hydrophone 10 and the support 4, facilitates installation, replacement, and maintenance of the hydrophone 10, reducing operational difficulty and cost. Furthermore, the layout and number of the hydrophones 10 can be adjusted to meet specific needs.

[0090] Furthermore, compared to traditional cable-mounted hydrophones, the hydrophone 10 of this embodiment simplifies the assembly process and reduces the consumption of materials such as cables, thereby helping to reduce overall costs. Furthermore, the modular design allows damaged components to be replaced individually, further reducing maintenance costs.

[0091] Furthermore, the hydrophone 10 in this solution does not require a cable towed outside the underwater device 20 (eg, a UUV), thereby reducing interference during signal transmission and improving the stability and accuracy of the electrical signal.

[0092] refer to Figure 6 The present application also provides a hydrophone system 100 comprising: an underwater device 20 including a signal processing module 201; and a plurality of hydrophones 10 arranged in an array on the outer surface of the underwater device 20. The signal processing module 201 is configured to receive electrical signals output by the plurality of hydrophones 10. Thus, the arrayed plurality of hydrophones 10 can establish a sound field around the underwater device 20, thereby improving detection accuracy.

[0093] The structure and function of the hydrophone 10 can be found in the previous text. Figures 1 to 5 The description of the hydrophone 10 in the illustrated embodiment is omitted here.

[0094] Furthermore, the signal processing module 201 can receive electrical signals from multiple hydrophones 10 and perform comprehensive processing and analysis. This process may include steps such as signal amplification, filtering, denoising, and beamforming to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and directional resolution, thereby more accurately restoring the characteristics and information of the original acoustic signal.

[0095] It is worth noting that Figure 6 The dashed lines merely illustrate the electrical connection and electrical signal transmission between the multiple hydrophones 10 and the signal processing module 201. The actual connection between the multiple hydrophones 10 and the signal processing module 201 can be determined based on specific design requirements. For example, the multiple hydrophones 10 can be individually electrically connected to the signal processing module 201 to transmit electrical signals, or the multiple hydrophones 10 can be electrically connected to the signal processing module 201 as a group to transmit electrical signals, without limitation.

[0096] Furthermore, the hydrophone system 100 may further include: a plurality of support portions 4, each corresponding to the plurality of hydrophones 10, arranged on the outer surface of the underwater device 20. Thus, the hydrophones 10 can be plugged into the corresponding support portions 4 to achieve array installation on the surface of the underwater device 20.

[0097] As described above, the hydrophone system 100 of the embodiment of the present application can more accurately acquire and construct the sound field around the underwater device 100 by arranging multiple hydrophones 10 in an array on the surface of the underwater device 20, and converting the sound wave signal into an electrical signal and transmitting it to the signal processing module 201 for processing and analysis, so as to achieve accurate detection of the environment around the underwater device 100.

[0098] It should be understood that the term "and / or" herein is merely a description of the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " herein indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. As used herein, unless otherwise expressly stated, the term "or" covers all possible combinations unless not feasible. For example, if a component is stated to include A or B, then unless otherwise expressly stated or not feasible, the component may include A, or B, or A and B. As a second example, if a component is stated to include A, B, or C, then unless otherwise expressly stated or not feasible, the component may include A, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or A and B and C.

[0099] The term "plurality" used in the embodiments of the present application refers to two or more.

[0100] The relational terms appearing in the embodiments of the present application, such as first, second, etc. descriptions, are only used to distinguish an entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. In addition, the words "comprise", "have" and "include" and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent in meaning and are open-ended, and one or more items following any of these words do not mean an exhaustive list of such one or more items, or mean to be limited to the one or more items listed. In the drawings and the specification, exemplary embodiments have been disclosed. However, many changes and modifications can be made to these embodiments. Therefore, although specific terms have been adopted, they are only used in a general and descriptive sense, not for the purpose of limitation.

[0101] Although the present invention is disclosed as above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A hydrophone, characterized in that: include: A main body having a first cavity; a sensing unit, housed in the first cavity, configured to receive an acoustic wave signal and convert the acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal; An electrical connection structure, through which the main body and a support portion are pluggably connected.

2. The hydrophone according to claim 1, wherein The support portion is arranged on the outer surface of an underwater device, and the underwater device is used to receive the electrical signal.

3. The hydrophone according to claim 1, wherein The electrical connection structure includes: a plug portion, disposed on one of the main body portion and the support portion; The socket portion is disposed on the other of the main body portion and the support portion to receive the plug portion.

4. The hydrophone according to claim 3, wherein: The plug portion includes at least one pin, which extends outward from the plug portion. The socket portion includes at least one socket, which corresponds to the at least one pin in a one-to-one manner.

5. The hydrophone according to claim 4, characterized in that The number of the at least one pin is three, and the three pins are respectively a power pin, a ground pin and a signal transmission pin.

6. The hydrophone according to claim 1, wherein: The main body comprises: The connecting portion has a first end and a second end opposite to each other along the extension direction, wherein the first end is located in the first cavity and electrically connected to the sensing portion, and the second end is located outside the first cavity and is used to form the electrical connection structure.

7. The hydrophone according to claim 6, characterized in that The connecting portion includes at least one connecting wire, and each of the at least one connecting wire is used to electrically connect the first end and the second end.

8. The hydrophone according to claim 6, wherein: The main body also includes: A support frame is accommodated in the first cavity and supported by the first end of the connecting portion, and the sensing portion is fixed to the support frame.

9. The hydrophone according to claim 8, characterized in that The support frame comprises: a cylindrical portion, sleeved on the first end of the connecting portion; The extension portion extends from the cylindrical portion in a direction away from the connecting portion, and the sensing portion is connected to the extension portion.

10. The hydrophone according to claim 8, characterized in that The sensing unit includes: A sensor chip, configured to collect the acoustic wave signal and convert the acoustic wave signal into an electrical signal; A circuit board is used to carry the sensor chip, and the circuit board is fixedly connected to the support frame.

11. The hydrophone according to claim 6, wherein The connecting portion includes a platform portion located between the first end and the second end, and the platform portion is used to close a connecting gap between the main body portion and the supporting portion.

12. The hydrophone according to claim 1, wherein The main body also includes: A sealant layer is used to form the first cavity, and the sealant layer at least wraps the sensing part.

13. The hydrophone according to claim 12, wherein: The difference between the acoustic impedance of the material of the sealant layer and the acoustic impedance of water is smaller than a preset tolerance range.

14. The hydrophone according to claim 12, wherein: The wall of the sealant layer forming the first cavity is in contact with the sensing portion.

15. A hydrophone system, characterized in that: include: underwater equipment, including signal processing modules; A plurality of hydrophones according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the plurality of hydrophone arrays are arranged on the outer surface of the underwater device; The signal processing module is used to receive the electrical signals output by the plurality of hydrophones.

16. The hydrophone system according to claim 15, wherein: Also includes: A plurality of supporting parts and the plurality of hydrophones are arranged on the outer surface of the underwater equipment in a one-to-one correspondence.

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