An underwater multi-beam detection sonar system
By using a T-shaped mounting bracket and a flow deflector structure in the underwater multibeam sonar system, combined with an FPGA processor, the stability and detection efficiency of the equipment under the influence of water flow were solved, and real-time and stable underwater environment detection was achieved.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- XIAMEN UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-22
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing underwater multibeam sonar systems suffer from poor stability under the influence of water flow, are inconvenient to operate, and have low detection efficiency. In particular, the FPGA+DSP architecture is not fast enough when forming beams, making it impossible to update underwater information in real time.
The transmitter and receiver arrays are fixed by a T-shaped mounting bracket and equipped with front and rear guide shields to reduce water flow resistance. The signal processing is combined with FPGA to ensure equipment stability and real-time detection capability.
It improves the stability and ease of operation of underwater multibeam sonar systems, enabling timely and wide-range underwater environmental detection and enhancing detection efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN224354580U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of underwater detection technology, and in particular to an underwater multibeam sonar system. Background Technology
[0002] Underwater environment detection involves imaging the underwater environment to obtain various underwater information, which is crucial for the development of underwater resources and the construction of underwater equipment.
[0003] Multibeam sonar technology is developed based on single-beam depth sounding sonar systems. It mainly consists of the following components: a transmitter, a receiving linear array, a signal conditioning module, a signal acquisition module, and a signal processing module. The transmitter generates electrical signals, which are converted into sound waves by transducers (usually piezoelectric crystals) and emitted into the water. These sound waves are reflected upon encountering a target, and the receiving linear array captures these echoes and converts them back into electrical signals. The signal conditioning circuit then amplifies, filters, and performs analog-to-digital (AD) conversion on these signals, while the signal acquisition circuit acquires the converted digital signals. Finally, the signal processing circuit performs beamforming processing on the acquired signals to obtain echo intensity signals at different angles and distances in the underwater environment, revealing detailed information about the underwater environment. By precisely controlling the time delay of the echo signal relative to the transmitted signal, the sonar's detection range can be adjusted; simultaneously, by applying different weight arrays to the received signal, the detection range and angle can be controlled separately.
[0004] Currently, underwater multibeam sonar signal receiving and processing architectures mainly fall into two categories: one is an FPGA+FPGA-based architecture, where the first FPGA is responsible for acquiring signals received by the hydrophone linear array, and then the second FPGA performs beamforming processing. This architecture fully leverages the advantages of FPGAs in parallel computing, ensuring the real-time performance of beamforming imaging. The other is an FPGA+DSP architecture, which also uses an FPGA to acquire signals from the hydrophone linear array, but then the DSP handles beamforming to obtain underwater detection information. However, the drawback of this architecture is that the DSP is slower than the FPGA in executing beamforming algorithms, thus failing to update underwater information in real time and reducing detection efficiency. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of poor stability, inconvenient operation, and susceptibility to water flow in existing multibeam sonar systems, and to provide an underwater multibeam sonar system that can meet the needs of timely and wide-range detection of the underwater environment when conducting underwater research and operations.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
[0007] An underwater multibeam sonar system includes a T-mount, a transmitting array, a receiving array, a front fairing, a rear fairing, a signal conditioning board, a signal acquisition board, and a signal processing board.
[0008] The transmitting array is fixed to the vertical end of the T-shaped mounting bracket and has a semi-cylindrical structure; the receiving array is fixed to the horizontal end of the T-shaped mounting bracket, and one end of the transmitting array is vertically fixed to the midpoint of the receiving array; the front fairing is fixed to the outer side of the transmitting array, has a quarter-spherical shape and the curved surface faces outward; the rear fairing is fixed to the outer side of the receiving array, has a semi-cylindrical shape and the arc surface faces outward; the signal conditioning board, signal acquisition board and signal processing board are fixed in a stacked structure inside the electronic compartment of the receiving array.
[0009] The curved surface of the front fairing has several flow guide holes.
[0010] The rear diffuser has several flow guide holes on its arc surface.
[0011] The T-shaped mounting bracket has mounting holes around its four edges for connecting the underwater multibeam sonar system to the sonar mounting bracket.
[0012] The T-shaped mounting bracket is provided with a handle on its outer periphery.
[0013] The number of handles is multiple, and they are provided on the four perimeter of the T-shaped mounting bracket.
[0014] The signal conditioning board, signal acquisition board, and signal processing board are stacked and fixed together by connecting posts at the four corners.
[0015] The signal processing board uses an FPGA for signal processing.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects achieved by the technical solution of this utility model are:
[0017] This invention provides an underwater multibeam sonar system, which is fixed to a sonar mounting frame via a T-shaped mounting bracket and further installed on a surface platform. The transmitting and receiving arrays are vertically connected and securely fixed to the T-shaped mounting bracket, ensuring the overall stability of the sonar structure. Handles are provided around the T-shaped mounting bracket for easy transport of the sonar and attachment of safety ropes. A front fairing and a rear fairing are respectively located at the front and rear ends of the multibeam sonar system, serving to protect the sonar in the water. The fairings have openings to allow water flow, thereby reducing resistance and guiding the water flow. Furthermore, the curved design of the fairings helps reduce water resistance, thus improving the stability of the equipment. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of this utility model;
[0019] Figure 2 This is the second structural schematic diagram of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 3 This is the third structural schematic diagram of the present invention;
[0021] Figure 4 This is the fourth structural schematic diagram of the present invention;
[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the signal conditioning board, signal acquisition board, and signal processing board in this utility model.
[0023] Reference numerals: 1. T-shaped mounting bracket; 2. Transmitter array; 3. Receiver array; 4. Mounting hole; 5. Front fairing; 51. Airflow guide hole of the front fairing; 6. Rear fairing; 61. Airflow guide hole of the rear fairing; 7. Handle; 8. Signal conditioning board; 9. Signal acquisition board; 10. Signal processing board. Detailed Implementation
[0024] To make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects of this utility model clearer and more understandable, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0025] See Figures 1-5 This embodiment discloses an underwater multibeam sonar system, including a T-shaped mounting bracket 1, a transmitting array 2, a receiving array 3, a front fairing 5, a rear fairing 6, a signal conditioning board 8, a signal acquisition board 9, and a signal processing board 10.
[0026] The transmitting array 2 is fixed to the vertical end of the T-shaped mounting frame 1 and has a semi-cylindrical structure. The plane of the transmitting array 2 is in contact with the T-shaped mounting frame 1. The receiving array 3 is fixed to the horizontal end of the T-shaped mounting frame 1, and one end of the transmitting array 2 is vertically fixed to the midpoint of the receiving array 3.
[0027] The front guide shield 5 is fixed to the outer side of the launch array 2, and is in the shape of a quarter sphere with the curved surface facing outward; the curved surface of the front guide shield 5 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 51, and water flow can enter the front guide shield 5 through the guide holes 51.
[0028] The rear guide shield 6 is fixed to the outer side of the receiving array 3, and is semi-cylindrical with the arc surface facing outward; the arc surface of the rear guide shield 6 is provided with a plurality of guide holes 61 of the rear guide shield, and water flow can enter the rear guide shield 6 through the guide holes 61 of the rear guide shield.
[0029] The signal conditioning board 8, signal acquisition board 9, and signal processing board 10 are fixed in a stacked structure within the electronic compartment of the receiving array 3; the signal conditioning board 8, signal acquisition board 9, and signal processing board 10 are stacked and fixed by connecting posts at the four corners. The signal processing board 10 uses an FPGA for signal processing.
[0030] The T-shaped mounting bracket 1 has several mounting holes 4 around its four edges for connecting the underwater multibeam sonar system to the sonar mounting bracket.
[0031] The T-shaped mounting bracket 1 is provided with handles 7 on its outer periphery to facilitate the installation and relocation of the equipment; there are multiple handles 7, which are provided on the four periphery of the T-shaped mounting bracket 1.
[0032] Specifically, the front fairing 5 includes a guide plate portion and a connecting portion, which are integrally formed, and the connecting portion is detachably fixedly connected to the T-shaped mounting bracket 1. More specifically, the connecting portion of the front fairing 5 is connected to the T-shaped mounting bracket 1 by bolts.
[0033] Specifically, the rear fairing 6 includes a guide plate portion and a connecting portion, which are integrally formed, and the connecting portion is detachably fixedly connected to the receiving array 3. More specifically, the connecting portion of the rear fairing 6 is connected to the receiving array 3 by bolts.
[0034] Specifically, the handle 7 includes a grip portion and a connecting portion, which are integrally formed, and the connecting portion is detachably connected to the T-shaped mounting bracket 1. More specifically, the connecting portion of the handle 7 is connected to the T-shaped mounting bracket by bolts.
[0035] Any electronic device used in this embodiment can meet the usage requirements of this solution and can be purchased on the market.
[0036] The working principle of this utility model is as follows:
[0037] After the transmitter emits sound waves underwater, the receiving array receives the reflected signals at different time delays after transmission, representing the different time delays at which the sound waves reach the underwater target at different distances. By setting different times for receiving the signals, detection at different distances from the underwater target can be achieved. The receiver performs beamforming on the array signal received at a certain time, obtaining environmental information at different azimuth angles at that corresponding distance. For beamforming algorithms with many repetitive calculations, FPGA implementation, capable of massive parallel computation, offers a faster processing speed than DSP, thus enabling timely detection.
[0038] In the description of this utility model, it should be clarified that the orientation or positional relationship referred to by terms such as "outer edge," "outer margin," "vertical end," and "horizontal end" is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and is only used to facilitate the description of this utility model and simplify the narrative. It does not imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific manner. Furthermore, unless explicitly specified and limited, terms such as "set," "install," "connect," and "fixed installation" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integrated structure; they can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or they can refer to the internal communication or interaction relationship between two components. For those skilled in the art, in the absence of other explicit limitations, the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
Claims
1. An underwater multibeam sonar system, characterized in that: It includes a T-mount bracket, a transmitter array, a receiver array, a front fairing, a rear fairing, a signal conditioning board, a signal acquisition board, and a signal processing board; The transmitting array is fixed to the vertical end of the T-shaped mounting bracket and has a semi-cylindrical structure; the receiving array is fixed to the horizontal end of the T-shaped mounting bracket, and one end of the transmitting array is vertically fixed to the midpoint of the receiving array; the front fairing is fixed to the outer side of the transmitting array, has a quarter-spherical shape and the curved surface faces outward; the rear fairing is fixed to the outer side of the receiving array, has a semi-cylindrical shape and the arc surface faces outward; the signal conditioning board, signal acquisition board and signal processing board are fixed in a stacked structure inside the electronic compartment of the receiving array.
2. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The curved surface of the front fairing has several flow guide holes.
3. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The rear diffuser has several flow guide holes on its arc surface.
4. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The T-shaped mounting bracket has mounting holes around its four edges for connecting the underwater multibeam sonar system to the sonar mounting bracket.
5. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The T-shaped mounting bracket is provided with a handle on its outer periphery.
6. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The number of handles is multiple, and they are provided on the four perimeter of the T-shaped mounting bracket.
7. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The signal conditioning board, signal acquisition board, and signal processing board are stacked and fixed together by connecting posts at the four corners.
8. The underwater multibeam sonar system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The signal processing board uses an FPGA for signal processing.