Adjustable Depression Angle Tidal Current Meter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tidal current meters face difficulties in accurately measuring velocity at shallow depths due to the need for reduced pulse width and frequency analysis, which decreases frequency resolution, making it challenging to properly measure tidal currents in such areas.
Innovation Solution
A tidal current meter that adjusts the depression angle of ultrasonic wave transmission and reception based on the target depth, allowing for increased pulse width and frequency analysis at shallow depths without compromising frequency resolution, enabling accurate measurement of tidal current velocity at both deep and shallow places.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the depression angle is fixed at approximately 60 degrees to measure deep place tidal currents, then deep place measurement capability is improved, but shallow place measurement capability deteriorates due to insufficient frequency resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the depression angle adjustable rather than fixed. The oscillator can change its depression angle dynamically based on the measurement depth requirements. For shallow places, the depression angle is reduced to allow increased pulse width and frequency analysis width, thereby improving frequency resolution. For deep places, the depression angle is increased to enable the ultrasonic wave to reach greater depths. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining high frequency resolution and achieving adaptability across different depth ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the parameter changes principle by varying the depression angle parameter according to the target measurement depth. When measuring at shallow depths, the depression angle is changed to a smaller value, which allows the system to use a longer pulse width and broader frequency analysis without the reflected wave returning too quickly. This parameter adjustment directly improves frequency resolution for shallow measurements while maintaining the ability to measure at various depths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pulse width is reduced to enable reception of reflected waves from shallow places, then shallow place measurement becomes possible, but frequency resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the depression angle parameter instead of reducing pulse width. By adjusting the depression angle to a smaller value for shallow measurements, the system allows the pulse width to be maintained at a longer duration and the frequency analysis width to be broadened, thereby preserving high frequency resolution while still enabling reception of reflected waves from shallow places.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the frequency analysis width is reduced to enable measurement at shallow places, then shallow place measurement becomes possible, but frequency resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the depression angle parameter instead of reducing frequency analysis width. By adjusting the depression angle to a smaller value for shallow measurements, the system allows the frequency analysis width to be broadened and pulse width to be extended, thereby preserving high frequency resolution while still enabling measurement at shallow depths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable depression angle allows for higher velocity resolution and accurate measurement of tidal currents at all depths, avoiding the limitations of fixed angle configurations that fail at shallow depths.
Implementation Method 1
measures the velocity of a tidal current at a predetermined depth in the water in accordance with the Doppler shift frequency of the reflected wave
Implementation Method 2
transmits an ultrasonic wave into water, receives a wave reflected, for example, from clutter
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a tidal current meter that measures the velocity of a tidal current. The tidal current meter includes an oscillator, a calculation section, a depression angle setup section, and a drive section. The oscillator is capable of transmitting an ultrasonic wave into water and receiving the reflection of the transmitted ultrasonic wave. The calculation section calculates the velocity in accordance with the Doppler shift frequency of the reflection received by the oscillator. The depression angle setup section sets a depression angle, that is, the angle formed by the transmission direction of the ultrasonic wave and a horizontal plane. The drive section drives the oscillator in such a manner as to transmit the ultrasonic wave and receive the reflection of the transmitted ultrasonic wave at the depression angle set by the depression angle setup section.