Direction Finding Antenna Inclination Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing direction finding systems for underwater vehicles face challenges in maintaining accurate target bearings during rapid changes in diving depth or inclination, leading to loss of target bearings due to tilting of the receiving antenna, which complicates automatic target tracking and requires time-consuming level keel diving to prevent distortion of directional functions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves accounting for the angle of inclination in signal processing to correctly determine bearing angles associated with targets, using correction values to adjust the directional functions and maintain horizontal target bearings independently of antenna inclination, allowing for fast dives without losing target bearings and enabling the use of towed antennas with significant angles of inclination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the receiving antenna is tilted during rapid dives, then the diving speed and operational flexibility are improved, but the target bearing accuracy is lost due to distortion of directional functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the directional functions by applying correction values that depend on the angle of inclination. These correction values adjust the directional functions to compensate for the tilting effect, allowing the system to maintain measurement precision even when the antenna is tilted during rapid dives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric correction values for different directional functions based on the angle of inclination. The correction values are specifically designed to counteract the asymmetric distortion caused by tilting, restoring the proper directional characteristics for accurate bearing measurement
2Measurement precision
If the receiving antenna is kept horizontal to maintain target bearing accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the operational flexibility and diving speed are reduced due to requirement of level keel diving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the directional functions dynamic by continuously adjusting them based on the real-time angle of inclination. This allows the system to adapt to changing orientations during dives, maintaining measurement precision without requiring the antenna to remain horizontally fixed, thus improving operational flexibility
3Measurement precision
If correction values dependent on angle of inclination are applied to directional functions, then the target bearing accuracy during tilting is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent calculates and stores correction values in advance for different angles of inclination. During operation, the system only needs to look up the appropriate correction values based on the measured angle and apply them to the directional functions, rather than performing complex real-time calculations, thus reducing the actual processing complexity during dives
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
This approach ensures continuous accurate target bearing display and tracking, even during rapid dives or when antennas are tilted, eliminating the need for level keel diving and allowing for efficient operation with inclined antennas, thereby enhancing operational flexibility and reducing time losses.
Implementation Method 1
which has a large number of electroacoustic converters for receiving sound waves and generating electrical reception signals
Implementation Method 2
noise emitted by a watercraft or other noise source or reflected sound waves are received
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~35
Figure 4~13
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for taking bearings of sound-emitting targets, utilizing a receiver antenna (11) with a plurality n of electroacoustic converters (12) for receiving sound waves and producing electrical receiver signals, wherein the receiver signals undergo a signal processing to form antenna directive gains, and the signal processing calculates bearing angles assigned to targets. In order to be able to maintain a position representation, even for fast diving speeds, the signal processing calculates the target-assigned bearing angle in accordance with a possible inclination angle v of the receiver antenna with respect to a horizontal plane. The invention also relates to a bearing system (10) for carrying out such a method.