Phase-Conjugate Pseudo Sound Source for Buried Object Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sonar devices face difficulties in detecting buried objects in the ocean due to the complex interference of transverse, lateral, and longitudinal wave components at the water-seabed boundary, requiring extensive scanning time and posing safety risks when detecting explosive objects.

Innovation Solution

A phase-conjugate pseudo sound sweeping system that transmits scanning sound waves using active phase conjugation, allowing them to converge on the detection object from above, and employs passive phase conjugation to extract reflected waves, enabling detection without being constrained by the object's positional relationship and ensuring safety by avoiding direct contact with explosive objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sound wave is emitted vertically downward to avoid transverse and lateral wave components, then wave interference is reduced, but the search time becomes enormous and safety risks arise when detecting explosive objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of emitting sound waves vertically downward from above the search area, the invention inverts the approach by emitting sound waves from the sides at oblique angles. The phase conjugation technique then focuses these obliquely incident waves onto the target, achieving both reduced interference and improved safety while maintaining detection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the incident angle parameter from vertical (0 degrees) to oblique angles. By controlling the sound wave incidence at specific oblique angles and using phase conjugation, the system achieves focused energy concentration on the target while avoiding the generation of transverse and lateral wave components that occur with vertical incidence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a sound wave is emitted vertically downward, then transverse and lateral wave components are not generated, but the method cannot detect explosive objects safely and requires unlimited scanning time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoiddetection versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The phase conjugation technique provides universal applicability for detecting different types of objects (metallic, non-metallic, buried, surface) regardless of their position or composition. The system can detect objects anywhere in the search area by adjusting the phase conjugation parameters, making the method highly versatile while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If conventional sonar methods are used to detect buried objects, then detection is possible, but complex interference from transverse, lateral, and longitudinal wave components makes detection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject detection precisionVSAvoidwave interference complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the useful longitudinal wave component by using phase conjugation with oblique incidence, effectively removing the problematic transverse and lateral wave components. This extraction of the desired wave mode simplifies the detection process and improves measurement precision by eliminating complex interference patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 method allows for efficient detection of objects without the limitations of conventional scanning times and safety hazards, effectively identifying buried objects through phase-conjugate pseudo sound source sweeping.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting a scanning sound wave generated by performing active phase conjugation (time reversal processing) on a phase-conjugate wave in a time domain based on an acoustic signal emitted from a pseudo sound source, by utilizing a feature that the scanning sound wave converges on the pseudo sound source which is a generation source of the acoustic signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase conjugation:

Implementation Method 2

causing the scanning sound wave to converge on a detection object (T) in the detection area from above the detection object (T) in a propagation space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic wave convergence: Focusing

Implementation Method 3

a monitoring unit which performs passive phase conjugation so as to extract from the sound wave in the propagation space a reflected sound wave which is reflected at the detection object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPassive phase conjugation:

Implementation Method 4

extract from the sound wave in the propagation space a reflected sound wave which is reflected at the detection object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP1975645B1Detection device, detection program and detection method
Publication Date: 2016.03.02 NEC CORP
  • EP1975645B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1975645B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1975645B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object is detected without being constrained by the positional relationship between the object and the detecting position. A detection device includes a pseudo sound source and a monitoring unit. The pseudo sound source generates a scanning sound wave of a phase-conjugate wave in the time domain based on an acoustic signal by performing active phase conjugation, and causes the scanning sound wave to converge on the detection object from the above thereof within the propagation space by utilizing a feature that the scanning sound wave converges on the pseudo sound source which is the generation source of the acoustic signal. The monitoring unit extracts a reflected sound wave which is reflected at the detection object from the sound wave in the propagation space by performing passive phase conjugation. The detection object is detected based on presence or absence of the extracted reflected wave.