Sonar Bearing Accuracy via Spectral Interpolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sonar technologies face high computational intensity when increasing bearing accuracy through runtime compensation of reception signals, limiting the ability to break down the total aperture angle into smaller partial angles for improved directionality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves interpolating frequency lines from calculated directional signals to enhance bearing accuracy without forming additional direction signals, using techniques like Fourier transformations and spectral analysis to assign frequency lines to other directions, thereby increasing the resolution of the receiver arrangement's opening angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the total aperture angle is broken down into more partial aperture angles to increase bearing accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but computing effort increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores frequency lines for all possible reception directions before actual direction finding is needed. This preliminary computation allows the system to quickly retrieve and interpolate pre-computed frequency lines during operation, avoiding the need to perform computationally intensive runtime compensation for each direction measurement, thus resolving the contradiction between high bearing accuracy and excessive computing effort
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a comprehensive lookup table containing frequency lines for all possible reception directions. Instead of calculating direction signals in real-time, the system copies the required frequency lines from this pre-computed table and performs interpolation, replacing complex real-time computations with simpler data retrieval and processing operations
2Measurement precision
If additional direction signals are calculated from reception signals to improve bearing accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs computationally intensive operations in advance by pre-calculating frequency lines for all possible reception directions and storing them in a lookup table. During actual operation, the system only needs to retrieve and interpolate these pre-computed values, dramatically reducing energy consumption during bearing measurements while maintaining high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-computed lookup table serves the system's own needs by providing ready-to-use frequency line data for all possible directions. The system uses its own pre-computed data to efficiently answer direction-finding queries without requiring external computational resources or real-time recalculations
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 allows for increased bearing accuracy of sonar systems without the need for additional computational effort, enabling more precise direction determination with reduced energy expenditure and improved resolution of sound wave reception.
Implementation Method 1
a sonar has a receiver arrangement with spatially distributed electroacoustic converters. The sound waves of the sound-radiating or sound-reflecting targets are converted into electrical signals by the receivers of a receiving system
Implementation Method 2
direction signals of a relative receiving direction are determined from the electrical signals, which are referred to as received signals, by time-delayed addition
Implementation Method 3
Frequency lines assigned to the same reception direction of the directional signal are determined or calculated from each directional signal by the direction signal is transformed into the spectral range
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for increasing the direction-finding accuracy of a receiver arrangement. To this end, sound waves (15) are received using the receiver arrangement (12) and the sound waves (15) are used to ascertain received signals (16a to 16c). The received signals (16a to 16c) are used to ascertain direction signal (20a to 20c) for one relative reception direction (21a to 21c) at a time, and each direction signal (20a to 20c) is used to ascertain frequency lines (64a to 64j), associated with the same reception direction (21a to 21c), for one frequency at a time in a frequency range (62) with an amplitude value (68). In addition, a respective direction function (78) is formed for each frequency in the frequency range (62), with each adjacent first function argument (80) of a direction function (78) corresponding to one of the adjacent reception directions (21a to 21c), and each first function argument (80) having, as function value (84), the amplitude value (68) or a value that has been derived from the amplitude value (68) for the frequency line (64a to 64j) of the frequency of the respective direction function (78) of the reception direction (21a to 21c) which corresponds to the first function argument (80). Each of the direction functions (78) is transformed to the spectral domain, as a result of which a first spectral function (46) is obtained which has first spectral function arguments (102). The first spectral function (46) is filled with further spectral function arguments (108) between intermediate spectral function arguments (104) from the first spectral function arguments (102), wherein the further spectral function arguments (108) each have a function value (84) of zero or in the region of zero. The filled first spectral function (46) is then transformed back from the spectral domain, as a result of which an interpolated first direction function (60) is obtained.