Underwater Antenna Support Module for Acoustic Signal Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acoustic towed antennas face challenges in achieving good acoustic properties with a reduced distance between transducer elements, leading to limitations in distinguishing between left and right targets and maintaining sensitivity, especially when the distance between transducer elements is minimized.
Innovation Solution
A carrier module with a symmetrical construction, featuring a molded core piece and individual elements for transducer accommodation, allows for reduced distances between transducers while maintaining good acoustic properties. This module includes an electronics assembly radially arranged around the core, printed circuit boards connected by flexible strips, and elastic fastening of transducer elements, enabling better signal processing and noise decoupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the distance between transducer elements is reduced to minimize antenna diameter, then the antenna diameter is reduced, but the acoustic properties deteriorate and left-right distinction capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple transducer elements (at least three) arranged symmetrically around the longitudinal axis. Each transducer element is independently positioned at the same radial distance from the axis, with circumferential angles of 0°, 120°, and 240° (or similar symmetric distribution). This segmentation allows the antenna to maintain a compact diameter while preserving acoustic properties through the collective symmetric arrangement of discrete elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs symmetric arrangement of transducer elements around the longitudinal axis to create a balanced acoustic field. The symmetry ensures that the antenna responds uniformly to acoustic signals from different directions, enabling left-right distinction capability even with reduced element spacing. The symmetric configuration compensates for the reduced distance between elements by distributing them evenly in three-dimensional space.
2Volume of moving object
If the distance between transducer elements is reduced, then the antenna diameter is reduced, but the sensitivity in radial direction becomes uniform and directional characteristic bundling is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transducer elements are arranged in three-dimensional space around the longitudinal axis, utilizing the circumferential dimension in addition to the radial dimension. By positioning elements at specific circumferential angles (e.g., 0°, 120°, 240°) and the same radial distance from the axis, the antenna achieves directional sensitivity through spatial distribution in multiple dimensions, maintaining measurement precision despite reduced overall diameter.
3Measurement precision
If transducer elements are arranged asymmetrically to achieve left-right distinction, then directional capability is improved, but the construction complexity increases and acoustic properties worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs symmetric arrangement of transducer elements around the longitudinal axis to create a balanced acoustic field. The symmetry ensures that the antenna responds uniformly to acoustic signals from different directions, enabling left-right distinction capability even with reduced element spacing. The symmetric configuration compensates for the reduced distance between elements by distributing them evenly in three-dimensional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the radial distance and circumferential angle parameters of transducer element positioning to achieve both compact size and good acoustic properties. By carefully selecting these geometric parameters, the antenna maintains left-right distinction capability while minimizing diameter and construction complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a support module 20 for an acoustic underwater antenna 4 having at least one electroacoustic and/or optoacoustic transducer element 32, wherein the support module 20 has a shaped piece, which is composed of at least two parts, for accommodating the transducer elements 32. The shaped piece has a central axial opening 38 for a traction cable to pass through and has at least one releasable connection between the parts of the shaped piece for opening or closing the support module 20. The invention also relates to an acoustic underwater antenna 4, in particular a towed antenna 4, having at least one above-described support module 20, and also to a corresponding method for attaching a support module 20 of this kind to the traction cable of said underwater antenna 4.