Underwater Echo Imaging With Multi-Frequency Angle Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater detection devices using the multi-ping method experience positional errors in target object display on echo images due to rapid rotation of the transmitter and receiver, which causes reception signals to include directions other than the intended one, especially as rotational speeds increase.
Innovation Solution
The device synchronizes the rotation of the transmitter and receiver, transmits multiple transmission waves at different frequencies per unit angle, and generates echo signals based on the reception signals with the largest signal components in each section of the unit rotation angle, using beamforming and signal processing to accurately indicate the target object's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotational speeds of the transmitter and receiver are increased to shorten the updating period of the echo image, then the productivity is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to positional errors in the echo image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reception signal processing by dividing the rotational period into multiple unit rotation angles. For each unit rotation angle, the system identifies and selects the reception signal with the largest signal component, effectively segmenting the continuous rotational data into discrete, manageable units that can be processed independently to maintain positional accuracy at high rotational speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the selection criterion for reception signals from a fixed temporal basis to a signal strength basis. By selecting reception signals based on the largest signal component rather than uniform time intervals, the system adapts to the varying signal characteristics during rotation, maintaining measurement precision regardless of rotational speed variations.
2Productivity
If multiple transmission waves at different frequencies are transmitted in one cycle, then the productivity is improved by allowing faster rotation, but the measurement precision deteriorates as reception signals include directions other than the intended one
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously evaluates the signal components of reception signals and selects those with the largest components. This feedback-based selection process ensures that even when multiple transmission waves at different frequencies are transmitted during rotation, the system can identify and use only the relevant reception signals corresponding to the intended directions, thereby maintaining measurement precision while enabling faster rotation.
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 suppresses positional errors in the echo image by using the largest signal components for echo signal generation, ensuring accurate representation of the target object's position, even at higher rotational speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter having one or more ultrasonic transducers, and a receiver having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers
Implementation Method 2
The receiver receives a reflection wave of the transmission wave
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater detection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, an actuator, a controller, and a signal processor. The transmitter transmits a transmission wave. The receiver receives a reflection wave of the transmission wave. The actuator rotates the transmitter and the receiver in a mutually synchronized fashion. The controller makes the transmitter transmit a plurality of transmission waves at mutually different frequencies in order, for every given unit rotation angle. The signal processor generates an echo signal for indication in a direction of the unit rotation angle based on a reception signal at each of the frequencies acquired from a range of the unit rotation angle.