Kenneth Samuel Brewer

US Patent:

55638490, Oct 8, 1996

Filed:

Jul 19, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/495553

Inventors:

John D. Hall - Walnut Creek CA
Bruce Gordon - Santa Barbara CA
Clarence E. Miller - Goleta CA
Kenneth D. Brewer - La Jolla CA

Assignee:

Coastal & Offshore Pacific Corporation - Walnut Creek CA

International Classification:

G01S 380

US Classification:

367127

Abstract:

An acoustic tracking system designed to allow scientists and fishermen to follow dolphins and whales without harming or harassing them. The system utilizes six flow shielded hydrophones mounted on the bottom of a vessel in two arrays of three hydrophones in each array. Acoustic signals of interest (dolphin calls) which strike the hydrophone piezo-electric elements are transmitted to a receiver-display device which determines and displays both the bearing to the signal of interest and the relative range from the vessel to that signal. The receiver-display device utilizes digital microprocessors to determine the difference in signal arrival time of an incoming signal at pairs of hydrophones. The resulting computed bearing to the dolphin call is displayed as a lighted indicator on an electronic heading display. In addition, the digital microprocessors compare the received sound pressure level of incoming signals of interest and display the relative range as a series of lighted LED's on the electronic heading indicator.