# US 2018/0020656 A1 · Acoustic Projector with Source Level Monitoring and Control

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- Number: US 2018/0020656 A1
- Document ID: US20180020656A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/724,043
- Filed: 2017-10-03
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-06
- Assignees: Airmar Technology Corporation
- Applicants: Airmar Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Frederic S. Boericke, II; Kenneth D. Rolt; Danny J. Fladung
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020656A1

## CPC

- A01M 29/16: using sound waves
- G01H 11/06: by electric means
- G01S 7/52004: {Means for monitoring or calibrating (short-range imaging G01S7/5205)}
- G01S 7/524: Transmitters
- G01S 2007/52007: {involving adjustment of transmitted power}
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

In an embodiment, an acoustic projector includes an acoustic transmit transducer capable of producing a sound pressure radiation in response to a driver signal received from a transmit source, an acoustic receive transducer capable of producing a source level signal in response to receiving at least a portion of the sound pressure radiation, and a controller configured to monitor the source level signal and report the source level signal monitored.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An acoustic projector comprising:
a marine acoustic transmit transducer capable of producing a sound pressure radiation in response to a driver signal received from a transmit source;
a voltage monitoring circuit configured to measure a voltage level of the driver signal;
a current monitoring circuit configured to measure a current level of the driver signal; and
a controller configured to monitor the measured voltage level and the measured current level to derive an indication of impedance of the acoustic transmit transducer based on the monitored voltage level and the monitored current level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to report the monitored voltage level.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The acoustic projector of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to report the monitored voltage level to a remote controller configured to control the drive signal based further on the monitored voltage level.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to report the monitored current level.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The acoustic projector of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to report the monitored current level to a remote controller configured to control the drive signal based further on the monitored current level.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to control the drive signal based further on the impedance indication.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a defect is present based on the impedance indication.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a kHz frequency band.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
producing a sound pressure radiation at a marine acoustic transmit transducer in response to a drive signal received from a transmit source;
monitoring a voltage level of the driver signal and a current level of the driver signal; and
deriving an indication of impedance of the acoustic transmit transducer based on the monitored voltage level and the monitored current level.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising reporting the monitored voltage level.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein reporting the monitored voltage level includes reporting the monitored voltage level to a remote controller over a bus and further comprising controlling the drive signal based further on the monitored voltage level.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising reporting the monitored current level.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein reporting the monitored current level includes reporting the monitored current level to a remote controller over a bus and further comprising controlling the drive signal based further on the monitored current level.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising reporting the indication of impedance to a remote controller over a bus and further comprising controlling the drive signal based further on the impedance indication.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising determining whether a defect is present based on the impedance indication.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a kHz frequency band.