Undersea ranging-communications from altitude via laser
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorSamuel W. Lichtman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical means for detecting and/or communicating with underwater objects rom airborne platforms wherein a number of laser sources are collimated so as to illuminate a particular portion of the ocean surface from the airborne platform. Thereafter, use is made of the non-linear optical phenomena resulting from the interaction of the various source characteristics (power and wavelength) with the water media to detect modulation of the specularly reflected energy to provide indications of the presence of submerged objects.
Claims10
A system for detecting an object in water comprising:
- a. a first source of light energy waves being propagated on to the water surface for sensitizing an area of the water surface;
- b. a second source of light energy waves collimated with said first source being propagated to the sensitized area of the water and being reflected by said water surface;
- c. a third source of light energy waves collimated with said first and second light sources being propagated to the sensitized area for penetrating the water and upon reflection from a submerged body modulates said second light source that is reflected from the water surface;
- d. detector means for receiving the reflected modulated light source for detecting the presence of the submerged body.
A system for communicating between an underwater station and a station above the water comprising:
- a. a first source of light energy waves being propagated on to the water surface for sensitizing a predetermined area of the water surface;
- b. a second source of light energy waves collimated with said first source being propagated to the sensitized area of the water and being reflected by said water surface;
- c. a third source of light energy modulated with intelligence signals and collimated with said first and second sources being propagated to the sensitized area for penetrating the water;
- d. said light source reflected from the water surface being cross-modulated to provide specular transmission from the surface of the water to the station above the water.
A system for communicating between an underwater station and a station above the water comprising:
- a. a first source of light energy waves being propagated on to the water surface for sensitizing a predetermined area of the water surface;
- b. a second source of light energy waves collimated with said first source being propagated to the sensitized area of the water and being reflected by said water surface;
- c. a third source of water penetrating light energy modulated with sensitized signals and being propagated to said sensitized area for interacting with said second source of light energy waves producing non-linear cross modulation;
- d. said second light source being reflected from the water surface to provide specular transmission of the cross modulation products from the surface of the water to the station above the water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.