# US 9,753,134 B2 · Neutralization of a target with an acoustic wave

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- Number: US 9,753,134 B2
- Document ID: US9753134B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/970,895
- Filed: 2015-12-16
- Published: 2016-04-21
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-19
- Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Applicants: Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Inventors: Joseph M. Cuschieri
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753134B2

## CPC

- G01S 15/02: using reflection of acoustic waves (G01S15/66 takes precedence)
- B63G 7/08: of acoustic type
- F41H 13/0081: {the high-energy beam being acoustic, e.g. sonic, infrasonic or ultrasonic}
- F42B 33/06: Dismantling fuzes, cartridges, projectiles, missiles, rockets or bombs ({F42B33/004 and} F42B33/04 take precedence; {elimination of undesirable components of explosives C06B21/0091})
- G01S 7/539: using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
- G10K 11/26: Sound-focusing or directing, e.g. scanning
- 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
- B63G: OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (means of attack or defence in general, e.g. turrets F41H)
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An embodiment of an apparatus includes a transducer array and a controller that is operable to cause the transducer array to generate a signal having a frequency, and to direct the signal toward an object having a resonant frequency that is approximately equal to the frequency of the signal. For example, an embodiment of a mine-hunting-and-neutralizing apparatus may generate an acoustic wave with a transducer array, and may disable or destroy a mine by directing the wave toward the mine. The apparatus generates the acoustic wave having a frequency that is approximately equal to the natural frequency of a component of the mine such that the wave causes the component to resonate in a manner that is sufficient to disable the mine from detonating, or that is sufficient to cause the mine to detonate. For example, if the component is the detonator, then the wave causes the detonator to resonate at an energy level that is sufficient to render the detonator unable to detonate the mine, or that is sufficient to cause the detonator to detonate the mine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a transducer array assembly having at least one transmit array that can generate acoustic waves and at least one receive array that can receive reflected acoustic waves;
a controller operably coupled to the transducer array assembly, the controller is operable to:
cause the at least one transmit array to generate a first acoustic wave having a first frequency that is directed toward an object, where the object has a resonance at approximately the first frequency whereby the object is disabled by the first acoustic wave;
cause the at least one transmit array to generate a second acoustic wave that is directed toward the object; and
cause the at least one receive array to receive a reflected acoustic wave resulting from the second acoustic wave impacting and reflecting from the object;
a memory operably coupled to the controller and that stores object profiles of different objects;
wherein the controller is operable to compare information obtained from a received reflected acoustic wave with the object profiles stored in the memory and identifies the object based on the comparison.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the resonance of the object in response to determining the identity of the object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is a single component or multiple components.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is destroyed by the first acoustic wave.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer array assembly, the controller, and the memory are mounted to an unmanned underwater vehicle; and electrical power for the transducer array assembly is provided from a power supply onboard the unmanned underwater vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer array assembly comprises a sonar array assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the at least one transmit array to generate the first acoustic wave by causing the at least one transmit array to generate second and third acoustic signals having respective second and third frequencies such that:
a combination of the second and third frequencies approximately equals the first frequency; or
a difference between the second and third frequencies approximately equals the first frequency.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the at least one transmit array to form the first acoustic wave into a beam; and to direct the first acoustic wave toward the object by moving the at least one transmit array so as to aim the beam at the object.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the at least one transmit array includes transducer elements; and
the controller is operable:
to cause the transducer elements to form the first acoustic wave into a beam; and
to direct the first acoustic wave toward the object by controlling respective phases of the transducer elements so as to aim the beam at the object.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the unmanned underwater vehicle includes a hull; the transducer array is disposed outside of the hull; and the controller is disposed within the hull.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to:
cause the at least one receive array to receive a third acoustic wave that is generated by the object in response to being impacted by the second acoustic wave; and
determine the resonance of the object by comparing information obtained from the received third acoustic wave with the object profiles stored in the memory.

### Claim 12

An apparatus, comprising:
a transducer array assembly having at least one transmit array that can generate acoustic waves and at least one receive array that can receive reflected acoustic waves;
a controller operably coupled to the transducer array assembly, the controller is operable to:
cause the at least one transmit array to generate a first acoustic wave having a first frequency that is directed toward an object, where the object has a resonance at approximately the first frequency whereby the object is disabled by the first acoustic wave;
cause the at least one transmit array to generate a second acoustic wave that is directed toward the object;
a memory operably coupled to the controller and that stores object profiles of different objects; and
wherein the controller is further operable to:
a) identify the object by comparing information obtained from a third acoustic wave that the object generates in response to the second acoustic wave with the object profiles stored in the memory; or
b) determine the resonance of the object by comparing information obtained from a third acoustic wave that the object generates in response to the second acoustic wave with the object profiles stored in the memory;
and identify the object in response to the determined resonance by comparing information obtained from a portion of the second acoustic wave reflected by the object with the object profiles stored in the memory.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the object is a single component or multiple components.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the object is destroyed by the first acoustic wave.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transducer array assembly, the controller, and the memory are mounted to an unmanned underwater vehicle; and electrical power for the transducer array assembly is provided from a power supply onboard the unmanned underwater vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transducer array assembly comprises a sonar array assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is operable to cause the at least one transmit array to generate the first acoustic wave by causing the at least one transmit array to generate second and third acoustic signals having respective second and third frequencies such that:
a combination of the second and third frequencies approximately equals the first frequency; or
a difference between the second and third frequencies approximately equals the first frequency.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is operable to cause the at least one transmit array to form the first acoustic wave into a beam; and to direct the first acoustic wave toward the object by moving the at least one transmit array so as to aim the beam at the object.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:
the at least one transmit array includes transducer elements; and
the controller is operable:
to cause the transducer elements to form the first acoustic wave into a beam; and
to direct the first acoustic wave toward the object by controlling respective phases of the transducer elements so as to aim the beam at the object.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the unmanned underwater vehicle includes a hull; the transducer array is disposed outside of the hull; and the controller is disposed within the hull.