# US 9,775,336 B2 · Acoustic projector with source level monitoring and control

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- Number: US 9,775,336 B2
- Document ID: US9775336B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/099,281
- Filed: 2013-12-06
- Published: 2015-06-11
- Granted: 2017-10-03
- 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/US9775336B2

## 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 marine acoustic receive transducer capable of producing a source level signal in response to receiving at least a portion of the sound pressure radiation;
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 source level signal and to control the driver signal, based on the source level signal, to control an acoustic power of the sound pressure radiation,
the controller further 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 to determine whether a defect is present.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to report the source level signal monitored to a remote controller configured to control the drive signal based on the source level signal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The acoustic projector of claim 3 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 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The acoustic projector of claim 5 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 7 (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 8 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the acoustic receive transducer comprises a hydrophone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The acoustic projector of claim 8 wherein the hydrophone comprises a polymer film.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The acoustic projector of claim 9 wherein the polymer film comprises piezoelectric polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF).

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The acoustic projector of claim 8 wherein the hydrophone comprises a piezoelectric ceramic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the acoustic transmit transducer and the acoustic receive transducer are attached to a common circuit board.

### Claim 13

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;
producing a source level signal at a marine acoustic receive transducer in response to receiving at least a portion of the high-frequency sound pressure radiation;
monitoring the source level signal and controlling the driver signal, based on the source level signal, to control an acoustic power of the sound pressure radiation;
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 to determine whether a defect is present.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein producing the source level signal at the acoustic receiver transducer includes producing the source level signal on a common circuit board to which the acoustic transmit transducer and the acoustic receive transducer are attached.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1, wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a frequency range between about 7 kHz and about 10 kHz.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1, wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a frequency range for repelling a marine mammal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a frequency range between about 7 kHz and about 10 kHz.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a frequency range for repelling a marine mammal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein producing the source level signal at the acoustic receiver transducer includes producing the source level signal within a waterproof housing configured to contain the acoustic transmit transducer and the acoustic receiver transducer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein controlling the driver signal, based on the source level signal, to control the acoustic power of the sound pressure radiation includes reporting the source level signal to a remote controller over a bus.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising reporting the monitored voltage level.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 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 24 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising reporting the monitored current level.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24 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 26 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 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 27 (depends on 1)

The acoustic projector of claim 1 wherein the acoustic transmit transducer and the acoustic receive transducer are within a waterproof housing.

### Claim 28 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the sound pressure radiation is in a kHz frequency band.