EP1356450B1 - Naval hull-mounted sonar for naval ship - Google Patents

Naval hull-mounted sonar for naval ship Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1356450B1
EP1356450B1 EP01999938A EP01999938A EP1356450B1 EP 1356450 B1 EP1356450 B1 EP 1356450B1 EP 01999938 A EP01999938 A EP 01999938A EP 01999938 A EP01999938 A EP 01999938A EP 1356450 B1 EP1356450 B1 EP 1356450B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hydrophones
antenna
sonar
sonar according
transmit antenna
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01999938A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1356450A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Thales Intellectual Property EYRIES
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Thales SA
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Thales SA
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Publication date
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • 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
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/004—Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device
    • G10K11/006—Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys
    • G10K11/008—Arrays of transducers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to active sonars that are mounted on the hull of a naval vessel, including that of a surface vessel.
  • this type of sonar is constituted, as represented in FIG. 1, by a cylindrical antenna formed of a support 10 on which columns of transducers 11 are mounted.
  • the transducers are of the "Tonpilz" type. and ensure both transmission and reception.
  • the antenna is fixed on the shell by means of a part 12 in which threaded holes 120 have been made.
  • the invention proposes a naval ship shell sonar comprising a low-frequency direction-in-line emission antenna formed of a stack of piezoelectric rings mainly characterized in that it further comprises a receiving antenna.
  • transparent and volumic formed of at least two sets of omnidirectional hydrophones distributed over two concentric cylindrical surfaces and coaxial with the transmitting antenna.
  • the hydrophones are broadband.
  • it comprises a set of hydrophone assemblies on the same number of concentric cylindrical surfaces and coaxial with the transmitting antenna.
  • the distribution of the hydrophones on the cylindrical surfaces is random.
  • the distribution of the hydrophones on the cylindrical surfaces is incomplete.
  • the transmitting antenna is suspended so as to remain vertical to overcome the roll and pitch movements of the carrier building.
  • the emission lobe of the transmitting antenna is electronically stabilized.
  • reception signals of the hydrophones are electronically processed so as to form reception channels having the directivity characteristics of a baffled antenna.
  • a specific emission antenna formed of prestressed piezoelectric rings is combined with a specific reception antenna formed of omnidirectional hydrophones placed on a light structure.
  • FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a sonar antenna according to the invention.
  • the transmitting antenna 20 is formed of a stack of piezoelectric rings 201 whose diameter is adapted to the transmitted frequency.
  • Each ring is controlled separately by means of a power amplifier so as to produce a downwardly transmitting lobe. For this reason the rings are acoustically decoupled, as described for example in the French patent filed by the applicant on 14.10.1994 under the number 94 12285, published on 19.04.1996 under the number 2,725,868, and issued on 03.01.1997.
  • the transmission frequency is equal to 2.5 kHz and 10 rings of 250 mm high are stacked.
  • the width of the lobe in site is then about 15 degrees and so as to ensure the verticality of the antenna despite the movements of the boat, it is connected to the boat by means of an articulated axis 202.
  • the emission lobe is electrically stabilized in a known manner by varying the phases of the control signals of the rings.
  • the receiving antenna 21 is placed coaxially with the transmission antenna.
  • the hydrophones 210 are fixed on a structure 211 transparent to the acoustic waves in the frequency band used.
  • This structure is made of two concentric cylinders on which the hydrophones are fixed in columns and quincunxes, as represented for example in Figure 3 where the black circles correspond to the hydrophones of the outer cylinder and the white circles to the hydrophones of the inner cylinder.
  • the hydrophones will be broadband so that the sonar also can operate in passive (reception of external sources) or in multistatic (reception of other transmitters).
  • the hydrophone signals are processed to form channels whose directivity characteristics are those of a baffled antenna.
  • channels with a cardioid directivity as described in the patent, are formed.
  • the arrangement of the hydrophones on the two cylindrical supports may be random and / or incomplete (distance of several ⁇ , at the transmission frequency, between the hydrophones).
  • more than two cylinders can be used, thereby forming a voluminal antenna.
  • adaptive processing of the hydrophone signals can be implemented so as to reject the sound of the boat.

Description

La présente invention se rapporte aux sonars actifs qui sont montés sur la coque d'un bâtiment naval, notamment sur celle d'un bateau de surface.The present invention relates to active sonars that are mounted on the hull of a naval vessel, including that of a surface vessel.

Selon l'art antérieur, ce type de sonar est constitué, comme représenté sur la figure 1, d'une antenne cylindrique formée d'un support 10 sur lequel sont montées des colonnes de transducteurs 11. Généralement les transducteurs sont du type "Tonpilz" et assurent à la fois l'émission et la réception. L'antenne est fixée sur la coque par l'intermédiaire d'une pièce 12 dans laquelle ont été pratiqués des trous taraudés 120.According to the prior art, this type of sonar is constituted, as represented in FIG. 1, by a cylindrical antenna formed of a support 10 on which columns of transducers 11 are mounted. Generally, the transducers are of the "Tonpilz" type. and ensure both transmission and reception. The antenna is fixed on the shell by means of a part 12 in which threaded holes 120 have been made.

Pour des fréquences émises supérieures à plusieurs KHz, typiquement 5 kHz, une telle antenne reste de dimensions et de poids raisonnables. Pour des fréquences plus basses, entre 1 et 2 KHz par exemple, l'antenne devient trop lourde. De plus le facteur de qualité Q des transducteurs limite alors la bande de fréquence.For transmitted frequencies greater than several KHz, typically 5 kHz, such an antenna remains of reasonable size and weight. For lower frequencies, between 1 and 2 KHz for example, the antenna becomes too heavy. In addition, the quality factor Q of the transducers then limits the frequency band.

Pour pallier ces inconvénients, l'invention propose un sonar de coque pour bâtiment naval comprenant une antenne d'émission basse fréquence directive en site formée d'un empilement d'anneaux piézoélectriques principalement caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre une antenne de réception transparente et volumique formée d'au moins deux ensembles d'hydrophones omnidirectionnels répartis sur deux surfaces cylindriques concentriques et coaxiale à l'antenne d'émission.To overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes a naval ship shell sonar comprising a low-frequency direction-in-line emission antenna formed of a stack of piezoelectric rings mainly characterized in that it further comprises a receiving antenna. transparent and volumic formed of at least two sets of omnidirectional hydrophones distributed over two concentric cylindrical surfaces and coaxial with the transmitting antenna.

Selon une autre caractéristique, les hydrophones sont à large bande.According to another characteristic, the hydrophones are broadband.

Selon une autre caractéristique, il comprend un ensemble d'ensembles d'hydrophones sur un même nombre de surfaces cylindriques concentriques et coaxiales à l'antenne d'émission.According to another characteristic, it comprises a set of hydrophone assemblies on the same number of concentric cylindrical surfaces and coaxial with the transmitting antenna.

Selon une autre caractéristique, la répartition des hydrophones sur les surfaces cylindriques est aléatoire.According to another characteristic, the distribution of the hydrophones on the cylindrical surfaces is random.

Selon une autre caractéristique, la répartition des hydrophones sur les surfaces cylindriques est lacunaire.According to another characteristic, the distribution of the hydrophones on the cylindrical surfaces is incomplete.

Selon une autre caractéristique, l'antenne d'émission est suspendue de manière à rester verticale pour s'affranchir des mouvements de roulis et de tangage du bâtiment porteur.According to another characteristic, the transmitting antenna is suspended so as to remain vertical to overcome the roll and pitch movements of the carrier building.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le lobe d'émission de l'antenne d'émission est stabilisé de manière électronique.According to another characteristic, the emission lobe of the transmitting antenna is electronically stabilized.

Selon une autre caractéristique, les signaux de réception des hydrophones sont traités électroniquement de manière à former des voies en réception présentant les caractéristiques de directivité d'une antenne bafflée.According to another characteristic, the reception signals of the hydrophones are electronically processed so as to form reception channels having the directivity characteristics of a baffled antenna.

D'autres particularités et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront clairement dans la description suivante faite à titre d'exemple non limitatif en regard des figures annexées qui représentent :

  • la figure 1; une vue ou perspective cavalière d'un sonar connu;
  • la figure 2 ; une vue en coupe d'un sonar selon l'invention; et
  • la figure 3 ; un schéma de répartition des hydrophones, selon l'invention.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear in the following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended figures which represent:
  • Figure 1; a cavalier view or perspective of a known sonar;
  • Figure 2; a sectional view of a sonar according to the invention; and
  • Figure 3; a distribution scheme of the hydrophones, according to the invention.

Selon l'invention, on combine une antenne spécifique d'émission formée d'anneaux piézoélectriques précontraints et une antenne spécifique de réception formée d'hydrophones omnidirectionnels placés sur une structure légère. Ainsi, il est possible d'émettre des fréquences plus basses dans un volume et avec un poids moindre et de s'affranchir de l'influence du facteur qualité Q pour obtenir une large bande en réception.According to the invention, a specific emission antenna formed of prestressed piezoelectric rings is combined with a specific reception antenna formed of omnidirectional hydrophones placed on a light structure. Thus, it is possible to transmit lower frequencies in a volume and with a lower weight and to overcome the influence of quality factor Q to obtain a wide band in reception.

On a représenté sur la figure 2, une réalisation préférée d'une antenne sonar selon l'invention.FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a sonar antenna according to the invention.

L'antenne d'émission 20 est formée d'un empilement d'anneaux piézoélectriques 201 dont le diamètre est adapté à la fréquence émise. On trouvera la description d'une antenne d'émission fabriquée selon cette technique dans le brevet français déposé par la demanderesse le 10.03.1998 sous le n° 98 02912, publié le 17.09.1999 sous le numéro 2 776 161, et délivré le 26.05.2000.The transmitting antenna 20 is formed of a stack of piezoelectric rings 201 whose diameter is adapted to the transmitted frequency. The description of a transmitting antenna manufactured according to this technique in the French patent filed by the applicant on 10.03.1998 under the number 98 02912, published on 17.09.1999 under the number 2 776 161, and issued on 26.05. .2000.

Chaque anneau est commandé séparément au moyen d'un amplificateur de puissance de manière à réaliser un lobe d'émission en site vers le bas. Pour cela les anneaux sont découplés acoustiquement, comme décrit par exemple dans le brevet français déposé par la demanderesse le 14.10.1994 sous le n° 94 12285, publié le 19.04.1996 sous le numéro 2 725 868, et délivré le 03.01.1997.Each ring is controlled separately by means of a power amplifier so as to produce a downwardly transmitting lobe. For this reason the rings are acoustically decoupled, as described for example in the French patent filed by the applicant on 14.10.1994 under the number 94 12285, published on 19.04.1996 under the number 2,725,868, and issued on 03.01.1997.

Dans un exemple de réalisation, la fréquence d'émission est égale à 2,5 kHz et on empile 10 anneaux de 250 mm de hauteur. La largeur du lobe en site est alors d'environ 15 degrés et de manière à assurer la verticalité de l'antenne malgré les mouvements du bateau, celle-ci est reliée au bateau au moyen d'un axe articulé 202. On obtient de la sorte un mouvement pendulaire de l'antenne suivant le tangage et le roulis.In an exemplary embodiment, the transmission frequency is equal to 2.5 kHz and 10 rings of 250 mm high are stacked. The width of the lobe in site is then about 15 degrees and so as to ensure the verticality of the antenna despite the movements of the boat, it is connected to the boat by means of an articulated axis 202. We obtain the a pendulum motion of the antenna following pitching and rolling.

Suivant une variante de réalisation, le lobe d'émission est stabilisé électriquement de manière connue par variation des phases des signaux de commande des anneaux.According to an alternative embodiment, the emission lobe is electrically stabilized in a known manner by varying the phases of the control signals of the rings.

L'antenne de réception 21 est placée de manière coaxiale à celle d'émission. Suivant une réalisation préférée, les hydrophones 210 sont fixés sur une structure 211 transparente aux ondes acoustiques dans la bande de fréquence utilisée. Cette structure est faite de 2 cylindres concentriques sur lesquels les hydrophones sont fixés en colonnes et en quinconces, comme représenté par exemple sur la figure 3 où les cercles noirs correspondent aux hydrophones du cylindre extérieur et les cercles blancs aux hydrophones du cylindre intérieur.The receiving antenna 21 is placed coaxially with the transmission antenna. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophones 210 are fixed on a structure 211 transparent to the acoustic waves in the frequency band used. This structure is made of two concentric cylinders on which the hydrophones are fixed in columns and quincunxes, as represented for example in Figure 3 where the black circles correspond to the hydrophones of the outer cylinder and the white circles to the hydrophones of the inner cylinder.

Avantageusement, les hydrophones seront à large bande pour que le sonar aussi puisse fonctionner en passif (réception de sources extérieures) ou en multistatique (réception d'autres émetteurs).Advantageously, the hydrophones will be broadband so that the sonar also can operate in passive (reception of external sources) or in multistatic (reception of other transmitters).

De manière connue, les signaux des hydrophones sont traités pour former des voies dont les caractéristiques de directivité sont celles d'une antenne bafflée. Notamment, en traitant des doublets d'hydrophones situés sur un même rayon, on forme des voies présentant une directivité cardioïde, comme décrit dans le brevet français déposé par la demanderesse le 26.09.86 sous le n° 86 13485, publié le 01,04,1988 sous le numéro 2 604 530, et délivré le 28.11.1988.In known manner, the hydrophone signals are processed to form channels whose directivity characteristics are those of a baffled antenna. In particular, by treating doublets of hydrophones located on the same radius, channels with a cardioid directivity, as described in the patent, are formed. French patent filed by the applicant on 26.09.86 under the number 86 13485, published on 01.04.1988 under the number 2 604 530, and issued on 28.11.1988.

Selon une variante de réalisation, la disposition des hydrophones sur les 2 supports cylindriques peut être aléatoire et/ou lacunaire (distance de plusieurs λ, à la fréquence d'émission, entre les hydrophones).According to a variant embodiment, the arrangement of the hydrophones on the two cylindrical supports may be random and / or incomplete (distance of several λ, at the transmission frequency, between the hydrophones).

Suivant une autre variante de réalisation, on peut utiliser plus de deux cylindres, pour former ainsi une antenne volumique.According to another variant embodiment, more than two cylinders can be used, thereby forming a voluminal antenna.

Enfin un traitement adaptatif des signaux d'hydrophones peut être mis en oeuvre de manière à rejeter le bruit du bateau.Finally, adaptive processing of the hydrophone signals can be implemented so as to reject the sound of the boat.

Claims (8)

  1. Hull sonar for a naval vessel, comprising a low-frequency transmit antenna (20) with elevational directionality formed by a stack of piezoelectric rings (201), characterized in that it furthermore comprises a three-dimensional receive antenna that is transparent to acoustic waves formed by at least two sets of omnidirectional hydrophones (210) distributed over two cylindrical surfaces that are concentric and coaxial with the transmit antenna.
  2. Sonar according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hydrophones (210) are wideband hydrophones.
  3. Sonar according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a set of sets of hydrophones (210) on an equal number of cylindrical surfaces that are concentric and coaxial with the transmit antenna.
  4. Sonar according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distribution of the hydrophones (210) over the cylindrical surfaces is random.
  5. Sonar according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distribution of the hydrophones (210) over the cylindrical surfaces includes gaps.
  6. Sonar according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transmit antenna (202) is suspended so as to remain vertical in order to compensate for the rolling and pitching movements of the vessel carrying it.
  7. Sonar according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transmission lobe of the transmit antenna (202) is stabilized electronically.
  8. Sonar according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the reception signals of the hydrophones (210) are processed electronically so as to form reception channels having the directionality characteristics of a baffled antenna.
EP01999938A 2000-12-08 2001-11-30 Naval hull-mounted sonar for naval ship Expired - Lifetime EP1356450B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0015993 2000-12-08
FR0015993A FR2818081B1 (en) 2000-12-08 2000-12-08 HULL SONAR FOR NAVAL BUILDING
PCT/FR2001/003797 WO2002047065A1 (en) 2000-12-08 2001-11-30 Naval hull-mounted sonar for naval ship

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1356450A1 EP1356450A1 (en) 2003-10-29
EP1356450B1 true EP1356450B1 (en) 2006-11-02

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EP01999938A Expired - Lifetime EP1356450B1 (en) 2000-12-08 2001-11-30 Naval hull-mounted sonar for naval ship

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US (1) US6856580B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1356450B1 (en)
AU (1) AU2002222088A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60124314T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2818081B1 (en)
NO (1) NO20032607L (en)
RU (1) RU2003120448A (en)
WO (1) WO2002047065A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11333755B2 (en) * 2016-12-20 2022-05-17 Thales Optimised acoustic detection system for detecting various underwater threats in a sensitive zone

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FR2584338B1 (en) * 1985-07-02 1987-10-16 Axo Equip Automobile METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL BLOCKS AND OPTICAL BLOCKS OBTAINED, ACCORDING TO SAID METHOD
US7354167B2 (en) 2004-05-27 2008-04-08 Angstrom, Inc. Beam focusing and scanning system using micromirror array lens
DE102009018624B3 (en) * 2009-04-23 2010-11-04 Atlas Elektronik Gmbh Electro-acoustic underwater antenna
US8681587B2 (en) * 2012-03-29 2014-03-25 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Method and apparatus for an acoustic-electric channel mounting
FR3015785B1 (en) 2013-12-20 2015-12-25 Thales Sa COMPACT OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA FOR SONAR TEMP
FR3026569B1 (en) * 2014-09-26 2017-12-08 Thales Sa OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA
CN114740461B (en) * 2022-06-07 2022-09-02 深圳市晟达通讯设备有限公司 Sonar system and be used for this sonar system's underwater positioning antenna

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US3141148A (en) * 1960-12-27 1964-07-14 Honeywell Regulator Co Underwater sound apparatus
US4661938A (en) * 1986-01-23 1987-04-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Sonar apparatus
FR2604530B1 (en) * 1986-09-26 1988-12-09 Thomson Csf DEPLOYABLE CYLINDRICAL SONAR
DE3635364A1 (en) * 1986-10-17 1988-04-28 Fraunhofer Ges Forschung Array-type radiator
US5515342A (en) * 1988-12-22 1996-05-07 Martin Marietta Corporation Dual frequency sonar transducer assembly
FR2739522B1 (en) * 1995-09-28 1997-11-14 France Etat SONAR ANTENNA
US6341661B1 (en) * 2000-04-19 2002-01-29 L3 Communications Corporation Bow dome sonar

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11333755B2 (en) * 2016-12-20 2022-05-17 Thales Optimised acoustic detection system for detecting various underwater threats in a sensitive zone

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Publication number Publication date
NO20032607D0 (en) 2003-06-10
AU2002222088A1 (en) 2002-06-18
FR2818081A1 (en) 2002-06-14
WO2002047065A1 (en) 2002-06-13
US6856580B2 (en) 2005-02-15
US20040052160A1 (en) 2004-03-18
NO20032607L (en) 2003-06-10
DE60124314T2 (en) 2007-05-31
EP1356450A1 (en) 2003-10-29
DE60124314D1 (en) 2006-12-14
RU2003120448A (en) 2005-02-20
FR2818081B1 (en) 2003-04-11

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