JPS61281987A - Sonar - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a target in water by providing a transmitter which transmits an ultrasonic electric signal, a receiver, an A/D converter, etc. in an enclosure of water-proof structure and processing the signal to display the result on a CRT. CONSTITUTION:A timing circuit 21 generates a timing signal for transmission of an ultrasonic wave and sends an ultrasonic wave transmission command to a transmitter 22. The transmission output of the transmitter 22 passes a transmission/reception swtich 23 and is radiated as the ultrasonic wave into water 26 from a transmitter and receiver 24. If an object 35 exists in water, the ultrasonic wave is reflected on the object 35 and is received by the transmitter and receiver 24 again. The reception signal is converted to an electric signal again and is inputted to a receiver 27 through the switch 23. The receiver 27 amplifies the reception signal up to a certain level, and the signal is A/D converted by an A/D converter 28. The converted digital signal is inputted to a memory 29, and stored contents of the memory 29 are read out at the timing of a deflecting circuit 32 by a reading circuit 30 and are displayed on the screen of a CRT 31. Thus, the shape or the like of the object in water which visible rays cannot reach is grasped easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an underwater probe used for exploring underwater targets or obstacles.

[Prior art]

"Basics and Applications of Marine Acoustics as an Example of Exploration Technology to Detect Undersea Obstacles" Marine Acoustics Research Group (1984-3-1)
There are those disclosed in P., 168-169.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing the system configuration of an underwater exploration device realized by a sonar having a rotation device disclosed in the above-mentioned document. In FIG. 2, 1 is a transmitter; Create an ultrasonic electrical signal and add it to transmitter 2,
Ultrasonic waves are emitted from the transmitter 2 into the water 3. The ultrasonic wave propagates through the water 3, and when it hits an object 4, it is reflected by the object 4, propagates through the water 3 again, is received by the receiver 5, and is converted back into an electrical signal. The electrical signal from the receiver 5 is sent to the receiver 6
After being amplified to a constant level of C
It is added to the RT (cathode ray tube) 8.

On the other hand, the transmitter 2 and the receiver 5 are connected to a rotation device 9 and a direction detector 10 by one shaft, and are structured to rotate in conjunction with rotation of the rotation device 9.

The rotation device 9 performs a search by emitting ultrasonic waves as described above with the transmitter 2 facing a certain direction, and then changes the angle slightly and performs the same search sequentially.
Based on the detected azimuth θ, the deflection circuit 11 is operated to sweep the screen of the CRT 8.

FIG. 2(b) is a diagram showing a display example of the screen of the CRT 8 of the underwater exploration device. Assuming that the target object 4 is in the direction of the azimuth θ and at a distance r, the screen of the CRT 8 as shown in FIG. Can be displayed. That is, a bright spot P as a received signal is obtained at a position separated by r from the reference coordinate axis in the direction e. By continuously obtaining bright spots P using the rotation device 9, the shape of the target object 4 can also be recognized.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the underwater exploration device with the above configuration, the rotation device 9
Since it is equipped with a large turning mechanism consisting of a direction detector 10, etc., a ship or similar moving object must be prepared to install the turning mechanism. For those who do not have the means, it is not possible to utilize large underwater exploration devices such as those described above.

In addition, since the underwater probe portion excluding the trapezoidal turning mechanism from the turning device 9, direction detector 10, etc. is also large and heavy, in cases where only the hands and feet are the only driving means underwater, such as the Diaper. However, there was a problem that the underwater probe part was too heavy to be used, and there was a need for an underwater probe that could be easily handled and operated underwater by humans.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and it eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and makes it easy for a person like a diver who does not have a driving means other than his own hands and feet to detect underwater targets or obstacles. To provide a small and lightweight underwater probe that can be easily operated.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a transmitter that emits an ultrasonic electric signal at a predetermined timing in a waterproof housing, and a receiver that receives the electric signal from the transmitter and emits an ultrasonic wave that is reflected by an object. a transducer for receiving incoming ultrasonic waves; a receiver for receiving the signal received by the transducer; an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog output signal from the receiver into a digital signal; A memory that stores digital signal values from a digital converter in addresses that sequentially change according to the timing from the time of transmission, a CRT that includes a deflection circuit, and a memory that stores digital signal values from the CRT in accordance with a deflection signal that corresponds to the timing from the deflection circuit of the CRT. The underwater probe is constructed by incorporating a readout circuit that reads out the stored contents and displays them on a CRT.

[Effect]

By configuring the underwater probe as described above, for example, when the dialer rotates the underwater probe underwater at a constant speed, the address in the memory is proportional to the distance to the object on the straight line of the transducer. The received signal received by the transducer and converted into a digital signal through the receiver and analog-to-digital converter can be stored, and this content can be displayed on a CRT, with a point proportional to the distance in one direction of the CRT. Since a bright spot of the received signal is obtained, and a bright spot of the received signal is obtained at a point proportional to the turning speed in the other direction, the distance and shape of the target object can be grasped on the CRT. In particular, since ultrasonic waves are used, the shape of a target and the distance to the target can be easily determined even in murky water where visible light cannot reach.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an underwater probe 40 according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a waterproof casing of the underwater probe 40, and inside the casing 20 there is a timing circuit 21 for emitting a timing signal;
A transmitter 22 that receives a timing signal from and emits an ultrasonic electrical signal, a transmitter/receiver switch 23 that switches between transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves from the underwater probe, a transducer 24 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves, and the transducer 24 and sent through the transmitter/receiver switch 23;
7. An analog-digital converter 28 that converts the analog signal from the receiver 27 into a digital signal; and a memory 29 that stores the digital signal value from the analog-digital converter 28 in accordance with the signal from the timing circuit 21. , a readout circuit 30 for reading out the stored contents of the memory 29 in response to a signal from the deflection circuit 32 of the CRT 31;
A battery 25 is built in to supply power to the RT 31, the deflection circuit 32, and various parts of the underwater probe.

A glass window 34 that allows visible light to pass through is provided on the surface of the housing 20 facing the CRT 31 in order to view the screen of the CRT 31.

In the underwater probe 40 having the above structure, the timing circuit 2
1 creates a timing signal for transmitting ultrasonic waves and sends an ultrasonic transmission command to the transmitter 22 . The transmission output of the transmitter 22 passes through a transmitter/receiver switch 23 and is applied to a transducer 24. As a result, ultrasonic waves are emitted from the transducer 24 into the water 26, and when an object 35 exists in the water, the ultrasonic waves are reflected by the object 35 and are received by the transducer 24 again. Here, the received signal is again converted into an electric signal, and the transmitter/receiver switch 23
The signal is input to the receiver 27 through the . The received signal is amplified to a constant level by the receiver 27 and inputted to an analog/digital converter 28, where it is converted into a digital signal and inputted to a memory 29.

The address of the memory 29 in the X direction changes sequentially as shown in FIG. 3(a) in response to a timing signal from the timing circuit 21. The point at which the ultrasound is transmitted is the address ■
As time passes, ■ to ■, ■ to ■...
The address has changed as follows. For example, when a certain time is reached, the address becomes ■, and if there is a received signal of a predetermined value or more at this time, "1" can be input to the address of ■. If it is less than or equal to the predetermined value, "10" is input.

If we pay attention only to this point in time, as shown in FIG. 3(b), data with a value of 11'' is input only to the address (2), indicating that there was a received signal at this point. The memory contents of the memory 29 are as follows: Each time an ultrasonic wave is transmitted, the address in the Y direction is incremented by 1, and the point where "1" is set on the memory 29 is the transducer 2.
It is proportional to the distance between 4 and the object 35.

If the memory contents of the memory 29 are read out by the readout circuit 30 according to the timing of the deflection circuit 32 and displayed on the screen of the CRT 31, the address position stored in the memory 29 and the
This corresponds to the bright spot position displayed on the screen of RT31. This situation is shown in FIG. 3(c). As shown in the figure, the length of the bright spot P on the screen of the CRT 31 in the X direction is proportional to the distance between the transducer 24 and the object 35, and
The direction is displayed in proportion to the number of transmissions.

Underwater exploration! Each circuit and device constituting 40 is housed in the waterproof housing 20 as described above, and is
The image displayed on the screen of RT31 can be seen from the outside.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are diagrams showing an example of the use of the underwater probe 40, in which FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing the arrangement state of the underwater probe 40, and FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a display example of the screen of the CRT 31 of No. 40. FIG.

First, when the underwater probe 40 is directed in the A direction and ultrasonic waves are emitted from the transducer 24, the distance 2a to the target object 36 is displayed on the right edge of the CRT screen 31a. Turn at a constant speed and when it reaches direction B, the distance between the underwater probe 40 and the target 36! b can be displayed completely on the screen 31a. Furthermore, when the underwater probe 40 reaches direction C, the distance mlc between the underwater probe 40 and the target object 36 is displayed on the screen. In this way, by turning the underwater probe 40 underwater at a constant speed by the dialer, etc., the target 36 appears on the screen 31 & above of the CRT 31.
An image proportional to the shape of the target is displayed, making it easy to grasp the rough shape of the target and its distance. In addition, in FIG. 4(b), A, B, and C are directions A, B, respectively, in FIG. 4(a).
, C, and the respective underwater probes 40 and targets 36
Indicates the point to display the distance to.

In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a diver or the like manually rotates the underwater probe 40 underwater at a constant speed to perform underwater exploration, but for example, a three-legged probe.

It goes without saying that the underwater probe 40 may be rotated underwater using a simple rotating means that is provided with such a simple support and rotates at a constant speed on the support.

By configuring the underwater probe 40 as described above, for example, when a dialer rotates the underwater probe 40 at a constant speed in the water 26, the object 3 located on a straight line of the transducer 24
Transmit and receive waves to addresses in memory 29 proportional to the distance up to 5.
The received signal received by the receiver 24 and converted into a digital signal through the receiver 27 and the analog-to-digital converter 28 is stored, and this content can be displayed on the screen of the CRT 31, and a point proportional to the distance is displayed in the X direction of the CRT 31. Since a bright spot of the received signal is obtained in the Y direction and a bright spot of the received signal is obtained at a point proportional to the turning speed in the Y direction, the distance and shape of the target object can be displayed on the CRT 31. In particular, since ultrasonic waves are used, the shape of the target and the distance to the target can be easily determined even in murky water where visible light cannot reach.

In addition, although the CRT 31 was used as a display device in the above embodiment, it goes without saying that the display device is not limited to this.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, an image indicating the distance and shape of a target is displayed on the display screen by, for example, a dialer rotating the underwater probe according to the present invention at a constant speed underwater. By viewing the image, the shape and distance of an underwater target or obstacle can be easily grasped.In particular, since ultrasonic waves are used, the shape and distance of a target or obstacle can be easily grasped even in murky water where visible light cannot reach. This has the excellent effect of providing a simple and easy-to-handle underwater probe that can be easily grasped.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an underwater exploration device according to the present invention, FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing the system configuration of an underwater exploration device with a conventional rotation device, and FIG. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show examples of screen displays of underwater probes.
) are diagrams showing the format of the memory constituting the underwater probe according to the present invention, FIG.
is a diagram showing an example of use of the underwater probe according to the present invention;
) is a diagram showing a display example of the CRT screen. In the figure, 20... Housing, 21... Timing circuit, 22... Transmitter, 23... Transmission/reception switch, 24
...Transmitter/receiver, 25...Battery, 26...Underwater, 27...Receiver, 28...Analog-digital converter, 29...Memory, 3o... ...readout circuit, 31...CRT, 32...deflection circuit,
34... Glass surface, 35... Object, 40...
・Underwater probe.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means that emits ultrasonic waves at a predetermined timing into a waterproof housing and receives the ultrasonic waves reflected from an object, and converts the analog reception signal from the ultrasonic transmitting/receiving means into a digital signal. An analog-to-digital converter for conversion, a memory for storing digital signal values from the analog-to-digital converter at addresses that sequentially change from the time of transmission of the ultrasound according to the timing, and storage contents stored in the memory. An underwater exploration vehicle characterized by having a built-in display means for displaying on a readout screen according to the timing. (2) The underwater probe according to claim (1), further comprising means for rotating the underwater probe at a constant speed.