High speed multibeam sidelock sonar with few elements

摘要

A high speed multibeam sidelooking sonar system for processing acoustic signals including a transmitter for transmitting acoustic energy, and a hydrophone array for receiving reflected acoustic energy transmitted by the transmitting means and forming an ensonification region, including a plurality of hydrophone elements spaced at a predetermined distance. The transmitter includes a plurality of transmit transducers operating at different frequencies to divide the ensonification region into ensonification strips, such that the predetermined distance between the plurality of hydrophones is maximized. Therefore, the performance of the high speed multibeam sidelook sonar system is maximized at minimum range. Further, the high speed multibeam sidelook sonar system as described above minimizes fill time degradation with the plurality of transmit transducers, which increases range resolution and acoustical performance of the high speed multibeam sidelook sonar system at the minimum range.