Francis D Rowe

US Patent:

6678210, Jan 13, 2004

Filed:

Aug 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/232812

Inventors:

Francis D. Rowe - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Rowe-Deines Instruments, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01S 1506

US Classification:

367103, 367102

Abstract:

A sonar array for forming multiple transmit and/or receive acoustic beams by a frequency beamforming technique. In frequency division beamforming, beam steering direction is made a function of frequency by driving (receiving) each element of a uniformly spaced line array by a signal which leads or lags its nearest neighbor by a fixed phase shift,. This permits scanning a transmit and/or receive beam through a range of angles by changing its frequency. The same principle can be used to form multiple simultaneous transmit and/or receive beams. This is accomplished by transmitting a wide bandwidth signal and receiving the echoes through a spectrum analyzer. Each frequency bin of the spectrum analyzer then corresponds to a beam pointing in its own unique direction. Advantages of such a sonar system include improved cost, weight, and size versus performance for a variety of systems including ahead looking sonars and bottom mapping sonars.

US Patent:

6714482, Mar 30, 2004

Filed:

Aug 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/231366

Inventors:

Francis D. Rowe - San Diego CA

Assignee:

RD Instruments, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01S 1550

US Classification:

367 90, 367 89, 7317013, 7386125

Abstract:

An improved acoustic Doppler flow measurement system which employs multiple acoustic frequencies to acquire multiple independent backscatter data from the flow channel, combining the data to enable survey measurement of channel flow properties beyond what can be achieved with either a single frequency system or multiple independent single frequency systems. The system is installed on small moving channel survey boats, remotely measuring vertical profiles of river currents, achieving accurate surveys of channel flow velocity structure and bottom topography, enabling accurate (approximately 1% resolution) survey measurement of channel flow discharge. Significant synergistic improvements are realized from both physical and functional integrations of the multi-frequency operational capability into a single integrated flow survey system. Use of phased array transducer techniques further reduces flow disturbance and transducer size, enabling use on even smaller survey boats.

US Patent:

RE43090, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Aug 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/854511

Inventors:

Francis D. Rowe - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Teledyne RD Instruments, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01S 15/50
G01F 1/66

US Classification:

367 90, 367 89, 7317013, 7386125

Abstract:

An improved acoustic Doppler flow measurement system which employs multiple acoustic frequencies to acquire multiple independent backscatter data from the flow channel, combining the data to enable survey measurement of channel flow properties beyond what can be achieved with either a single frequency system or multiple independent single frequency systems. The system is installed on small moving channel survey boats, remotely measuring vertical profiles of river currents, achieving accurate surveys of channel flow velocity structure and bottom topography, enabling accurate (approximately 1% resolution) survey measurement of channel flow discharge. Significant synergistic improvements are realized from both physical and functional integrations of the multi-frequency operational capability into a single integrated flow survey system. Use of phased array transducer techniques further reduces flow disturbance and transducer size, enabling use on even smaller survey boats.

US Patent:

20120106299, May 3, 2012

Filed:

Oct 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/282257

Inventors:

Francis Dale Rowe - Poway CA, US
John Romeo - San Marcos CA, US

International Classification:

H04B 1/02

US Classification:

367138

Abstract:

Improved two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, the two-dimensional planar array transducer is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams in two axes and at two or more widely separated acoustic frequencies from a single flat planar array transducer. The transducer planar array consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent two dimensional planar transducer array structures operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated onto a single multi frequency configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a second higher frequency transducer array is positioned within the aperture area of a lower frequency planar array transducer. Methods of using the aforementioned two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer are also disclosed.

US Patent:

53155629, May 24, 1994

Filed:

Oct 23, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/966092

Inventors:

Steven E. Bradley - San Diego CA
Francis D. Rowe - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Rowe, Deines Instruments Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01S 1558

US Classification:

367 89

Abstract:

In a correlation device, a system and method for measuring velocities using a single coded pulse generator. The correlation device may also include maximum likelihood estimation techniques for processing the echo signals received from a plurality of transducers. The presently preferred embodiment of the device is as a current profiler having a bottom tracking capability for providing vessel velocity.

US Patent:

54228603, Jun 6, 1995

Filed:

Mar 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/219646

Inventors:

Steven E. Bradley - San Diego CA
Francis D. Rowe - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Rowe, Deines Instruments Incorporated - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01S 1560

US Classification:

367 89

Abstract:

In a correlation device, a system and method for measuring velocities using a single coded pulse generator. The correlation device may also include maximum likelihood estimation techniques for processing the echo signals received from a plurality of transducers. The presently preferred embodiment of the device is as a current profiler having a bottom tracking capability for providing vessel velocity.

US Patent:

58089675, Sep 15, 1998

Filed:

Oct 7, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/726644

Inventors:

Xiaolong Yu - San Diego CA
Steven E. Bradley - San Diego CA
Francis D. Rowe - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Rowe-Deines Instruments Incorporated - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01S 1560

US Classification:

367 91

Abstract:

An acoustic array transducer capable of forming narrow dispersion, broadband or narrowband acoustic beam sets in two dimensions with a minimum aperture size. Concurrent yet independent electrical interfacing with array transducer elements allows simultaneous formation of multiple transmit and receive beams inclined within two planar orientations normal to the array face, while requiring a minimum amount of supporting circuitry. A method of economically and accurately fabricating the aforementioned transducer array by incrementally dicing bonded layers of solid discs of transducer materials being rigidly held together is also disclosed.

US Patent:

20200141965, May 7, 2020

Filed:

Nov 7, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/677555

Inventors:

- Poway CA, US
Francis Dale Rowe - Poway CA, US

International Classification:

G01P 5/24
G01S 15/58
G01S 15/89
G01S 7/536

Abstract:

A horizontal acoustic sediment and current profiler and methods of use. In one implementation, the horizontal acoustic sediment and current profiler includes a housing that is configured to house a plurality of transducer elements. In some implementations, these plurality of transducer elements include a plurality of rectangular transducer elements that are each configured to form a beam having a beam width of less than one degree; a first transducer element that is configured to form a first beam at a first frequency; a second transducer element that is configured to form a second beam at a second frequency, the second frequency differing from the first frequency; and a vertical transducer element that is oriented substantially orthogonal to the first transducer element and the second transducer element, the vertical transducer element configured to measure a depth of placement of the horizontal acoustic sediment and current profiler with respect to a surface of a fluidic medium.