Kwang Soo Yoo

US Patent:

8223590, Jul 17, 2012

Filed:

Dec 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/967088

Inventors:

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Tsih C. Yang - Great Falls VA, US
Steven L. Means - Owings MD, US
Kwang B. Yoo - Silver Spring MD, US
Edward R. Franchi - Alexandria VA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01S 3/80

US Classification:

367128, 367 5, 367149

Abstract:

A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship. The processor transforms the data of the acoustic signatures, together with data of the known locations of the acoustic sensors and the locations of the laser-acoustic pulse sources, into data of a location of the underwater objects.

US Patent:

8228760, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Jan 6, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/348925

Inventors:

Theodore G. Jones - Alexandria VA, US
Tsih C. Tang - Great Falls VA, US
Steven L. Means - Owings MD, US
Edward R. Franchi - Alexandria VA, US
Kwang B. Yoo - Silver Spring MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01H 9/00

US Classification:

367128, 367149, 367 5

Abstract:

A system and method is provided for using acoustical pulses generated from an airborne laser source to locate objects under water. An array of acoustic sensors, such as passive sonobuoys at the ocean surface, is deployed in known or determinable locations by aircraft. Each area surrounded by acoustic sensors comprises a search cell, within which sonar scattering data can be used to locate objects. Following sonobuoy deployment, the aircraft uses the laser to rapidly generate many laser-acoustic pulse sources within each search cell, which in turn generate spherical acoustic pulses traveling through the water. The acoustic sensors receive the acoustic pulses, either on a direct path or on a scattered path after the pulse strikes an underwater object. The sensors record the acoustic signatures of the received pulses and transmit data of the recorded acoustic pulses to a processor such as processor on a nearby ship. The processor transforms the data of the acoustic signatures, together with data of the known locations of the acoustic sensors and the locations of the laser-acoustic pulse sources, into data of a location of the underwater objects.

US Patent:

60090456, Dec 28, 1999

Filed:

Aug 13, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/133852

Inventors:

Tsih C. Yang - Great Falls VA
Kwang B. Yoo - Silver Spring MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01S 386

US Classification:

367119

Abstract:

The advanced vertical array beamformer signal processor accomplishes acoustic beamforming of an underwater vertical array used in shallow water utilizing matched beam processing to suppress generated noise and/or ship radiated noise thereby increasing the detectability of a submerged source emitting only a low noise signal. The processor exploits the difference of the signal arrival angle of both active and passive signals with that of the wind generated noise and ship radiated noise which is prominent in downward refractive sound speed profiles. After filtering the undesired noise, the processor uses the depth of the source as a clue for detection; the processor is an energy detector focused on the returns of a deep source.