Patent ID: 7224640
Filing Date: 2007-05-29
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. An underwater acoustic bearing sensor comprising: a vector sensor having a single, bi-axial, or tri-axial accelerometers and a hydrophone; a heading sensor; a pitch and roll sensor; and a common mounting structure in which the vector sensor, the heading sensor, and the pitch and roll sensor are mounted, the common mounting structure supporting the vector sensor, the heading sensor, and the pitch and roll sensor such that the vector sensor, the heading sensor and the pitch and roll sensor have a common coordinate system, the mounting structure having a mounting ring with cavities formed therein, and the accelerometers, the heading sensor, and the pitch and roll sensor are mounted in the cavities; a circuit in electrical communication with the vector sensor, the heading sensor, and the pitch and roll sensor for outputting signals from the vector sensor, the heading sensor, and the pitch and roll sensor to a data acquisition unit external to the underwater acoustic and bearing sensor, the circuit including a microcontroller with ports for communication with the heading sensor and the pitch and roll sensor to receive data from the heading sensor and the pitch and roll sensor, and a port for communicating the data from the heading sensor and the pitch and roll sensor to the data acquisition unit, and calibration and amplification circuitry for the vector sensor, and wherein the microcontroller further comprises ports for outputting calibration tones to the calibration and amplification circuitry.