Patent ID: 7486591

Claim:
A sonar system, comprising: a low probability of marine mammal impact waveform generator adapted to generate a low probability of marine mammal impact (LPMMI) waveform having a modulation component; and a sonar transmitter coupled to the waveform generator and configured to transmit an LPMMI sound signal into the water in accordance with the LPMMI waveform, wherein the LPMMI waveform comprises a low probability of intercept (LPI) waveform having a spread spectrum, and wherein the LPMMI waveform has a center frequency component in the range of 2500 to 6000 Hertz, a bandwidth component in the range of 500 to 2500 Hertz, and a time duration component in the range of 10 msec to 1.5 seconds, wherein the modulation component of the LPMMI waveform is selected to reduce a behavioral response from a marine mammal by causing the associated LPMMI sound signal to sound unlike a killer whale sound as perceived by the marine mammal as compared to a behavioral response and associated marine mammal perception that would occur when transmitting another sound signal in accordance with another waveform having approximately the same time duration component, approximately the same bandwidth component, and approximately the same center frequency component as the LPMMI waveform but having a modulation component comprising a frequency modulation.