Patent ID: 7924654

Claim:
A system for beamforming an ocean deployed acoustic buoy field, the system comprising: a plurality of acoustic sonar buoys, disposable in a spaced apart relationship on the surface of the ocean, for providing a buoyant sensor field for the ocean deployed portion of said system; a plurality of underwater sound sensing means, one each said sensing means being fixedly attached to a corresponding sonar buoy, each said sensing means being disposable in the ocean below said corresponding buoy, for obtaining acoustic signals; a plurality of position locating devices, one each being included with a corresponding sonar buoy, for providing accurate relative position data for that buoy with respect to said buoy field; a plurality of transceivers, one each included with a corresponding sonar buoy joined to underwater sound sensing means and position locating devices joined to said buoy, capable of transmitting acoustic data signals and positional data to a remote location; and a remote receiver, having beamforming electronics capable of receiving said relative position data and said acoustic data from at least two of said plurality of transceivers and processing said data by beamforming said received acoustic data utilizing said relative position data from at least two of said plurality of transceivers so as to steer acoustic beams formed from said acoustic data.