Patent ID: 7139221

Claim:
An underwater platform close range sonar system for close range operations, comprising: a first sonar array mounted to an ownship hull, said first sonar array being operable for detecting acoustic pressure waves from another platform and acoustic pressure waves comprising a first sonar array noise from said ownship hull; a second sonar array having an extendable cable attached thereto, said extendable cable also attached to the hull to secure said second sonar array thereto, said second sonar array being operable for detecting acoustic pressure waves from said another platform and acoustic pressure waves comprising a second sonar array noise from the hull, said cable being extended to a length such that said first sonar array noise and said second sonar array noise is substantially uncorrelated; a first beamformer for receiving signals related to said acoustic pressure waves detected by said first sonar array; a second beamformer for receiving signals related to said acoustic pressure waves detected by said second sonar array; and a correlator for correlating respective outputs from said first beamformer and said second beamformer to thereby minimize said first sonar array noise and said second sonar array noise.