Acoustically Transparent Mid-Frequency SONAR Projector

A means for adding mid band sonar projectors to current passive hydrophone arrays, without reducing hydrophone performance has been developed. ĀDuring the Phase I of this SBIR Program, small ōacoustically transparentö SONAR projectors that meet these requirements were developed which use a unique yet simple transparency means. To accomplish this goal, Image Acoustics developed a Phase I method which electrically reduces the mechanical Q of the added projectors during their off operating condition while the hydrophones receive the return signal from the target. These conditions and results were demonstrated through FEA modeling and measurement. We propose to optimize the design of the projectors and tuning system and verify their output and apparent transparency during the receive cycle. We would initially verify operation with hydrophone and projector, then with a small array with projectors on both sides of the hydrophone and finally with a larger array of elements to include and evaluate array affects.