Specification
Field of the invention
The invention relates in a general manner to antennas, and in particular to
5 omnidirectional antennas.
Prior art
Marine platforms (for example surface boats) are generally equipped with
immersed sonar antennas for detecting and/or pinpointing objects under the water.
A sonar antenna comprises an assembly of stacked transducers ensuring the
10 emission of the acoustic signals and mounted on a support. The reception of the
signals is performed by an assembly of receivers (for example hydrophones)
arranged according to a chosen configuration with respect to the configuration of
the assembly of the emission transducers.
In existing embodiments, the antenna has a generally cylindrical or spherical
15 shape and comprises an assembly of elementary emission transducers
(piezoelectric rings) superposed along the axis of the antenna, each transducer
having a ring shape as described in application FR2 776 161.
Such transducers can be of "Tonpilz" type and ensure both emission and
2 o reception. However, the diameter of the rings being related to the desired emission
frequency, the lower the desired frequency, the larger the ring must be. Such
antennas are therefore bulky and have a relatively significant weight. Moreover,
transducers of "Tonpilz" type make it necessary to equip the active element
(piezoelectric, magneto- or electro-strictive material) with bulky mechanical
25 components (rear seismic mass, pavilion and leaktight casing in particular). Such
an antenna architecture is therefore unsuitable for the design of low-frequency
antennas for surface vessels of low tonnage (in particular less than 1500 Tonnes
in mass) or for submarines of low tonnage (in particular less than 6000 Tonnes in
mass).
30
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In another known approach, the omnidirectional sonar antenna comprises a
vertical array of compact transducers of "flex-tensor" type operating in a reduced
frequency band in active mode (1800-2300 Hz). This type of antenna is dedicated
to emission alone. This architecture is sufficiently compact and exhibits a relatively
5 low weight. However, antennas of this type do not make it possible to obtain the
frequency band width necessary for modern wide-band sonars.
Another known architecture of omnidirectional sonar antenna comprises a vertical
array of active emission rings, in which the interior of the rings is insulated from the
10 medium in which the antenna bathes (according to a technology called "Air
Backed Ring" or ABR). This type of antenna is used in particular for helibornesonar
applications, such as for example the ·solution described in patent
application FR 1303023, and exhibits the advantage of offering greater
compactness with low weight. However, these antennas are limited in terms of
15 frequency band on account of the mono-resonant behavior of the active rings used
in ABR mode.
In yet other embodiments, as described for example in patent EP1356450B1, the
omnidirectional sonar antenna comprises a vertical array of compact and
20 wideband emission transducers, whose walls are in contact with a fluid in the liquid
state (according to a technology called "Free-flooded Rings" or FFR). The
presence of liquid improves the acoustic performance of the antenna. Reception is
ensured by an assembly of omnidirectional hydrophones placed on a lightweight
structure transparent to acoustic waves in the frequency band used.
25
This type of omnidirectional sonar antenna architecture is particularly suitable for
the towed SONAR antennas of surface vessels and for certain hull SONARs for
surface vessels. The antennas embodied with FFR rings addressing the medium
frequency region can be relatively compact and wide-band. However, such
30 antennas exhibit limitations in terms of compactness and performance in respect
of sound level and bandwidth which are due mainly:
wo 2016/046377 3 PCT/EP2015/072131
to the presence around the active elements of metallic and/or elastomeric
leaktightness devices; and
to the regular spacing between the rings.
5 General definition of the invention
The aim of the invention is in particular to alleviate the aforementioned drawbacks,
by proposing an omnidirectional antenna intended to equip a sonar, the antenna
being centered around a longitudinal axis and comprising an assembly of emission
10 rings stacked along the longitudinal axis, each emission ring being formed around
the longitudinal axis. Advantageously, the emission rings are assembled in groups
of rings, the antenna comprising at least two groups of rings and each group of
rings comprising at least tW,o rings. The inter-ring spacings between the rings of
one and the same group and the inter-group spacings between two successive
15 groups of rings are chosen so as to optimize the emission bandwidth and the
sound level. In particular, the inter-ring spacings between the rings of one and the
same group can be a function of the cavity frequency of the group of rings while
the inter-group spacings between two successive groups of rings are a function of
the frequency of operational use of the emission rings.
20
According to a characteristic, the rings can be made of piezoelectric material.
In one embodiment, the sum of the inter-group spacing between two groups of
rings (p), of the inter-ring spacing (d) between two of rings and of twice the height
25 (h) of a ring can be substantially equal to half the wavelength of the frequency of
operational use of the emission rings (20).
According to another characteristic, the inter-ring spacing between the rings of one
and the same group can also be chosen as a function of the radial frequency of
the group of rings.
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According to another characteristic, the inter-ring spacing between two rings of
one and the same group can in particular be chosen so as to position the cavity
frequency of the group of rings below the radial frequency of said ring.
5 In particular, the cavity frequency of each ring can be coupled with the radial
frequency of said ring.
10
According to another characteristic, the emission rings can be immersed directly in
a dielectric fluid.
The internal cavity of each emission ring can in particular be in contact with the
dielectric fluid.
In one embodiment, the antenna can be housed in a leaktight enclosure filled with
15 the dielectric fluid.
The enclosure can also be over-pressurized or be placed in hydrostatic equilibrium
with the exterior medium.
2 o According to another characteristic, the rings are fed group-wise in parallel.
The inter-ring spacing between two rings can vary within one and the same group.
The inter-group spac1ng between two groups of the antenna can vary for the
2 5 assembly of groups of the antenna.
The proposed embodiments thus make it possible to reduce the mass and the
volume of the acoustic emission antenna of the SONAR, as well as its complexity
of embodiment, while optimizing the sound level and the bandwidth of emission
30 frequencies, thus making it possible to obtain optimal acoustic performance.
Description of the figures
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Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent with
the aid of the description which follows and of the figures of the appended
drawings in which:
5 - Figure 1 is a diagram representing an exemplary marine platform on which an
omnidirectional antenna according to the various embodiments can be fixed;
10
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of an omnidirectional sonar antenna, according to
one embodiment of the invention;
· - Figure 3 is a persp~ctive view of an exemplary reception base;
- Figure 4 represents ~n exemplary elementary ring structure;
- Figure 5 represents another exemplary elementary ring structure;
- Figure 6 represents yet another exemplary elementary ring structure;
- Figure 7 is a diagram repre.se,nting the omnidirectional sonar antenna, according
to one embodiment;
15 -Figure 8 represents a frequency response chart obtained with various exemplary
embodiments of omnidirectional antenna; and
20
- Figure 9 represents a frequency response chart obtained with exemplary
embodiments of omnidirectional antenna according to the invention comprising an
assembly of stacked groups of rings.
The drawings and the annexes to the description will be able not only to serve to
better elucidate the description, but also to contribute to the definition of the
invention, if appropriate.
25 Detailed description
Figure 1 is a diagram representing an exemplary structure 1 on which may be
mounted an omnidirectional antenna 100, according to certain embodiments.
30 The omnidirectional antenna 100 is intended to be immersed at least partially in
the water (for example at sea) to detect objects under the water by emission of
sound waves. It can be mounted on any fixed or mobile structure 1, such as for
'·.. -~
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example under a floating or anchored marine platform or a surface vessel as
illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement of the various elements of the antenna
according to certain embodiments.
5 The omnidirectional antenna 100 comprises an emission base 2 comprising an
assembly of elementary transducers 200 stacked along an axis 10 (hereinafter
called the "longitudinal axis of the antenna"), the transducers being configured to
emit sound waves. The-antenna 100 can in particular be fixed on the bottbm of the
structure 1. The emission transducers 200 can cooperate with a recepti'on base 3
10 comprising an assembly of omnidirectional receivers for receiving the signals. In
particular, the emission base (forming an emission antenna) consisting of the
elementary transduce,rs. ,:ZOO .. can be distinct from the reception base (formino a
reception antenna).
In one embodiment, the omnidirectional antenna 100 can be a sonar antenna
15 intended to equip an active sonar. The subsequent description will be given with
reference to an antenna 100 of sonar antenna type by way of nonlimiting example.
In such an embodiment, the receivers of the emission base are hydrophones.
The omnidirectional antenna 100 can have a generally cylindrical shape so as to
be omnidirectional in terms of bearing. The elevational directivity depends on its
20 extension along its axis of revolution 10.
The elementary transducers 200 comprise an assembly of emission rings 20, each
ring being centered around an axis parallel to the axis 10 of the antenna 100. The
emission rings 20 are superposed along the longitudinal axis of the antenna. In
particular, the emission rings can be substantially identical and centered around
25 the longitudinal axis of the antenna 100. The diameter D of each ring 20 is suitable
for the emission frequency.
According to one aspect of the invention, the rings 20 are assembled in groups,
each group constituting an elementary transducer 200 (in the subsequent
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description, the groups of rings will thus be designated by the reference 200). The
groups of rings 200 are spaced apart by a chosen pitch (the pitch will also be
called the "intergroup spacing" hereinafter) in the direction of stacking, defined by
the axis 10.
5 According to another characteristic, each group 200 (elementary emission
transducer) comprises a chosen number of rings. In one embodiment, the various
groups of rings 200 comprise the same number of rings and are spaced apart by
one and the same distance (i.e. the intergroup spacing is identical between the
various groups).
10 In the embodiment of Figure 2, the emission base 2 comprises three mutually
spaced pairs of rings, according to the same chosen intergroup spacing (denoted
.... , ,, .: .... :· - .... ·~p"),,,8nd each group. of rings '200 comprises a . .pair..oLr.ings: ,_,,,,._,_,_,, "·'"" "
The groups of rings 200 are held in position by a holding structure.
The antenna 1 00 can be linked up via cables or connectors to electronic
15 equipment disposed for example on the structure 1 and configured to feed
electrical power to the antenna 100 and to ensure the exchange of data with the
antenna 100. In particular, each emission ring 20 can be controlled separately by
means of a power amplifier so as to produce a downward elevational emission
lobe, for example by acoustic decoupling. As a variant, each group of rings 200
20 can be fed separately, using parallel feed.
Such a configuration of the rings 20 makes it possible to optimize the emission
bandwidth of the antenna and the sound level.
In certain embodiments, the reception base 3 can be placed coaxially with the
25 emission base.
According to another characteristic, securing tie rods 202 can be used to fasten
the rings of one and the same group together or of the whole antenna, as
illustrated in Figure 2. The tie rods 202 may be for example metallic tie rods.
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As a supplement, inter-group clamping blocks 204 can be placed in the gaps
separating two successive groups of rings. The clamping blocks 204 can form part
of the assemblage and can take for example the form of plastic blocks through
which the tie rods 202 pass. The tie rods 202 can comprise metallic tie rods
5 passing through the plastic blocks which serve as blocks. The assembly of
elements of the emission base 2 can be clamped between the components 205
(annulus) which allow mechanical solidity of the emission antenna independently
of all of the surrounding structure. One of the annuli 205 can form the interface
with the support structure 1 represented in Figure-1. ·
10 In the embodiments where the rings are of substantially identical dimensions and
centered around the longitudinal axis of the antenna 10, they can be superposed
· one above another so that the inter-group clamping blocks 204 be opposite one
'another in the direction defined by the longitudiriaf'axis''ib". <> •.... '· ' .,., < ~.
The antenna 100 can furthermore comprise a profiled annulus 205 whose
15 diameter is at least equal to the diameter of the rings placed at each end of the
stack to hold the assembly of rings and facilitate installation of the emission
antenna 100.
Figure 3 illustrates an example of positioning of the reception base 3. In the
example of Figure 3, the receivers 31 are hydrophones fixed on the mechanical
20 holding structure 33 of the emission base 2. The holding structure 33 can be in
particular transparent to acoustic waves in the frequency band used.
The assembly of receivers 31 can form part of the emission antenna's mechanical
holding structure. The receivers 31 of the reception antenna 3 can for example be
hydrophones distributed around the emission antenna 100 and with no physical
25 link with the emission antenna 100.
In particular, the receivers 31 forming the reception antenna can be disposed
substantially column-wise or quincuncially on the holding structure 33 surrounding
the emission antenna, along the longitudinal axis 10.
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As represented in Figure 3, the hydrophones 31 can comprise. an assembly of
elementary hydrophones distributed around the emission antenna 1 00 on supports
32 and with no physical link with the emission antenna 100. In the embodiment of
Figure 3, the elementary hydrophones are arranged as three coaxial annuli
5 represented schematically by the dashed curves 311, 312 and 313 and centered
around the axis 10. The annuli 311, 312 and 313 are spaced a chosen distance
apart, along the axis 10.
The emission antenna 100 can be arranged inside the holding structure 33 and
held by the latter.
1 o The emission rings 20 can be active rings made of piezoelectric material (for
example active rings of piezoelectric ceramic). Each ring 20 can for example ' . - -. .
, , . '"' ·" .. · ••. · .· . . .~nmprise . an assembly . '"lfc.d:\A\)ments placed inside ·an .annulus o,f in~uiRting . ··- -_,,. ... .~ '• .- ' ' - . . .. · .. ·. . -·. - . ., .. .
substance (made for example of glass fiber/resin wound directly on the ceramics)
as represented in Figure 4 or in the form of a composite ring forming a shrink ring
15 as represented in Figure 5. Such segments 201 can be separated from one
another by metallic components in the form of wedges 202 that can be moved
toward the center of the ring by means of a device, thus making it possible to part
the segments and to impose a mechanical prestress in the ceramic ring. The
segments can be overlaid against a shrink fitting annulus (or assembled by
20 gluing). In particular, each ring can be a ring prestressed by a jig formed of an
assembly of piezoelectric segments grouped to form substantially identical
sectors.
As a variant, each ring can be produced as a single ceramic component
(monolithic shape) as illustrated in Figure 6.
25 In certain embodiments, the emission antenna and/or the internal cavity of the
emission rings 20 can bathe in a non-ionic dielectric fluid 207, such as for example
oil.
In particular, the emission antenna 100 can be placed in a leaktight enclosure 208
30 which can be over-pressurized and which can contain the non-ionic dielectric fluid
5
10
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207. Thus, it is not necessary to use an electrical insulation and/or leaktightness
device around the emission rings 20 (such as for example a shrouding, an
overmolding around the rings or mechanical components for electrical insulation
and leaktightness of the rings).
The elimination of leaktight sealing by visco-elastic substance makes it possible to
minimize the losses through heating of these substances and thus to discernibly
increase the electro-acoustic efficiency. The conventional efficiency of about 50%
obtained with conventional emission antennas can be increased to about 75%.
As a supplement, it may be useful to provide a fine layer of varnish on the rings
mainly to protect the rings during their manipulation or their transport in the phase
of assembling the omnidirectional antenna 1QQ. . '·'" __ . ,.• .. "· .. .- ... : ,,. ·''"''
15 By eliminating all the losses induced by the presence of the materials usually used
to achieve the leaktightness and electrical insulation functions, the electro-acoustic
efficiency of each emission ring 20, and therefore the "sound level to overall
volume" ratio and the "sound level to mass" ratio of the emission antenna 100, are
optimized.
20
The dielectric fluid 207 in which the emission rings 20 bathe can furthermore have
a heat sink function for draining the heat generated by the active rings during
emission. Indeed, it behaves as a heat-carrying fluid which cools the ceramic rings
by natural convection in particular, thus making it possible to optimize the sound
2 5 level emitted and the duration of use at full load.
In the embodiments where the rings 20 bathe in the fluid 207, each ring 20
constitutes a vibrating ring in a surrounding fluid and therefore exhibits at least two
resonant frequencies acoustically coupled to the fluid:
3 o - a radial mode, obtained on the basis of alternations of extension/compression of
the constituent material of the ring, in which the deformation of the ring
5
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corresponds to such alternations of radial extension/compression around the rest
position of the ring;
- a cavity mode, obtained by setting the fluid contained inside the volume defined
by the ring and depending, to first order, on the height of the ring into resonance.
The cavity mode can be activated by feeding each group of rings in parallel.
In the embodiment where each emission ring 20 is made of piezo-electric
substance, the energy necess-ary for radial resonance can be provided by the
10 alternating electrical excitation injected on the ceramic. The energy used to set the
cavity mode into resonance can likewise be induced by the radial mode of the ring.
In certain embodiments, the cavity mode and. the radi<:~l. mode are. coupled to
obtain a significant operating frequency band so that each ring 20 can operate in
15 wideband. In particular, for each ring 20, the cavity frequency is chosen to be less
than the radial frequency, thus allowing optimal operation.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing in greater detail the arrangement of the emission
rings 20. As shown in Figure 7, the groups of rings 200 are a distance p apart, this
20 constituting the "inter-group spacing". Figure 7 shows more precisely 4 groups of
rings 200, each group comprising 2 rings. According to another characteristic of
the invention, the inter-group spacing p between the various groups 200 of rings is
chosen so as to optimize the operation of the antenna.
25 According to another characteristic, the inter-ring spacing, denoted "d', between
the rings of one and the same group (for example pair) is chosen so as to control
the cavity frequency of the group of rings 200. In particular, the inter-ring spacing,
denoted "d', between the rings of one and the same group (for example pair) is
chosen as a function of the cavity frequency of the group of rings 200 and/or of the
30 radial frequency of the ring group.
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In particular, in the embodiments where the rings 20 of one and the same group
200 are placed in one and the same fluid region and where the inter-ring distance
d is large · compared with the wavelength of the emitted acoustic waves
(representing the ratio between the speed of sound in the fluid of the region
5 considered and the frequency of use of the antenna), the cavity frequency and the
radial frequency of the ring group 200 are substantially identical to those obtained
for a lone ring. In the embodiments where the spacing d is small compared with
the wavelength of the emitted acoustic waves, the cavity frequency of the group of
rings may drop in frequency down to the limit case where.d=O. In particular; in the
10 embodiment where d=O, the 'cavity frequency of the pair may be half that· of the
lone ring.
The omnidirectional antenna 100 can in particular be configured so that, whatever
-
· ' ' .... · the inter-ring spacing· do the· radial frequency of the elementary rings remains
unchanged.
15 The optimization of the inter-ring spacing d for a given antenna thus makes it
possible to vary the cavity frequency of the antenna and to optimize it for a given
operation.
The inter-ring distance d between the elementary rings thus makes it possible for
the cavity frequency of the antenna to be best positioned with respect to the needs
2 o of the antenna 100.
The inter-group spacing p between two groups of the antenna can advantageously
be chosen so as to optimize the acoustic efficiency of the emission base 2. In
particular, the inter-group spacing p can be chosen as a function of the frequency
of operational use of the emission base. In one embodiment, the inter-group
25 spacing p can be chosen equal to half the wavelength of the frequency of
operational use of the emission base 2. The inter-group spacing p can thus be
optimized either from an acoustic point of view (bandwidth and sensitivity to
emission) or from a more general point of view, including the emission chain, so as
to have the maximum of active power in the antenna over the largest possible
30 frequency band.
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The groups of rings separated by the inter-group distance d can be fed with an
appropriate phase shift to obtain an antenna mode making it possible to emit with
a steering of the main lobe along the axis of revolution of the antenna.
In the embodiments where the antenna 100 is submerged in a fluid and comprises
5 . a fluid in the internal cavity of each emission ring 20, the presence of fluid makes it
possible to use the rings in FFR mode ("Free-flooded Rings" technology) and
therefore to obtain wide-band operation. In the FFR mode, the internal walls of the
emission rings 20 are in contact with a fluid in the liquid state.
In such an FFR mode, when the minimum inter-ring distance "d" between rings of
10 one and the same group is chosen so as to optimize acoustic operation according
to the cavity mode of the ring, the electro-acoustic efficiency obtained is much . .. . . ·- . .
, are.ater.thcm .that obtainPd,).~cC:JIIily frceqt~ency of the grouf.l of rP.lgs (200) while· th-e intergroup
spacings between two successive groups of rings are a function of the
15 frequency of operational use of the emission rings (20).
2. The omnidirectional antenna (1 00) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that
the rings (20) are made of piezoelectric material.
20 3. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the sum of the inter-group spacing between two groups of
rings p, of the inter-ring spacing d between two of rings and of twice the height of a
ring is substantially equal to half the wavelength of the frequency of operational
use of the emission rings (20).
25
30
4. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the inter-ring spacing between the rings of one and the same
group is furthermore chosen as a function of the radial frequency of the group of
rings.
5. The omnidirectional antenna (1 00) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that
the inter-ring spacing between two rings of one and the same group is chosen so
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as to position the cavity frequency of the group of rings below the radial frequency
of said ring.
6. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed· in one of claims 4 and 5,
5 characterized in that the cavity frequency of each ring is coupled with the radial
frequency of said ring.
7. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the emission rings (20) are immersed directly in a dielectric
10 fluid.
8. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that
. the internal cavity of each emission ring (20) ·is in contact with said dielectric fluid.
15 9. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of claims 7 and 8,
characterized in that the antenna (1 00) is housed in a leaktight enclosure (208)
filled with said dielectric fluid.
10. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that
20 the enclosure (208) is over-pressurized.
25
11. The omnidirectional antenna (1 00) as claimed in one of claims 9 and 10,
characterized in that the enclosure (208) is placed in hydrostatic equilibrium with
the exterior medium.
12. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the rings (20) are fed group-wise in parallel.
13. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
3 o characterized in that the inter-ring spacing between two rings (20) varies within
one and the same group.
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14. The omnidirectional antenna (100) as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the intercgroup spacing between two groups of the antenna
varies for the assembly of groups of the antenna (200).