A method of forming a coherent acoustic beam in a marine environment includes directing each of a plurality of source nodes deployed in the marine environment to move in a respective stationary orbit, transmitting an acoustic source signal from each source node; operating a first control loop to adjust a position of each of the plurality of source nodes within the marine environment; and operating a second control loop to adjust characteristics of the acoustic source signals transmitted by each of the source nodes to form a coherent acoustic beam in the far field of a transmitting array formed by the plurality of source nodes. An acoustic beamforming system configured to operate in a marine environment is also provided.

A method for ultrasound data processing comprises transmitting an ultrasound excitation signal from each element of a transducer array and receiving a response signal from each element of a transducer array. Each response signal corresponds to a respective channel. Each response signal is sampled at one or more time points in the response signal to create a plurality of samples, each sample corresponding to a channel and a time point. The samples are divided into at least two groups. Response signals from the first group are beamformed and response signals from the second group are beamformed separately. The process is repeated over multiple data frames. The beamformed signals of each group are correlated over the multiple data frames and beamformed signals having a lower degree of correlation or negative correlation are selectively attenuated. An image output is generated from the correlation output. The at least two groups of channels may be selected to minimise the similarity of noise and/or the received acoustic field outside the main lobe.

A method for ultrasound data processing comprises transmitting an ultrasound excitation signal from each element of a transducer array and receiving a response signal from each element of a transducer array. Each response signal corresponds to a respective channel. Each response signal is sampled at one or more time points in the response signal to create a plurality of samples, each sample corresponding to a channel and a time point. The samples are divided into at least two groups. Response signals from the first group are beamformed and response signals from the second group are beamformed separately. The process is repeated over multiple data frames. The beamformed signals of each group are correlated over the multiple data frames and beamformed signals having a lower degree of correlation or negative correlation are selectively attenuated. An image output is generated from the correlation output. The at least two groups of channels may be selected to minimise the similarity of noise and/or the received acoustic field outside the main lobe.

A first array of speaker elements is disposed in a cylindrical configuration about an axis and configured to play back audio at a first range of frequencies. A second array of speaker elements is disposed in a cylindrical configuration about the axis and configured to play back audio at a second range of frequencies. A digital signal processor generates a first plurality of output channels from an input channel for the first frequencies, applies the output channels to the first array of speaker elements using a first rotation matrix to generate a first beam of audio content at a target angle about the axis, generates a second plurality of output channels from the input channel for the second frequencies, and applies the second output channels to the second array of speaker elements using a second rotation matrix to generate a second beam of audio content at the target angle.

The disclosure provides a level shifter. The level shifter includes a first logic block that receives an input signal and generates a primary pulsed input. A first transistor is coupled to the first logic block and a first node. A gate terminal of the first transistor receives the primary pulsed input. A latch is coupled to the first node and a second node. A second logic block receives the input signal and generates a secondary pulsed input. A second transistor is coupled between the second logic block and the second node. A gate terminal of the second transistor receives the secondary pulsed input.

A frequency steered sonar element comprises a transducer element and a grating element. The transducer element presents a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive a transmit electronic signal and generate an acoustic wave with a frequency component corresponding to a frequency component of the transmit electronic signal. The grating element presents a longitudinal axis and is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the grating element and a longitudinal axis of the transducer element form an acute angle. The grating element includes a first surface and an opposing second surface. One or more of the surfaces includes one or more grooves distributed thereon, the one or more grooves including first and second facets. The grating element is configured to emit a sonar beam in an angular direction which varies according to the frequency component of the acoustic wave.

A method for ultrasound data processing includes transmitting an ultrasound excitation signal from each element of a transducer array and receiving a response signal from each element of a transducer array. Each response signal corresponds to a respective channel. Each response signal is sampled at one or more time points in the response signal to create a plurality of samples, each sample corresponding to a channel and a time point. The samples are divided into at least two groups. Response signals from the first group are beamformed and response signals from the second group are beamformed separately. The process is repeated over multiple data frames. The beamformed signals of each group are correlated over the multiple data frames and beamformed signals having a lower degree of correlation or negative correlation are selectively attenuated. An image output is generated from the correlation output.

Circuitry for ultrasound devices is described. A multi-level pulser is described, which can support time-domain and spatial apodization. The multi-level pulser may be controlled through a software-defined waveform generator. In response to the execution of a computer code, the waveform generator may access master segments from a memory, and generate a stream of packets directed to pulsing circuits. The stream of packets may be serialized. A plurality of decoding circuits may modulate the streams of packets to obtain spatial apodization.

A hearing system is adapted to be worn by a user and configured to capture sound in an environment of the user and comprises a) a sensor array comprising M transducers for providing M electric input signals representing said sound and having a known geometrical configuration relative to each other; b) a detector unit for detecting movements over time of the hearing system, and providing location data of said sensor array at different points in time t, t=1, . . . , N; c) a first processor for receiving said electric input signals andin case said sound comprises sound from a localized sound source Sfor extracting sensor array configuration specific data .sub.ij of said sensor array indicative of differences between a time of arrival of sound from said localized sound source S at said respective input transducers, at said different points in time t, t=1, . . . , N; and d) a second processor configured to estimate data indicative of a location of said localized sound source S relative to the user based on corresponding values of said location data and said sensor array configuration data at said different points in time t, t=1, . . . , N.

An endpoint among a plurality of endpoints, synchronizes a clock across the plurality of endpoints. The endpoint generates a received ultrasonic signal by transducing ultrasonic sound received at a microphone from a spatial region. The ultrasonic sound includes an identical ultrasonic signal transmitted from the plurality of endpoints and echoes from the spatial region. The identical ultrasonic signal is generated with respect to the synchronized clock. The endpoint computes an error signal based on removing the identical ultrasonic signals and the echoes from the received ultrasonic signal. The endpoint detects motion in the spatial region based on a change in the error signal over time.

A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a memory element, and a processing element. The processing element is configured to transmit a transmit electronic signal to a frequency steered sonar element that transmits an array of sonar beams into a body of water in a first direction towards the front of the marine vessel forming a first sonar wedge and a second array of sonar beams into a body of water in a second direction directly below the marine vessel forming a second sonar wedge, receive a receive electronic signal from the frequency steered sonar element, generate an array of sonar image slices, identify a gap in an underwater area between the first sonar wedge and the second sonar wedge, and control the display to visually present the array of sonar image slices in near real time and a sonar image slice in the gap.