Importance

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Abstract

A system is provided for determining range to a wave energy source. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting a burst of pulses of wave energy in response to a trigger signal. A receiver is provided for determining a time of arrival of the burst and from such determined time of arrival, the range to the wave energy source. The receiver includes: an envelope detector for detecting an envelope of the burst; a network for producing an output in response to an early point on the detected envelope occurring prior to a peak in the detected envelope; a timer, responsive to the trigger signal and the network output for determining the time of arrival of the burst; and a processor, responsive to such determined time of arrival, for determining the range of the wave energy source from the transmitter. The receiver includes a differentiator network for producing an output in response to the nth derivative of the detected envelope, where n is an integer greater than one; and, the timer is responsive to the trigger signal and the differentiator output for determining the time of arrival of the burst. The receiver also includes a means for confirming detection of a valid burst after the detection of the early point and a means to transmit and wherein the previously recorded time of arrival point only if it is followed by a valid burst confirmation.

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First Claim