1. A system for controlling an output voltage of a power supply comprising a control section and an interconnect section having an output point, the system comprising:
a voltage regulator for providing a control section voltage;
a current measurement device for measuring a control section current and generating a current signal representative thereof; and
a controller for (i) receiving the control section current signal and a voltage command signal representing a desired output voltage at the output point of the interconnect section, and (ii) generating an adjusted voltage command signal based on the voltage command signal representing the desired output voltage, the current signal, a control section internal resistance and an interconnect section external resistance;
wherein the voltage regulator receives the adjusted voltage command signal and provides a control section voltage based thereon in order to supply an output voltage at the output point that is substantially equal to the desired output voltage.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further for (iii) predicting an expected output voltage of the power supply at the output point based on the adjusted voltage command signal, the current signal, the internal resistance and the external resistance, and (iv) generating a reported output voltage signal representative of the expected output voltage of the power supply at the output point.
3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a voltage measurement device for measuring a control section voltage, and wherein the controller is further for performing a diagnostic function based on a comparison of the predicted output voltage and the measured control section voltage.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature measurement device for measuring a control section temperature and generating a temperature signal representative thereof, and wherein the controller is further for determining the control section internal resistance and the interconnect section external resistance based on the control section temperature measurement signal, a control section internal wire resistance, an interconnect section external wire resistance, and a calibration factor based on the control section wire length and the interconnect section wire length.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller is further for determining a temperature adjustment factor for adjusting the temperature measurement signal representing the measured control section temperature.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller samples the control section current signal.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller samples the control section current signal at periodic time intervals that may be varied.
8. A method for controlling an output voltage of a power supply comprising a control section and an interconnect section having an output point, the method comprising:
receiving a voltage command representing a desired output voltage at the output point of the interconnect section;
generating an adjusted voltage command based on the voltage command representing the desired output voltage, a control section current, a control section internal resistance and an interconnect section external resistance; and
providing a control section voltage based on the adjusted voltage command in order to supply an output voltage at the output point that is substantially equal to the desired output voltage.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
predicting an expected output voltage of the power supply at the output point based on the adjusted voltage command, the control section current, the internal resistance and the external resistance; and
generating a reported output voltage signal representative of the expected output voltage of the power supply at the output point.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
measuring a control section voltage; and
performing a diagnostic function based on a comparison of the predicted output voltage and the measured control section voltage.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
measuring a control section temperature; and
determining the control section internal resistance and the interconnect section external resistance based on the measured control section temperature, a control section internal wire resistance, an interconnect section external wire resistance, and a calibration factor based on the control section wire length and the interconnect section wire length.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining a temperature adjustment factor for adjusting the measured control section temperature.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the control section current is sampled.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the control section current is sampled at periodic time intervals that may be varied.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for controlling an output voltage of a power supply comprising a control section and an interconnect section having an output point, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:
receiving a current signal representative of a control section current;
receiving a voltage command signal representing a desired output voltage at the output point of the interconnect section;
generating an adjusted voltage command signal based on the voltage command signal representing the desired output voltage, the current signal, a control section internal resistance and an interconnect section external resistance; and
providing a control section voltage control signal based on the adjusted voltage command signal, the control signal for use in supplying an output voltage at the output point that is substantially equal to the desired output voltage.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising computer executable instructions for:
predicting an expected output voltage of the power supply at the output point based on the adjusted voltage command signal, the current signal, the internal resistance and the external resistance; and
generating a reported output voltage signal representative of the expected output voltage of the power supply at the output point.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising computer executable instructions for performing a diagnostic function based on a comparison of the predicted output voltage and a measured control section voltage.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising computer executable instructions for determining the control section internal resistance and the interconnect section external resistance based on a control section temperature measurement signal, a control section internal wire resistance, an interconnect section external wire resistance, and a calibration factor based on the control section wire length and the interconnect section wire length.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 further comprising computer executable instructions for determining a temperature adjustment factor for adjusting the control section temperature measurement signal.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the instruction for receiving a current signal representative of a control section current comprises a computer executable instruction for sampling a current signal representative of a control section current.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An assembly for measuring acoustic signature of a target object in water, said assembly comprising:
a plurality of rigid segments detachably connected to each other to form a longitudinal member;
a plurality of floats connected to said longitudinal member, said plurality of floats rendering said longitudinal member neutrally buoyant when said longitudinal member is suspended in water at a predetermined depth;
an acoustic projector of a known source level, said projector adapted to emit acoustic signals for self calibration of the system;
a plurality of hydrophones connected to said longitudinal member, said plurality of hydrophones being spaced apart at a predetermined distance from one another, said plurality of hydrophones configured to receive acoustic signals radiated by the target object; and
a plurality of cables connected to said plurality of hydrophones, said plurality of cables adapted to communicate with a data acquisition system.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rigid segments comprises a plurality of pipe segments.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rigid segments are made from aluminum.
4. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising a line, said line being strung through said plurality of pipe segments.
5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
first and second buoys connected at first and second ends of said longitudinal member; and
first and second weights suspended from said first and second buoys.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rigid segments are detachably connected to one another by a plurality of inserts, said inserts being sufficiently flexible to allow said plurality of rigid segments to bend relative to one another.
7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said plurality of inserts are made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, PVC, polytetrafluoroethene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.
8. A system for measuring acoustic signature of a target object in water, said system comprising:
an assembly comprising:
a plurality of rigid segments detachably connected to each other to form a longitudinal member;
a plurality of floats connected to said longitudinal member, said plurality of floats rendering said longitudinal member neutrally buoyant when said longitudinal member is suspended in water at a predetermined depth;
an acoustic projector of a known source level, said projector adapted to emit acoustic signals for self calibration of the system;
a plurality of hydrophones connected to said longitudinal member, said plurality of hydrophones being spaced apart at a predetermined distance from one another, said plurality of hydrophones configured to receive acoustic signals radiated by the target object; and
a plurality of cables connected to said plurality of hydrophones, said plurality of cables adapted to communicate with a data acquisition system;
a data acquisition system located on a ship, said data acquisition system comprising:
an antenna, said antenna configured to receive GPS clock signals;
a data acquisition card in communication with said plurality of hydrophones and said GPS clock signals; and
a computer in communication with said data acquisition card, said computer programmed to receive and process electronic signals received by said data acquisition card; and
a high frequency pinger configured to radiate acoustic signals, said pinger located on the target object, said pinger in communication with a GPS receiver and antenna, said GPS receiver and antenna configured to receive GPS clock signals.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said assembly further comprises a depth sensor.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein said assembly further comprises:
first and second buoys connected at first and second ends of said longitudinal member; and
first and second weights suspended from said first and second buoys.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein said high frequency pinger on the target object and said data acquisition system on the ship are synchronized using GPS clock signals.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein said signals received by said plurality of hydrophones are transmitted to said data acquisition system in real-time.
13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a display unit, said display unit in electrical communication with said computer, wherein said display unit is adapted to display acoustic signature of the target object in real-time.
14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a display unit, said display unit in electrical communication with said computer, wherein said display unit is adapted to display range of the target object in real-time.
15. A kit for measuring acoustic signature of a target object in water, said kit comprising:
a plurality of pipe segments;
a plurality of inserts, said plurality of inserts adapted to connect at least two of said plurality of pipe segments with each other and to allow said connected pipe segments to bend relative to each other;
a plurality of hydrophones, said plurality of hydrophones adapted to be connected to said plurality of pipe segments;
a plurality of floats, said plurality of floats adapted to be connected to said plurality of pipe segments;
an acoustic projector, said projector configured to calibrate said plurality of hydrophones;
a depthpressure sensor;
a line adapted to keep said plurality of pipe segments together;
a plurality of cables, said cables adapted to connect to said plurality of hydrophones and to communicate with a data acquisition system;
at least two spar buoys; and
at least two weights,
wherein said at least two spar buoys and at least two weights, in conjunction with said floats render said plurality of pipe segments neutrally buoyant, when said plurality of pipe segments are suspended in water at a predetermined depth.
16. A neutrally buoyant hydrophone array apparatus comprising:
a plurality of rigid segments detachably connected to each other to form a neutrally buoyant longitudinal member;
a plurality of hydrophones coupled to said longitudinal member, said plurality of hydrophones being electrically coupled to a data acquisition system; and
an acoustic projector coupled to said longitudinal member, said projector configured to emit acoustic signals to calibrate said plurality of hydrophones.
17. A method for measuring acoustic signature of a target object in water, said method comprising the steps of:
passing a line through a first rigid end segment;
attaching a buoy and a weight to said first rigid end segment;
attaching a first float and a first hydrophone to said first rigid end segment;
stringing a second rigid segment over said line;
detachably connecting said second rigid segment to said first rigid end segment;
attaching a second float and a second hydrophone to said second rigid segment;
stringing a plurality of intermediate rigid segments over said line;
detachably connecting each of said plurality of intermediate rigid segments sequentially to each other and ultimately to said second rigid segment;
attaching a float and a hydrophone to each of said plurality of intermediate rigid segments;
attaching an acoustic projector to an intermediate rigid segment;
stringing a second rigid end segment over said line;
detachably connecting said second rigid end segment to the last of said plurality of intermediate rigid segments;
attaching a second buoy and a second weight to said second rigid end segment;
electrically coupling said hydrophones with a data acquisition system;
suspending said rigid segments in water at a predetermined depth; and
processing signals received by said hydrophones to determine acoustic signature of the target object in water,
wherein said processing includes correlating GPS signal data with said received hydrophone signal data received from the target object.