Broadband underwater acoustic communications subsystem design

Abstract

Increased bandwidth for acoustic communication places demanding requirements on the electroacoustic transducer, tuning and matching circuits, and amplifier design. This presentation investigates various aspects of the transmit channel with a focus on increasing bandwidth to the fullest extent possible. This includes using alternative transducer designs, polarization orientations, transduction materials, broadband tuning networks, and gain/phase control in high efficiency Class-D amplifiers. Comparisons between modeled and measured performance for systems that achieve 10, 20, and 30 kHz are considered.