Line Array Research Articles

A Comprehensive Review of an Underwater Towing Cable Array: A Discussion on the Dynamic Characteristics of the Towing Cable Array During the Outspread Process

Towing cable arrays have made significant contributions across various fields, and their outspread process is crucial for realizing their functionalities. However, research on the dynamic characterization of the outspread process of towed cable arrays lacks systematic organization. This paper reviews, organizes, and analyzes the outspread process of towing cable arrays, drawing on relevant models, case studies, and structural features. It ingeniously applies concepts from parachute outspread to the analysis of towing-cable-array deployment. The study systematically examines the deployment of towing cable arrays under varying cable lengths, wave conditions, and the interactions between line arrays. The goal is to integrate existing research on the outspread of towing cable arrays, addressing the gaps in the description of this process and providing a comprehensive analysis of the outspread characteristics under different conditions. Additionally, this paper identifies current limitations in this area and provides insights for future developments. Furthermore, it explores the potential application of AI to address these challenges. The aim of this paper is to contribute meaningfully to this field.

A line scanning monitoring method for conveyor belt deviation using point cloud

Abstract A precise conveyor belt deviation monitoring method using line array point cloud data is proposed and demonstrated, which can ensure the healthy running of the conveyor system. The point cloud data characterizing the surface of the conveyor belt is collected in a line scanning way. Then, using a unique soft extraction method that weighted fusing three key features (cross-sectional variation, belt’s horizontal width, and previous frame) to process this data, the edge information of the conveyor belt can be accurately and robustly identified in real-time. Furthermore, the point cloud processing mode enables a belt-segmented deviation analysis method based on a standard sequence query. This can accurately determine the offset value and deviation trend of the conveyor belt, thereby achieving early warning of deviation faults. Experimental results show that the belt edge identification precision can reach 0.3 mm, and an early warning can be provided at least 57 m before the occurrence of a belt deviation fault. This belt deviation monitoring method can be widely applied in various working environments, especially in harsh conditions like mines and ports. It also has potential applications in automated production lines within Industry 4.0.

Introduction of a free sound system design exchange format (SDE) for data from different sound systems for noise predictions with complex summation

To consider the correlated sources of sound systems from different manufacturers in noise predictions equally with complex summation, a free exchange format for sound system planning software on the one hand and environmental noise software on the other is being defined in a cooperation with d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics and SoundPLAN: SDE = Sound/System Design/Data Exchange/Export This paper introduces the SDE format, its motivation and structure. With increasing open-air events in urban areas, potential problems with noise also increase. Proactive noise predictions can help prevent noise from becoming a problem in the first place. Until now it has not been possible to use data from planned sound systems from different manufacturers for equivalent calculations with complex summation. Modern sound systems have high directivity, especially loudspeaker arrays. The directivity of arrays results from superposition of sound waves from all loudspeakers. This effect is used specifically with line arrays and subwoofer arrays to optimize sound and coverage in audience areas. However, the resulting emission of an entire sound system is not constant over distance. Time-of-flight and relative phase at the receiver points must be considered with complex summation.

Source localization at low frequency using deconvolution of the waveguide impulse response

Matched-mode processing (MMP) methods have been widely investigated for source localization and geoacoustic inversion. For horizontal line arrays (HLA), it aims at retrieving the horizontal wavenumbers and thus at inferring source range and bearing. In this work, the matched-mode is performed by applying the deconvolution of the waveguide response in a narrowband context in order to improve the localization accuracy. Deconvolution usually refers to a sparse framework when the number of sources is smaller than the number of sensors of the HLA. The Orthogonal Matching Pursuit algorithm is then used in this work. First results from numerical simulations for Pekeris waveguide highlight better localization accuracy than MMP. The deconvolution shows as well stronger robustness to mismatch in the sound speed values of the seabed. Results from measurement campaign, involving large HLA, low to ultra-low frequency and water depth up to 1500 m are investigated as well.

High-Quality and Enhanced-Resolution Single-Pixel Imaging Based on Spiral Line Array Laser Source

High-Quality and Enhanced-Resolution Single-Pixel Imaging Based on Spiral Line Array Laser Source

An Assessment of the Lateral Selective Etching, with HCl, of High Versus Low Ge Content SiGe Layers

We have evaluated the feasibility of selectively etching, with gaseous HCl, high versus low Ge content SiGe layers. To that end, we have grown {20 to 25 nm thick Si / ~ 12-15 nm thick Si0.8Ge0.2 or Si0.75Ge0.25 / ~ 11-14 nm thick Si0.5Ge0.5} multilayers on SOI substrates. After a low temperature capping with SiN, such stacks were patterned into regular arrays of square mesas or lines with a stop on the buried oxide, to laterally etch the layers of interest. We first determined, at 500°C, 600 Torr, the (001) blanket HCl etch rates of SiGe 30% and 40%: 1.4 and 5.3 nm min.-1. We then switched over to patterned wafers. The lateral selective etching of Si0.5Ge0.5 versus Si0.8Ge0.2 (and Si) was feasible and the following features highlighted: (i) Si0.5Ge0.5 lateral etch rates along the <110> directions were much smaller than in the vertical [001] direction and (ii) because of micro-loading, lateral etch rates were definitely higher for squares than for lines (0.9-1.1 nm min.-1 for lines, to be compared with 1.7–2.1 nm min.-1 for squares). Meanwhile, the lateral selective etching of Si0.5Ge0.5 versus Si0.75Ge0.25 was far from being perfect, with much higher Si0.5Ge0.5 etch rates and a significant Si0.75Ge0.25 recessing at tunnel entrances. Si0.75Ge0.25 floors and ceilings were otherwise far more etched and thus tilted than Si0.8Ge0.2 ones. Inserting very thin Si spacers between Si0.5Ge0.5 cores and Si0.75Ge0.25 claddings partly solved those issues, with no recessing and lesser etchings at the entry points of tunnels.

Design of Differential Loudspeaker Line Array for Steerable Frequency-Invariant Beamforming

Differential beamforming has attracted much research since it can utilize an array with a small aperture size to form frequency-invariant beampatterns and achieve high directional gains. It has recently been applied to the loudspeaker line array to produce a broadside frequency-invariant radiation pattern. However, designing steerable frequency-invariant beampatterns for the loudspeaker line array has yet to be explored. This paper proposes a method to design a steerable differential beamformer with a loudspeaker line array. We first determine the target differential beampatterns according to the desired direction, the main lobe width, and the beampattern order. Then, we transform the target beampattern into the modal domain for representation. The Jacobi-Anger expansion is subsequently used to design the beamformer so that the resulting beampattern matches the target differential beampattern. Furthermore, based on the criterion of minimizing the mean square error between the synthesized beampattern and the ideal one, a multi-constraint optimization problem, which compromises between the robustness and the mean square error, is formulated to calculate the optimal desired weighting vector. Simulations and experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve steerable frequency-invariant beamforming from 300 Hz–4 kHz.

Source Range Estimation Using Linear Frequency-Difference Matched Field Processing in a Shallow Water Waveguide

Matched field processing (MFP) is an established technique for source localization in known multipath acoustic environments. Unfortunately, in many situations, imperfect knowledge of the actual propagation environment and sidelobes due to modal interference prevent accurate propagation modeling and source localization via MFP. To suppress the sidelobes and improve the method’s robustness, a linear frequency-difference matched field processing (LFDMFP) method for estimating the source range is proposed. A two-neighbor-frequency high-order cross-spectrum between the measurement and the replica of each hydrophone of the vertical line array is first computed. The cost function can then be derived from the dual summation or double integral of the high-order cross-spectrum with respect to the depth of the hydrophones and the candidate sources of the replicas, where the range that corresponds to the minimum is the optimal estimation. Because of the larger modal interference distances, LFDMFP can efficiently provide only one optimal range within the same range search interval rather than some conventional matched field processing. The efficiency of the presented method was verified using simulations and experiments. The LFDMFP unambiguously estimated the source range in two experimental datasets with average relative errors of 2.2 and 1.9%.

Chandrayaan-3 landing site evolution by South Pole-Aitken basin and other impact craters

The Chandrayaan-3 mission with the Vikram-lander and the Pragyan rover landed in the high latitude highland region near the south pole of the Moon. The landing site is located ∼350 km from the South Pole-Aitken basin rim, an ancient and highly cratered terrain. This site has undergone the complex emplacement sequence of SPA basin ejecta followed by the nearby and distant impact basins and crater ejecta materials. To evaluate the source of individual basin and crater ejecta emplacement over this landing site, we carefully demarcated the nearby and distal basins and craters that could have contributed to the source regolith material. We found that the SPA basin is the major contributor, which deposited nearly ∼1400 m of ejecta materials, and 11 other basins deposited ∼580 m of ejecta. The other complex craters contributed up to ∼90 m of ejecta. Meanwhile, secondary craters of a few km in diameter located adjacent to the landing site contributed to ∼0.5 m ejecta, which are crucial target materials for the Pragyan rover insitu analysis. Pragyan rover images revealed the landing site is devoid of >1 m boulders along the traverse revealing typical highland terrain. The Pragyan rover Navcam and Orbital High Resolution Camera regional images revealed linear distal ejecta rays possibly from the distant impacts as insitu evidence of foreign material at the CH-3 landing site. We found a semi-circular, heavily degraded structure encompassed around the landing site, which is interpreted as a buried impact crater ∼160 km in diameter probably formed before the SPA basin. The erasure of pre-SPA basin craters is caused by both the direct burial by SPA basin ejecta, high seismic shaking during SPA formation, and then followed by various post-SPA craters and its associated some of the degradation processes. Overall, Chandrayaan-3 landed within an ancient region that hosts some of the most deeply excavated materials on the Moon.

Estimation of Source Range and Location Using Ship-Radiated Noise Measured by Two Vertical Line Arrays with a Feed-Forward Neural Network

Machine learning-based source range estimation is a promising method for enhancing the performance of tracking both the dynamic and static positions of targets in the underwater acoustic environment using extensive training data. This study constructed a machine learning model for source range estimation using ship-radiated noise recorded by two vertical line arrays (VLAs) during the Shallow-water Acoustic Variability Experiment (SAVEX-15), employing the Sample Covariance Matrix (SCM) and the Generalized Cross Correlation (GCC) as input features. A feed-forward neural network (FNN) was used to train the model on the acoustic characteristics of the source at various distances, and the range estimation results indicated that the SCM outperformed the GCC with lower error rates. Additionally, array tilt correction using the array invariant-based method improved range estimation accuracy. The impact of the training data composition corresponding to the bottom depth variation between the source and receivers on range estimation performance was also discussed. Furthermore, the estimated ranges from the two VLA locations were applied to localization using trilateration. Our results confirm that the SCM is the more appropriate feature for the FNN-based source range estimation model compared with the GCC and imply that ocean environment variability should be considered in developing a general-purpose machine learning model for underwater acoustics.

Ultra high-speed 3D shape measurement technology for specular surfaces based on μPMD

Phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) has been extensively applied to measure specular surfaces due to its non-contact, high-precision, full-field measurement capabilities. Liquid crystal display (LCD) screen is the most common structured light source in PMD. However, the response time of liquid crystal molecules limits its frame rate to around 100 frames per second (fps). Therefore, it is quite difficult for traditional PMD to measure rapidly moving surfaces. This paper proposes a 3D dynamic sensing technique, microsecond-PMD (µPMD) based on the high-frame-rate sinusoidal fringe display (HSFD). In the proposed method, the switching time for each fringe pattern display is at a sub-microsecond level, enabling high-speed fringe acquisition with kHz-level area array detection or 100kHz-level line array scanning. The HSFD method uses a specially designed LED array and two-step optical expansion. The high-speed switching characteristic of LED sources is utilized to allow a superfast display rate. Moreover, the superior sinusoidal property can be achieved by the combination of the specially designed discrete sinusoidal LED array, the light-diffracting effect of orthogonal gratings, and the filtering effect of the light diffuser. The mechanism and analytic model of fringe generation are thoroughly analyzed and discussed in this work. Furthermore, the swarm optimization algorithm and corresponding weighted fringe quality evaluation function are presented to obtain the optimal fringes. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed µPMD, for the first time, achieved a superfast fringe acquisition rate of 4000fps with sub-micrometer precision in three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction for specular surfaces. We envision this proposal to be broadly implemented for real-time monitoring in manufacturing.

Matched cross‐spectrum phase processing for source depth estimation in deep water

AbstractZhou et al. (2022) proposed a method for instantaneous source depth estimation in deep water using matched beam intensity processing (MBIP) that leverages depth‐related oscillatory features arising from Lloyd's mirror interference in the frequency domain (Appl. Acoust., 2022, 186, 108493). However, the efficacy of MBIP diminishes with a random source spectrum. To counteract the effect of a random source spectrum, a vertical line array (VLA) positioned near the sea bottom is employed and a cross‐spectrum is generated from the conventional beamforming output, which is achieved by dividing the VLA into upper‐half and lower‐half arrays. The authors find that the cross‐spectrum phase interference pattern is determined by the source depth and is unaffected by the source spectrum. Consequently, a matched cross‐spectrum phase processing method is proposed, which demonstrates appreciable depth estimation accuracy compared to that of the existing techniques, as evidenced by the results from both simulated and experimental data.

Shallow water source depth discrimination based on a vertical linear array using deep learning

This study aims to explore source depth discrimination in shallow water waveguides using a vertical line array. Due to the similarity in physical characteristics of features and environmental parameters, the feature distributions of shallow and deep sources overlap in feature space. This overlap is further exacerbated by strong background noise, reducing detection reliability. Therefore, a deep learning-based source depth discrimination (DL-SDD) scheme is proposed. Specifically, this scheme is based on a residual structure, embedding channel attention mechanisms into the deep structure to eliminate noise-related information gradually. Furthermore, a specially designed loss function considers inter-class and intra-class distances to achieve compact and mutually distant distributions of source features. When this loss function is applied, the overlap of source feature distributions is suppressed in end-to-end feature learning, leading to a high detection probability. The numerical simulations demonstrate that the proposed DL-SDD outperforms traditional method, achieving a 7 % increase in detection probability and a 15 % decrease in false alarm rate, even near the discrimination depth. Furthermore, the discrimination depth is reduced by nearly half. Experimental results from the South China Sea validate the effectiveness of the proposed DL-SDD.

Energy dependence of x‐ray beam size produced by polycapillary x‐ray optics

AbstractIn this work, we studied the x‐ray energy dependence of x‐ray beam diameter focused by polycapillary optics. A quantitative beam diameter–energy relation enables more accurate estimation of the element‐specific interrogation area of a sample using the compositional maps produced by a micro‐XRF system. This improves upon our ability to visualize individual beam‐diameter sized mineral grains and in turn directly benefits Planetary Instrument for X‐ray Lithochemistry (PIXL) analyses of martian soil in addition to benefitting other micro‐focused x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) systems. The spatial distribution of an array of characteristic XRF emission lines was measured by sampling via a knife‐edge approach with small motor stepping of the beam across target edges. Data taken as part of this effort, from the Planetary Flight Model (PFM), were limited to only seven beam energies corresponding to the elements Ni, Cu, Se, Ta, Au, Ti and Ba. Hence, we conducted additional analysis using JPL's lab‐based breadboard (LBB) micro‐XRF system, a system that emulates PIXL's functionality where we measured beam diameter corresponding to 18 elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, Cl, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, Sr and Mo. The experimental results were also compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The beam diameter (y)–energy (x) relation that we obtained for LBB was y = 185.79 exp(−0.078x) whose exponential component was then used to get a more accurate relation for the PFM even with the limited data set: y = 227.53 exp(−0.078x). The difference in the two coefficients for the PFM and LBB stems mainly from the difference in the polycapillary optic design, and this work establishes x‐ray beam diameter versus energy relation quantitatively for both the systems.

(Invited) Retinomorphic Motion Detector and Supercapacitors Based on Organic Semiconductors

Organic retinomorphic sensors offer the advantage of in-sensor processing to filter out redundant static background and are well suited for motion detection. To improve this promising structure, here we studied the key role of interfacial energetics in promoting charge accumulation to raise the inherent photoresponse of the light-sensitive capacitor. Specifically, incorporating appropriate interfacial layers around the photoactive layer was crucial to extend the carrier lifetime, as confirmed by intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy. Compared to its photodiode counterpart, the retinomorphic sensor showed better detectivity and response speed due to the additional insulating layer, which reduced the dark current and the resistor-capacitor time constant. Lastly, three retinomorphic sensors were integrated into a line array to demonstrate the detection of movement speed and direction, showing the potential of retinomorphic designs for efficient motion tracking.In addition to discussing the development of organic optical sensors, this presentation will also show the use of the same class of organic semiconductors in energy storage applications, in particular for redox supercapacitors as portable power sources. We developed multifunctional structures, which combine load-bearing and energy-storage functions in one, resulting in weight savings and safety improvements. We demonstrated a gradient electrolyte design to facilitate high ionic conductivity at the electrode-electrolyte interfaces and transitioned to a composition with high mechanical strength in the bulk for load support. The gradient design enabled the multilayer structural supercapacitors to reach state-of-the-art performance matching the level of mono-functional supercapacitors. Finally, the structural supercapacitor was made into the hull of a model boat to demonstrate its multifunctionality.

An Ultra-wideband Substrate Integrated Coaxial Line Array based on Silicon-based MEMS Process

An Ultra-wideband Substrate Integrated Coaxial Line Array based on Silicon-based MEMS Process

Fabrication of Shape‐Controlled Copper Line Arrays by Meniscus‐Confined 3D Microprinting on Insulating Substrates

Meniscus‐confined electrodeposition (MCED), as a 3D printing process, exhibits excellent capabilities in microstructure fabrication. However, it faces numerous challenges, particularly when integrating with different substrates, especially insulating ones and cross‐layer interconnection. This study intends to investigate the impact of factors such as nozzle diameter, flight height of the nozzle over insulating substrates, and applied current by MCED on micro/nanoscale metal structures, to fabricate shape‐controllable and nanogap copper lines. As the flight height of the nozzle increases, there is no significant variation in the line height (≈60 nm) or width (≈15 nm) of the printed copper lines. And copper lines are successfully fabricated with consistent feature size oversteps totaling 1.2 μm in height. Additionally, highly dense copper line arrays are fabricated, achieving a minimum wire spacing of 120 nm. Remarkable stability and simplicity are realized in producing high‐resolution copper microstructures, demonstrating an acceptable degree of variability in insulating substrates and promising applications in integrated microsystems.

Nonuniformity of diffractive splitting and receiver-transmitter alignment for large-field-of-view hundred-beam-scale LiDAR

To meet the spatial perception requirements for autonomous ship navigation in common scenarios such as ocean navigation, port entry and exit, and lock passage, commercial vehicle-mounted LiDAR technology falls short of demands in aspects such as sensing distance, field of view, angular resolution, and spatial sampling density. This paper proposes a hundred-beam-scale LiDAR scheme based on large-field-of-view diffractive beam splitting and a fiber array for echo reception and presents an in-depth investigation of the angular nonuniformity of diffractive beam splitting and the microradian-scale alignment for such hundred-beam-scale large-field-of-view LiDAR. This paper considers a combination of split-beam transmission based on a high-order diffractive optical element (DOE) and echo reception based on a high-precision fiber-optic line array. The nonlinear angular characteristics of the DOE are deduced and analyzed for a large field of view. The units of the receiving fiber-optic array are designed to offset the influence of the angular nonlinearity of the DOE, ensuring high-precision receiver–transmitter alignment of the hundred-beam-scale LiDAR for beams at any order of diffraction and helping to reduce system errors. The above-described LiDAR system has undergone laboratory testing and practical engineering verification, and it provides a new optical solution for LiDAR systems at the hundred-beam scale with a large field of view, a small divergence angle, and high sampling density. The presented system achieves a registration accuracy of 66.5 μrad with 128 beams and a 10-degree field of view, greatly improving signal reception efficiency. Such LiDAR systems have a wide range of applications, including space docking, target identification, lunar and planetary exploration, and ground-based vehicle-mounted LiDAR.

Design of Robust Broadband Frequency-Invariant Broadside Beampatterns for the Differential Loudspeaker Array

The directional loudspeaker array has various applications due to its capability to direct sound generation towards the target listener and reduce noise pollution. Differential beamforming has recently been applied to the loudspeaker line array to produce a broadside frequency-invariant radiation pattern. However, the existing methods cannot achieve a compromise between robustness and broadband frequency-invariant beampattern preservation. This paper proposed a robust broadband differential beamforming design to allow the loudspeaker line array to radiate broadside frequency-invariant radiation patterns with robustness. Specifically, we propose a method to determine the ideal broadside differential beampattern by combining multiple criteria, namely null positions, maximizing the directivity factor, and achieving a desired beampattern with equal sidelobes. We derive the above ideal broadside differential beampattern into the target beampattern in the modal domain. We propose a robust modal matching method with Tikhonov regularization to optimize the loudspeaker weights in the modal domain. Simulations and experiments show improved frequency-invariant broadside beamforming over the 250–4k Hz frequency range compared with the existing modal matching and null-constrained methods.

Discovery of a damped Ly α absorber in the circumnuclear zone of the FeLoBAL quasar SDSS J083942.11+380526.3

ABSTRACT SDSS J083942.11+380526.3 ($z=2.315$) is an iron low-ionization broad absorption lines quasar that exhibits visible Balmer absorption lines (H $\alpha$), implying a significant $n=2$ population. The quasar also shows an array of absorption lines, including O i, Ni ii, Fe ii, Mg ii, Al iii to C iv, and N v. The high-ionization absorption lines such as C iv and Si iv are revealed by slightly blueshifted broad absorption lines troughs. The resonance doublets such as Mg ii and Al iii are saturated but did not reached zero intensity which indicates that the broad-line region (BLR) is partially covered. Overall, however, the absorption is predominantly from low-ionization Fe ii lines, emitted from ground and excited states up to at least 3.814 eV. This implies that the absorbing gas spans the hydrogen ionization front and extends into the partially ionized zone where neutral hydrogen is certainly present. Notably, the hydrogen line spectrum of the quasar shows no signature of expected Ly $\alpha$ absorption. Instead, the line spectrum shows an unusual Ly $\alpha$ emission characterized by a fully filled emission line spectrum which is a composite of a strong narrow core superposed on a weak broad base. Taking into account the effect of partial covering to BLR, we have extracted a strong Damped Ly α systems (DLA) trough in Ly $\alpha$ emission region. To fit the spectrum, we performed photoionized model calculations and compared them to the observations. We found that photoionization modelling using cloudy can successfully reproduce the main characteristics of the quasar spectrum, and the predicted neutral hydrogen column density arising from the clouds responsible for the low-ionization absorption provides a good match to the extracted DLA trough. This indicates that both the DLA and the low-ionization absorption arise from the same medium that is roughly collocated with the dusty torus.