The definition of “active sonar” is applied to systems with a wide range of operating parameters. Sonar power amplifiers operate in environments ranging from large shipborne equipments housed in electronics cabinets to small, self contained expendable sonobuoys. Duty cycles of operation can range from high-resolution sonars, which deliver short, high frequency pulses with low duty cycle up to systems which are required to operate continuously, often over a very wide bandwidth. Additionally, control sophistication ranges from simple single-frequency generators to modules that deliver complex signals to closely defined tolerances in amplitude over a range of frequency. This chapter presents an overview of the application areas and their specific requirements. A more detailed examination of active surveillance-sonar parameter leads to a number of options for power amplifier design. Finally, the principles developed are demonstrated in design examples for power amplifiers.

Inspec keywords: surveillance; power amplifiers; switched mode power supplies; low-power electronics; sonar

Other keywords: shipborne equipments; duty cycles; sonar parameter; active sonar; electronics cabinets; surveillance sonar; sonar power amplifiers

Subjects: Oceanographic and hydrological techniques and equipment