Recent Studies of Some Auditory Factors in Sonar Search,

Abstract

The human ear has developed into a highly specialized instrument for detecting and identifying sounds. Inasmuch as detection and identification are two of the essential purposes of sonar equipment, it is important to study the operation of the ear in order to utilize fully its capabilities in aural reception of information, and to adapt such knowledge to the presentation of sonar information by means of visual displays. This paper presents the results of three experiments on the performance of the ear as a detector of weak signals similar to those encountered in sonar. The first study deals with the audibility of pure tones in a background of random noise. The second concerns the audibility of noise-like spectra, such as propeller cavitation noise, in a background of random noise. The third study deals with the independent use of the two ears for echo-ranging search.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 14, 1951
Accession Number
ADA051354

Entities

People

  • R. S. Gales

Organizations

  • Navy Electronics Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustics
  • Background Noise
  • Bandwidth
  • Cavitation Noise
  • Continuous Spectra
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Echo Ranging
  • Filters
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Measurement
  • Navy
  • Noise
  • Passive Sonar
  • Recognition
  • Sonar Equipment

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Acoustics.
  • Statistical inference.