A sonar system mounted to a platform is disclosed. The sonar system includes a positioning shaft rotatably connected to the platform; a motor operably connected to the positioning shaft, wherein operation of the motor causes the positioning shaft to rotate; a transducer connected to a distal end of the positioning shaft such that rotation of the positioning shaft causes the transducer to rotate, the transducer defining an axis aligned with a sonar field projected by the transducer; and a position indicator connected to and extending from the positioning shaft to a position viewable by a user, the position indicator being aligned with the axis of the transducer to provide a visual indication to the user of a direction of the sonar field projected by the transducer.

A sonar system mounted to a platform is disclosed. The sonar system includes a positioning shaft rotatably connected to the platform; a motor operably connected to the positioning shaft, wherein operation of the motor causes the positioning shaft to rotate; a transducer connected to a distal end of the positioning shaft such that rotation of the positioning shaft causes the transducer to rotate, the transducer defining an axis aligned with a sonar field projected by the transducer; and a position indicator connected to and extending from the positioning shaft to a position viewable by a user, the position indicator being aligned with the axis of the transducer to provide a visual indication to the user of a direction of the sonar field projected by the transducer.

Sonar systems and related methods are provided. A sonar system includes a transducer array having a transverse axis and a longitudinal axis disposed perpendicularly thereto. A processor is operative to associate signals with a plurality of transducers in the transducer array so as to form a first acoustic beam, which propagates in a beam first direction and has a first beam width in a first transverse plane. The first transverse plane extends along the beam first direction and contains the transverse axis of the transducer array. A beam directing and/or spreading device is positioned relative to the transducer array such that the first acoustic beam impinges on a surface of the beam directing and/or spreading device. Following impingement on the surface, the first acoustic beam propagates in a beam second direction.

A target object detecting device including first and second transmission signal generators, a wave transmitting array, first and second switches, and a controller is disclosed. The first and second transmission signal generators generate first and second transmission signals, respectively. The wave transmitting array has a plurality of wave transmitting elements which convert the first and second transmission signals into transmission waves. The first switch supplies the first transmission signal to one of the wave transmitting elements. The second switch supplies the second transmission signal to one of the wave transmitting elements. The controller performs a control in which the first switch switches the wave transmitting element to which the first transmission signal is supplied, from an element n to an element n+1, and the second switch switches the wave transmitting element to which the second transmission signal is supplied, from an element m to an element m+1.

A target object detecting device including first and second transmission signal generators, a wave transmitting array, first and second switches, and a controller is disclosed. The first and second transmission signal generators generate first and second transmission signals, respectively. The wave transmitting array has a plurality of wave transmitting elements which convert the first and second transmission signals into transmission waves. The first switch supplies the first transmission signal to one of the wave transmitting elements. The second switch supplies the second transmission signal to one of the wave transmitting elements. The controller performs a control in which the first switch switches the wave transmitting element to which the first transmission signal is supplied, from an element n to an element n+1, and the second switch switches the wave transmitting element to which the second transmission signal is supplied, from an element m to an element m+1.

A three-dimensional ultrasonic mapping system may combine mechanical rotation with a multibeam ultrasonic transducer assembly using a combination of frequency and phase beamforming to steer linear arrays of transducer elements over a range of angles. An array may be divided into a number of channels that may be less than the number of transducer elements in the array. A phase difference between adjacent transducer elements may be an integer multiple of 360 degrees divided by the number of channels. The ultrasonic beamforming system of the transducer assembly may produce near real-time two-dimensional imaging. Mechanical rotation of the transducer assembly may enable three-dimensional ultrasonic mapping. In some implementations, an arrangement of multiple sets of two frequency and phase steered arrays may enable the three-dimensional ultrasonic mapping.

Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a housing configured for mounting to a watercraft. The device may include a power interface configured to receive power from a power source. The device may include a network interface configured to receive marine data from a plurality of different data sources. The device may include a sonar interface configured to receive sonar data from a sonar device. The device may include a display interface coupled to the power interface, the network interface, and the sonar interface. The display interface may be configured to receive power from the power interface, receive marine data from the network interface, receive sonar data from the sonar interface, and provide power, marine data, and sonar data to a remote marine display that is separate from the device.

Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a housing configured for mounting to a watercraft. The device may include a power interface configured to receive power from a power source. The device may include a network interface configured to receive marine data from a plurality of different data sources. The device may include a sonar interface configured to receive sonar data from a sonar device. The device may include a display interface coupled to the power interface, the network interface, and the sonar interface. The display interface may be configured to receive power from the power interface, receive marine data from the network interface, receive sonar data from the sonar interface, and provide power, marine data, and sonar data to a remote marine display that is separate from the device.

A sonar system is provided including a display screen, a transducer assembly including at least one transducer that is configured to emit one or more sonar signals into an underwater environment and receive sonar return data reflected from one or more objects, and a sonar module configured to generate a 3D matrix based on the sonar return data including a plurality of sonar returns that are each defined by a 3D positional value, determine a group of the plurality of sonar returns associated with an object, assign a predetermined icon to the determined group, and generate and display 3D image of the sonar return data. The predetermined icon is positioned within the 3D image at a position that corresponds to the position of the determined group such that the position of the predetermined icon corresponds to the position of the object.

A sonar system is provided including a display screen, a transducer assembly including at least one transducer that is configured to emit one or more sonar signals into an underwater environment and receive sonar return data reflected from one or more objects, and a sonar module configured to generate a 3D matrix based on the sonar return data including a plurality of sonar returns that are each defined by a 3D positional value, determine a group of the plurality of sonar returns associated with an object, assign a predetermined icon to the determined group, and generate and display 3D image of the sonar return data. The predetermined icon is positioned within the 3D image at a position that corresponds to the position of the determined group such that the position of the predetermined icon corresponds to the position of the object.