A real time fish movement and location guide system and method provides an output to an angler of a real time adjusted active fish depth range based upon a set of environmental conditions. Input data relating to the environmental conditions is received from the angler through a user interface and from Internet sources. In some embodiments, the input data is also used to provide outputs indicating weather fronts that will affect movement and location, and to provide lure recommendations and notifications that a change in lure is appropriate in view of changing conditions.

For an ultrasound image acquired by an ultrasound detection system, background data with small noises are first filtered. Next, a binary image is generated by performing image binarization on the noise-reduced ultrasound image based on a first threshold value, wherein the binary image contains information associated with the body of high-echo foreground images in the ultrasound image. An output image is generated by performing foreground expansion on the binary image based on the pixel value of the ultrasound image and a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value, wherein the output image contains information associated with not only the body but also the outline of high-echo foreground images in the ultrasound image. An improved ultrasound image is generated by performing a post-processing on the ultrasound image according to information of foreground and non-foreground region in the output image.

The objective of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver fish-finder that stabilizes its balanced state while in water to transmit ultrasonic waves vertically downward, thus improving detection accuracy. The ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 10 includes an ultrasonic transducer 21 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves; a hanging-bell shaped case 50 that houses the ultrasonic transducer 21; and a cable 40 that suspends the case 50. A weight 81 is arranged above the ultrasonic transducer 21 provided at the bottom 54 of the case 50. In addition, the filler A1 is filled into the case 50 such that a cavity A2 is secured in the upper region of the case 50.

The objective of this invention is to provide an ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver fish-finder that stabilizes its balanced state while in water to transmit ultrasonic waves vertically downward, thus improving detection accuracy. The ultrasonic-wave transmitter/receiver 10 includes an ultrasonic transducer 21 that transmits and receives ultrasonic waves; a hanging-bell shaped case 50 that houses the ultrasonic transducer 21; and a cable 40 that suspends the case 50. A weight 81 is arranged above the ultrasonic transducer 21 provided at the bottom 54 of the case 50. In addition, the filler A1 is filled into the case 50 such that a cavity A2 is secured in the upper region of the case 50.

The purpose is to provide a navigation information device and a navigation information processing method capable of excellently grasping a surrounding situation of own ship and improving a visibility of a detection result by a sonar. The navigation information device is provided with a surrounding information generating module for generating surrounding information around the ship itself, a sonar information generating module for generating sonar information indicating the detection result by the sonar, and a display control module for performing control for enlarging one display area of a surrounding screen on which the surrounding information is displayed and a sonar screen on which the sonar information is displayed and reducing the other display area, as compared with corresponding display area before satisfying the predetermined condition, when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

The purpose is to provide a navigation information device and a navigation information processing method capable of excellently grasping a surrounding situation of own ship and improving a visibility of a detection result by a sonar. The navigation information device is provided with a surrounding information generating module for generating surrounding information around the ship itself, a sonar information generating module for generating sonar information indicating the detection result by the sonar, and a display control module for performing control for enlarging one display area of a surrounding screen on which the surrounding information is displayed and a sonar screen on which the sonar information is displayed and reducing the other display area, as compared with corresponding display area before satisfying the predetermined condition, when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

A marine electronic system is provided including a transducer housing including a first transducer element configured transmit one or more first sonar signals into a body of water and a second transducer element configured to transmit one or more second sonar signals into the body of water. A length of the first transducer element is longer than a length of the second transducer element. The transducer housing also includes at least one third transducer element configured to receive first sonar returns from the first sonar signals and second sonar returns from the second sonar signals. The system includes a sonar signal processor configured to receive the first sonar returns, receive the second sonar returns, and determine sonar image data based on both the first sonar returns and second sonar returns. A transducer housing with a forward scanning portion and a downward scanning portion is also provided.

A marine electronic system is provided including a transducer housing including a first transducer element configured transmit one or more first sonar signals into a body of water and a second transducer element configured to transmit one or more second sonar signals into the body of water. A length of the first transducer element is longer than a length of the second transducer element. The transducer housing also includes at least one third transducer element configured to receive first sonar returns from the first sonar signals and second sonar returns from the second sonar signals. The system includes a sonar signal processor configured to receive the first sonar returns, receive the second sonar returns, and determine sonar image data based on both the first sonar returns and second sonar returns. A transducer housing with a forward scanning portion and a downward scanning portion is also provided.

A bracket for holding a universal transducer for use with a fishing or other boat, including a transducer assembly, having a transducer shaft, which brackets a transducer at its bottom end, while its upper end is connected either to the side of the boat, or onto the upper portions, such as the gear box, of the associated trolling motor, to provide the means for scoping the underwater typography through usage of a universal transducer, as available in the art. The upper end of the transducer shaft connects to a bracket, applied onto the bracket is a geared motor, such as a reversing motor, that can pivot the transducer in an approximate 360-degree direction. The identified bracket mount can secure directly to the side of the boat, in which case the mount separates, for removal of the transducer assembly, or its application therein, in preparation for usage, or the bracket mount may secure to the underside of the trolling motor gear box or housing, and be simultaneously operative in conjunction with the maneuvering of the trolling motor, during its usage, or when positioned into a nonusage location upon the surface of the associated boat.

A transducer assembly includes an ultrasonic transducer element having an acoustic radiative surface and configured to emit acoustic radiation over a drive frequency range with a center frequency f.sub.c, along a normal to the surface. The assembly also includes a divergent acoustic lens acoustically coupled to the surface at a proximal surface of the lens. The lens receives the radiation at the proximal surface and transmits it through a distal surface. The lens is characterized by a maximum height h, measured from the proximal surface to the distal surface in the direction of the normal, where ¾λ.sub.c≤h≤2λ.sub.c and λ.sub.c=c.sub.lens/f.sub.c, where c.sub.lens is a longitudinal sound speed of the center frequency f.sub.c. Alternatively or in addition, the acoustic lens may have an acoustic impedance in a range from 1.0 MegaRayls (MRayls) to 2.0 MRayls at f.sub.c.