Multiplexed phased array sonar systems and methods for consumer fishfinders are described herein. A transducer unit for such a system includes a transmit (TX) element that generates a sonar ping, a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets, a digital signal processor (DSP) that processes the sonar echoes into sonar display information, and multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP. The MUXs are configured to couple a portion of the RX array to the DSP during a first time and a second portion of the RX array during a second time such that the MUXs couple an entirety of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle. A method of preventing distortions in the sonar display information selects the elements of the RX array to be sampled in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing pattern.

A sonar system including a transducer and processing circuitry is disclosed. The transducer receives an ultrasonic reflection wave corresponding to a reflection of an ultrasonic transmission wave on an underwater object and generates a return signal based on the ultrasonic reflection wave. The processing circuitry generates reception beams making different angles with the horizontal direction by performing a beamforming process based on the return signal. The processing circuitry generates reception beam data for each reception beam, detects targets within the reception beam data, and creates a list of the detected targets. Each target is defined by a range associated with the transducer and an angle of corresponding reception beam on which the target is detected. The processing circuitry generates the sonar image by placing a predetermined graphical image for each target in the list at a position calculated based on the range and the angle of the target.

Example systems and methods are provided herein for conserving power on a marine electronic device while conveying information to a user. Some such systems include a marine electronic device configured to change to a power-saving mode, in which the marine electronic device operates by drawing a reduced amount of power from a power source and does not provide real-time marine data from the sonar transducer. A second device uses power from a second power source. The marine electronic device includes a processor that receives second device real-time marine data from the second device and causes presentation of a representation of the second device real-time marine data on a screen of the marine electronic device while still operating in the power-saving mode. The second device real-time marine data is gathered or determined via the second device.

A sonar system including a transducer and processing circuitry is disclosed. The transducer receives an ultrasonic reflection wave corresponding to a reflection of an ultrasonic transmission wave on an underwater object and generates a return signal based on the ultrasonic reflection wave. The processing circuitry generates reception beams making different angles with the horizontal direction by performing a beamforming process based on the return signal. The processing circuitry generates reception beam data for each reception beam, detects targets within the reception beam data, and creates a list of the detected targets. Each target is defined by a range associated with the transducer and an angle of corresponding reception beam on which the target is detected. The processing circuitry generates the sonar image by placing a predetermined graphical image for each target in the list at a position calculated based on the range and the angle of the target.

A sonar target enhancement system and method are provided for consumer fish finder live sonar image processing. The system and method identify and enhance the visualization of specific targets, such as fish and lures, detected by such live sonar imaging systems. A sonar image enhancement pipeline utilizes a target enhancement kernel sized in accordance with the subject targets to provide enhancement thereof without also enhancing other sonar return data. The output of the enhancement pipeline is combined with the sonar data from the normal image filtering pipeline to produce a sonar image for display on the consumer fish finder that greatly increases the visibility of the targets without affecting the non-target sonar returns for, e.g., the bottom and structure in the water column.