A method of stereoscopic mapping an underwater location includes determining a relative position and relative distance between two separate sensors on separate underwater platforms. Each of the two separate sensors scans a same underwater feature from its respective determined relative position. A stereoscopic image of the underwater feature is created from the two scanned images.

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 marine multibeam sonar device comprises a processing element and a transmitter. The processing element generates a plurality of transmit transducer electronic signals and inverts a polarity of a first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmitter is in communication with the processing element and includes a plurality of transmit electronic circuits and a plurality of transmit transducers. Each transmit electronic circuit receives and processes one of the transmit transducer electronic signals, wherein a first portion of the circuits re-inverts the polarity of the first portion of the transmit transducer electronic signals. The transmit transducers receive the processed transmit transducer electronic signals from the transmit electronic circuits and generate a sonar beam.

Reflected sonar signals arising from one or more possible unknown objects are distinguished according to a first criterion, and possible shapes each having a defined unique associated point are assigned each of the possible unknown objects. Then the three dimensional points are tracked by the sonar system.

A wading staff is provided herein that is configured to provide stability for an angler that is standing in a body of water. The wading staff includes a staff portion defining a first end and a second end, a handle disposed proximate the first end of the staff portion, and a sonar transducer disposed at least partially within the staff portion. The sonar transducer is configured to transmit a sonar beam into an underwater environment. The sonar transducer is positioned and oriented within the staff portion such that the sonar transducer is configured to transmit the sonar beam into a portion of the underwater environment when the staff is at least partially submerged. A display may be mounted to the wading staff or located remotely to display corresponding sonar images.

An underwater detection apparatus is provided. The underwater detection apparatus includes a transmission and reception circuit, and processing circuitry. The transmission and reception circuit drives a transmission transducer to transmit a transmission wave and generates a reception signal based on a reflection wave including a reflection of the transmission wave on an underwater target. The processing circuitry acquires a water bottom depth, sets a boundary passing at a point having a depth equal to the water bottom depth, the boundary making a given angle with a horizontal direction, and generates an image data that represents a location of the underwater target based at least in part on the reception signal, the image data including a color information, the color information being set based at least in part on the location of the underwater target relative to the boundary.

A system for determining distance corresponding to positions within a sonar image is provided. The system includes transducer elements configured to transmit sonar signals into a body of water and receive corresponding sonar returns. The system further includes a device with a processor and a memory including computer program code that is configured to cause the device to receive sonar returns, generate sonar images based on the sonar returns, receive a user input selection indicating a first and second sonar position in the sonar images, determine a first chart location that corresponds to the first sonar position, determine a second chart location that corresponds to the second sonar position, determine a distance between the first and second chart location and cause the distance to be displayed on a user interface. Systems are also included herein for presenting sonar beam indicators on charts for noting the direction of the sonar beam.

A system for presenting sonar beam indicators on charts for noting the direction of the sonar beam is provided herein. The system includes one or more transducer elements and a bearing sensor configured to measure a bearing associated with the one or more transducer elements during receipt of the sonar returns. A marine electronics device is configured to receive sonar return data from the one or more transducer elements and generate sonar images based thereon. The marine electronics device further is configured to determine a watercraft location, receive a measured bearing, plot a watercraft indicator on a navigation chart, and cause a sonar beam indicator to be displayed in association with the watercraft indicator based on the measured bearing. The sonar beam indicator displays an indication of the direction in which the one or more transducer elements are facing when the sonar return data was received.

A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam and presents transducer signals. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, and the memory element and receives the transducer signals, calculates sonar data from the transducer signals and generates a three-dimensional view of a portion of the body of water, wherein the view includes a plurality of sonar images. Each sonar image is generated from sonar data derived from a previously-generated sonar beam and includes representations of underwater objects and a water bed. The processing element also generates a cursor plane and a cursor positioned thereon, both of which appear on the three-dimensional view. The processing element further controls the display to present the three-dimensional view, the sonar images, the cursor plane, and the cursor.

Example sonar transducer assemblies configured for reduced interference are provided herein. An example sonar transducer assembly includes a housing, a first transducer, and a second transducer. The first transducer is positioned within the housing such that a length is configured to extend in a first mounting plane and a produced first beam defining a fan-shape extends in a first plane. The second transducer is positioned at a tilted angle within the housing such that a length is configured to extend in a second mounting plane and a produced second beam defining a fan-shape is in a second plane. The second mounting plane is non-parallel to the first mounting plane and is offset from the first mounting plane by at least 1 degree such that the second plane is not parallel to the first plane so as to reduce interference between the first transducer and the second transducer.