G01S7/6245

Sonar systems and methods using interferometry and/or beamforming for 3D imaging
10114119 · 2018-10-30 · ·

Provided are a sonar system, transducer assembly, and method for imaging an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transducer array defining first and second rows of transducer elements positioned at a predetermined distance. The first row of transducer elements may include at least first and second transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into first and second sonar return data. The second row of transducer elements may include at least third and fourth transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into third and fourth sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may be configured to process the first and second sonar return data and third and fourth sonar return data to generate respective first and second array sonar return data corresponding to a plurality of first and second receive beams and generate 3D sonar return data by correlating the angles associated with the receive beams.

DYNAMIC CHART ADJUSTMENT USING MARINE DATA
20240310501 · 2024-09-19 ·

Systems and methods for presenting marine data are provided herein. The system comprises at least one sonar transducer associated with a watercraft, a display, one or more processors and a memory. The memory including computer program code configured to cause presentation of a chart on the display including at least a portion of the body of water, at a first zoom level. The system further causes emission of one or more sonar beams by the at least one sonar transducer and receives sonar data corresponding to the sonar returns received by the at least one sonar transducer. The system generates and presents a sonar image based on a sonar image scale. The system automatically adjusts the presentation of the chart to a second zoom level that corresponds to the sonar image scale. The second zoom level being different than the first zoom level.

Methods and apparatuses for reconstructing a 3D sonar image
10061025 · 2018-08-28 · ·

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. 2D sonar return data that defines an angle and distance value may be taken from a theoretical 2D slice of the underwater environment. Multiple sets of 2D sonar return data are taken from corresponding 2D slices of the underwater environment during travel. The multiple sets of 2D sonar return data can be inputted into a 3D point cloud/matrix based on the distance value and angle and the corresponding 2D slice associated with each sonar return. The 3D point cloud/matrix can then be processed to determine a cluster of sonar returns that correspond to the bottom surface. Additional filtering may be performed and the bottom surface can be reconstructed to form a 3D image for display to a user.

Adaptive beamformer for sonar imaging
10024957 · 2018-07-17 · ·

Provided are method, system, and computer program product for imaging an underwater environment. The method may include receiving sonar returns and converting the sound energy of the sonar returns into sonar return data, and generating first beam data associated with a first beam having at least one first main lobe oriented in a first direction. Generating the first beam data may include: forming the sonar return data in the first direction; applying a first predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a first weighted return data; applying a second predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a second weighted return data; comparing a first power of the first weighted return data to a second power of the second weighted return data; and defining, when the first power is less than the second power, the first beam data based upon the first weighted return data.

Systems and associated methods for producing a 3D sonar image

Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one transducer array in the housing that receives first, second, and third sonar returns with first, second, and third transducer elements and converts the first, second, and third returns into first, second, and third sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a first and second set of 2D sonar data based on the sonar return data, generate a third set of 2D sonar data based on a correlation of the first and second set of 2D sonar data, and generate a 3D mesh data based on the third set of 2D sonar data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

SONAR MAPPING SYSTEM
20180120431 · 2018-05-03 · ·

A sonar mapping system that includes a sonar transducer assembly configured for mounting on a watercraft, and a display configured to show a topographical chart of a body of water. The sonar mapping system further includes a processor coupled to the sonar transducer assembly and display. The processor is configured to create the topographical chart in real time, and to update the topographical chart in real time, based on sonar data provided by the sonar transducer assembly. The processor is configured to render the created or updated topographical chart on the display. The sonar mapping system has memory accessible by the processor and configured to store the topographical chart rendered by the processor, and to store the sonar data provided by the sonar transducer assembly. The sonar data includes information indicative of vegetation present on a lakebed, seabed, or riverbed surface, the information being displayed on the topographical chart.

USING MOTION SENSING FOR CONTROLLING A DISPLAY
20180074596 · 2018-03-15 ·

Various implementations described herein are directed to a device configured to use motion sensing for controlling a display. The device may include a motion sensing module configured to track orientation of a user on a watercraft and determine a direction of a cast executed by the user based on the tracked orientation of the user. The device may include a display module configured to display one or more sonar images based on the determined direction of the cast executed by the user.

Using motion sensing for controlling a display
09836129 · 2017-12-05 · ·

Various implementations described herein are directed to a device configured to use motion sensing for controlling a display. The device may include a motion sensing module configured to track orientation of a user on a watercraft and determine a direction of a cast executed by the user based on the tracked orientation of the user. The device may include a display module configured to display one or more sonar images based on the determined direction of the cast executed by the user.

Systems and associated methods for producing a 3D sonar image

Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. The first sidescan element may also transmit second sonar pulses, and at least one of the sidescan elements may receive the second sonar pulses to generate sidescan sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data and sidescan image data and generate a 3D image data based on the 3D mesh data and sidescan image data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR PRODUCING A 3D SONAR IMAGE
20170285167 · 2017-10-05 ·

Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.