G01S7/6281

Systems and associated methods for monitoring vessel noise level
11249176 · 2022-02-15 · ·

A marine electronics system is provided including a transducer assembly configured to receive active sonar returns during a first time period and receive passive sonar data during a second time period. The system also includes a marine electronics device including a user interface comprising a display, a processor, and a memory including computer program code configured to cause the marine electronics device to receive the passive sonar data from the transducer element, generate a noise level indicator based on the passive sonar data, and cause the noise level indicator to be displayed on the user interface. The noise level indicator includes an indication of an ambient noise level associated with the vessel.

Sonar transducer array assembly and methods of manufacture thereof

A sonar transducer array assembly comprises a first flexible circuit, a second flexible circuit, and a plurality of transducer elements. The first and second flexible circuits each include a first side, a second side, and a plurality of adhesive areas spaced apart and positioned in a line along one edge of the first side. The transducer elements each include a first surface attached to one of the adhesive areas of the first flexible circuit, an opposing second surface attached to one of the adhesive areas of the second flexible circuit, and a third surface positioned between the first and second surfaces. The transducer elements form a linear array with the third surface of each transducer element in alignment and configured to transmit and receive an acoustic pressure wave.

BEAMFORMING SONAR SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SONAR IMAGE FUNCTIONALITY, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
20220229178 · 2022-07-21 ·

A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes one or more arrays of transducer elements. Each array is operated at a fixed phase shift and varies in frequency so as to beamform multiple sonar return beams of a first range of angles and a second range of angles. The arrays can be oriented to cover the gap in sonar coverage for other arrays to create a continuous arc of sonar coverage. Accordingly, a 2D live sonar image can be formed. Three arrays are mounted in a housing in an X plus Line configuration with one of the arrays extending below the center of the X.

Marine multibeam sonar device

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.

Marine electronic device for presentment of sonar images
11199615 · 2021-12-14 · ·

An apparatus configured to generate a first sonar image from first sonar returns corresponding to a first depth range and generate a second sonar image from the first sonar returns and second sonar returns, the second sonar returns corresponding to a second depth range greater than the first depth range of the first sonar returns such that a portion of the second sonar image does not include sonar return data. The portion without sonar return data corresponds to a period of the first sonar returns and depths greater than the maximum depth of the first depth range. The apparatus is configured to generate and display a fill image for the portion of the second sonar image based on at least one set of side facing sonar return data corresponding to the time period associated with the first sonar returns.

SONAR DISPLAY FEATURES
20220171043 · 2022-06-02 ·

A system for analysis of sonar data is provided comprising sonar transducer assembl(ies), processor(s), and a memory. The memory includes computer program code that is configured to, when executed, cause processor(s) to receive sonar data, where an object is represented within sonar data, and additional data from a data source other than the sonar transducer assembl(ies). The processor(s) further determine object characteristic(s) of the object using sonar data and additional data, and determine an estimated object-type for the object represented within sonar data using the object characteristic(s). The processor(s) further generate a sonar image based on sonar data, cause display of the sonar image, and cause provision of an indication of the estimated object-type so that the indication of the estimated object-type is correlated to the object representation in the sonar image.

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BATHYMETRY

An apparatus for artificial intelligence (AI) bathymetry is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sonic unit attached to a boat, the sonic unit configured to generate a plurality of metric data as a function of a plurality of ultrasonic pulses and a plurality of return pulses. An image processing module is configured to generate a bathymetric image as a function of the plurality of metric data, identify, as a function of the bathymetric image, an underwater landmark, and register the bathymetric image to a map location as a function of the underwater landmark. A communication module is configured to transmit the registered bathymetric image to at least a computing device. An autonomous navigation module is configured to determine a heading for the boat as a function of a path datum and command boat control to navigate the boat as a function of the heading.

FREQUENCY STEERED SONAR ARRAY ORIENTATION

A transducer assembly comprises a housing and a plurality of frequency steered transducer array elements. Each of the transducer array elements includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements. The frequency steered transducer array elements are configured to receive a transmit electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components and to transmit an array of sonar beams into a body of water. Each sonar beam is transmitted in an angular direction that varies according to one of the frequency components of the transmit electronic signal. The frequency steered transducer array elements are positioned within the housing in a fan-shaped configuration where an end section of at least two of the frequency steered transducer array elements are within an intersection range of each other.

Base station for marine display

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.

ANCHORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MARINE VESSELS

Systems and methods for conveniently providing anchoring assistance onboard a watercraft are provided herein. An example system includes a display and a processor in communication with a marine system. The processor is configured to receive marine data from the marine system and/or one or more user inputs and cause the display to show one or more anchoring locations with visual indications of the anchorage quality index based on at least the marine data and/or user inputs. The one or more anchoring locations may be shown as a heat map overlaid on a map. The system may use real-time marine data, environmental data, weather data, tide data, etc. to dynamically adjust the anchoring locations and anchorage quality index. The system may enable convenient and helpful suggestions and notifications to the user when anchoring a watercraft. Some examples provide automatic deployment of an anchoring system and monitoring of a current anchoring.