Sonar devices for detecting underwater objects are provided whereby a set of angled ultrasound transducers are employed to sense ultrasound signals from a plurality of different spatial regions. The angled ultrasound transducers may include a first pair of side-viewing ultrasound transducers and a second pair of ultrasound transducers configured for interrogating forward and reverse directions. The ultrasound signals from the set of angled ultrasound transducers may be processed to identify the presence of underwater objects in each spatial region, and the resulting identified underwater objects may be displayed, on a per-region basis, on a user interface. The ultrasound signals may additionally or alternatively be processed to generate a topographical model of the bed surface, and to generate a topographical surface image based on the three-dimensional topographical model. The topographical surface image may be displayed as a fly-over animation.

A transducer system comprises a first frequency steered transducer array element and a second frequency steered transducer array element that is spaced apart from the first frequency steered transducer array element. The system additionally includes a processing element in communication with the first and second frequency steered transducer array elements. The processing element is configured to receive a first receive electronic signal from the first frequency steered sonar array element, receive a second receive electronic signal from the second frequency steered array sonar element, compare a difference in amplitude between the first receive electronic signal and the second receive electronic signal to determine a cross-track position of an underwater target, and control a display to present an indication of the cross-track position of the underwater target.

Sonar steering systems offering improved functionality and ease of use for an operator (e.g., an angler) are provided. A sonar steering system is configured to automatically adjust the directional coverage volume of the sonar system in a hands-free manner to allow the operator to focus on other tasks. Some such sonar steering systems are configured to adjust the directional coverage volume of the sonar transducers to maintain a target such as an area of interest (AOI) within the sonar display despite movement of the watercraft relative to the target. Accordingly, the coverage volume may be automatically adjusted to maintain the aim of the sonar transducers at a target that is moving through the water, such as a school of fish.

A sonar system for a watercraft, including a shaft defining a top and a bottom end. The system includes a first attachment operatively connected to the top end of the shaft, and a second attachment operatively connected to the bottom end of the shaft including a transducer assembly. The first attachment defines a first member pivotably connected to the top end of the shaft, and a handle member rotatably attached about the first member. The second attachment defines a second member pivotably connected to the bottom end of the shaft, and a bracket member rotatably attached about the second member. The system comprises a first connector extending between the first and second members and configured to cause reciprocal movement between the first and second members. The system comprises a second connector extending between the first and second members and configured to cause reciprocal rotation between the first and second members.

A data processing apparatus is provided, which includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire a data set from target detected by a detection apparatus, perform rendering of the data set, and generate a plurality of views arranged on a screen. Each view of the plurality of views includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel included in the plurality of views is associated with a plurality of pieces of information including a first information displayed on the screen and a second information that indicates a view among the plurality of views to which the pixel belongs.

A data processing apparatus is provided, which includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire a data set from target detected by a detection apparatus, perform rendering of the data set, and generate a plurality of views arranged on a screen. Each view of the plurality of views includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel included in the plurality of views is associated with a plurality of pieces of information including a first information displayed on the screen and a second information that indicates a view among the plurality of views to which the pixel belongs.

Systems and methods for providing a sonar beam footprint are detailed herein. A system for presenting marine data includes at least one sonar transducer associated with a watercraft, a display, processor(s), and memory including computer program code. The sonar transducer emits sonar beams into an underwater environment that define a beam shape. The program code, when executed, causes, on the display, presentation of a chart and a representation of the watercraft; determines a depth corresponding to a bottom surface of a body of water at a current location of the watercraft; and determines, based on the depth and the beam shape, a sonar beam footprint corresponding to a projection of the beam shape at the depth. The program code further causes, on the display, presentation of the sonar beam footprint on the chart so as to visually indicate sonar beam coverage.

Systems and methods for determining a location of an object within a sonar beam zone are detailed herein. A system for presenting marine data includes at least one sonar transducer associated with a watercraft, a display, processor(s), and a memory including a computer program code. The sonar transducer emits sonar beams into an underwater environment defining a beam shape. The program code, when executed, causes, on the display, presentation of a chart and a representation of the watercraft; and determines, based on the beam shape corresponding to the sonar transducer, a sonar beam zone corresponding to a sonar coverage of the underwater environment of the body of water. The program code further receives sonar return data and determines a position of an object within the sonar beam zone, and causes, on the display, presentation of the sonar beam zone and an indication of the object within the sonar beam zone.

An underwater information visualization device, which is installed on a moving body such as a ship traveling near a water surface and visualizes and displays information about fish in the water and the seabed using an ultrasonic wave, includes circuitry that generates a pseudo noise sequence signal and a modulation circuit that modulates a carrier signal to form a transmission signal, emits a transmission signal as an ultrasonic wave into the water, receives an echo of an ultrasonic wave, determines an echo corresponding to a transmission signal by subjecting the echo to correlation processing with a pseudo noise sequence signal, displays an output signal. The display simultaneously displays multiple reception signals on a screen, and a period of transmission signals is (2D/Vu) or less when an underwater sonic wave speed is Vu and a distance to the seabed is D.

A fishfinder has: a transducer capable of transmitting an ultrasonic wave underwater and receiving a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave; a display part that time-sequentially arranges a detection image based on a reception signal, caused by receiving the reflected wave with the transducer; a first depth calculation part that calculates a first depth as a depth of the bottom; a recognition part that performs recognition on an object as a fish school; a second depth calculation part that calculates a second depth as a depth of a position of the object; a distance calculation part that calculates a distance from the bottom to the position of the object; and a distance display part that displays the distance calculated with the distance calculation part, in correspondence with the position of the object in the detection image displayed on the display part, on the display part.