Marine electronic device for presentment of sonar images

A method of providing marine information, the method comprising:

• receiving first sonar returns from a down facing transducer received from an underwater environment relative to a vessel at a first time;
• receiving first sidescan sonar returns from at least one side facing transducer received from the underwater environment relative to the vessel at the first time;
• receiving second sonar returns from the down facing transducer received from the underwater environment relative to the vessel at a second time that is different than the first time;
• generating a down facing sonar image formed based on historical one-dimensional sonar data taken over time, wherein the one-dimensional sonar data corresponds to a depth value of sonar returns, wherein the sonar image defines a frame that includes an image depth maximum, wherein the sonar image is formed of at least:
• a first sonar image slice that is generated based on the first sonar returns received at the first time, wherein the first sonar image slice defines a first depth range including a first maximum depth corresponding to a first maximum depth of utilized first sonar returns for generation of the first sonar image slice;
• a second sonar image slice that is generated based on the second sonar returns received at the second time, wherein the second sonar image slice defines a second depth range including a second maximum depth corresponding to a second maximum depth of utilized second sonar returns for generation of the second sonar image slice,
• wherein the sonar image is built up of the first sonar image slice extending to the first maximum depth and the second sonar image slice extending to the second maximum depth, wherein the first maximum depth is less than the image depth maximum such that a portion of the sonar image corresponding to depth values from the first maximum depth of the first sonar image slice to the image depth maximum does not include sonar imagery;
• and
• a fill image for the portion of the sonar image based on the first sidescan sonar returns received at the first time, wherein the fill image is positioned within the portion of the sonar image that does not include sonar imagery;
• and
• causing the sonar image to be displayed on the user interface.

A system for providing marine information, the system comprising:

• a plurality of sonar transducers, wherein each of the plurality of sonar transducers is configured to transmit one or more sonar beams into an underwater environment when at least partially submerged, wherein the plurality of sonar transducers comprises a down facing transducer, a first side facing transducer, and a second side facing transducer;
• and
• a marine electronic device comprising:
• a user interface;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
• receive first sonar returns from the down facing transducer received from an underwater environment relative to a vessel at a first time;
• receive first sidescan sonar returns from at least the first side facing transducer received from the underwater environment relative to the vessel at the first time;
• receive second sonar returns from the down facing transducer received from the underwater environment relative to the vessel at a second time that is different than the first time;
• generate a down facing sonar image formed based on historical one-dimensional sonar data taken over time, wherein the one-dimensional sonar data corresponds to a depth value of sonar returns, wherein the sonar image defines a frame that includes an image depth maximum, wherein the sonar image is formed of at least:
• a first sonar image slice that is generated based on the first sonar returns received at the first time, wherein the first sonar image slice defines a first depth range including a first maximum depth corresponding to a first maximum depth of utilized first sonar returns for generation of the first sonar image slice;
• a second sonar image slice that is generated based on the second sonar returns received at the second time, wherein the second sonar image slice defines a second depth range including a second maximum depth corresponding to a second maximum depth of utilized second sonar returns for generation of the second sonar image slice,
• wherein the sonar image is built up of the first sonar image slice extending to the first maximum depth and the second sonar image slice extending to the second maximum depth, wherein the first maximum depth is less than the image depth maximum such that a portion of the sonar image corresponding to depth values from the first maximum depth of the first sonar image slice to the image depth maximum does not include sonar imagery;
• and
• a fill image for the portion of the sonar image based on the first sidescan sonar returns received at the first time, wherein the fill image is positioned within the portion of the sonar image that does not include sonar imagery;
• and
• cause the sonar image to be displayed on the user interface.