Multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar

A method of preventing distortions in sonar display information by a transducer unit in a multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar system having a transmit (TX) element configured to generate a sonar ping to ensonify an ensonification cone of water, a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets in the ensonification cone, a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process the sonar echoes into the sonar display information, and a plurality of multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP, each of the MUXs coupled to different elements of the RX array so as to provide sonar echoes from each of the elements of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle, the method comprising the step of:

• selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled by the plurality of MUXs in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing pattern;
• wherein the step of selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled in accordance with the predetermined multiplexing pattern comprises the step of controlling a connection order of a channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs;
• and
• wherein the step of controlling the connection order of the channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs comprises the step of connecting the channel select lines in a different order for different multiplexers of the plurality of MUXs.

A method of preventing distortions in sonar display information by a transducer unit in a multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar system having a transmit (TX) element configured to generate a sonar ping to ensonify an ensonification cone of water, a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets in the ensonification cone, a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process the sonar echoes into the sonar display information, and a plurality of multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP, each of the MUXs coupled to different elements of the RX array so as to provide sonar echoes from each of the elements of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle, the method comprising the step of:

• selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled by the plurality of MUXs in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing pattern;
• wherein the step of selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled in accordance with the predetermined multiplexing pattern comprises the step of controlling a connection order of a channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs;
• and
• wherein the step of controlling the connection order of the channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs comprises the step of inverting at least one of the channel select lines for at least one of the plurality of MUXs.

A method of preventing distortions in sonar display information by a transducer unit in a multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar system having a transmit (TX) element configured to generate a sonar ping to ensonify an ensonification cone of water, a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets in the ensonification cone, a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process the sonar echoes into the sonar display information, and a plurality of multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP, each of the MUXs coupled to different elements of the RX array so as to provide sonar echoes from each of the elements of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle, the method comprising the step of:

• selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled by the plurality of MUXs in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing pattern;
• wherein the step of selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled in accordance with the predetermined multiplexing pattern comprises the step of controlling a connection order of a channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs;
• and
• wherein the step of controlling the connection order of the channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs comprises the steps of:
• inverting at least one of the channel select lines for a first half of the plurality of MUXs to establish a first timing pattern A-H;
• and
• mirroring the first timing pattern for a second half of the plurality of MUXs to establish a second timing pattern H′-A′.

A method of preventing distortions in sonar display information by a transducer unit in a multiplexed phased array multibeam sonar system having a transmit (TX) element configured to generate a sonar ping to ensonify an ensonification cone of water, a receive (RX) array configured to receive sonar echoes resulting from the sonar ping contacting targets in the ensonification cone, a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to process the sonar echoes into the sonar display information, and a plurality of multiplexers (MUXs) coupled between the RX array and the DSP, each of the MUXs coupled to different elements of the RX array so as to provide sonar echoes from each of the elements of the RX array to the DSP during each transmit-receive cycle, the method comprising the step of:

• selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled by the plurality of MUXs in accordance with a predetermined multiplexing pattern;
• wherein the step of selecting the elements of the RX array to be sampled in accordance with the predetermined multiplexing pattern comprises the step of controlling a connection order of a channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs;
• and
• wherein the step of controlling the connection order of the channel select line for each multiplexer of the plurality of MUXs comprises the step of assigning each of the plurality of MUXs a unique connection order.