System and method for maintaining sonar imaging of a structure regardless of mounting platform movement and orientation
AssigneeJohnson Outdoors Inc.
InventorsWilliam M. Gibson, Justin Freeman, Patrick Snellings
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sonar positioning system and method is provided to position a sonar array, such as a sonar array integrated in a trolling motor propulsion unit housing. The system operates to steer the sonar array once locked on a target or oriented in a desired orientation to counter or compensate for the movement of the trolling motor propulsion unit to allow the sonar array to maintain the orientation or be locked on the target. The system includes a countering mechanism to maintain the external orientation lock of the sonar array despite the movement of the orientation of the structure to which the sonar array is mounted.
Claims21
A sonar positioning system for positioning a sonar array comprising:
- a steerable mounting mechanism steerable about a first axis, the steerable mounting mechanism including a propulsion unit of a trolling motor and a first motor for steering the propulsion unit relative to the first axis;
- a sonar array;
- and
- a sonar steering mechanism interposed between the sonar array and the steerable mounting mechanism, the sonar steering mechanism including a counter steering mechanism configured to counter and/or compensate for movement of the sonar array due to steering movement of the propulsion unit, the counter steering mechanism including a second motor for steering the sonar array relative to the propulsion unit.
A system for positioning a sonar array comprising:
- a sonar array;
- a first motor operably connected to the sonar array and configured to steer the sonar array;
- a propulsion unit for a trolling motor;
- a second motor operably connected to the propulsion unit configured to steer the propulsion unit;
- at least one controller connected to the first and second motors to provide control signals to the first and second motors;
- a first input device connected to the at least one controller to provide user generated steering inputs;
- wherein:
- the at least one controller is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode;
- when in the first mode, the at least one controller only generates control signals for the first motor based on the user generated steering inputs generated by the first input device;
- and
- when in the second mode, the at least one controller only generates control signals for the second motor based on the user generated steering inputs generated by the first input device.
A method of positioning a sonar array comprising:
- when operating in a first mode:
- receiving user generated steering inputs generated from a first input device;
- using the user generated steering inputs generated from the first input device to steer only a sonar array by operably controlling a first motor operably coupled to the sonar array based on the user generated steering inputs from the first input device;
- and
- when operating in a second mode:
- receiving user generated steering inputs generated from the first input device;
- using the user generated steering inputs generated from the first input device to steer only a propulsion unit by operably controlling a second motor operably coupled to the sonar array based on the user generated steering inputs from the first input device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.