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US 2023/0161340 A1Published application
Castable sonar devices and operations in a marine environment
AssigneeNavico, Inc.
InventorsJeremiah Clark, Matthew Laster, William B. Newberry, JR., Kristopher C. Snyder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Many different types of systems are utilized and tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of castable devices that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more castable devices can be integrated with a transducer assembly, such as a phased array, that emits sonar beams and receives sonar returns from the underwater environment. Processing circuitry may receive the sonar returns, process the sonar returns, generate an image, and transmit the image to a display.
Claims20
A system for controlling castable sonar devices, the system comprising:
- a plurality of castable sonar devices, wherein the plurality of castable sonar devices comprises a first castable sonar device and a second castable sonar device, and wherein each castable sonar device within the plurality of castable sonar devices comprises:
- a housing configured to float on a body of water above an underwater environment, wherein the housing comprises a tether connection feature configured to connect to a tether or fishing line;
- a power source positioned within the housing;
- a transducer assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the transducer assembly comprises at least one transducer element positioned within the housing and aimed downwardly therefrom;
- a location sensor configured to determine a position of the castable sonar device;
- a propulsion system configured to propel the castable sonar device along a surface of the body of water;
- a wireless communication element configured to transmit one or more signals to and receive one or more signals from a remote computing device;
- and
- processing circuitry provided within the housing, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- determine a current position of the castable sonar device;
- transmit the current position of the castable sonar device to the remote computing device;
- receive instructions from the remote computing device to move to a location;
- cause the propulsion system to operate to cause the castable sonar device to move to the location;
- receive one or more sonar returns from the at least one transducer element;
- and
- transmit, via the wireless communication element, sonar data or sonar image data corresponding to the one or more sonar returns to the remote computing device for presentation on a display of the remote computing device;
- and
- the remote computing device comprising:
- a wireless communication element configured for wireless communication with each of the plurality of castable sonar devices;
- a user interface comprising a display;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to:
- determine a first position of the first castable sonar device and a second position of the second castable sonar device such that the first castable sonar device and the second castable sonar device form a relative position with respect to each other;
- send a first signal to the first castable sonar device to cause the propulsion system of the first castable sonar device to propel the first castable sonar device to the first position;
- send a second signal to the second castable sonar device to cause the propulsion system of the second castable sonar device to propel the second castable sonar device to the second position;
- receive the one or more sonar images from the plurality of castable sonar devices;
- and
- cause presentation of the one or more sonar images on the display of the remote computing device.
25 more elements
A marine electronic device for controlling a plurality of castable sonar devices, the marine electronic device comprising:
- a wireless communication element configured to receive one or more sonar images from a plurality of castable sonar devices, wherein the plurality of castable sonar devices comprises a first castable sonar device and a second castable sonar device, and wherein each castable sonar device within the plurality of castable sonar devices comprises:
- a housing configured to float on a body of water above an underwater environment, wherein the housing comprises a tether connection feature configured to connect to a tether or fishing line;
- a power source positioned within the housing;
- a transducer assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the transducer assembly comprises at least one transducer element positioned within the housing and aimed downwardly therefrom;
- a location sensor configured to determine a position of the castable sonar device;
- a propulsion system configured to propel the castable sonar device along a surface of the body of water;
- a wireless communication element configured to transmit one or more signals to and receive one or more signals from the marine electronic device;
- and
- processing circuitry provided within the housing, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- determine a current position of the castable sonar device;
- transmit the current position of the castable sonar device to the marine electronic device;
- receive instructions from the marine electronic device to move to a location;
- cause the propulsion system to operate to cause the castable sonar device to move to the location;
- receive one or more sonar returns from the at least one transducer element;
- and
- transmit, via the wireless communication element, sonar data or sonar image data corresponding to the one or more sonar returns to the marine electronic device for presentation on a display of the marine electronic device;
- a user interface comprising a display;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to:
- determine a first position of the first castable sonar device and a second position of the second castable sonar device such that the first castable sonar device and the second castable sonar device form a relative position with respect to each other;
- send a first signal to the first castable sonar device to cause the propulsion system of the first castable sonar device to propel the first castable sonar device to the first position;
- send a second signal to the second castable sonar device to cause the propulsion system of the second castable sonar device to propel the second castable sonar device to the second position;
- receive the one or more sonar images from the plurality of castable sonar devices;
- and
- cause presentation of the one or more sonar images on the display of the marine electronic device.
22 more elements
A method for controlling castable sonar devices, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of castable sonar devices, wherein the plurality of castable sonar devices comprises a first castable sonar device and a second castable sonar device, and wherein each castable sonar device within the plurality of castable sonar devices comprises:
- a housing configured to float on a body of water above an underwater environment, wherein the housing comprises a tether connection feature configured to connect to a tether or fishing line;
- a power source positioned within the housing;
- a transducer assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the transducer assembly comprises at least one transducer element positioned within the housing and aimed downwardly therefrom;
- a location sensor configured to determine a position of the castable sonar device;
- a propulsion system configured to propel the castable sonar device along a surface of the body of water;
- a wireless communication element configured to transmit one or more signals to and receive one or more signals from a remote computing device;
- and
- processing circuitry provided within the housing, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
- determine a current position of the castable sonar device;
- transmit the current position of the castable sonar device to the remote computing device;
- receive instructions from the remote computing device to move to a location;
- cause the propulsion system to operate to cause the castable sonar device to move to the location;
- receive one or more sonar returns from the at least one transducer element;
- and
- transmit, via the wireless communication element, sonar data or sonar image data corresponding to the one or more sonar returns to the remote computing device for presentation on a display of the remote computing device;
- determining a first position of the first castable sonar device and a second position of the second castable sonar device such that the first castable sonar device and the second castable sonar device form a relative position with respect to each other;
- sending a first signal to the first castable sonar device to cause the propulsion system of the first castable sonar device to propel the first castable sonar device to the first position;
- sending a second signal to the second castable sonar device to cause the propulsion system of the second castable sonar device to propel the second castable sonar device to the second position;
- receiving one or more sonar images from the plurality of castable sonar devices;
- and
- causing presentation of the one or more sonar images on a display of the remote computing device.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.