US 9,541,643 B2 · Downscan imaging sonar

Abstract

A downscan imaging sonar utilizes a linear transducer element to provide improved images of the sea floor and other objects in the water column beneath a vessel. A transducer array may include a plurality of transducer elements and each one of the plurality of transducer elements may include a substantially rectangular shape configured to produce a sonar beam having a beamwidth in a direction parallel to longitudinal length of the transducer elements that is significantly less than a beamwidth of the sonar beam in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the transducer elements. The plurality of transducer elements may be positioned such that longitudinal lengths of at least two of the plurality of transducer elements are parallel to each other. The plurality of transducer elements may also include at least a first linear transducer element, a second linear transducer element and a third linear transducer element.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method for rendering an image of an underwater environment beneath a watercraft, the method comprising:

receiving linear downscan sonar data based on sonar returns from a linear downscan transducer element positioned within a housing mounted to the watercraft, wherein the linear downscan transducer element defines a substantially rectangular shape and is configured to produce fan-shaped sonar beams that define a relatively narrow beamwidth in a direction parallel to a longitudinal length of the linear downscan transducer element and a relatively wide beamwidth in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the transducer element, the linear downscan transducer element being positioned with the longitudinal length thereof extending in a fore-to-aft direction of the housing, wherein the linear downscan transducer element is positioned within the housing to project fan-shaped sonar beams directly beneath the watercraft;
processing, by a sonar signal processor, the linear downscan sonar data to create an image of the underwater environment;
and
rendering the image of the underwater environment on a display.

1 more element

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the program code portions being configured, when said program product is run on a sonar signal processor, to:

receive linear downscan sonar data based on sonar returns from a linear downscan transducer element positioned within a housing mounted to the watercraft, wherein the linear downscan transducer element defines a substantially rectangular shape and is configured to produce fan-shaped sonar beams that define a relatively narrow beamwidth in a direction parallel to a longitudinal length of the linear downscan transducer element and a relatively wide beamwidth in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the transducer element, the linear downscan transducer element being positioned with the longitudinal length thereof extending in a fore-to-aft direction of the housing, wherein the linear downscan transducer element is positioned within the housing to project fan-shaped sonar beams directly beneath the watercraft;
process the linear downscan sonar data to create an image of the underwater environment;
and
cause rendering of the image of the underwater environment on a display.

1 more element

An apparatus comprising a sonar signal processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the sonar signal processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive linear downscan sonar data based on sonar returns from a linear downscan transducer element positioned within a housing mounted to the watercraft, wherein the linear downscan transducer element defines a substantially rectangular shape and is configured to produce fan-shaped sonar beams that define a relatively narrow beamwidth in a direction parallel to a longitudinal length of the linear downscan transducer element and a relatively wide beamwidth in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the transducer element, the linear downscan transducer element being positioned with the longitudinal length thereof extending in a fore-to-aft direction of the housing, wherein the linear downscan transducer element is positioned within the housing to project fan-shaped sonar beams directly beneath the watercraft;
process the linear downscan sonar data to create an image of the underwater environment;
and
cause rendering of the image of the underwater environment on a display.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Downscan imaging sonar

Life of this patent

Downscan imaging sonar

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33