System and method with dual transducer support

Abstract

A system and corresponding method employ dual transducer device support. The system comprises a first transducer device of a pair of transducer devices and a second transducer device of the pair of transducer devices. The first and second transducer devices separately designate one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be a currently active transducer device. The first and second transducer devices transmit respective messages with data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device. Such transmission enables a multi-functional display (MFD) of a boat to receive accurate data, such as depth, speed, and / or temperature data, regardless of which transducer device of the pair of transducer devices the MFD has selected for use.

Description

System and Method with Dual Transducer SupportRELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 556,263, filed on February 21, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 721,957, filed on November 18, 2024. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] A transducer is a device that converts energy from one form to another. Transducers are used in a range of different industries, such as in the marine industry for monitoring depth, speed, and temperature for non-limiting examples.SUMMARY

[0003] According to an example embodiment, a system may comprise a first transducer device of a pair of transducer devices and a second transducer device of the pair of transducer devices. The first and second transducer devices may be configured separately to designate one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be a currently active transducer device and to transmit respective messages with data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

[0004] The data may include depth data, temperature data, speed data, or a combination thereof for non-limiting examples. The depth data, temperature data, and speed data may represent depth, temperature, and speed measured by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

[0005] The system may further comprise a multi -function display (MFD) of a boat. The first and second transducer devices may be installed on separate hulls of the boat. The first and second transducer devices may be further configured to transmit the respective messages to the MFD of the boat.

[0006] The one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device may be installed on a first hull of the separate hulls that is a sole hull of the boat that is in water or the first hull may be at a greater depth in the water relative to a second hull of the separate hulls.

[0007] The first transducer device, second transducer device, and MFD may be coupled via a network. The first and second transducer devices may be further configured to transmit the respective messages to the MFD via the network. The first transducer device and second transducer device may be installed on a starboard side and port side of the boat, respectively, or vice versa.

[0008] The first and second transducer devices may be further configured to transmit the respective messages by broadcasting the respective messages via the network.

[0009] The MFD may include a display screen. The MFD may be configured to select a transducer device of the pair of transducer devices and process messages received from the transducer device selected. The MFD may be further configured to display, on the display screen, data from the messages processed, the data displayed originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, irrespective of which transducer device of the pair of transducer devices is selected by the MFD.

[0010] The first transducer device may be further configured to measure a heel angle and, based on the heel angle measured, designate the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device.

[0011] The second transducer device may be further configured to measure a heel angle and, based on the heel angle measured, designate the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device.

[0012] The first transducer device may be further configured to measure depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the first transducer device, learn second transducer device data transmitted by the second transducer device, and transmit a respective message of the respective messages transmitted. The respective message may be transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the first transducer device or ii) the second transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) may be based on the first transducer device or the second transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

[0013] The second transducer device may be further configured to measure depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the second transducer device, learn first transducer device data transmitted by the first transducer device, and transmit a respective message of the respective messages transmitted. The respective message may be transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereofmeasured by the second transducer device or ii) the first transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) may be based on the second transducer device or the first transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

[0014] According to another example embodiment, a method may further comprise designating, separately by a first transducer device and a second transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be a currently active transducer device. The method may further comprise transmitting, from the first and second transducer devices, respective messages with data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

[0015] Further alternative method embodiments parallel those described above in connection with the example system embodiment.

[0016] According to another example embodiment, a transducer device may comprise a measurement system configured to measure depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof, and a heel angle. The transducer device may further comprise a processor that may be configured to determine, based on the heel angle measured, an active state or an inactive state for a state of the transducer device. The processor may be further configured to transmit a message with data representing (i) the depth, speed, temperature, or the combination thereof measured or (ii) data learned from another transducer device. The message may be transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

[0017] The processor may be further configured to determine a reference heel angle, compute a trigger angle based on the reference heel angle determined, perform a comparison between the heel angle measured and the trigger angle computed, and determine the state based on the comparison performed.

[0018] The processor may be further configured to determine the reference heel angle to be a user-defined heel angle or a default heel angle based on whether the user-defined heel angle is stored or not stored in a storage device, respectively. The processor may be further configured to compute the trigger angle to be one half of the reference heel angle determined.

[0019] The processor may be further configured to maintain a current state of the transducer device based on an absolute value of the heel angle measured not exceeding the trigger angle computed and to determine the state of the transducer device to be the activestate or inactive state based on whether the current state maintained is the active state or inactive state, respectively.

[0020] The processor may be further configured to: determine the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location of the transducer device. The processor may be further configured to change the current state from the inactive state to the active state.

[0021] The processor may be further configured to determine the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device.

[0022] The processor may be further configured to determine the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device. The processor may be further configured to change the current state from the active state to the inactive state.

[0023] The processor may be further configured to determine the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location of the transducer device.

[0024] According to another example embodiment, a method may comprise measuring, at a transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof, and a heel angle. The method may further comprise determining, at the transducer device based on the heel angle measured, an active state or an inactive for a state of the transducer device. The method may further comprise transmitting, from the transducer device, a message with data representing (i) the depth, speed, temperature, or the combination thereof measured or (ii) data learned from another transducer device of the pair of transducer devices. The message may be transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

[0025] Further alternative method embodiments parallel those described above in connection with the example transducer device embodiment.

[0026] According to another example embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may have encoded thereon a sequence of instructions which, when loaded and executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to determine, based on a heel angle, an active state or an inactive state for a state of a transducer device of a pair of transducer devices. The heel angle may be measured by the transducer device. The sequence of instructions may further cause the at least one processor to transmit a message with data representing (i) depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof measured by the transducer device or (ii) data learned from another transducer device of the pair of transducer devices. The message may be transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

[0027] Further alternative non-transitory computer-readable medium embodiments parallel those described above in connection with the example transducer device embodiment.

[0028] It should be understood that example embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in the form of a method, apparatus, system, or computer readable medium with program codes embodied thereon.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments.

[0030] FIG. 1 A is a line drawing of a non-limiting example embodiment of a perspective view of a boat with dual transducer support.

[0031] FIG. IB is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a system optionally within an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0032] FIG. 1C is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method that may be implemented via a system with dual transducer support.

[0033] FIG. 2A is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method for active transducer state determination.

[0034] FIG. 2B is a flow diagram of an example embodiment for of a method for transmit data determination.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a table illustrating a non-limiting example of data reported by port and starboard mounted transducers.

[0036] FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a transducer device optionally within an embodiment disclosed herein.

[0037] FIG. 4B is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method that may be performed by a transducer device.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of the internal structure of a computer in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] A description of example embodiments follows.

[0040] While an example embodiment disclosed herein may be described with regard to a catamaran boat, it should be understood that the example embodiment is not limited thereto and may be applied to any type of boat. It should be understood that the terms heel, cruise, and roll may be used interchangeably herein. Further, a heel / cruise / roll angle described herein refers to a degree to which a boat is tilted sideways, measured as an angle around its longitudinal axis (from bow to stern). Such an angle describes how much the boat may be “rolling” from side to side. A positive heel / cruise / roll angle may indicate that the boat is leaning toward its starboard side, while a negative heel / cruise / roll angle may indicate that the boat is leaning toward its port side. The starboard side of the boat refers to the right side of the boat when facing the bow of the boat from a position on the boat, while the left side is referred to as the port side.

[0041] Multi-function Displays (MFDs) force a user to choose which transducer to use for depth, speed, and temperature. Catamaran boats have two separate hulls in the water that, under common usage, occasionally may have only one hull in the water at any point in time. To always (consistently) read depth, speed, or temperature (also called DST), two transducers may be installed, one for each hull. A problem arises - how to determine which transducer’s DST data to use when one hull goes out of the water.

[0042] Disclosed herein is an acoustic and software approach that delivers a robust depth tracking integrity solution for boats, such as catamaran boats for non-limiting example. This approach leverages learned transducer data for communication to a multi -function display (MFD). In an example embodiment, one transducer is designated (selected) to be the “active” transducer and the active transducer’s DST information is reported by bothtransducers. The MFD’s selection of which transducer to use is transparent to the transducers and, regardless of which transducer the MFD decides to use, the DST data provided to the MFD is originated by the transducer installed on the side of the boat that is considered to be in the water, or at a greater depth in the water relative to a depth measured by the other transducer installed on the other side of the boat.

[0043] Installation of two identical transducers in close proximity results in interference due to a broad beam pattern being emitted. In addition, bottom signal discrimination is compromised. To solve these problems, an example embodiment disclosed herein may use transducers that have frequencies which are separate enough from each other so that it is easy to distinguish between the two signals transmitted from the transducers which may be installed at a port side and starboard side of a boat, such as disclosed below with regard to FIG. 1A.

[0044] FIG. 1 A is a line drawing of a non-limiting example embodiment of a perspective view of a boat 100 with dual transducer support. In the example embodiment of FIG. 1 A, the boat 100 is a catamaran for non-limiting example. Continuing with reference to FIG. 1 A, the boat 100 has a bow 102 and stern 104, and a respective transducer (not shown) installed at a port 106 side and a starboard 108 side of the boat 100. The boat is in water 110 and has a longitudinal axis 112, that is an imaginary line that runs horizontally through a center of mass (not shown) of the boat 100 from the bow 102 to the stem 104. The longitudinal axis 112 is an axis around which the boat 100 may roll, which is a side-to-side tilting motion that may cause the transducer at the port 106 side or starboard 108 side of the boat 100 to be out of the water 110, as disclosed above. Regardless of which transducer a MFD on the boat 100 decides to use, the DST data provided to the MFD is originated by the transducer installed on the side that is considered to be in the water, or at a greater depth in the water relative to the other transducer installed on the other side of the boat 100. An example embodiment of a system that includes such a MFD and dual transducers is disclosed below with regard to FIG. IB.

[0045] FIG. IB is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a system 120 optionally within an embodiment disclosed herein. The system 120 comprises a first transducer device of a pair of transducer devices and a second transducer device of the pair of transducer devices, namely a transducer device A 116a and a transducer device B 116b. In the example embodiment, the transducer device A 116a and transducer device B 116b may be referred to as the first transducer device and second transducer device, respectively, or vice versa. Thefirst and second transducer devices may be configured separately to designate one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices (116a, 116b) to be a currently active transducer device and to transmit respective messages (122a, 122b) with data (not shown) originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

[0046] The data may include depth data, temperature data, speed data, or a combination thereof for non-limiting examples. The depth data, temperature data, and speed data may represent depth, temperature, and speed measured by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

[0047] The system 120 may further comprise a multi -function display (MFD) 114 of a boat, such as the boat 100 disclosed above with regard to FIG. 1 A for non-limiting example. With reference to FIG. 1 A and FIG. IB, the first and second transducer devices (e.g., 116a and 116b, or vice versa) may be installed on separate hulls of the boat 100. The first and second transducer devices may be further configured to transmit the respective messages (122a, 122b) to the MFD 114 of the boat 100. The one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device may be installed on a first hull of the separate hulls that is a sole hull of the boat 100 that is in the water 110, currently, or is at a greater depth in the water 110, currently, relative to a second hull of the separate hulls.

[0048] The first transducer device, second transducer device, and MFD 114 may be coupled via a network, that may be formed based on the bus 118 disclosed further below, which may be a wired or wireless bus. The first and second transducer devices (e.g., 116a and 116b or vice versa) may be further configured to transmit the respective messages (e.g., 122a and 122b or vice versa) to the MFD 114 via the network. The first transducer device and second transducer device (e.g, 116a and 116b or vice versa) may be installed on a starboard 108 side and port 106 side of the boat 100, respectively, or vice versa.

[0049] The first and second transducer devices (e.g., 116a and 116b or vice versa) may be further configured to transmit the respective messages (e.g., 122a and 122b or vice versa) by broadcasting the respective messages via the network.

[0050] The MFD 114 may include a display screen 115. The MFD 114 may be configured to select a transducer device of the pair of transducer devices (116a, 116b) and process messages received from the transducer device selected. The MFD 114 may be further configured to display, on the display screen 115, data from the messages processed. The data displayed may have originated by the one transducer device designated as thecurrently active transducer device, irrespective of which transducer device of the pair of transducer devices (116a, 116b) is selected by the MFD 114.

[0051] The first transducer device may be further configured to measure a heel angle (not shown) and, based on the heel angle measured, designate the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device. The second transducer device may be further configured to measure a heel angle (not shown) and, based on the heel angle measured, designate the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices (116a, 116b) to be the currently active transducer device, as disclosed further below with regard to FIG. 2A.

[0052] Continuing with reference to FIG. IB, the first transducer device may be further configured to measure depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the first transducer device, learn second transducer device data transmitted by the second transducer device, and transmit a respective message of the respective messages transmitted. The respective message may be transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the first transducer device or ii) the second transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) may be based on the first transducer device or the second transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

[0053] The second transducer device may be further configured to measure depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the second transducer device, learn first transducer device data transmitted by the first transducer device, and transmit a respective message of the respective messages transmitted. The respective message may be transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the second transducer device or ii) the first transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) may be based on the second transducer device or the first transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

[0054] Continuing with reference to FIGS. 1 A and IB, the MFD 114 may be coupled to the transducer device A 116a and transducer device B 116b via the bus 118. The MFD 114 may be configured to display a representation 105 of the boat 100 and the data representing i) or ii) for non-limiting example. The MFD 114, transducer device A 116a, and transducer device B 116b may be configured to communicate over the bus 118 using the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 2000 (IEC 61162-3) communication standard fornon-limiting example and, thus, the system 120 may be referred to as being coupled via a NMEA network. The NMEA communication standard is based on the Controller Area Network (CAN) as is known in the art and allows data to be sent / received between devices over a single network backbone cable, namely the bus 118 in the non-limiting example embodiment of FIG. IB.

[0055] The transducer device A 116a and transducer device B 116b, which may be referred to as a first transducer device and second transducer device, or vice versa, as disclosed above, may be configured to broadcast respective messages, such as the transducer device_A message 122a and transducer device_B message 122b, respectively. The MFD 114 may be configured to listen to messages from a selected transducer device of the dual transducer devices, namely the transducer device A 116a and transducer device B 116, by filtering messages that are not received from the selected transducer device. For example, such messages may include a respective source address for a respective transducer device that sources same and the MFD 114 may be configured to process messages received from a selected source address of such source addresses and discard messages with a different source address that is different from the selected source address.

[0056] The transducer device A message 122a and transducer device B message 122b may each include data, such as depth data, temperature data, speed data, or a combination thereof originated by a transducer device from among the transducer device A 116a and transducer device B 116b which is considered to be in an active state, as disclosed below with regard to FIG. 1C.

[0057] FIG. 1C is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method 150 that may be implemented via a system with dual transducer support, such as the system 120 of FIG. IB, disclosed above. Continuing with reference to FIG. 1C, the method begins (152) and comprises designating, separately by a first transducer device and a second transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be a currently active transducer device (154). The method may further comprise transmitting, from the first and second transducer devices, respective messages with data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device (156). The method thereafter ends (158) in the example embodiment. A determination for active transducer state determination may be performed using a method, such as the method 200 of FIG. 2 A, disclosed below.

[0058] FIG. 2A is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method 200 for active transducer state determination. The method 200 may be performed by the transducer device A 116a or transducer device B 116b of FIG. IB, disclosed above, or the transducer device 416 of FIG. 4A, disclosed further below. Such a transducer device may be assigned to be a port side transducer device or a starboard side transducer device for non-limiting example. By default, the port side transducer device may be configured to be in an active state whereas the starboard side transducer device may be configured to be in an inactive state, or vice versa.

[0059] Continuing with reference to FIG. 2A, the method begins (202) and reads a heel angle configuration from a storage device (204), such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) for non-limiting example. The method may check (206) for whether a user has defined an angle for the heel angle, for example, by checking if the heel angle configuration read represents a valid heel angle value. If the check (206) determines that the user has defined the heel angle, the method may use the user entry, that is, the heel angle configuration read, for a reference heel angle (210). If, however, the check (206) determines that the user has not defined the angle, the method may set the reference heel angle to be a factory default value (208), such as six degrees for non-limiting example. The method may compute a trigger angle to be ’A of the reference angle (212) determined as disclosed above. The trigger angle computed may represent an angle at which the transducer device decides that the boat is committed to go in one direction or another.

[0060] The method may then sample heel angle data (214), thereby measuring a heel angle. An absolute value (z.e., unsigned value) of the heel angle sampled (measured) may be referred to as the absolute heel angle and the absolute heel angle may be compared (216) to the trigger angle computed. If such comparison at (216) indicates that the absolute heel angel is not greater than the trigger angle computed, the method may check (218) for whether to continue. If the check (218) to continue is yes, the method may again sample the heel angle data (214) as disclosed above to measure the heel angle. If, however, the check (218) for whether to continue is no, the method thereafter ends (220) in the example embodiment.

[0061] If a result of the comparison at (216) indicates that such absolute value is greater than the trigger angle computed, the method may check (222) for whether a current state of the transducer device is an active state. If the check (222) indicates no, the method may check (224) if the heel angle measured is with the transducer device location, that is, whether the boat is tilting toward the transducer device. If the check (224) indicates yes, the currentstate may be changed to the active state (226) and the method may check (228) for whether to continue. If, however, the check (224) indicates that the heel angle measured is not with the transducer device location, the method may simply check (228) for whether to continue. If the check (228) is yes, the method may again sample the heel angle data (214) to measure the heel angle as disclosed above. If, however, the check (228) is no, the method thereafter ends (220) in the example embodiment.

[0062] If, however, the check (222) indicates that the current state is the active state, the method may check (230) for whether the heel angle measure is away from the transducer device location, that is, whether the boat is tilting away from the transducer device. If yes, the current state may be changed to an inactive state, and the method may check (218) for whether to continue. If, however, the check (230) indicates that the heel angel measure is not away from the transducer device location, the method may simply check (218) for whether to continue. If the check (218) to continue is yes, the method may again sample the heel angle data (214) to measure the heel angle as disclosed above. If, however, the check (218) for whether to continue is no, the method thereafter ends (220) in the example embodiment. Based on the active / inactive state determined as disclosed above, the transmitter device may either transmit data, such as DST data, that is originated by the transducer device, locally, or transmit data that is originated by a peer transducer and learned by the transmitter device, disclosed below with regard to FIG. 2B.

[0063] FIG. 2B is a flow diagram of an example embodiment a method 250 for transmit data determination. The method 250 may be performed by the transducer device A 116a or transducer device B 116b of FIG. IB, disclosed above, or the transducer device 416 of FIG. 4A, disclosed further below. Continuing with reference to FIG. 2B, the method begins (252) and checks (254) for whether to transmit. If the check (254) yields yes, the method may check if the state of the local transducer device, that is, the transducer device performing the method, is in a state that is either an active state or an inactive state. If the check (256) indicates that the local transducer device is in the active state, the method may transmit a message with data, such as DST data, which is originated by the local transducer device (264). The method may the check (260) for whether to continue. If the check (260) is yes, the method may again check (254) for whether to transmit. If, however, the check (260) for whether to continue yields no, the method thereafter ends (262) in the example embodiment.

[0064] If, however, the check (256) indicates that the state of the local transducer device is not active, that is, the state is the inactive state, the method may transmit the message withdata learned from the peer transducer device (258). The method may then check (260) for whether to continue. If the check (260) is yes, the method may again check (254) for whether to transmit. If, however, the check (260) for whether to continue yields no, the method thereafter ends (262) in the example embodiment. The local transducer device and peer transducer device may be referred to interchangeably herein as a first transducer device and second transducer device, respectively, or vice versa. The local transducer device may be a port side transducer, and the peer transducer device may be a starboard side transducer, or vice versa, such as disclosed below with regard to FIG. 3.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a table 300 illustrating a non-limiting example of data reported by port and starboard mounted transducers. In the non-limiting example, the port side transducer is assigned the active state by default the starboard side transducer is assigned the inactive state by default. Such default configured remain in place until sufficient heel angle data has been collected in order to determine a change of state, such as disclosure with regard to FIG. 2A. Continuing with reference to FIG. 3, the table 300 details non-limiting example transducer output as a boat, such as the boat 100 of FIG, 1 A for non-limiting example, experiences changes in its attitude (e.g., relationship of the boat to the water) as noted by the description 362 and orientation 364 of the operational phases A-H. Units in the table 300 are converted to be more human readable. The table 300 assumes the user has zeroed their setup and has set the heel (roll, cruising) angle to be 6 degrees, for non-limiting example.

[0066] Setup

[0067] Each transducer is labeled with its location (e.g., port, starboard) for installation. A complete installation has one port, and one starboard transducer installed on their respective sides of the boat.

[0068] User Zero

[0069] After initial installation each transducer will have its roll position zeroed for best performance. User zero takes place with the boat stationary in calm water.

[0070] Power Up

[0071] For either transducer, port or starboard, the first message transmitted to the MFD on power up contains the sea temperature value, and depth and speed values continue to report DATA NOT AVAILABLE until such time as each transducer has initialized and acquired enough data to “lock on” to its environment.

[0072] Link Established

[0073] When a transducer learns peer transducer data, it updates its own sensor information to include the new data. For non-limiting example, the port transducer reports active by default. The active transducer’s information is reported by both port and starboard transducers in a manner consistent with NMEA messaging.

[0074] Heel (Cruising) Angle

[0075] The heel (cruising) angle value indicates the user desired number of degrees of roll a transducer will reach when cruising on one hull. If the roll angle towards either transducer is greater than ’A of the cruise angle, then that transducer transitions to the “active state.” Active state indicates the transducer most likely to remain in the water under the current conditions.

[0076] If the transducer state is active and the cruising angle has been reached or exceeded, learned information from the inactive transducer is ignored.

[0077] If the transducer state is inactive, transmitted messages from the inactive transducer will repeat data from the active transducer when sending. The inactive transducer may be forced to reacquire its data again when cruising.

[0078] Sensor Messaging

[0079] In an example embodiment, NMEA2000 proprietary parameter group number (PGN) information as defined in NME2000 PGNs 128259 (speed) or 128267 (depth) or 130316 (temperature) may be transmitted on both transducers based on internal sensing and subsequent reporting of values from the transducer that is considered to be most likely in contact with the water.

[0080] In an example embodiment, the periodic rate of Dual Sensor Messaging may be equal to the rate of 128259 or 128267 or 130316, whichever is greater. According to a nonlimiting example embodiment, such rate may not be less than 100ms.

[0081] A transducer device may be referred to interchangeably herein as a sensor device and may include a processor (microprocessor) and other elements, as disclosed below with reference to FIG. 4 A for non-limiting example.

[0082] FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a transducer device 416 optionally within an embodiment disclosed herein. The transducer device 416 may be employed as the transducer device 116a, 116b of FIG. IB, disclosed above. Continuing with reference to FIG. 4 A, the transducer device 416 may include a processor, such as a microprocessor, that may be configured to perform example embodiments of methods disclosed herein. The transducer device 416 may further comprise a storage device 474 (e.g.,EEPROM), a Bluetooth communications interface 476, and / or a CANbus communications interface 478 for non-limiting examples. The transducer device 416 may further comprise a measurement system that may include an accelerometer 480 for measuring a heel angle (not shown), a first transducer 482 for measuring speed, a second transducer 484 for measuring depth, and / or a temperature sensor 486 for measuring temperature, for non-limiting examples.

[0083] As such, the transducer device 416 may comprise the measurement system 418 that may be configured to measure depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof, and the heel angle. The transducer device 416 may further comprise the processor 472 that may be configured to determine, based on the heel angle measured, an active state or an inactive state for a state of the transducer device 416. The processor 472 may be further configured to transmit a message (not shown) with data representing (i) the depth, speed, temperature, or the combination thereof measured or (ii) data learned (not shown) from another transducer device (not shown). The message may be transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

[0084] The processor 472 may be further configured to determine a reference heel angle (not shown), compute a trigger angle (not shown) based on the reference heel angle determined, perform a comparison between the heel angle measured and the trigger angle computed, and determine the state based on the comparison performed.

[0085] The processor 472 may be further configured to determine the reference heel angle to be a user-defined heel angle (not shown) or a default heel angle (not shown) based on whether the user-defined heel angle is stored or not stored, respectively, in the storage device 474. The processor 472 may be further configured to compute the trigger angle to be one half of the reference heel angle determined.

[0086] The processor 472 may be further configured to maintain a current state of the transducer device 416 based on an absolute value of the heel angle measured not exceeding the trigger angle computed and to determine the state of the transducer device to be the active state or inactive state based on whether the current state maintained is the active state or inactive state, respectively.

[0087] The processor 472 may be further configured to: determine the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location (not shown) of the transducerdevice, such a location on a hull (not shown) of a boat (not shown). The processor472 may be further configured to change the current state from the inactive state to the active state.

[0088] The processor 472 may be further configured to determine the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from the location of the transducer device.

[0089] The processor 472 may be further configured to determine the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device. The processor 472 may be further configured to change the current state from the active state to the inactive state.

[0090] The processor 472 may be further configured to determine the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward the location of the transducer device 472.

[0091] FIG. 4B is a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a method 450 that may be performed by a transducer device, such as the transducer devices 116a and 116b, and transducer device 416, disclosed above with regard to FIG. IB and FIG. 4A, respectively, for non-limiting examples. Continuing with reference to FIG. 4B, the method may begin (452) and comprise measuring, at a transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof, and a heel angle (454). The method may further comprise determining, at the transducer device based on the heel angle measured, an active state or an inactive for a state of the transducer device (456). The method may further comprise transmitting, from the transducer device, a message with data representing (i) the depth, speed, temperature, or the combination thereof measured or (ii) data learned from another transducer device of the pair of transducer devices (458). The message may be transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively. The method thereafter ends (460) in the example embodiment.

[0092] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of an internal structure of a computer 500 in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. The computer 500 contains a system bus 518, where a bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transferamong the components of a computer or digital processing system. The system bus 518 is essentially a shared conduit that connects different elements of a computer system (e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input / output ports, network ports, etc.) that enables the transfer of information between the elements. Coupled to the system bus 518 is an I / O device interface 503 for connecting various input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, display monitors, printers, speakers, microphone, etc.) to the computer 500. A network interface 507 allows the computer 500 to connect to various other devices attached to a network (e.g., global computer network, wide area network, local area network, etc.). Memory 509 provides volatile or non-volatile storage for computer software instructions 511 and data 517 that may be used to implement embodiments (e.g., methods 150, 200, 250, and 450) of the present disclosure, where the volatile and non-volatile memories are examples of non-transitory media. Disk storage 574 also provides non-volatile storage for the computer software instructions 511 and data 517 that may be used to implement embodiments (e.g, methods 150, 200, 250, and 450) of the present disclosure. A central processor unit 572 is also coupled to the system bus 518 and provides for the execution of computer instructions.

[0093] As used herein, a sensor may refer to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and / or processor device, individually or in any combination, including without limitation: an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate-array (FPGA), an electronic circuit, a processor and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, and / or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

[0094] Example embodiments disclosed herein may be configured using a computer program product. Further example embodiments may include a non-transitory computer- readable medium that contains instructions that may be executed by a processor, and, when loaded and executed, cause the processor to complete methods described herein.

[0095] In addition, the elements described herein may be combined or divided in any manner in software, hardware, or firmware. If implemented in software, the software may be written in any language that can support the example embodiments disclosed herein. The software may be stored in any form of computer readable medium, such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), and so forth.

[0096] The teachings of all patents, published applications and references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0097] While example embodiments have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the embodiments encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A system comprising: a first transducer device of a pair of transducer devices; and a second transducer device of the pair of transducer devices, the first and second transducer devices configured separately to designate one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be a currently active transducer device and to transmit respective messages with data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

2. The system of Claim 1, wherein the data includes depth data, temperature data, speed data, or a combination thereof, the depth data, temperature data, and speed data representing depth, temperature, and speed measured by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

3. The system of Claim 1, further comprising a multi -function display (MFD) of a boat, wherein the first and second transducer devices are installed on separate hulls of the boat, and wherein the first and second transducer devices are further configured to transmit the respective messages to the MFD of the boat.

4. The system of Claim 1, wherein the first and second transducer devices are installed on separate hulls of a boat and wherein the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device is installed on a first hull of the separate hulls that is a sole hull of the boat that is in water or wherein the first hull is at a greater depth in the water relative to a second hull of the separate hulls.

5. The system of Claim 1, further comprising a MFD of a boat, wherein the first transducer device, second transducer device, and MFD are coupled via a network, wherein the first and second transducer devices are further configured to transmit the respective messages to the MFD via the network, and wherein the first transducer device and second transducer device are installed on a starboard side and port side of the boat, respectively, or vice versa.

6. The system of Claim 1, further comprising a MFD, wherein the first transducer device, second transducer device, and MFD are coupled via a network, and wherein the first and second transducer devices are further configured to transmit the respective messages by broadcasting the respective messages via the network.

7. The system of Claim 1, further comprising a MFD, wherein the MFD includes a display screen, and wherein the MFD is configured to: select a transducer device of the pair of transducer devices; process messages received from the transducer device selected; and display, on the display screen, data from the messages processed, the data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, irrespective of which transducer device of the pair of transducer devices is selected by the MFD.

8. The system of Claim 1, wherein the first transducer device is further configured to measure a heel angle and, based on the heel angle measured, designate the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device.

9. The system of Claim 1, wherein the second transducer device is further configured to measure a heel angle and, based on the heel angle measured, designate the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device.

10. The system of Claim 1, wherein the first transducer device is further configured to: measure depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the first transducer device; learn second transducer device data transmitted by the second transducer device; and transmit a respective message of the respective messages transmitted, the respective message transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the first transducer device or ii) the second transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) are based on the firsttransducer device or the second transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

11. The system of Claim 1, wherein the second transducer device is further configured to: measure depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the second transducer device; learn first transducer device data transmitted by the first transducer device; and transmit a respective message of the respective messages transmitted, the respective message transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the second transducer device or ii) the first transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) are based on the second transducer device or the first transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

12. A method comprising: designating, separately by a first transducer device and a second transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be a currently active transducer device; and transmitting, from the first and second transducer devices, respective messages with data originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

13. The method of Claim 12, wherein the data includes depth data, temperature data, speed data, or a combination thereof, the depth data, temperature data, and speed data representing depth, temperature, and speed measured by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device.

14. The method of Claim 12, wherein the first and second transducer devices are installed on separate hulls of a boat and wherein transmitting the respective messages includes transmitting the respective messages to a multi-function display (MFD) of the boat.

15. The method of Claim 12, wherein the first and second transducer devices are installed on separate hulls of a boat, wherein the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device is installed on a first hull of the separate hulls, andwherein the designating includes determining that the first hull is a sole hull of the boat that is in water or that the first hull is at a greater depth in the water relative to a second hull of the separate hulls.

16. The method of Claim 12, wherein the first transducer device, second transducer device, and a MFD are coupled via a network, wherein the first and second transducer devices the method further comprises transmitting the respective messages from the first and second transducer devices to the MFD via the network, and wherein the first transducer device and second transducer device are installed on a starboard side and port side of the boat, respectively, or vice versa.

17. The method of Claim 12, wherein the first transducer device, second transducer device, and a MFD are coupled via a network and wherein transmitting the respective messages includes broadcasting the respective messages via the network.

18. The method of Claim 12, further comprising: selecting, by a MFD, a transducer device of the pair of transducer devices, the MFD including a display screen; processing, by the MFD, messages received from the transducer device selected; and displaying, by the MFD on the display screen, data from the messages processed, the data displayed originated by the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, irrespective of which transducer device of the pair of transducer devices is selected by the MFD.

19. The method of Claim 12, further comprising: measuring, by the first transducer device, a heel angle; and based on the heel angle measured, designating, by the first transducer device, the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device.

20. The method of Claim 12, further comprising: measuring, by the second transducer device, a heel angle; andbased on the heel angle measured, designating, by the second transducer device, the one transducer device from the pair of transducer devices to be the currently active transducer device.

21. The method of Claim 12, further comprising, by the first transducer device: measuring depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the first transducer device; learning second transducer device data transmitted by the second transducer device; and transmitting a respective message of the respective messages transmitted, the respective message transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the first transducer device or ii) the second transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) are based on the first transducer device or the second transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

22. The method of Claim 12, further comprising, by the second transducer device: measuring depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof, local to the second transducer device; learning first transducer device data transmitted by the first transducer device; and transmitting a respective message of the respective messages transmitted, the respective message transmitted with the data representing i) the depth, temperature, speed, or a combination thereof measured by the second transducer device or ii) the first transducer device data learned, wherein i) and ii) are based on the second transducer device or the first transducer device being the one transducer device designated as the currently active transducer device, respectively.

23. A transducer device comprising: a measurement system configured to measure depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof, and a heel angle; and a processor configured to determine, based on the heel angle measured, an active state or an inactive state for a state of the transducer device, the processor further configured to transmit a message with data representing (i) the depth, speed,temperature, or the combination thereof measured or (ii) data learned from another transducer device, the message transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

24. The transducer device of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine a reference heel angle; compute a trigger angle based on the reference heel angle determined; perform a comparison between the heel angle measured and the trigger angle computed; and determine the state based on the comparison performed.

25. The transducer device of Claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine the reference heel angle to be a user-defined heel angle or a default heel angle based on whether the user-defined heel angle is stored or not stored in a storage device, respectively; and compute the trigger angle to be one half of the reference heel angle determined.

26. The transducer device of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to: compute a trigger angle; maintain a current state of the transducer device based on an absolute value of the heel angle measured not exceeding the trigger angle computed; and determine the state of the transducer device to be the active state or inactive state based on whether the current state maintained is the active state or inactive state, respectively.

27. The transducer device of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to: compute a trigger angle; determine the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location of the transducer device; and change the current state from the inactive state to the active state.

28. The transducer device of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:compute a trigger angle; and determine the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device.

29. The transducer device of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to: compute a trigger angle; determine the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device; and change the current state from the active state to the inactive state.

30. The transducer device of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to: compute a trigger angle; and determine the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location of the transducer device.

31. A method comprising: measuring, at a transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof, and a heel angle; determining, at the transducer device based on the heel angle measured, an active state or an inactive for a state of the transducer device; and transmitting, from the transducer device, a message with data representing (i) the depth, speed, temperature, or the combination thereof measured or (ii) data learned from another transducer device of the pair of transducer devices, the message transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

32. The method of Claim 31, further comprising, at the transducer device: determining a reference heel angle;computing a trigger angle based on the reference heel angle determined; performing a comparison between the heel angle measured and the trigger angle computed; and determining the state based on the comparison performed.

33. The method of Claim 32, further comprising, at the transducer device: determining the reference heel angle to be a user-defined heel angle or a default heel angle based on whether the user-defined heel angle is stored or not stored in a storage device, respectively; and computing the trigger angle to be one half of the reference heel angle determined.

34. The method of Claim 31, further comprising, at the transducer device: computing a trigger angle; maintaining a current state of the transducer device based on an absolute value of the heel angle measured not exceeding the trigger angle computed; and determining the state of the transducer device to be the active state or inactive state based on whether the current state maintained is the active state or inactive state, respectively.

35. The method of Claim 31, further comprising, at the transducer device: computing a trigger angle; determining the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location of the transducer device; and changing the current state from the inactive state to the active state.

36. The method of Claim 31, further comprising, at the transducer device: computing a trigger angle; and determining the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the inactive state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device.

37. The method of Claim 31, further comprising, at the transducer device: computing a trigger angle; determining the state to be the inactive state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction away from a location of the transducer device; and changing the current state from the active state to the inactive state.

38. The method of Claim 31, further comprising, at the transducer device: computing a trigger angle; and determining the state to be the active state based on: an absolute value of the heel angle measured exceeding the trigger angle computed, a current state of the transducer device being in the active state, and the heel angle measured representing a direction toward a location of the transducer device.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon a sequence of instructions which, when loaded and executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to: determine, based on a heel angle, an active state or an inactive state for a state of a transducer device of a pair of transducer devices, the heel angle measured by the transducer device; and transmit a message with data representing (i) depth, speed, temperature, or a combination thereof measured by the transducer device or (ii) data learned from another transducer device of the pair of transducer devices, the message transmitted with the data representing (i) or (ii) based on the state determined to be the active state or inactive state, respectively.

Images