Underwater Fish Identification Using Incident Angle and Reflection Intensity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional underwater detecting devices for identifying fish types have low accuracy and often result in false determinations due to the limitations in utilizing the relationship between incident angles and reflection intensities of ultrasonic signals.

Innovation Solution

An underwater detecting device that transmits ultrasonic signals and receives echo signals to detect the incident angle and reflection intensity, utilizing these parameters to accurately identify fish types by displaying and processing the unique relations between them, and employing a detector and identifier to create and match distribution characteristics with stored templates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional fish type identification methods are used, then the device can identify fish types, but the accuracy is low and false determinations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish type identification accuracyVSAvoidfalse determination rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for fish identification from simple metrics (moving speed, single reflection intensity) to a two-dimensional parameter space combining incident angle and reflection intensity. This parameter transformation enables more accurate fish type identification by capturing the unique angular reflection characteristics of different fish species, thereby improving measurement precision and reducing false determinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension (incident angle) to the traditional fish identification approach. Instead of relying solely on reflection intensity, the system now operates in a two-dimensional space of incident angle versus reflection intensity. This dimensional expansion allows for better differentiation between fish types that may have similar single-point reflection characteristics but different angular reflection patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If only single-point reflection intensity is used, then the detection process is simple, but fish type identification accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish type identification accuracyVSAvoiddetection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms the detection approach by changing from measuring only reflection intensity to measuring both incident angle and reflection intensity. This parameter change enables more accurate fish type identification while maintaining a relatively simple detection process, as the additional angular information can be obtained through standard sonar beam geometry calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple incident angles and reflection intensities are measured, then fish type identification accuracy improves, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish type identification accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing the unique two-dimensional distribution patterns (templates) of different fish types in the database. During actual detection, the system only needs to compare measured data against these pre-established templates, significantly reducing real-time processing complexity while maintaining high identification accuracy. This approach transforms complex pattern recognition into a simpler template matching process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates simplified copies (templates) of fish reflection characteristics in advance. Instead of performing complex real-time analysis of multiple incident angles and reflection intensities, the system compares measured data against pre-captured template patterns, reducing computational complexity while preserving the accuracy benefits of multi-parameter measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device achieves more accurate fish type identification by utilizing the distinct relationships between incident angles and reflection intensities, providing clear display data and improving operator understanding through distribution characteristics and template matching.

Implementation Method 1

a transceiver for transmitting underwater an ultrasonic signal and receiving an echo signal caused by the ultrasonic signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEcho: Echo

Implementation Method 2

detecting, based on the echo signal, an incident angle of the ultrasonic signal with respect to an underwater moving body and a reflection intensity of the echo signal reflected on the underwater moving body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2538240B1Underwater Detecting Device, Method and Program
Publication Date: 2016.01.13 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP2538240B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2538240B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2538240B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An underwater detection device (1) is provided. The device comprises a transceiver (10, 11, 121-124, 13) for transmitting underwater an ultrasonic signal and receiving an echo signal caused by the ultrasonic signal, and a detector (141, 142) for detecting, based on the echo signal, an incident angle of the ultrasonic signal with respect to an underwater moving body and a reflection intensity of the echo signal reflected on the underwater moving body.