Fish Weight Calculation Using Ultrasound Incidence Angle Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fish weight calculation methods using ultrasound in fish finders are inaccurate due to variations in ultrasound incidence angle, which affects the distance measurement between the swimbladder and the back of the fish.

Innovation Solution

A target size calculation device that includes a transducer, fish tracking module, ultrasound incidence angle calculation module, distance calculation module, and fish weight calculation module, which calculates the fish weight based on the ultrasound incidence angle and the distance between the swimbladder and the back of the fish.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional fish weight calculation methods are used, then the calculation process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in ultrasound incidence angle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish weight calculation accuracyVSAvoidcalculation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent calculates the ultrasound incidence angle in advance by tracking the fish's position and orientation before performing weight calculation. This preliminary calculation of the angle allows the system to compensate for angular variations during the actual measurement, improving precision without requiring complex real-time adjustments during weighing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the weight calculation by incorporating the calculated ultrasound incidence angle into the measurement process. Instead of using a fixed calculation method, the system adapts the calculation based on the fish's actual orientation and the angle at which ultrasound waves penetrate the fish, thereby maintaining high measurement precision across varying conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If remote measurement without physical contact is used, then the fish are not stressed or hurt, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to varying ultrasound penetration directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish stress and injuryVSAvoidfish weight calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the fish's position and orientation are continuously tracked using ultrasound echoes. This tracking information provides feedback about the ultrasound incidence angle, which is then used to adjust and compensate for measurement errors, maintaining high precision in remote measurements without requiring physical contact with the fish

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the calculation parameters by incorporating the ultrasound incidence angle into the weight calculation formula. By adjusting the calculation to account for the angle at which ultrasound waves penetrate the fish, the system maintains measurement precision while continuing to use non-contact remote measurement methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves the accuracy of fish weight calculation by considering the ultrasound incidence angle, reducing errors associated with varying penetration directions of ultrasound waves.

Implementation Method 1

a transducer configured to transmit a transmission wave toward underwater targets and generate an echo signal from a reflection of the transmission wave on the underwater targets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave transmission and echo reflection: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

The fish tracking module is configured to track in time a fish among the underwater targets from echo signals resulting from different transmission waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEcho signal analysis: Echo

Data Source

PatentEP4067933B1Fish size calculation device and method
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4067933B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4067933B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4067933B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A target size calculation device includes a transducer (22) for transmitting a transmission wave toward underwater targets and generating an echo signal from a reflection of the transmission wave on the underwater targets, a fish tracking module (25) for tracking in time a fish among the underwater targets from echo signals resulting from different transmission waves, an ultrasound incidence angle calculation module (26) for calculating, for each position of the tracked fish, an ultrasound incidence angle of the transmission wave on the tracked fish based on the echo signals, a distance calculation module (27) for calculating, for each position of the tracked fish, a distance between a swimbladder of the tracked fish and a second body part of the tracked fish from the echo signals of the tracked fish, and a fish weight calculation module (30, 901) for calculating a weight of the tracked fish based on the ultrasound incidence angle and the calculated distance.