Live Sonar Display Modes for Wide and Focused Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sonar systems lack improved sonar image functionality while maintaining a reasonable cost, particularly for underwater object detection and navigation, with limited real-time visual feedback and expansive yet focused imaging capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A sonar system with a transducer assembly comprising multiple arrays that beamform sonar return beams, allowing for expanded 180° or 360° imaging, and a marine electronic device that generates live sonar images with selectable display modes for real-time updates and user-defined focus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple transducer arrays are used to achieve expanded 360° imaging coverage, then the sonar coverage area is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sonar system divides the imaging coverage into multiple discrete transducer arrays, each responsible for a specific angular sector. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive 360° coverage while maintaining manageable complexity in each individual array component.
Solution Approach 2:
The marine electronic device is designed to process and display sonar data from multiple transducer arrays using a unified processing framework. This multi-functionality allows the same processing pipeline to handle data from different arrays, reducing overall system complexity despite the increased number of sensors.
2Reliability
If real-time sonar imagery is generated and updated continuously, then the situational awareness is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system updates sonar imagery at regular intervals rather than continuously processing every incoming signal. This periodic updating approach maintains reliable situational awareness while significantly reducing the energy consumption associated with continuous real-time processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The marine electronic device maintains continuous readiness to process sonar data from multiple arrays, but actually performs intensive processing only when updates are needed. This approach ensures reliable situational awareness while optimizing energy usage by avoiding redundant processing of unchanged data.
3Measurement precision
If focused display mode is used to show only a portion of the sonar image, then the clarity of specific region is improved, but the overall coverage information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically adjusts between focused and wide coverage modes based on user needs and detected targets. This dynamic switching allows the system to provide high-clarity focused views when needed while maintaining the option to display overall coverage information, thus managing the trade-off between clarity and information completeness.
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
Provides enhanced situational awareness and precise navigation by offering continuous, real-time sonar imagery with selectable display modes, enabling both expansive and targeted views of the underwater environment.
Implementation Method 1
Sonar transducer elements convert electrical energy into sound or vibrations
Implementation Method 2
The transducer elements receive the reflected sound as sonar returns and convert the sound energy into electrical energy
Implementation Method 3
These transducer elements are configured to operate at a fixed phase shift and vary in frequency to beamform multiple sonar return beams
Implementation Method 4
Based on the known speed of sound, it is possible to determine the distance to and/or location of the waterborne or underwater objects
Data Source
AI summary
A marine electronic device for a watercraft is configured to present live sonar imagery of an underwater environment. The device includes a display, a processor, a memory, and a communication interface for receiving sonar return data from a sonar transducer assembly comprising multiple sonar transducer arrays. The processor generates a first live sonar image based on first sonar return data representing a first volume of the underwater environment, wherein the entire portion of the first live sonar image is continually updated in real time. The device receives user input defining a portion of the first live sonar image corresponding to a second, smaller volume within the first volume, and generates a second live sonar image based on second sonar return data that is a subset of the first sonar return data. The second live sonar image is presented on the display to provide a focused view of the underwater environment.