Sonar Beam Zone Visualization on Nautical Charts
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for users to determine the real-world sonar coverage provided by sonar transducers in underwater environments, as the shape and orientation of sonar beams are often unknown, making it difficult to understand the relative location of objects in sonar imagery within the actual water body.
Innovation Solution
The system presents sonar beam zones and footprints on nautical charts, accounting for transducer configuration, beam shape, and depth, allowing users to visualize the sonar coverage and object locations, with options for split-screen displays and historical updates of sonar returns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sonar transducers are used to detect underwater objects, then detection capability is improved, but understanding of real-world coverage and object location becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the sonar beam coverage area on the nautical chart. This graphical representation copies the spatial extent and orientation of the actual sonar beam in the water column, allowing users to see where objects detected by the sonar are located in the real world without needing to mentally transform the sonar data coordinates.
2Loss of information
If sonar beam coverage is visualized on nautical charts, then coverage understanding is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sonar system into distinct functional components: the physical sonar transducer, the calculated beam coverage area, and the graphical representation on the chart. This segmentation allows each component to be handled independently - the transducer emits beams, the system calculates coverage based on beam parameters, and the chart displays the visual representation - reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that calculates sonar beam coverage areas based on transducer parameters and water conditions. This intermediary process translates physical sonar characteristics into graphical representations without requiring direct complex interaction between the transducer and the display system, simplifying the overall architecture.
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
This solution enhances user understanding of sonar coverage and object positioning, providing clearer navigation and data interpretation by visually representing sonar beam zones and footprints on charts, improving the accuracy of underwater object localization.
Implementation Method 1
Sonar transducer elements, or simply transducers, may convert electrical energy into sound or vibrations at a particular frequency
Implementation Method 2
A sonar sound beam is transmitted into and through the water and is reflected from objects it encounters
Implementation Method 3
The transducer may receive the reflected sound (the 'sonar returns')
Implementation Method 4
The transducer may receive the reflected sound (the 'sonar returns') and convert the sound energy into electrical energy
Implementation Method 5
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
Systems and methods for determining a location of an object within a sonar beam zone are detailed herein. A system for presenting marine data includes at least one sonar transducer associated with a watercraft, a display, processor(s), and a memory including a computer program code. The sonar transducer emits sonar beams into an underwater environment defining a beam shape. The program code, when executed, causes, on the display, presentation of a chart and a representation of the watercraft; and determines, based on the beam shape corresponding to the sonar transducer, a sonar beam zone corresponding to a sonar coverage of the underwater environment of the body of water. The program code further receives sonar return data and determines a position of an object within the sonar beam zone, and causes, on the display, presentation of the sonar beam zone and an indication of the object within the sonar beam zone.