Automatic Switch For Marine Sounders

• US 20070237028A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airmar Technology Corporation (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Airmar Technology Corporation (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeffers, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/903 Transmit-receive circuitry

Abstract

A switch that couples transducer signal to a specific sounder of multiple sounders in response to a sensed signal from the specific sounder. The switch can include a first detection circuit that determines the sounder that is requesting the first transducer signal and a first control circuit that couples the first transducer signal to the requesting sounder. The switch can further include a second detection circuit that determines the sounder that is requesting the second transducer signal and a second control circuit that couples the second transducer signal to the requesting sounder.

Claims

1. A switch that couples a transducer signal to one of plural sounders onboard a marine vessel, comprising:

a detection circuit that detects the sounder that is requesting a transducer signal; and

a control circuit that couples the transducer signal to the requesting sounder responsive to the detection circuit.

2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises:

a first pulse detector that detects a pulse from a first sounder; and

a second pulse detector that detects a pulse from a second sounder.

3. The switch of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises:

a processor in communication with the detection circuit that receives a detected pulse from a requesting sounder; and

a relay circuit controlled by the processor to couple the transducer signal to the requesting sounder.

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein the transducer signal is a high frequency signal or a low frequency signal.

5. The switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a second detection circuit that detects the sounder that is requesting a second transducer signal; and

a second control circuit that couples the second transducer signal to the requesting sounder.

6. The switch of claim 5, wherein the first transducer signal is different from the second transducer signal.

7. A transducer signal switching system for a marine vessel, comprising:

a transducer that produces a signal representative of characteristics of a body of water;

at least two sounders for producing a visual representation of the characteristics from the transducer signal; and

a switch that determines the sounder that requires the transducer signal and couples the transducer signal to the determined sounder.

8. The transducer signal switching system of claim 7, wherein the transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.

9. The transducer signal switching system of claim 7, wherein the transducer is thru-hull mounted to the marine vessel.

10. The transducer signal switching system of claim 7, wherein the transducer is transom mounted to the marine vessel.

11. The transducer signal switching system of claim 7, wherein a first sounder is located at a main pilot station of the marine vessel and a second sounder is located at a different station of the marine vessel.

12. The transducer signal switching system of claim 7, wherein the switch comprises:

a first detection circuit that detects the sounder that is requesting the first transducer signal; and

a first control circuit that couples the first transducer signal to the requesting sounder.

13. The transducer signal switching system of claim 12, wherein the switch further comprises:

a second detection circuit that detects the sounder that is requesting a second transducer signal; and

a second control circuit that couples the second transducer signal to the requesting sounder.

14. The transducer signal switching system of claim 12, wherein the detection circuit comprises:

a first pulse detector that detects a pulse from a first sounder; and

a second pulse detector that detects a pulse from a second sounder.

15. The transducer signal switching system of claim 12, wherein the control circuit comprises:

a processor circuit in communication with the detection circuit that receives a detected pulse from a requesting sounder; and

a relay circuit that couples the transducer signal to the requesting sounder in response to the processor circuit.

16. The transducer signal switching system of claim 7, wherein the transducer signal includes high frequency components and low frequency components.

17. An automatic switch for switching a transducer signal between multi-sounders onboard a marine vessel, comprising:

means for detecting the sounder that requests the transducer signal; and

means for switching the transducer signal to the requesting sounder.