Side scan sonar imaging system with associated GPS data

• US 20090147623A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
• Inventors: Betts, David A., Derrow, Robert W., Howells, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/88
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/107 using frequency agility of carrier wave
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8902 Side-looking sonar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features

Abstract

A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images includes a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data, a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals, and a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals. The system further includes signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data and a digital processor for causing a display to display an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor associates GPS position and side scan image data.

Claims

1. A system for providing navigational information, water depth information, and underwater sonar images, the system comprising:

a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data;

a sonar transducer assembly for mounting to a boat, the sonar transducer assembly including a left side scan sonar transducer, a right side scan sonar transducer, and a down beam sonar transducer;

signal processing circuitry for processing sonar return signals from the left side scan sonar transducer, the right side scan sonar transducer, and the down beam sonar transducer;

a user interface including user inputs and a display; and

a digital processor for causing the display to display an underwater image based upon sonar return signals received by one or both of the left and right side scan sonar transducers, and for associating GPS position and side scan image data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the GPS receiver is mounted to a boat in a first position, wherein the sonar transducer is mounted to the boat in a second position, and wherein the digital processor associates the GPS position and side scan image data based upon relative position of the GPS receiver to the sonar transducer assembly.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the digital processor determines the relative position of the GPS receiver to the sonar transducer assembly based upon data entered in the user inputs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital processor, in response to at least one user input to identify a target of interest within the underwater image, determines position of the target of interest based upon historical GPS position and side scan image data.

5. A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images, the system comprising:

a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data;

a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals;

a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals;

signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data;

a display; and

a digital processor for causing the display to display an underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor associates GPS position and side scan image data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the digital processor, in response to a user input that identifies a target of interest within the underwater image, determines position of the target of interest based upon historical GPS position and side scan image data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the digital processor, in response to receiving the user input, stores a waypoint representing position of the target of interest.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the left side scan sonar transducer transmits the left side scan sonar pulses directed downward and laterally outward to a left side of the boat, the left side scan sonar pulses having a narrow horizontal width in a direction of travel of the boat and a wide vertical width in a plane perpendicular to the direction of boat travel, and wherein the right side scan sonar transducer transmits the right side scan sonar pulses directed downward and laterally outward to a right side of the boat, the right side scan sonar pulses having a narrow horizontal width in the direction of travel of the boat and a wide vertical width in the plane perpendicular to the direction of boat travel.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein in response to a capture input, the digital processor causes data representing the underwater image and associated GPS position data to be stored.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to a user input, the digital processor erases a stored underwater image.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to a user input, the digital processor downloads a stored underwater image and associated GPS position data to a computer.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to a user input, the digital processor causes the display to display previously displayed and stored underwater images.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the associated GPS position data comprises position data at corners of the display image at a time of the capture input.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein, in response to a user input, the digital processor causes the display to display a composite mosaic image, wherein the composite mosaic image includes a plurality of previously displayed and stored underwater images combined according to position data at corners.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the digital processor controls screen scroll rate of the underwater image based upon GPS speed.

16. A system for use with a boat to provide underwater sonar images, the system comprising:

a left side scan sonar transducer for transmitting left side scan sonar pulses and for receiving left side scan sonar return signals;

a right side scan sonar transducer for transmitting right side scan sonar pulses and for receiving right side scan sonar return signals;

signal processing circuitry for processing the left and right side scan sonar return signals to produce side scan image data;

a GPS receiver for providing GPS position data to the digital processor;

a display; and

a digital processor for providing signals to the display the underwater image based upon the side scan image data, wherein the digital processor, in response to a user command, sets a waypoint based upon historical GPS position data and side scan image data corresponding to a target of interest within the underwater image.

17. A method of providing underwater sonar images, the method comprising:

transmitting left and right side scan sonar pulses with left and right side scan sonar transducers, respectively;

receiving left and right side scan sonar return signals with the left and right side scan sonar transducers, respectively;

generating side scan image data from the left and right side scan sonar return signals;

receiving GPS signals with a GPS receiver;

generating GPS position data based upon the GPS signals;

relating the side scan image data with the GPS position data;

storing the related side scan image and GPS position data; and

displaying an underwater image based upon the side scan sonar return signals.

18. The method of claim 17, and further comprising:

identifying a target of interest in the underwater image; and

storing a waypoint corresponding to the target of interest.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the target of interest is identified in response to a user input.

20. The method of claim 18, and further comprising:

determining the waypoint based upon stored side scan image and GPS position data.

21. The method of claim 17, and further comprising:

storing the underwater image and corresponding GPS position data in response to a capture input.

22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

displaying a composite mosaic image in response to a user input, wherein the composite mosaic image comprises a plurality of underwater images stored in response to a plurality of capture inputs, combined according to stored GPS position data.

23. The method of claim 17, and further comprising:

determining a relative offset position of the left and right side scan sonar transducers with respect to the GPS receiver; and

relating the side scan image data with the GPS position data based upon the relative offset position.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the left side scan sonar pulses are directed downward and laterally outward to a left side of a boat, the left side scan sonar pulses having a narrow horizontal width in a direction of travel of the boat and a wide vertical width in a plane perpendicular to the direction of boat travel, and wherein the right side scan sonar pulses are directed downward and laterally outward to a right side of the boat, the right side scan sonar pulses having a narrow horizontal width in the direction of travel of the boat and a wide vertical width in the plane perpendicular to the direction of boat travel.