AUTO TUNE SONAR SYSTEM

• US 20100097891A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nature Vision Inc. (SoOum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nature Vision Inc. (SoOum Corp.)
• Inventors: Cummings, Duane E.
• Application Number:
  US12/256,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097891A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/88
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/96 for locating fish
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205

Abstract

In some embodiments, a sonar system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a microcontroller electronically coupled to a receiver, (b) a transmitter electronically coupled to the microcontroller and the receiver, (c) a transducer electronically coupled the transmitter and the receiver, the transmit frequency of the transmitter being auto tuned to a best echo frequency of the transducer, (d) a display electronically coupled to the microcontroller, and (e) a keyboard electronically coupled to the microcontroller.

Claims

1. A sonar system for fish finding, comprising:

a microcontroller electronically coupled to a receiver;

a keyboard electronically coupled to the microcontroller;

a transmitter electronically coupled to the microcontroller and the receiver; and

a transducer electronically coupled the transmitter and the receiver, the transmit frequency of the transmitter being auto tuned to a best echo frequency of the transducer.

2. The sonar system of claim 1, further comprising a display electronically coupled to the microcontroller.

4. The sonar system of claim 1, wherein the transmit frequency of the transmitter is controlled by the microcontroller.

5. The sonar system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller receives a detected level from the receiver.

6. The sonar system of claim 5, wherein the detected level is the best echo frequency of the transducer.

7. The sonar system of claim 6, wherein the detected level can be taken at multiple locations at the receiver.

3. (canceled)

8. An auto tune sonar system circuit for fish finding, comprising:

a microcontroller electronically coupled to a receiver;

a transmitter electronically coupled to the microcontroller and the receiver; and

a sonar transducer electronically coupled the transmitter and the receiver, the transmit frequency of the transmitter being auto tuned to a best echo frequency of the sonar transducer.

9. The auto tune circuit of claim 8, wherein the sonar transducer receives a reflected wave and converts it to a received frequency sent to the receiver.

10. The auto tune circuit of claim 9, wherein the receiver amplifies and filters the received frequency to produce a detected level.

11. The auto tune circuit of claim 10, wherein the receiver sends the detected level to an A/D converter.

12. The auto tune circuit of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller takes a digital signal from the A/D converter and determines a best echo frequency based on varying a transmit frequency and comparing detected levels.

13. A method of auto tuning a sonar system for fish finding, comprising the steps of:

determining a best echo frequency of a sonar transducer; and

adjusting the transmit frequency to match the best echo frequency.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting the transmit frequency.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a sound wave through the transducer.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a reflected sound wave at the transducer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of converting the reflected sound to a received frequency and sending it to a receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of amplifying and filtering the received frequency.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting a bandpass filter center frequency based upon the transducer'"'"'s best echo frequency.